dagblog - Comments for "Stimulus or Austerity?"

On the topic of what's so

Orlando — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 07:21:15 +0000

In reply to I wonder how energy fits into

On the topic of what's so great about not having stuff, I have to tell you that I sold, gave, or threw away all but eight boxes and two suitcases full of stuff when I moved overseas. Everything. I didn't see the point of storing furniture and other crap when I don't intend to move back. Probably eight boxes is too much, but most of those boxes are filled with journals and rough drafts--only a couple have keepsake sort of things. I've never been a pack rat, but over twenty years of adulthood, I'd accumulated so much crap. What's so great now is that I've never felt more free. And in almost a year, the only thing I've missed is my espresso maker. But I seem to be surviving on old fashioned coffee and the occasional Starbucks. :)

For Christmas I am buying

trkingmomoe — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 06:38:49 +0000

In reply to Stimulus or Austerity?

For Christmas I am buying Nordic Ware baking pans for family and freinds. They are made in the US and it might save someone's job. In other words I am trying to help the economy with my choices for gifts. I am spsending less so I want it to stay here in this country. With a little research you can find out who is still makeing things in this country.

I also think it is a good idea to pay down debt.

F@¢k you and

Atheist — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:13:33 +0000

In reply to This Christmas, I'm giving

F@¢k you and your parliamentarian system.

This Christmas, I'm giving

quinn esq — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:09:06 +0000

In reply to Stimulus or Austerity?

This Christmas, I'm giving leaf-blowers.

At your first link, the Fed

artappraiser — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:33:52 +0000

In reply to This New York Times piece

At your first link, the Fed site, I went surfing a little to see what "p.r." was there, and found that he gave not one but two speeches at the European conference today.

In addition to "Rebalancing the Global Recovery," there was also "Emerging from the Crisis: Where Do We Stand?"

Off-topic for those interested in mortgage crisis issues, there is this Congressional testimony from yesterday available there:

Governor Elizabeth A. Duke
Foreclosure documentation issues
Before the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
November 18, 2010

There are few times when I

Atheist — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:26:52 +0000

In reply to Those are choices. You don't

There are few times when I would welcome a neighborhood association, but leaf blowers would be one of those times (presuming that they're prohibiting them and not mandating them!).

Of course, I'm fully aware that this is one of those, "Don't tell me what to do, but I don't want you to do 'X'" situations. I embrace my hypocrisy.

You know Donal that picture

cmaukonen — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:26:03 +0000

In reply to Stimulus or Austerity?

You know Donal that picture of Bernanke on the one dollar bill makes him look like Larry Fine of the Three Stooges.

In a related vein, some of my wife's relatives have decided that for Xmas this year, instead of giving gifts to adults, they are going to spend the same amount paying down their debt. I'm wondering if they heard this somewhere, or came up with it on their own.

Humm...sounds like a good idea to me and one that should sit real well with the Austerity Gurus. I say go for it.

And it's not even just about

Atheist — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:24:45 +0000

In reply to Depends on the stuff. I have

And it's not even just about realizing that we're not fabulously wealthy. It's also about what's good for the environment, both in terms of raw material pollution and greenhouse gas production.

Those are choices. You don't

Michael Maiello — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:24:19 +0000

In reply to Depends on the stuff. I have

Those are choices. You don't like leafblowers but your neighbor does. I'm all for smarter consumption and asking yourself "Do I really want that?" But if we're not going to be fabulously wealthy anymore and are going to be made to do without not for lack of want but for lack of means, then we have to have a serious conversation about how hard we're working.

This New York Times piece

artappraiser — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:21:13 +0000

In reply to Stimulus or Austerity?

This New York Times piece yesterday pointed out that Bernake's Frankfurt speech would be part of a bigger (and unusual) Fed "counteroffensive" already going on.