The Economics Party

[Ardentfrost]

The Dilbert Blog: The Economics Party

The Economics Party

My jaw dropped when I heard that presidential candidate Clinton dismissed the unified opinion of every economist on the planet and supported the gas tax rebate. The rebate is John McCain’s proposal. I think that proves both of them are unqualified to be president. Obama isn’t much better when it comes to sorting out economic policy from pandering, although he did avoid that particular landmine.

So I decided to start my own political party. I call it the Economics Party. There’s no paperwork involved, and you don’t even have to stop being a Democrat or Republican or whatever to join. The Economics Party won’t have its own candidates. All we’ll do is agree to vote for the candidate with the best long term economic policy, according to the consensus of leading economists.

The Economics Party would ignore superstition in its decisions. Here are a few things I think would end up on the platform, assuming most leading economists agree:

- Withdraw from Iraq
- More aggressive energy policy (back off on ethanol)
- More sane tax policies
- Limited government
- Legalize doctor assisted suicide
- Keep abortion legal
- Decriminalize marijuana
- Strong education policy

We’d make some exceptions for humanitarian reasons. For example, if a natural disaster hits a poor part of the country, it might be cheaper to let everyone die, but you have to put life ahead of money at some point.

The platform might look Libertarian, but it has differences. For example, a Libertarian might be opposed to the government making people wear motorcycle helmets. The Economics Party would just look at the likely higher cost of insurance in a helmet-free world and decide on that basis. I don’t know which way it would come out.

The Economics Party would be committed to changing its policy recommendation whenever the facts warranted. We’re pro flip-flop when it makes sense. In other words, our brains function properly.

If thirty or forty million people join the Economics Party, all major candidates would have to start paying attention to the consensus of economists. At the very least, voters would become more aware of what the leading economists think makes sense. That seems like a good thing.

Are you in?

Another gem from Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert.

Although I think it would be awesome if there really was an Economics Party, I doubt it would ever get any attention. Hell, there's a party called the Constitution Party and no one cares about them. All they want to do is uphold the Constitution, how can no one care about that?!?

It would be nice, though, if candidates did pay attention to economics.

[kinggovernor]

Economists are infallible, they are social scientists after all.

[thewise1]

The Economics Party basically sounds like the Libertarian Party

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by thewise1

The Economics Party basically sounds like the Libertarian Party

sounds like Utilitarianism to me.

[thewise1]

or Objectivism

[WickedLou9]

When did this pervasive distrust of "smart people" creep into our society? It's like we would rather listen to some " regular down to earth folk" then learned accomplished intelligent people. Oh economists say it's a bad idea? What do they know. Jeb down the street at the gas-n-go said he wants lower gas prices. He's much better!

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

When did this pervasive distrust of "smart people" creep into our society? It's like we would rather listen to some " regular down to earth folk" then learned accomplished intelligent people. Oh economists say it's a bad idea? What do they know. Jeb down the street at the gas-n-go said he wants lower gas prices. He's much better!

I think the people might be getting it this time.

[WickedLou9]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

I think the people might be getting it this time.

I dont know what you mean

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I dont know what you mean

It is not clear if anyone immediately appreciated the teaching moment that had just passed. The following day, The New York Times published a poll on the gas tax holiday proposal in which "an overwhelming majority of voters said candidates calling for the suspension of the federal gasoline tax this summer were acting to help themselves politically, rather than to help ordinary Americans."

On the gasoline tax, the survey underlined the risk Mrs. Clinton is taking in embracing a position that most Americans -- including a majority of her own supporters -- appear to view as political pandering. More than 60 percent of voters in the poll said that Mrs. Clinton said what people wanted to hear, rather than what she believed. Forty-three percent said that about Mr. Obama, and 41 percent about Mr. McCain.
TPMCafe | Talking Points Memo | The Gas Tax Holiday: A Rare Teaching Moment in American Politics

And Obama defeated Hillary is both North Carolina and Indiana (essentially)

[WickedLou9]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

It is not clear if anyone immediately appreciated the teaching moment that had just passed. The following day, The New York Times published a poll on the gas tax holiday proposal in which "an overwhelming majority of voters said candidates calling for the suspension of the federal gasoline tax this summer were acting to help themselves politically, rather than to help ordinary Americans."

On the gasoline tax, the survey underlined the risk Mrs. Clinton is taking in embracing a position that most Americans -- including a majority of her own supporters -- appear to view as political pandering. More than 60 percent of voters in the poll said that Mrs. Clinton said what people wanted to hear, rather than what she believed. Forty-three percent said that about Mr. Obama, and 41 percent about Mr. McCain.
TPMCafe | Talking Points Memo | The Gas Tax Holiday: A Rare Teaching Moment in American Politics

And Obama defeated Hillary is both North Carolina and Indiana (essentially)

oh ok. then yes I agree.

