I dream of living in ... a World Without Dictators! I'm a Libertarian Paternalist in Slovakia - Freedom with Responsibility - 10% of income into your own Pension; Tax Loans for education, health, housing; now supporting Employment Maximizing Companies!

blog posts on immigration at The Truth Laid Bear

The Press is dying -- Long live News!

<em>"intelligently filter the flood of cheap production online, assemble the best parts, package it for sale or distribution in print."</em>

Jay Rosen on PressThink has great thoughts on the evolution of the Press.

Yes.  This is the right model for a new startup, and it's also mostly what I think I want.

However, for the key Newspaper Killer App, I fully agree with Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit):
accurate investigative journalism.

The problem seems to be, at least in large part, that when the skills to do a good job go with the passion to do the deep investigation, the reporter can't be objective. 

Well, Jay's been saying this for many years now.

For CapTimes, I think they can essentially catch up with Dane101 with a couple of good hires, and then move into the lead on deep journalism with their professional reporters.

Jay, you haven't mentioned pro-am editors much, but I suspect one of the experiments that is likely to be successful is to allow lots of various am editors giving their suggestions, and a few pro-editors choosing among the many ams.
The pros get paid a bit (or a lot?), the ams get "fame".

The NewsTrust experiment might be a step towards this, with readers rating stories.

Another experiment I have yet to see is a good dual-biased site -- with fierce anti-Rep facts and analysis facing fierce anti-Dem facts and analysis on the same page.  Perhaps you know of some?

Neither TPM nor PajamasMedia nor TownHall yet does it, for me.  On the top line quote, my daily reading of Instapundit says he does it for my tastes well.

Could a newspaper have multiple Front Pages, which are set by the reader, but always includes some of the stronger counter-views?

I hope that as Huckabee goes around with his HuckPac to try to energize his evangelical base (to support McCain), he consider trying to support more pro-Christian, pro-patriotism, pro-personal responsibility (less gov't) news content providers.

Just as Catholic Churches get a partial teacher subsidy by devout teachers willing to work for less, news reporters "with a mission" will be working for less to subsidize their own chosen news biases.

Posted by: TomGrey at 04/30/08 17:53 | link | comments

Ron Paul for President 2008?

I'm glad Ron Paul ran, and even generated a good amount of interest.  He is the only consistent "smaller government" politician.

But I am certain that, for America and the future, he has the wrong idea about Iraq.  The Killing Fields of Cambodia, fully expected (tho not so bad???) after the Dem Party decided to lose the Vietnam Peace after 1974, was the worst event in my lifetime.  I won't support any "principle" that seems to support such an outcome.

On the gold standard, Ron Paul is not wrong, but being right doesn't matter so much.  On being in favor of tax-cuts, and tax simplification, and almost all other economic issues, Ron Paul is great.

Ron Paul is, and has been, strongly pro-life; something I was much less so in 1988, when I voted for him for President as a Libertarian.   So, pro-tax cuts, pro-life, but not pro-Iraqi Freedom thru US military.  McCain will be a better president.

I sure hope he wins his seat again, even if he doesn't become President.

(Thanks to Krazy for inspiration -- 3 weeks later!)

Posted by: TomGrey at 04/30/08 17:52 | link | comments

Human Rights Games needed

Dear Steven Spielberg,

Please sponsor an alternate, competing Human Rights Games.  Perhaps in LA or some other of the last 10 Summer Olympic cities.


All athletes should boycott the Chinese "genocide" Olympics.
1) Because of China's continued support for Sudan and the genocide in Darfur.
(What is it now, some 300 000 - 400 000 dead, 2 million left their homes?)

2) Because of China's continued occupation of Tibet

3) Because of China's lack of human rights protection.

China should be compared to the USA and Europe, and all countries should have the same standard. 
Universal Human Rights should be universal -- the same standard.

China's violations of human rights should have disqualified them in the IOC's consideration.


Rich Human Rights activists should be attempting to set up a competing "Human Rights" Games, so those athletes that choose to boycott still have a chance to compete and win somewhere.

