Economic Scene - Bruce Bartlett’s Argument to Improve His Republican Party - NYTimes.com

Economic Scene - Bruce Bartlett’s Argument to Improve His Republican Party - NYTimes.com: "So Mr. Bartlett advocates a value-added tax — a federal sales tax — which most other rich countries have. Canada has a value-added tax that raises revenue equal to 2 percent of its G.D.P., and its economy has grown faster than this country’s over the last decade. Britain raises 6 percent of its G.D.P. through such a tax and Sweden raises 9 percent, and their economies have grown as fast as the American economy."

Economic Scene - Bruce Bartlett’s Argument to Improve His Republican Party - NYTimes.com

Economic Scene - Bruce Bartlett’s Argument to Improve His Republican Party - NYTimes.com: "His conservatism starts with the idea that high taxes are no longer the problem, even if complaining about them still makes for good politics. This year, federal taxes are on pace to equal just 15 percent of gross domestic product. It is the lowest share since 1950."

Marketplace: Website tries getting groups organized

Marketplace: Website tries getting groups organized: "Website tries getting groups organized
Logo for The Point website

Anyone who's ever tried to organize a group purchase, event or boycott knows it can be like herding cats. A Chicago company is taking on that challenge with a Web-based tool for organizing the masses. Gabriel Spitzer reports."

Marketplace: Website tries getting groups organized

Marketplace: Website tries getting groups organized: "Website tries getting groups organized
Logo for The Point website

Anyone who's ever tried to organize a group purchase, event or boycott knows it can be like herding cats. A Chicago company is taking on that challenge with a Web-based tool for organizing the masses. Gabriel Spitzer reports."

Crooked Timber » » Faint praise and damnations

Crooked Timber » » Faint praise and damnations: "An oldie but a goldie

“Although written many years ago, Lady Chatterrley’s Lover has just been reissued by Grove Press, and this fictional account of the day-by-day life of an English gamekeeper is still of considerable interest to outdoor-minded readers, as it contains many passages on pheasant-raising, the apprehending of poachers, ways to control vermin, and other chores and duties of the professional gamekeeper. Unfortunately, one is obliged to wade through many pages of extraneous material in order to discover and savour these sidelights on the management of a Midland shooting estate, and in this reviewer’s opinion this book cannot take the place of J. R. Miller’s Practical Gamekeeping.” – Ed Zern"

No Comment (Harper's Magazine)

No Comment (Harper's Magazine): "Tonight, grave sir, both my poor house and I Do equally desire your company; Not that we think us worthy such a guest, But that your worth will dignify our feast With those that come; whose grace may make that seem Something, which else could hope for no esteem. It is the fair acceptance, sir, creates The entertainment perfect, not the cates. Yet you shall have, to rectify your palate, An olive, capers, or some better salad Ushering the mutton; with a short-legged hen, If we can get her, full of eggs, and then Lemons, and wine for sauce; to these, a coney Is not to be despaired of, for our money; And though fowl now be scarce, yet there are clerks, The sky not falling, think we may have larks. I’ll tell you of more, and lie, so you will come: Of partridge, pheasant, woodcock, of which some May yet be there; and godwit, if we can; Knat, rail and ruff, too. Howsoe’er, my man Shall read a piece of Virgil, Tacitus, Livy, or of some better book to us, Of which we’ll speak our minds, amidst our meat; And I’ll profess no verses to repeat; To this, if aught appear which I not know of, That will the pastry, not my paper, show of. Digestive cheese and fruit there sure will be; But that which most doth take my"

No Comment (Harper's Magazine)

No Comment (Harper's Magazine): "Luxurious foods and drinks… in no way produce freedom from harm and a healthy condition in the flesh. One must regard wealth beyond what is natural as of no more use than water to a container that is full to overflowing. Real value is generated not by theatres and baths and perfumes and ointments… but by natural science. –Diogenes of Oinoanda, The Epicurean Inscriptions of Oinoanda frag. 109 (ca. 120 CE)(M. F. Smith transl. 1993)"

5 Myths About Sick Old Europe - washingtonpost.com

5 Myths About Sick Old Europe - washingtonpost.com: "In the global economy, today's winners can become tomorrow's losers in a twinkling, and vice versa. Not so long ago, American pundits and economic analysts were snidely touting U.S. economic superiority to the 'sick old man' of Europe. What a difference a few months can make. Today, with the stock market jittery over Iraq, the mortgage crisis, huge budget and trade deficits, and declining growth in productivity, investors are wringing their hands about the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, analysts point to the roaring economies of China and India as the only bright spots on the global horizon. But what about Europe? You may be surprised to learn how our estranged transatlantic partner has been faring during these roller-coaster times -- and how successfully it has been knocking down the Europessimist myths about it."

The Plight of the Loggerhead Turtle - New York Times

The Plight of the Loggerhead Turtle - New York Times: "Like almost any threatened or endangered species, the loggerhead sea turtle raises a fundamental question about human will. The loggerhead has benefited from recovery plans, special legal status, the dedication of scientists and environmentalists and the general good will of the public. And yet all of this concerted human effort is required simply to restrain human economic activity — fishing especially — enough to allow this extraordinary species to share the planet with us. As always, in matters of species preservation, our efforts look as though they’re directed at nature, when in fact they’re really directed at ourselves."

Our high, high standard of living | Wise Bread

Our high, high standard of living | Wise Bread: "Those dilapidated shacks without hot water improved over the years, but as late as 1970 the median single-family home was still less than 1400 square feet (versus over 2200 now)."