A government that distributes resources equally among it's people may be a more just form of government from a christian perspective where retaining wealth may be more a stumbling block than a blessing and where love is king. But such a society unravels in practice because it's people are not morally pure. Without the carrot of worldly gain, effort to contribute to society deteriorates. At the same time a morally pure and mature society would properly give and distribute wealth without government intervention. Thus a highly distributive system will thrive only if there is a holy people, but the existence of a holy people negates the needs or benefits of a communist legal system.
Of course the practicality of distributing resources fairly by law also causes communist governments to fail because it is impossible to know the just needs of everyone and codify it due to the spectrum of health and family considerations. Doing so would also interfere with markets at all levels and create improper pricing which would in turn lead to huge inefficiencies.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Educational Journalism - Teaching Rational Decision Making through the News
The article entitled "RNC loses bid to raise unlimited 'soft' money" by Sharon Theimer at www.washingtonpost.com, included links to court documents at www.uscourts.gov. This approach does readers a great service by not only supplying them with more facts but presenting them with information that is written by subject experts. These citations and links should be broadened to include links to specific academic journal articles when discussing researched points of fact. In this way the news can play a part of showing Americans how to rationally consider claims and prevent the mayhem that was the health care reform "debate" where controversial statements by non-experts, who profit from increased controversy, stifled collaborative innovation and debate.
An article on the health care debate, for example, would then provide links not only to the text of the bill itself, but to the text of CBO analysis, and the text or abstracts of relevant research published in peer-reviewed journals on health care economics, quality, or whatever else the case may be.
Where the educational system has failed, news writing may bridge the gap. It should also be noted that linking to expert level material written by Phd's for Phd's does not take the article out of reach of the the broader public. Most academic journal articles are largely understandable even to the lay person. Even if the content is not largely understandable it will at least point the reader in the direction of where rational analysis and debate should proceed.
An article on the health care debate, for example, would then provide links not only to the text of the bill itself, but to the text of CBO analysis, and the text or abstracts of relevant research published in peer-reviewed journals on health care economics, quality, or whatever else the case may be.
Where the educational system has failed, news writing may bridge the gap. It should also be noted that linking to expert level material written by Phd's for Phd's does not take the article out of reach of the the broader public. Most academic journal articles are largely understandable even to the lay person. Even if the content is not largely understandable it will at least point the reader in the direction of where rational analysis and debate should proceed.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Minimum Sustainable Employment
What is the maximum level of unemployment in the US that can be maintained while still allowing the provision of the basic needs of the population which could be defined as food of sufficient calories and nutrients, clothing that enables necessary work, shelter sufficient to maintain health, and the present level of health care in the US? The question is to take fair distribution of resources out of the equation and not consider the flow of money and financial transactions. Purely production is to be considered. Answering this question could be helpful in emergency preparedness as well as, from a philanthropic perspective, in determining the opportunity to shift resources towards provision of the basic needs for other parts of the world that have been locked in poverty.
This is a work in progress obviously. Feel free to provide relevant information.
Analysis Methodology and Sources
Analysis along these lines might have already been completed for instances of emergency preparedness and defense though those evaluations would likely not assume a fluid market where transitions are made intentionally as opposed to a virus, for example, disabling 20% of workers across all sectors. The Department of Labor might also carry out analysis helpful for this question when they evaluate labor shortages.
One approach to considering this question is to consider what industries, on the whole, don't produce or do anything that is necessary for these basic needs. In eliminating the production of whole industries, unintended consequences would likely occur and that is even after assuming no difficulties in distributing the basic provisions which are still produced (which of course would be difficult if many workers are no longer being paid as they are no longer employed). If the toy industry were eliminated for example children would not have helps in entertainment and sometimes education. These uses of toys however seem noncritical as it's likely the toys could be easily avoided without replacement in a curriculum. But there may exist some use for toys that would have to be replaced. It's conceivable for example that toys allow child care to be done with fewer worker hours per child. Or perhaps some business disassembles toys and uses the parts for some necessary task.
Analysis
The Census Bureau offers information on the "arts, entertainment, and recreation" industry reporting that 2006 revenues were $177 billion.(see http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/services/sas/sas_summary/71summary.htm#industrydescription) BLS reports that entertainment consumes around 5% of consumer income thought definition may be different than for Census as the total given amounts to $342 billion in 2008.(see http://www.bls.gov/cex/#tables)
This is a work in progress obviously. Feel free to provide relevant information.
Analysis Methodology and Sources
Analysis along these lines might have already been completed for instances of emergency preparedness and defense though those evaluations would likely not assume a fluid market where transitions are made intentionally as opposed to a virus, for example, disabling 20% of workers across all sectors. The Department of Labor might also carry out analysis helpful for this question when they evaluate labor shortages.
One approach to considering this question is to consider what industries, on the whole, don't produce or do anything that is necessary for these basic needs. In eliminating the production of whole industries, unintended consequences would likely occur and that is even after assuming no difficulties in distributing the basic provisions which are still produced (which of course would be difficult if many workers are no longer being paid as they are no longer employed). If the toy industry were eliminated for example children would not have helps in entertainment and sometimes education. These uses of toys however seem noncritical as it's likely the toys could be easily avoided without replacement in a curriculum. But there may exist some use for toys that would have to be replaced. It's conceivable for example that toys allow child care to be done with fewer worker hours per child. Or perhaps some business disassembles toys and uses the parts for some necessary task.
Analysis
The Census Bureau offers information on the "arts, entertainment, and recreation" industry reporting that 2006 revenues were $177 billion.(see http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/services/sas/sas_summary/71summary.htm#industrydescription) BLS reports that entertainment consumes around 5% of consumer income thought definition may be different than for Census as the total given amounts to $342 billion in 2008.(see http://www.bls.gov/cex/#tables)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)