Posted by: TomGrey at 04/24/08 02:47 | link | comments
darfur

Real Life Business Lessons

Very interesting Top Ten things learned by BusinessPundit in 5 years of blogging (now ending, since he's got a child coming).  (Great reason!)

#10 was Luck Matters -- so it does.

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/27/08 03:45 | link | comments (2)

President and Reality

It’s a sad reality that

1) the Congress, not the President, decides on the budget.  It is far more the diverse Congressmen who caused the huge increase (though without even bully pulpit objections by Bush).  Why aren’t the conservatives more intensely targeting the big spending Congressmen (and the horrible gerrymandering)?  Because it’s too much work; easier to complain about the President.

2) Presidents want to be “successful”.  With respect to significant programs, it’s easiest to get laws passed that the OTHER party likes.  Thus, Clinton, but not Reagan nor Bush, was able to pass welfare reform, and NAFTA.  Many anti-Reps point out, correctly, that Bush, like Reagan, had huge increases in the deficit.  For less spending, what is best is a Dem President facing a majority Rep Congress.  (Of course, I’ve yet to see an anti-Rep who points this out to follow thru and claim that, because he supports more gov’t spending, he’s going to vote Rep.  It’s always that the anti-spending conservatives shouldn’t vote Rep, never that the big-spending liberals, should.)

3) On Foreign Policy, it’s not clear that the non-interventionist position is the best.  But it IS clear that the President pushes this the most.

4) On US SC justice appointments—this has become the “moral value” battleground, and IS a Presidential perogitive.

Note in 2004, some 21 mil. voters voted for Bush on Iraq, some 8 mil. on economic issues, some 26 mil. on moral values (Pew exit interviews).  For Reps, the Iraq War and moral values (mostly pro-life) are the correct two big Presidential legs on the 3-legged conservative stool.  For economics, the focus should be on Congress.
(but it mostly isn’t.  Jerry Lewis in CA, again???)

[And some 5 mil for other reasons (anti-Kerry?).]

David Frum seems pretty worthy, too—even if he was Mitt smitten.

(Via Prof. Bainbridge, I have to laugh at bit at the good Professor, and most other anti-Bush “conservatives” who object to the huge increase in gov’t spending.)

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/27/08 00:24 | link | comments
democracy

Organizational Competence

The need for "organizational competence" is even more important than an entrepreneur's ideas or drive.

This is under-discussed and under-studied in economics, and not quite explained well by MBA folk.  In fact, with big bucks coming from buyouts, the org competence is being  ignored somewhat.

And, in the EA buyout case, the product is more important; yet the vulnerability to a hostile takeover is because of less org competence.

(Via Ideoblog)

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/26/08 04:56 | link | comments
economics

Iraq is getting better

See Bill Ardolino for notes about inside Iraqi Politics--and the big silence of the MSM.

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/26/08 04:14 | link | comments
iraq

IMF should rate bonds by buying them

The IMF should sell its gold and buy gov't denominated debt of developing countries -- but in ratios dependent on their following of IMF advice.

They should attempt to be like bond raters of risky bonds, but the IMF rating of the bonds means buying more of the bonds from the gov'ts making "good" (IMF defined) policy.

Thus, for two developing countries with the same "need", the one with good policy might get 90% of its "allocation", while the one with poor policy gets only 40%.

Over time, the one with good policy will have less need as it becomes developed, so it might reach 100% of the allocation, and then the IMF stops investing there, but should be "profiting", at essentially (IMF influenced, like rating agency influences) market rates.

(via Marginal Revolution)

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/26/08 03:55 | link | comments
economics

How my family Prays

Whereas my Catholic wife's upbringing in prayer tended to be more ritualistic, but very strong, my own Episcopalian / Protestant upbringing was towards more topical, "in our own words" prayers.  At our Children's Mass, there is a big section where the kids can go and pray for something, or thank God for something.  This has inspired our own family tradition of a nightly prayer:

We pray the Lord's Prayer (in English), together.  I'll then pray for some things, and give thanks for others (family safety often, also Peace, and World Without Dictators).  The three speaking children with then give some thanks/ pray for some good things (the two year is often on my lap, often quietly playing) -- these can be either in Slovak or English.  Then my wife will pray/ give thanks, in Slovak or English.

