How would you "fix" the economy?

[82_28]

I think you're funny, Stephen. Yes, in a good way. I love people with a mixture of bitterness, outspokenness and cleverness.

[Joe Hillshoist]

You've got that arse about face. 30 years of low wages and high unemployment, especially in the traditionally well-organised industries, along with the extinction of some industries.

Extinction of industries sure, but really, compared to when they started, unions struggle today cos (at least in Australia) workers are well looked after. And have been for a couple of generations. That is one of the major reasons for the falls in union membership.

Legally of course legislation banning the right to collectively negotiate rights and conditions, and actually banning unions from worksites doesn't help.

But really (apart from a lack of industries to provide a base) the biggest drain on union numbers is the relatively good conditions workers have. At least in Australia, now, (well over the last 30 years.) Union negotiated deals are always better than non union ones, collectively. Some individuals might be able to get better deals in some circumstances, but usually over the vast majority of the population it doesn't work that way. Union negotiated workplace conditions are available to all workers at that site whether they are union members or not.

So most people don't bother paying their dues.

When the Howard govt began its full on attack on workers rights after their 2004 election victory union memberships began to rise for the first time in decades.

Thats here in Australia tho. (Where the ashes belong.)

I dunno about the rest of the world.

[ninakat]

Here's how I wouldn't expect the economy to be fixed: by forming a coalition (of delusional economists) and writing a letter to Obama.

AS IF.



300 Economists Warn Obama: Grave Danger Ahead
By Bryce Covert

September 17, 2010 "New Deal 2.0 " September 16, 2010 -- Three hundred economists released a letter to President Obama today with one message: focus on jobs, not on the deficit. Robert Borosage, co-director of the Institute for America’s Future and one of the authors of the statement, said the letter is “a call for action on the economy and a return to economic common sense” in a conference call with the media this morning. This is not the time for balancing the budget and slashing the deficit, he pointed out; rather, it is “the time for bold initiatives to rebuild America and to generate jobs and growth.”

. . .

[Nordic]

What pisses me off about all this "stimulus" crap is that what has been put out there seems to be the same old same old, in other words $700 billion worth of band aids.

Where is the money to rebuild our energy infrastructure? Solar power should be everywhere, especially in the southwest, it should be on every freaking rooftop by now. Just as a for instance! That would create an entire new economy in the southwest (and elsewhere, really), but no, he'd rather fix potholes and widen highways and crap like that.

I hate the stupid.

[Stephen Morgan]

Solar panels? And what do you do at night?

Britain has it easy enough though, all those mill lades from the industrial revolution, the bit before steam powered factories, could be put back into use and provide about 40% of our electricity, without having to make any new ones. Of course they'd proabbly have to be dug out again first.

[Nordic]

Solar panels? And what do you do at night?

.

There are many ways to store energy, some mechanical, some electrical, some chemical, etc. etc. etc. It's not that big a deal.

[Wombaticus Rex]

Solar panels? And what do you do at night?

I find it really hard to believe you don't know enough about Solar to actually ask that question. When you talk shit, it's in clinical detail -- surely, September 2010 is not the first time you've thought about solar power.

[norton ash]

Reminds me of the lying job applicant who claimed he'd worked 5 miles underground in a gold mine. When asked what they used for lighting down there, he said he didn't know, he worked the day shift.

C'mon, Morgan, you can provoke us better than that.

[Stephen Morgan]

Storage is inherently inefficient and requires batteries consisting largely of toxic chemicals.

Better than wind maybe, but not as good as hydroelectric.