Housing Bubble, credit bubble, public planning, land use, zoning and transportation in the exurban environment. Specific criticism of smart growth, neotradtional, forms based, new urbanism and other top down planner schemes to increase urban extent and density. Ventura County, California specific examples.
Monday, April 20, 2009
15 Minutes
Yes, 15 minutes is how long it takes the Federal government to spend $100 million dollars.
Barry is not a boomer.By birth year, technically he is... but what I meant was that most of the people in Congress/government, collectively "in charge" so to speak, are Boomers.
Their stewardship of the country over the past 15 or so years has been categorically awful across the board, to say the least.
Greed and sloth are not bound by generational markers.
People have more crap and a higher quantity of living than ever in America. I say quantity because I think it has replaced quality.
If I wanted a simple 1500ft2 2 bedroom house like my grandparents had with no air conditioner, washer, mega appliance kitchen etc. and no garage and one simple car with no power steering, radio or power windows I think I would not need much income to handle it. Our grandparents saved margarine containers because it made more sense than buying kitchen storage containers. They grew their own produce. They saved nails and screws in coffee cans. They bought way less stuff and were happy.
When I hear how poor we are or how boomers are worse than the rest of us younger folks I just laugh. We have it all and we neither appreciate or recognize the fact.
What do we need the federal government for exactly? I can agree with common defense and enforcing the borders. I can agree with some science and research programs. I can agree with environmental regulation. I can agree with treaties and trade. Why are they in education, social welfare, transportation etc.? Couldn't the states deal with that more efficiently? I think states could/would fund interstate highways and rail corridors using reciprocal agreements. What else can they do? Refuse to pay up and watch trade and manufacturing bypass their states? I don't think so.
That's why the Constitution and Bill of Rights are such wonderful documents, especially (in this regard) that 10th Amendment. Their subversion has brought us to this point of DC imperialism.
People talk about US imperialism, but the truth is that DC itself has become Britain -- complete with it's own royalty -- and the states are now so many colonies.
@w: "Greed and sloth are not bound by generational markers."Agreed. I think the Boomers have plenty of blame on their plate, but while they may have bought oversized homes, oversized cars, and oversized entertainment systems, it was the younger generation who bought all that and more on little or no salary. For the most part, it wasn't the Boomers who were buying McMansions with zero down and no verifiable income. It would tempting to see this as a generational thing, but the reality is that the Boomers and the younger generation share the blame.
In contrast, I do think the Greatest Generation bear little or no blame for this mess. They worked, saved, and sacrificed, and to the extent that they're enjoying comfortable retirements, they deserve it.
@tj: "People talk about US imperialism, but the truth is that DC itself has become Britain -- complete with it's own royalty -- and the states are now so many colonies."Indeed. I note with disappointment that our tax revenues have been falling. You colonials need to get back to work and keep the money flowing. If we have to leave the Beltway to deal with this insurrection we've been hearing about, there's going to be trouble. Don't make us send the Redski^H^H^H Redcoats.
Antwaan Randle El could single-handledy beat down the entire rest of the US population. I would advise everyone to surrender to this almighty IU alumnus.
"Couldn't the states deal with that more efficiently?"
Mr. Outspoken - No, they couldn't. They should be able to, but would not.
The interstate highway system was built for military purposes, not for trade. It really helps transport and trade, but the underlying reason was to be able to move troops across the country in days rather than months. This was, of course, back when we expected to get invaded rather than just nuked.
If you think the states would do a better job, just look at the current state of the states. Any of them you want to recommend as "fiscally responsible"?
The states that have big economies are in debt (heavily) and the smaller states only make it by getting federal funds (handouts from the bigger states).
You can't make the argument that the Feds get the nod due to relative levels of incompetence. Furthermore, "efficiency" was not the founding father's intent and shouldn't even be a part of the discussion.
Would you rather have a situation like Yugoslavia? Small, independant states fighting one another?
The various states do not get along, there are many standing "issues" between them that the feds step in and handle. Water rights comes to mind. CA would love to ban the import of any produce... they already do "inspections" on everything coming in. If not moderated by the feds, things would not be as smooth as they are.
PF, imported pests are a major problem. Inspections are very very important. We should do more of them. I have to say that I am impressed by our agricultural agencies.
16 comments:
The FIRST hundred mil is always the hardest. After that, it no longer seems like real money...
