Dec
26
2008

URLs du Jour

2008-12-26

  • Here's a stupid idea from Lauren Stiller Rikleen, writing in the Washington Post:
    With another highly credentialed spouse preparing to enter the White House, it is time to negotiate a clearer role for the first lady -- one that has a job description and a salary appropriate to the range of responsibilities that come with being the president's spouse.
    This would give a whole new meaning to "serving at the pleasure of the President". How do you fire the first lady? Can Lauren Stiller Rikleen even spell "accountability"?

  • Bastiat watch: Caroline Baum notes that Obama's goal of creating 3 million jobs via a $750 billion stimulus package is an instance of Bastiat's broken-window fallacy. But even on face value, that's $250,000 per job, which is not a lot of bang per buck. (Via Robert Stacy McCain.)

    Jacob Sullum also invokes Bastiat in talking about Obama's "job fetish":

    Obama's job fetish is apparent even when he talks about spontaneous economic activity. "Businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs," he declared in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. In a free market, businesses exist because they provide goods or services that people value. A business that makes job creation its overriding goal will not be employing anyone for long.
    Forecast: an extended period of economic foolishness, broken only by brief glimpses of sanity.

  • If you followed the regulation/FCC links a couple days ago, you'll also want to check Adam Thierer's analysis of Larry Lessig's proposal to "reboot" the FCC. Adam points out that, while Lessig's FCC-destruction is exhilarating, his proposed replacement—eh, not so much.

  • Memories of the ice storm brought back by the Rochester (NH) Police Log:
    Friday, Dec. 12

    6:25 a.m. -- Trees come down on Washington Street, Whitehall Road and Pine Street. The ice storm has arrived.

    10:20 a.m. -- A line for gas forms on North Main Street.

    1:49 p.m. -- Meanwhile, normal life goes on, with an ex-girlfriend reportedly punching a man in the face several times.

    2:59 p.m. -- Janet Street residents have blocked the road, sparking complaint, but it is due to a live wire being down.

    3:39 p.m. -- Cars hoping for gas get snarled lining up at Cumberland Farms on Knight Street. Police arrive quickly, but everything is OK.

    4:03 p.m. -- On Second Street, a tree falls on a dog, which promptly bites the hand trying to free it. A man goes to Frisbie; the ACO helps out, and the dog is on a gurney bound for Portsmouth.

    4:04 p.m. -- A gas truck arrives at the Ten Rod Getty, but motorists in a line won't give an inch.

    Saturday, Dec. 13

    8:21 p.m. -- A man on the "bracelet" it is reported, has discovered that he can't be monitored due to the power cut. Now he is drinking, doing drugs and threatening people, it's alleged.

    9:05 p.m. -- Home Depot says it is getting a shipment of generators, but gauges that demand will far outstrip supply. There is concern about what could happen.

    Sunday, Dec. 14

    11:35 p.m. -- Police check on a suspicious car on Secretariat Way. It is a local resident trying to stay warm.