| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Ray LaHood | ||||
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• Last night, Ray LaHood went on The Daily Show to discuss infrastructure, the stimulus, high-speed rail, and his own net worth. Worth noting: High-speed rail gets big applause from the audience. (Daily Show)
• Over at the Economix blog, Edward Glaeser opines on what makes cities great, and theorizes that events like the economic crisis may actually save cities from the trap of “too much success.” (NYTimes)
• The Obama administration released a seven-point plan to boost U.S. manufacturing this morning, calling for moves like better training for factory workers, opening overseas markets, and defending patents and copyrights. All good ideas — though the question remains whether the president will have the cash to pay for them. (Freep)
• How can we keep California’s high-speed rail project from becoming the next Seattle monorail? Robert Cruickshank offers an analysis. (CAHSR Blog)
December 16th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I watched this last night and though he was trying to get a laugh, I think Jon Stewart hit the nail on the head of the paradox of national transportation policy: it may be the most boring job in the cabinet but a critically important one. Our failing infrastructure is a big topic but I doubt many people would want to deal with it. LaHood seems up for it and I hope that the HSR enthusiasm will spread.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Everyone asks, “Where’s the money gonna come from?” There is an easy answer…1/2 of 1% levee on every financial derivatives transaction that passes through the Fed system AND closing all tax loopholes in the business tax code while enforcing the code with vigour. In addition, we can begin windfall taxes on all transactional bonuses. On top of that, we slap a huge excise tax on goods made by US companies abroad and re-imported.
As a nation, we allow an extreme imbalance that places the bulk of the revenue load upon the average Joe and Jane via use taxes, VATs, and civil fees rather than simply collecting properly from big business and fat cats who benefit grandly from the labour of the little guy.
Shame on our laxity, foolishness, and lack of fair play. We can pay for all our infrastructure needs as well as schooling and health-care for every person in our land if we simply revise the manner in which we collect revenue.
December 23rd, 2009 at 2:01 am
“Defending patents and copyrights” is actually well-documented to trash manufacturing.
The US’s most profitable manufacturing periods were those in which it had the *weakest* patent and copyright laws, weaker than those of its competition.
So no, not all good ideas. Some stupid ideas in there.