[A_C_E]

Originally Posted by thewise1

or Objectivism

If you think this is even remotely Objectivist then you don't understand Objectivism

[A_C_E]

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

When did this pervasive distrust of "smart people" creep into our society? It's like we would rather listen to some " regular down to earth folk" then learned accomplished intelligent people. Oh economists say it's a bad idea? What do they know. Jeb down the street at the gas-n-go said he wants lower gas prices. He's much better!

I don't understand it either.

I think a lot of it might have to do with the fact that average working Americans think "smart people" in "smart jobs" don't understand their plight, and that what they want, think, and believe isn't well enough taken into consideration.

They don't see the fact that their beliefs are basically wrong, which is why they are not taken into account. That's my elite-slanted take, anyway.

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by A_C_E

I don't understand it either.

I think a lot of it might have to do with the fact that average working Americans think "smart people" in "smart jobs" don't understand their plight, and that what they want, think, and believe isn't well enough taken into consideration.

They don't see the fact that their beliefs are basically wrong, which is why they are not taken into account. That's my elite-slanted take, anyway.

Or when many educated people talk, it sets many blue collar's bullshit meter off.

Many times policy decisions come down to a decision of not academic analysis but rather a values debate.

[thewise1]

Originally Posted by A_C_E

If you think this is even remotely Objectivist then you don't understand Objectivism

In some ways it would be.

[kombayn]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

The Dilbert Blog: The Economics Party



Another gem from Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert.

Although I think it would be awesome if there really was an Economics Party, I doubt it would ever get any attention. Hell, there's a party called the Constitution Party and no one cares about them. All they want to do is uphold the Constitution, how can no one care about that?!?

It would be nice, though, if candidates did pay attention to economics.

Actually the reason the Constitution Party doesn't get that much praise is there pro-Christian stance when upholding the Constitution, they believe it to be part of the hand of God. They don't want to tread on Religious' peoples rights which are good, but come on... You're only going to win the Conservative Christian vote with a party based on those political view-points.

As for what the Economic Party said, I'm in pretty much agreement with the Creator of Dilbert's speech there. I have a good feeling though in the next 12 years or so, we'll have a more limited-Libertarian thinking government, because our generation will be the majority and no one wants to stand by and let a Bigger Government ruin what this great country has accomplished. To think, it all started with Mr. Reagan.

[A_C_E]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

Or when many educated people talk, it sets many blue collar's bullshit meter off.

Many times policy decisions come down to a decision of not academic analysis but rather a values debate.

So having a conversation which is over the head of uneducated people sets off bullshit meters?

It's stuff like this that really annoys me about America these days. We're fast becoming a nation of morons.

[kombayn]

No, we're not a Nation of Morons. We're a nation of different opinions and we belittle anyone we don't agree with. We're actually quite smug when it comes to politics and not reasonable.

[A_C_E]

Originally Posted by kombayn

No, we're not a Nation of Morons. We're a nation of different opinions and we belittle anyone we don't agree with. We're actually quite smug when it comes to politics and not reasonable.

It's hard for me to agree with you. The dumbing-down of the American public via reality television, sensationalist news media, and the E! Channel seems to be a troubling reality. How does one contest this?

[kombayn]

Change the channel. You can't blame people for what they watch, and when they watch shows like that I don't think they watch them agreeing with everything they see on reality tv or mainstream media news. DIRECTV and the Internet have just allowed to see more dumb people in the world, but I'm sure they know a craft you don't and can own you on it. Like maybe, fixing a car or plumbing or... etc. We all have a special talent, just because you may have more knowledge than a person doesn't make them stupid.

[A_C_E]

Originally Posted by kombayn

Change the channel. You can't blame people for what they watch, and when they watch shows like that I don't think they watch them agreeing with everything they see on reality tv or mainstream media news. DIRECTV and the Internet have just allowed to see more dumb people in the world, but I'm sure they know a craft you don't and can own you on it. Like maybe, fixing a car or plumbing or... etc. We all have a special talent, just because you may have more knowledge than a person doesn't make them stupid.

I don't think you're quite seeing what I'm saying.

Forty years ago, people would gather to listen to political debates on the radio. They would huddle around the TV to watch LBJ and Nixon address the nation on Vietnam or Watergate. They watched the CBS Evening News, every night. Read the morning newspaper and had a collection of books in the living room or study--a combination of great literary works, history, and popular fiction. People enjoyed a good debate about politics or getting together with friends to play Bridge or Pinochle.

People just don't do that kind of shit anymore. Now we watch Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, and read US Weekly. Tell me that isn't a dumbing-down of the American people.