We didn't strongly agree on this before, but after lightly trying it some 5 years ago, we've been very happy with and recently discussed our happiness.

Happy enough to share!

Via The Anchoress, where I also added:

My Lent is going OK -- but giving up "negativity" in blog posts has perhaps been too easy.  (While I support Huckabee, and will support McCain, Obama's Tax Credits in his wonk section are interesting.)

There was fine children's film on Lourdes, that was even translated into Slovak (so our 4 kids can watch it).

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/18/08 01:52 | link | comments
christianity

McCain & Moral Value Voters

While it seems 52% of the "Catholics" voted Rep in 2004, still 48% of them voted for the pro-abortion "Catholic" Kerry.

According to the Pew exit interviews on "most important issue", Bush's voters were
~21 mil for Iraq-WoT,
~8.5 mil for Tax Cuts-Economy,
~27 mil for Moral Values
~4 mil. Other
= ~60 mil votes

(see my 2004 3-d analysis of the Pew numbers:
http://tomgrey.motime.com/1103050095#389023)

I'd guess McCain will get most of these votes, especially the Iraq & Moral Values.

It seems quite likely that even MORE than 52% of the Catholics will vote Rep this year, as the pro-life message keeps getting stronger.  (And will, until Roe is overturned).
(via Professor Bainbridge)

Oops, I didn't quite answer the question: Should a Catholic University host a Clinton Campaign Event.  I would say "No".

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/16/08 02:33 | link | comments
democracy, christianity

McCain - Huckabee 2008

Congrats to McCain, almost locked up the Rep nomination, but also I'm happy for Huckabee to stay in the race.  This reminds folks about the voting power of the pro-life Christians, most of whom won't have much trouble with McCain, but prefer Huckabee.

It's also a bit of a push to either get the VP slot, or be involved with the choice -- and it's certainly excellent practice for Huckabee 2012.

Huck is an anti-elite. He’s proud to be a Christian, and many Rep voters want more pride in the reality of Christianity, vs. the anti-Christian secular alternatives.

More Americans are proud to be American, and proud to be Christian.

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/10/08 17:43 | link | comments
politics

Lent 2008 -- give up negative blogposts

I'm going to try to give up negative blog posts for Lent.

I want more happiness in my life, and more positive energy.  Almost everything has good points, so I'm going to go out of my way and try to highlight them.

Even politicians whose policies I generally think are negative.

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/10/08 17:38 | link | comments
christianity

McCain - Huckabee 2008

I voted for Huckabee in the CA primary.  I like McCain OK, and especially his desire for victory in Iraq.  But the need for Christians to gain a better hearing in the public square.

I don't like Romney so much, and I'm becoming more anti-elite, tho he'd be better than any Dems.

Joe at EvangelicalOutpost has a great post on why not Mitt.

A Jacksonian notes the 3-legged Rep stool includes both Christian and Traditional social conservatives.  The Christians are more big gov't types, tho.

Posted by: TomGrey at 02/07/08 04:07 | link | comments
democracy

Support Tax Cuts

small-l libertarian Friedman truly did support all tax cuts. 

Which politician has actually been cutting ANY gov't programs?   

The sad reality is that once a program (of 'free' money) gets started, it becomes popular and hard to cut.

Tax cuts, like all money, go for two purposes, investment and consumption.  Rich folk invest more -- investment leads to more and higher paying jobs, and more mortgage money available.  Non-rich folk consume more.
Gov't folk mostly consume ('entitlement'), but often do invest in infrastructure (tho New Orleans/ LA failed for many years).

Consumption now is good, now.  Investment now is good for the future, increased production, increased consumption.

