The Oregon Economics Blog

Wow. That's a pretty dramatic visual for what&...

2012-05-23T06:51:57.032-07:00

Wow. That's a pretty dramatic visual for what's happening there. Is it me, or is Ireland rebounding slightly since there low in mid 2010?

http://downloadsoftware-admin.blogspot.com/

2012-05-22T05:10:12.268-07:00

http://downloadsoftware-admin.blogspot.com/

This is a really nice blog. Keep up with hard work...

2012-05-18T17:46:50.323-07:00

This is a really nice blog. Keep up with hard work. By the way if you have time, take a look at our site for Merchant Cash Advances for Small and Medium Sized Businesses. http://www.coronaadvances.com/

Other than the WSJ sucking, anyone else wondering ...

2012-05-17T07:49:12.182-07:00

Other than the WSJ sucking, anyone else wondering how long the monetary base can increase before we see devaluation of the dollar? I am. I have no idea how to gauge that tipping point though.

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?s[1][id]=BASE

Since the newscorp acquisition, quality writing at...

2012-05-16T09:08:24.093-07:00

Since the newscorp acquisition, quality writing at WSJ has decreased as censorship has increased. I stopped my subscription. I won't pay for propaganda.

"I am surprised the WSJ wouldn't have tho...

2012-05-16T08:52:25.787-07:00

"I am surprised the WSJ wouldn't have thought twice about this."

Have you read the Wall Street Journal lately? Inflation is everywhere! But those dang guvmint statistical wizards are lying about it while Savers have their wealth stolen by Takers.

I agree with OhNo, I feel more confident about suc...

2012-05-10T10:45:02.360-07:00

I agree with OhNo, I feel more confident about success when Smith brings out a lot of little ideas that all serve the same themes and goals. Every million miles you have to take a first step, and small positive movements have a tendency to compound and snowball if applied diligently. Do enviro retrofits on our schools stop climate change and make everyone an A student? No, but it helps and it's cost effective. Does sending out a human trafficking hotline packet with business license renewals stop the smuggling of young people for sex work? No, but what if you're one of the people saved by making the call? Does moving $250k into credit unions take down the Big 5 banks? No, but it sets us on the right course and reframes our priorities--and makes Portland a state leader that other cities can look to in that area. The smaller the promise, the more likely it will be fulfilled.

Finally, the whole "job creator" thing drives me nuts, because businesses don't create jobs, markets do. Businesses respond to those markets by hiring people. No demand, no hire. And yet some candidates act as if we can just incentivize businesses to hire a bunch of people and then wait for recovery to begin. Pffft

In the hurly burly of a campaign, it IS a strong p...

2012-05-10T09:30:37.987-07:00

In the hurly burly of a campaign, it IS a strong pull to make strong statements, name names, cite statistics, trumpet The Numbers. It is, arguably, less self-aggrandizing to say, "Gee, I'm not certain.". Haven't we suffered enough with Grand Statements only to be let down later? We can do LOTS worse electing leaders who make large claims, which they are then bound by, either because they've made "promises" they can't keep, or worse, made in ignorance of what's actually do-able. Jefferson Smith has a track record of healthy skepticism, and working with diverse viewpoints to attack problems. We all want solutions. Let's embrace our own inner skeptic.

I don't think Charlie's comments were &quo...

2012-05-09T17:33:02.252-07:00

I don't think Charlie's comments were "I helped get funding". His were "I led a division, and was an executive, but I was still part of a team." HDR is a huge engineering firm, and I appreciate that he was an executive of more than just a 10 person company. It's closer to running the large, cumbersome, slow moving bureaucracy that is the City of Portland. If you don't know the beast, you can't change it!

There is already plenty of aggregate demand do you...

2012-05-08T20:01:13.210-07:00

There is already plenty of aggregate demand do you want people to spend like they did back in 2005-2007? That was fake growth.

Yes, eventually the bill comes due. The conventio...

