Monday, February 18, 2013
A challenge to proponents of a minimum wage of $9 per hour – what theory or analysis justifies that specific wage?
A challenge to proponents of a minimum wage of $9 per hour – what theory or analysis justifies that specific wage? | AEIdeas
"Bottom Line: If there is no economic theory or logic or cost-benefit analysis that justifies $9.00 per hour as an optimal wage for unskilled, entry-level workers, which seems to be the case, then a $9.00 minimum wage is exposed as being totally arbitrary and random.
Unless and until Obama and other proponents of a $9 per hour minimum wage can provide some analysis to show that $9 is optimal and maximizes the net benefits to unskilled workers, then it’s a policy that really can’t be taken seriously.
Further, the minimum wage requires a costly regulatory mechanism that administers and enforces the government-mandated wage, which is a cost that needs to be considered."
"Bottom Line: If there is no economic theory or logic or cost-benefit analysis that justifies $9.00 per hour as an optimal wage for unskilled, entry-level workers, which seems to be the case, then a $9.00 minimum wage is exposed as being totally arbitrary and random.
Unless and until Obama and other proponents of a $9 per hour minimum wage can provide some analysis to show that $9 is optimal and maximizes the net benefits to unskilled workers, then it’s a policy that really can’t be taken seriously.
Further, the minimum wage requires a costly regulatory mechanism that administers and enforces the government-mandated wage, which is a cost that needs to be considered."
OBAMOPOLY - THE LATEST BOARD GAME!
OBAMOPOLY - THE LATEST BOARD GAME!
"The object of the game is to destroy American capitalism by having the government take over everything!
Want to play?
No?
Too bad, you're already playing and just don't know it!
By the way ... You're not winning!"
"The object of the game is to destroy American capitalism by having the government take over everything!
Want to play?
No?
Too bad, you're already playing and just don't know it!
By the way ... You're not winning!"
DHS buying billions of rounds? Not so fast . . .
Sense of Events: DHS buying billions of rounds? Not so fast . .
"So there you have it.
I retract the Feb. 7 post and affirm today that DHS is not buying billions of rounds of pistol ammo with one proviso: DHS is not buying billions of rounds as quickly as some of us bloggers say they are.
But they are still buying a heck of a lot of ammo that, if continued at the published pace, definitely will come to billions over a longer time.
Consider major ammo manufacturer ATK's announcement of 11 months ago:
ANOKA, Minn., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) announced that it is being awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) agreement from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS, ICE) for .40 caliber ammunition. This contract features a base of 12 months, includes four option years, and will have a maximum volume of 450 million rounds.
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1rCHc)
If DHS exercises all the options of this single contract, it will buy 90 million rounds per year of .40-caliber pistol ammo alone.
What are the contracts for 9mm and rifle ammo?
That would likely make some interesting totals."
"So there you have it.
I retract the Feb. 7 post and affirm today that DHS is not buying billions of rounds of pistol ammo with one proviso: DHS is not buying billions of rounds as quickly as some of us bloggers say they are.
But they are still buying a heck of a lot of ammo that, if continued at the published pace, definitely will come to billions over a longer time.
Consider major ammo manufacturer ATK's announcement of 11 months ago:
ANOKA, Minn., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) announced that it is being awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) agreement from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS, ICE) for .40 caliber ammunition. This contract features a base of 12 months, includes four option years, and will have a maximum volume of 450 million rounds.
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1rCHc)
If DHS exercises all the options of this single contract, it will buy 90 million rounds per year of .40-caliber pistol ammo alone.
What are the contracts for 9mm and rifle ammo?
That would likely make some interesting totals."
A Mayor unplugged from reality
A Mayor unplugged from reality - NYPOST.com
"Bottom line: Bloomberg wants to force the private sector to build charging stations for a fleet of cars that don’t exist and probably won’t exist for years to come, if ever.
New York City has plenty of infrastructure needs.
More charging stations for electric cars isn’t one of them."
"Bottom line: Bloomberg wants to force the private sector to build charging stations for a fleet of cars that don’t exist and probably won’t exist for years to come, if ever.
New York City has plenty of infrastructure needs.
More charging stations for electric cars isn’t one of them."
