Political Matrix

[Philoctetes]

That's an entirely inaccurate statement.  One doesn't need to be an expert to know that supply/advertising affects demand; all you have to do is look around and see what's going on OR take a couple of courses in basic macro and micro economics.

That's what my post was supposed to answer, but it seems that the personal attacks have bothered him, so.

[Bulldog]

I have, i majored in Economics/Mathematics

Same here, and you flunk the exam.

[oabmarcus]

Same here, and you flunk the exam.

University of Phoenix?

[Florestan]

take a couple of courses in basic macro and micro economics.

He's in dire need of an elementary grammar and spelling course as well.

[Bulldog]

University of Phoenix?

Nah, on-line universities didn't exist when I was in college so I had to attend a real school.

Boy, you're striking out every time today.

[Florestan]

Looks like Gurn lost his patience... 

[DavidRoss]

That's what my post was supposed to answer, but it seems that the personal attacks have bothered him, so.

What personal attacks?

[Philoctetes]

What personal attacks?

He viewed them as such. So perhaps I should have said the perceived personal attacks.

But now that this pissing contest is over, perhaps one of you could help me with my relatively simply math problem, in the other thread.

[DavidRoss]

Looks like Gurn lost his patience... 

Wow!  Yep, that's some active moderation! 

On behalf of my wife's privates, thanks, Gurn!

[Gurn Blanston]

Wow!  Yep, that's some active moderation!

No, all I did was send a warning. It was even worded nicely.

[karlhenning]

Hmm, wonder why he was so . . . touchy?

[DavidRoss]

He viewed them as such. So perhaps I should have said the perceived personal attacks.

But now that this pissing contest is over, perhaps one of you could help me with my relatively simply math problem, in the other thread.

What pissing contest?  It takes at least two to have a contest.

Wish I could help with your math problem, but my math skills are so poor that I can't even figure out how increasing budgetary shortfalls year after year, together with mandating new unfunded entitlements, equals a deficit reduction plan...?

[Philoctetes]

What pissing contest?  It takes at least two to have a contest.

Wish I could help with your math problem, but my math skills are so poor that I can't even figure out how increasing budgetary shortfalls year after year, together with mandating new unfunded entitlements, equals a deficit reduction plan...?

I suppose he was having it with himself. Although, the insuinations, even if true, about his childishness did not help calm the fire. Hence the 'personal' insults portion of my first quote.

[Todd]

So you don't foresee prolonged money supply increases in an effort to jump-start the stalled economy and (not entirely incidentally) to decrease the debt burden in real terms through inflation and bracket-creep?  You think Bernanke able to resist political pressure in the runup to Nov 2012?

Oh, monetary policy will remain expansionary through this year, and I would not doubt that it will last well into 2011, if not the whole year.  Expansionary policy could last through 2012.  One can always hope that Bernanke and company has the fortitude to make the shift when the shift is needed and not before or after,  but pressure from Congress to reduce the independence of the Fed (via more "audits", etc) may result in less than optimum policy.  The Fed has been very explicit that they will maintain the current policies, particularly low discount rates and probably also lending facilities, until conditions change.  Wisely, they have not put timelines in place. 

I don't have concerns that we will see a return to 70s style inflation, let alone something more reminiscent of what has occurred in South America or other countries with sharp spikes in inflation.  I could be wrong, of course, but it's not like the people at the Fed, and the Treasury, for that matter, aren't aware of the possible ramifications of their policies and don't have at least a few ideas about how to address the outcomes.

Your statement of reducing debt burden is accurate (though if interest rates spike, that changes things), and reminds me of the comments of a now ancient English observer who commented after the Napoleonic wars ended, and inflation ensued, that debtors pursued creditors relentlessly and repaid them without mercy.  (I can't remember the exact quote, but that's quite close in the use of language.)  Inflation does have consequences that help at least some people, at least at some levels of inflation.

And in the interest of full disclosure, I am not a professional economist.  I did take my degree in econ years ago, and one of my areas of specialization was monetary theory and policy.  That's why I tire of what so often passes for debate on the subject; basic concepts and facts are ignored, if they are even known.  I do work in the financial sector, though, and have for my entire post-collegiate career.  I've been very close to the sub-prime meltdown.  (I should have done something else with my career!)  So, my opinions are mine alone and may be totally inaccurate. 

[greg]

What a strange thread. I think I can enjoy it now more on a cerebral level than cheap entertainment.
Just, "hmmmmm..." I don't know what to think.

[DavidRoss]

I suppose he was having it with himself. Although, the insuinations, even if true, about his childishness did not help calm the fire. Hence the 'personal' insults portion of my first quote.

I don't recall any references to childishness, just a reminder to another that the tone and content of his posts suggest that he's scarcely past the age of majority and therefore youth might be a primary reason for his unmarried state.  That was actually a thoughtful and empathetic observation, will no ill will intended or expressed.  His reaction and subsequent posts, however--particularly those removed by the moderator--suggest that I was mistaken and that he's younger than I thought.

Beats me why some of the fellows who've turned up here feel ashamed of their youth; no one else regards it as shameful, but rather as something to be enjoyed and celebrated.  Yet they interpret observations regarding their age as insults, rather than as recognition of a value-neutral characteristic like gender or nationality that is part of their character and which conditions their attitudes and beliefs.  He certainly thought age relevant and reasonable to note when he commented on Florestan's age (and his mother's). 

[greg]

I don't recall any references to childishness, just a reminder to another that the tone and content of his posts suggest that he's scarcely past the age of majority and therefore youth might be a primary reason for his unmarried state.  That was actually a thoughtful and empathetic observation, will no ill will intended or expressed.  His reaction and subsequent posts, however--particularly those removed by the moderator--suggest that I was mistaken and that he's younger than I thought.

Beats me why some of the fellows who've turned up here feel ashamed of their youth; no one else regards it as shameful, but rather as something to be enjoyed and celebrated.  Yet they interpret observations regarding their age as insults, rather than as recognition of a value-neutral characteristic like gender or nationality that is part of their character and which conditions their attitudes and beliefs.  He certainly thought age relevant and reasonable to note when he commented on Florestan's age (and his mother's).

I couldn't say what your intention was, but when I was reading it, it did come across in a belittling sort of way.

[Scarpia]

Aw, I went for a copy of coffee and missed all the fun.  There really should be a gallery of moderated deleted posts.  Maybe I can file a freedom of information act claim.

[Philoctetes]

I don't recall any references to childishness, just a reminder to another that the tone and content of his posts suggest that he's scarcely past the age of majority and therefore youth might be a primary reason for his unmarried state.  That was actually a thoughtful and empathetic observation, will no ill will intended or expressed.  His reaction and subsequent posts, however--particularly those removed by the moderator--suggest that I was mistaken and that he's younger than I thought.

Beats me why some of the fellows who've turned up here feel ashamed of their youth; no one else regards it as shameful, but rather as something to be enjoyed and celebrated.  Yet they interpret observations regarding their age as insults, rather than as recognition of a value-neutral characteristic like gender or nationality that is part of their character and which conditions their attitudes and beliefs.  He certainly thought age relevant and reasonable to note when he commented on Florestan's age (and his mother's).

I'm going to assume that you're intelligent enough to see how the things that were posted (by you and some others) could be seen in a very different light.

[Philoctetes]

Aw, I went for a copy of coffee and missed all the fun.  There really should be a gallery of moderated deleted posts.  Maybe I can file a freedom of information act claim.

They weren't all that impressive, but I think it was clear that neither side sought to understand the other.