2012-05-08T13:16:58.043-07:00

Yes, eventually the bill comes due. The conventional stimulus idea is that you spend now to spur the economy and pay later when you can better afford to after the economy is back on track. Of course states generally can't do this, but the feds could through block grants to the states.

Note that this is independent of arguing what the appropriate size of government is. That is a discussion for another day. The point is simply that as the economy is trying to get going aggregate demand keeps getting these negative hits through the shrinking government payrolls.

Wouldn't more government employees be creating...

2012-05-08T10:54:53.157-07:00

Wouldn't more government employees be creating a net drag on the economy through the increased taxation required to compensate them?

You have got very nice and interesting blog ;) Her...

2012-05-05T08:30:40.104-07:00

You have got very nice and interesting blog ;) Here is link to my blog ;) http://www.eplws.blogspot.com/

When your house is on fire anyone with a bucket of...

2012-05-04T16:54:49.960-07:00

When your house is on fire anyone with a bucket of water is a hero. I do wish though that the PPS budget wasn't constantly a house on fire...

Impressive response both here and in private from ...

2012-05-04T15:38:49.803-07:00

Impressive response both here and in private from Jefferson supporters. Thanks for all the feedback. In my own personal opinion poll Jefferson has been steadily trending up, Brady down and Hales down after the memory lapses.

I like the skeptical attitude toward the CRC and URD.

So I am warming to him, but still undecided. I do appreciate the intelligent feedback I have received from everyone, it is such a pleasure to have such serious and thoughtful readers.

Dang, that comment is NOT by any Carla; it's a...

2012-05-04T14:49:41.473-07:00

Dang, that comment is NOT by any Carla; it's a vestige of an older time. I wrote it, torridjoe. Apologies for any confusion. I am a volunteer for Jefferson, who cannot vote in Portland but believes who Portland elects is very important to the rest of the metro area.

Thanks for the opportunity to help sway you! One...

2012-05-04T14:46:50.272-07:00

Thanks for the opportunity to help sway you!

One of the more impressive accomplishments that he shares is his strong advocacy for Measures 66/67, both in the Leg and then publically when it went to the voters. Notably, neither Hales nor Brady did that, and Brady was part of the team that lobbied to make it temporary and cap the high-end of the tax. And I'd argue the danger to career was inverse; Hales and Brady had nothing to lose by backing it, while Smith put his seat at risk by backing a tax increase during a recession and the peak moments of teabaggerism.

He has a host of smaller but meaningful accomplishments--being the point person on the "Cool Schools" initiative and getting the budget online, which singlehandedly raised our budget transparency grade two letters, being two--but I think his signature achievement is the Eastern Oregon water bill.

Jefferson was handed this dog because people thought it was impossible: broker a deal between eastern ag producers and the environmental/water watch/American Indian communities. Umatilla Basin is dry, and ag wanted to draw from the Columbia during dry seasons to keep things watered. Against the better judgement of some in the Leg, Jefferson partnered with GOP Bob Jenson, and with the help of expert advice created a plan to draw water during the WET season, store it in an aquifer, and draw it out when needed.

I think this is an election to be wary of what Brady calls "big bets;" most truly troublesome issues can't be solved with one big fix. Sometimes you have to work at the edges, doing one thing and then maybe another and a third after that. Climate change is a good example; school retrofits and better transpo balance in East Portland don't change the world, but they DO work, and don't cost a lot.

I'm just a proxy who thinks Jefferson is the right guy at the right time, but I'd urge you to try and get out to listen to and talk with Jefferson. I find that the more I learn, the more committed I become.

I share the same doubts and questions why Eileen B...

2012-05-04T07:53:36.460-07:00

I share the same doubts and questions why Eileen Brady decided to enter this race. Overly ambitious politically, which is not necessarily "wrong," but without the principled underpinnings that are essential to govern the "real people," meaning those who are not her personal "friends."

Hales' authenticity has steadily eroded; again, I agree with you.