Bush failed to lead his Rep Congress towards any big spending cuts, but when facing a recession the gov't wasn't going to do spending cuts anyway, and shouldn't.  The anti-recession tax cuts were good, so McCain was a bit wrong.  The lack of spending cuts was bad -- and McCain and all Congress failed to suggest any in any Budget I heard of.

Posted by: TomGrey at 01/25/08 03:44 | link | comments
democracy

Yes to Huckabee

This Libertarian Paternalist is about to vote for Huckabee in the CA primary. 

He is quite pro-life, a proud church going Christian, and an anti-elitist.

I suspect McCain will win the Rep nomination, but Romney will become the anti-McCain for the rich Rep Establishment.  Rudy will drop after Florida, but most of his support is split to McCain & Romney.

Huckabee should stay mostly positive, especially against other candidates (tho not Club for Growth), and be more on message.  His "God's word" about the Constitution was maybe a small gaffe, but in fact everybody wants their own morality to be written into the Constitution.  The problem was handling the spin after. 

In fact, any of the three of McCain, Romney, or Huck have excellent chances to win against a pro-defeat Dem, as Iraq becomes a success.

If Huck takes a few #2 spots on Super Tuesday, he should schedule a trip to Iraq to see it first hand, talk to the troops, and get recharged with real stories of improvement there -- and how Victory for Democracy in Iraq is the best hope in the long term for Peace in the Middle East.

McCain - Huckabee in 2008 wins if Iraq is looking  good.  Reps lose if Iraq fails.  Or McCain-Lieberman.  I like John, too; and even Mitt is OK. 

Christians who feel under cultural pressure from the anti-life (culture of death) elites should be voting Huckabee to create more space in the Republican Party for cultural Christians.
(inspired by Joe at evangelicaloutpost)

Posted by: TomGrey at 01/25/08 03:18 | link | comments
democracy, christianity

Be Not Afraid -- the economy is OK

Be Not Afraid.  I'm reading about doom and gloom at Crunchy Conservative, and I don't think it's so bad.

First, the Iraq war was necessary ... (1) to end the threat of nukes in the hands of Saddam (done), and (2) to create a Muslim - Arab democracy to demonstrate to the Muslim world that it is possible (in process, will be in much better shape by Nov.)

In fact, (2) is being done so well thanks to Rumsfeld's little footprint and the corrupt Iraqis waking up to their own responsibility to defend themselves faster than the corrupt S. Vietnamese did.  Only 4000 Americans dead.  I'd say that's a "B" for Bush (<2500 an A, <5000 B, <10000 C -- have you seen any others quantify it?).

But the corrupt elected Dems and corrupt elected Reps are having trouble solving the corruption problem: using gov't office & power for their own benefit.  Of course, it is because they follow the example of corrupt voters, who vote in favor of using gov't power to pay for goodies they want, especially SS/Medicare.

Corruption is using gov't / Other People's Money for your own benefit, just the corruption of most "issue" voters.

Means testing entitlements will be coming, but the USA remains in fine shape, even as the real rate of poverty in the world has come down hugely in the last 50 years, thanks to the US led Free Trade & relatively free investment.

The dot.com boom-bust is now being followed by a US mortgage boom-bust, and the in-process world reaction, but it might not even meet the earlier definition of a recession: two or more consecutive quarters of NEGATIVE GDP growth.  Instead, the gloomers are changing the definition to be a "slowdown" in growth.

5% unemployment? That's probably the long-term full employment rate, and the 4.7% was overemployment unsustainably funded by "safe" real estate asset over-appreciation.

Peak oil hasn't yet been seen, but that high price, far more than any gov't program, is the signal for (admittedly slower than desired) market forces to develop innovative alternatives to increasingly expensive oil.  Oil that the world will NEVER run out of, but will rise in price with demand until that technological alternative, or alternatives, come on-line. YES to more nuclear power -- like France has-- as well as solar, wind, and coal & coal conversion.