Muslim preacher urges followers to claim 'Jihad Seeker's Allowance'
Muslim preacher urges followers to claim 'Jihad Seeker's Allowance' - Telegraph
"“The rest of the year they were busy with jihad [holy war] and things like that,” he said.
“People will say, ‘Ah, but you are not working’.
“But the normal situation is for you to take money from the kuffar [non-believers].
“So we take Jihad Seeker’s Allowance.
You need to get support.”
He went on to tell a 30-strong crowd: “We are going to take England — the Muslims are coming.”"
"“The rest of the year they were busy with jihad [holy war] and things like that,” he said.
“People will say, ‘Ah, but you are not working’.
“But the normal situation is for you to take money from the kuffar [non-believers].
“So we take Jihad Seeker’s Allowance.
You need to get support.”
He went on to tell a 30-strong crowd: “We are going to take England — the Muslims are coming.”"
Nanny state group compares sugary soda to “slow-acting but ruthlessly efficient bioweapon”
Nanny state group compares sugary soda to “slow-acting but ruthlessly efficient bioweapon” | WashingtonExaminer.com
"The alarmists at the the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest — a group with a long history of hysterical rhetoric regarding food ingredients — are at it again.
Their latest crusade is to push for stronger regulations on sugary sodas, like original Coke and Pepsi."
"The alarmists at the the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest — a group with a long history of hysterical rhetoric regarding food ingredients — are at it again.
Their latest crusade is to push for stronger regulations on sugary sodas, like original Coke and Pepsi."
"Vaguely Rude Place Names Of The World"
Maps | Vaguely Rude:
"Vaguely Rude Place Names Of The World"
Give the C of C in "Shit, Iran" a call for a fun weekend!
"Vaguely Rude Place Names Of The World"
Give the C of C in "Shit, Iran" a call for a fun weekend!
Should Michigan keep its drunken driving threshold at .08 percent BAC?
Should Michigan keep its drunken driving threshold at .08 percent BAC? (with poll) | MLive.com
"Another factor: Michigan could lose an estimated $50 million a year in federal highway funding if the state allows the threshold to bounce back up to .10.
All states have drunken driving thresholds set at .08 to be in compliance with federal standards and keep their federal highway money."
"Another factor: Michigan could lose an estimated $50 million a year in federal highway funding if the state allows the threshold to bounce back up to .10.
All states have drunken driving thresholds set at .08 to be in compliance with federal standards and keep their federal highway money."
Michigan's average gas price inches closer to $4 per gallon
Michigan's average gas price inches closer to $4 per gallon | MLive.com
"Michigan has the 7th highest average gas price in the nation "
"Michigan has the 7th highest average gas price in the nation "
Presidents Day: A look at the presidents who have visited the Muskegon area
Presidents Day: A look at the presidents who have visited the Muskegon area | MLive.com:
"Richard Nixon helped dedicate Walker Arena as part of a campaign stop when he was vice president in 1960. Nixon also visited the new Holiday Inn at Hoyt and Seaway in Muskegon Heights on June 8, 1964. "
"Richard Nixon helped dedicate Walker Arena as part of a campaign stop when he was vice president in 1960. Nixon also visited the new Holiday Inn at Hoyt and Seaway in Muskegon Heights on June 8, 1964. "
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Presidents Day:GM flounders
Presidents Day: Government vacations, Islamists flourish, GM flounders | Washington Times Communities:
Rescue Madness: GM Seems Headed Backwards to Bankruptcy
When I look through recent disclosures made by General Motors, I think of Monty Python’s John Cleese in the famous “dead parrot” sketch:
Looking at available “facts”, General Motors today is not technically “dead”—however, alarm bells are ringing off the hook.
In 2012, consolidated Automotive revenues grew by slightly less than 1 % from $ 148.9 billion to $ 150.3 billion. Automotive gross margin fell from a puny 12.4% in 2011 to 6.7%,
in 2012. Operating income before goodwill impairment charges fell from $ 6.9 billion to an operating loss of $ 3.2 billion.
Pretax income after all charges plummeted from $ 6.0 billion to a staggering loss of $ 30.3 billion.
Moreover, these consolidated results were produced while the largest unit, GM North America, increased its capacity utilization rate from 95.6% to 97.5%.