I met Jefferson Smith not through friends, but after reading comments to and about him directed by people whom I know and trust, cognoscenti in Oregon politics. When I met him personally in 2010 he wss a good match for their high opinion. And as I have engaged in the campaign and met his people and seen his work ethic, it supports the decision to place high expectations on this very gifted natural-born politician and leader. He is deep and focused and has the right "stuff" to deal with the crises and weakness which inevitably abound, and is the right pick. Good luck!

Your instincts are correct and you know what to do...

2012-05-03T17:03:29.315-07:00

Your instincts are correct and you know what to do: Jefferson Smith is the only candidate who has the ethical background, and despite your curious claim that he hasn't 'worked well with others', his incredible work on water and 'cool schools' shows just how collaborative he is. And he has a terrific record of accomplishment. You seem to know a lot about the candidates, and you have no "high negatives" about Smith. Do it. Vote for Jefferson. But maybe what would help is to meet him. Again, do it. Call the campaign, stop by, find out where he'll be next. I'll check back and let us know how you do.

Yes I am a bit. I suppose Political science might...

2012-04-20T09:14:39.503-07:00

Yes I am a bit. I suppose Political science might be a function of majors who use it as a stepping stone to law but these average wages is for those without advanced degree.

And you're not biased towards Sellwood at all....

2012-04-19T14:41:23.209-07:00

And you're not biased towards Sellwood at all. Nope, not one bit:).

Given all your points, it'll be interesting to see how the new Stickman Brewery does in Lake O. I think they could do really well because it's an affluent area without a good watering home (IMO). I could see them pulling in customers from Lake O and West Linn... but I'm not sure about from anywhere else.

Most of the top of the list isn't surprising, ...

2012-04-18T17:07:37.569-07:00

Most of the top of the list isn't surprising, with economics (basically applied math) and a bunch of STEM majors. But were you surprised to see political science so relatively high?

The feds need to give Tampa a hundred million doll...

2012-04-16T15:58:01.335-07:00

The feds need to give Tampa a hundred million dollars to set up a network of bike lanes and compare bike ridership to Miami's. No doubt the GOP-led House would be keen to fund such a scheme.

For added utility, find two northern cities with no bike lanes and no bike ridership to speak of. Run the same experiment. Surely the presence of snow drifts is at least as large a deterrent as sweaty clothes.

nice post. bit unique but nice in own way.
2012-04-16T12:18:22.766-07:00
nice post. bit unique but nice in own way.
dude ranch vacation

Short and to the point. Nice.

2012-04-13T05:56:47.102-07:00

Short and to the point. Nice.

The Oregon Economics Blog

Wow. That's a pretty dramatic visual for what&...

http://downloadsoftware-admin.blogspot.com/

This is a really nice blog. Keep up with hard work...

Other than the WSJ sucking, anyone else wondering ...

Since the newscorp acquisition, quality writing at...

"I am surprised the WSJ wouldn't have tho...

I agree with OhNo, I feel more confident about suc...

In the hurly burly of a campaign, it IS a strong p...

I don't think Charlie's comments were &quo...

There is already plenty of aggregate demand do you...

Yes, eventually the bill comes due. The conventio...

Wouldn't more government employees be creating...

You have got very nice and interesting blog ;) Her...

When your house is on fire anyone with a bucket of...

Impressive response both here and in private from ...

Dang, that comment is NOT by any Carla; it's a...

Thanks for the opportunity to help sway you! One...

I share the same doubts and questions why Eileen B...

Your instincts are correct and you know what to do...

Yes I am a bit. I suppose Political science might...

And you're not biased towards Sellwood at all....

Most of the top of the list isn't surprising, ...

The feds need to give Tampa a hundred million doll...

nice post. bit unique but nice in own way. 2012-04-16T12:18:22.766-07:00 nice post. bit unique but nice in own way.dude ranch vacation

Short and to the point. Nice.

nice post. bit unique but nice in own way.
2012-04-16T12:18:22.766-07:00
nice post. bit unique but nice in own way.
dude ranch vacation