The Fed knows how to avoid a depression: lower interest rates.  Which they've done, down to 4%, but there's room for more lowering if needed.

On the moral side, support for Andrew style pleasure sex and consumer sex and children as a consumable item is a slow rot inside of Christian/ Western society -- led by Liberal Fascists (PC thought police).

Vote for proud Christians to get Christianity and Morality and individual responsibility back into the Public Square.  None of the Presidential candidates will "save" America, but discussions of the solutions will help real people make behavior changes to help save themselves.  And America needs less saving than any other OECD country.  Or Russia.  Or China (with some 20 million "surplus" teenage men, more than teenage women).

Yes, fear Iran getting a nuke, and Tel Aviv going mushroom (or Moscow or Mumbai or Miami).  But that's about it for real fear.  The rest is mostly infotainment fear-mongering.

Posted by: TomGrey at 01/24/08 05:14 | link | comments
economics, christianity

Writers socialism

Neo posts about writers and socialism.

Great post, great comments — tho I’d have expected somebody else to note Robert Nozick’s

Why Intellectuals Hate Capitalism

There is also the historical, fairy tale myth issue of the “just underdog”. In most stories, including Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, the hero is the underdog. With American supremacy, there is no “imagology” for the problems of the strongest, best, but still imperfect leading country.

There’s even something sort of End of History like about the whole world feeling that America can’t be beaten. But its imperfections seem to mean it deserves to be somehow punished…

(These are more current thoughts than the 20s & 30s silly delusional socialism junk.)

Christianity, and its sins of fornication & adultery, is also a focus of ire because fidelity is against freedom and the feelings of the moment.

I just read a Brooklyn Arden leftist post about how Barack Obama can heal America and bring us together again — with no mention of the pro-life / pro-abortion culture war.

America will stay divided until the pro-abortion folk have, thru generational success at population limitation, become a consistently losing voter block.

The sexual promiscuity is part of the core disfunctional desire to pretend that fantasy is real. Real happiness can only come thru sexual faithfulness.

Posted by: TomGrey at 01/14/08 03:17 | link | comments

Somebody else supports Barack

From Normblog, I was directed to another blog, Brooklyn Arden, by somebody supporting Barack Obama,

Good article, tho I still disagree.  On Iraq and the war, there is no mention of what opposition to the war in Iraq means -- accepting Saddam as preferable.

There are other issues to look at.

Posted by: TomGrey at 01/14/08 02:24 | link | comments

Fred or Huck? -- and Global Warming?

Right now I'm leaning toward Huckabee, despite the fact that Fred Thompson is a fine candidate.

I'm reading Crunchy Con (again), and there's a lot of good posts and comments.

Even on Global Warming, Crazy Weather. 
Where I think:

When are the "Global Warming" alarmists, like Al Gore, going to call for a 50 cent a gal. tax?

Until they do, they're blowing smoke.  In fact, while we DO do know that CO2 is increasing in the atmosphere (quick quiz: how much is CO2 now?
a) 80% or more b) 50% c) 20% d) 1%  e) less than 1%?), we do NOT know that "Warming" is actually happening.

See "Climate Change" become the new issue, which is more correct.  Maybe we're heading towards an ice age.  Maybe the deserts will get water, and the tropics will get drought.  We don't know.  It won't be "sudden" for a new stability.

I support increasing gas taxes for climate, and national security reasons -- and to lower the income taxes on the rich, so that they can (and will) hire more poor people.

Posted by: TomGrey at 01/14/08 01:54 | link | comments
democracy

Happy New Year - Freedom will win in Iraq

Whether Freedom, and Democracy, leads to Christian-liberal human rights, I'm not yet so sure.  I hope so.

But it's pretty clear that the Iraqis would prefer peace and capitalism to terrorism and Sharia; at least a large majority.

So this is enough of Happy New Year

Oh, Bill Whittle has a great long post on agility in war.

Posted by: TomGrey at 01/08/08 04:55 | link | comments
iraq, military