This guy needs to kick Geithner and fast. Here's Hoping for a Change in Treasury Sec.
Baby Boomers collectively couldn't care less about the legacy they're leaving their kids and grandkids.
What else is new?
Barry is not a boomer.
Barry is not a boomer.By birth year, technically he is... but what I meant was that most of the people in Congress/government, collectively "in charge" so to speak, are Boomers.
Their stewardship of the country over the past 15 or so years has been categorically awful across the board, to say the least.
Greed and sloth are not bound by generational markers.
People have more crap and a higher quantity of living than ever in America. I say quantity because I think it has replaced quality.
If I wanted a simple 1500ft2 2 bedroom house like my grandparents had with no air conditioner, washer, mega appliance kitchen etc. and no garage and one simple car with no power steering, radio or power windows I think I would not need much income to handle it. Our grandparents saved margarine containers because it made more sense than buying kitchen storage containers. They grew their own produce. They saved nails and screws in coffee cans. They bought way less stuff and were happy.
When I hear how poor we are or how boomers are worse than the rest of us younger folks I just laugh. We have it all and we neither appreciate or recognize the fact.
I want a Victorian Mansion and I deserve it!
I've been saving and saving and slaving and saving, but i guess itsallgood.
What do we need the federal government for exactly? I can agree with common defense and enforcing the borders. I can agree with some science and research programs. I can agree with environmental regulation. I can agree with treaties and trade. Why are they in education, social welfare, transportation etc.? Couldn't the states deal with that more efficiently? I think states could/would fund interstate highways and rail corridors using reciprocal agreements. What else can they do? Refuse to pay up and watch trade and manufacturing bypass their states? I don't think so.
Mr. Outspoken,
That's why the Constitution and Bill of Rights are such wonderful documents, especially (in this regard) that 10th Amendment. Their subversion has brought us to this point of DC imperialism.
People talk about US imperialism, but the truth is that DC itself has become Britain -- complete with it's own royalty -- and the states are now so many colonies.
@w: "Greed and sloth are not bound by generational markers."Agreed. I think the Boomers have plenty of blame on their plate, but while they may have bought oversized homes, oversized cars, and oversized entertainment systems, it was the younger generation who bought all that and more on little or no salary. For the most part, it wasn't the Boomers who were buying McMansions with zero down and no verifiable income. It would tempting to see this as a generational thing, but the reality is that the Boomers and the younger generation share the blame.
In contrast, I do think the Greatest Generation bear little or no blame for this mess. They worked, saved, and sacrificed, and to the extent that they're enjoying comfortable retirements, they deserve it.
@tj: "People talk about US imperialism, but the truth is that DC itself has become Britain -- complete with it's own royalty -- and the states are now so many colonies."Indeed. I note with disappointment that our tax revenues have been falling. You colonials need to get back to work and keep the money flowing. If we have to leave the Beltway to deal with this insurrection we've been hearing about, there's going to be trouble. Don't make us send the Redski^H^H^H Redcoats.
;)
@Peripheral
Antwaan Randle El could single-handledy beat down the entire rest of the US population. I would advise everyone to surrender to this almighty IU alumnus.
"Couldn't the states deal with that more efficiently?"
Mr. Outspoken - No, they couldn't. They should be able to, but would not.
The interstate highway system was built for military purposes, not for trade. It really helps transport and trade, but the underlying reason was to be able to move troops across the country in days rather than months. This was, of course, back when we expected to get invaded rather than just nuked.
If you think the states would do a better job, just look at the current state of the states. Any of them you want to recommend as "fiscally responsible"?
The states that have big economies are in debt (heavily) and the smaller states only make it by getting federal funds (handouts from the bigger states).
Property Flopper,
You can't make the argument that the Feds get the nod due to relative levels of incompetence. Furthermore, "efficiency" was not the founding father's intent and shouldn't even be a part of the discussion.
TJ -
Would you rather have a situation like Yugoslavia? Small, independant states fighting one another?
The various states do not get along, there are many standing "issues" between them that the feds step in and handle. Water rights comes to mind. CA would love to ban the import of any produce... they already do "inspections" on everything coming in. If not moderated by the feds, things would not be as smooth as they are.
PF, imported pests are a major problem. Inspections are very very important. We should do more of them. I have to say that I am impressed by our agricultural agencies.
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