No manufacturing business is viable at such levels for long and few American businesses have already been as coddled by various governments.
In 2012, consolidated Automotive revenues grew by slightly less than 1 % from $ 148.9 billion to $ 150.3 billion. Automotive gross margin fell from a puny 12.4% in 2011 to 6.7%,
in 2012. Operating income before goodwill impairment charges fell from $ 6.9 billion to an operating loss of $ 3.2 billion.
Pretax income after all charges plummeted from $ 6.0 billion to a staggering loss of $ 30.3 billion.
Moreover, these consolidated results were produced while the largest unit, GM North America, increased its capacity utilization rate from 95.6% to 97.5%.
No manufacturing business is viable at such levels for long and few American businesses have already been as coddled by various governments.
If you cannot sell/lease vehicles when money is essentially free, how can you hope to do so as rates correct back up as they have started to do since July 2012?
Analysis that is more complete will have to wait until the first week of March when GM releases its Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Analysis that is more complete will have to wait until the first week of March when GM releases its Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Rest assured that informed investors will not be celebrating even if entrenched unions, managers and politicians dare to gloat.
Bailing out a structurally challenged vehicle producer using borrowed taxpayer funds, without fully addressing competitive weaknesses has not restored the fortunes of General Motors.
» DHS Purchases 21.6 Million More Rounds of Ammunition
» DHS Purchases 21.6 Million More Rounds of Ammunition Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!:
"To put that in perspective, during the height of active battle operations in Iraq, US soldiers used 5.5 million rounds of ammunition a month.
Extrapolating the figures, the DHS has purchased enough bullets over the last 10 months to wage a full scale war for almost 30 years."
"To put that in perspective, during the height of active battle operations in Iraq, US soldiers used 5.5 million rounds of ammunition a month.
Extrapolating the figures, the DHS has purchased enough bullets over the last 10 months to wage a full scale war for almost 30 years."
Sale of personal gene data condemned as ‘unethical and dangerous’
Sale of personal gene data condemned as ‘unethical and dangerous’ | The Raw Story
"Private firms will soon be able to buy people’s medical and genetic data without their consent and, in certain cases, acquire personal information that might enable them to identify individuals.
The revelation, which contradicts government claims that such material would be completely anonymous, has raised fears that pharmaceutical firms and insurance companies will be able to determine the identities of people susceptible to particular diseases.
It has prompted claims that fundamental changes to the use of NHS patient data are being introduced without adequate public debate or regulatory oversight."
"Private firms will soon be able to buy people’s medical and genetic data without their consent and, in certain cases, acquire personal information that might enable them to identify individuals.
The revelation, which contradicts government claims that such material would be completely anonymous, has raised fears that pharmaceutical firms and insurance companies will be able to determine the identities of people susceptible to particular diseases.
It has prompted claims that fundamental changes to the use of NHS patient data are being introduced without adequate public debate or regulatory oversight."
Strange Facts about America’s ‘Poor’
Strange Facts about America’s ‘Poor’ - By Robert Rector - The Corner - National Review Online
"In a recent Rasmussen poll, adults agreed (by a ratio of six to one) that “a family that is adequately fed and living in a house or apartment that is in good repair” is not poor.
By that simple test, about 80 percent of the Census Bureau’s “poor” people would not be considered poor by their fellow Americans.
In the same Rasmussen poll, however, 73 percent said poverty was a severe problem.
Why the disconnect?
The answer: Public perception of poverty in the U.S. is governed by the mainstream media, which invariably depicts the Census Bureau’s tens of millions of poor people as chronically hungry and malnourished, homeless or barely hanging on in overcrowded, dilapidated housing. "
"In a recent Rasmussen poll, adults agreed (by a ratio of six to one) that “a family that is adequately fed and living in a house or apartment that is in good repair” is not poor.
By that simple test, about 80 percent of the Census Bureau’s “poor” people would not be considered poor by their fellow Americans.
In the same Rasmussen poll, however, 73 percent said poverty was a severe problem.
Why the disconnect?
The answer: Public perception of poverty in the U.S. is governed by the mainstream media, which invariably depicts the Census Bureau’s tens of millions of poor people as chronically hungry and malnourished, homeless or barely hanging on in overcrowded, dilapidated housing. "
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