tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.comments2011-02-27T17:32:25.267-05:00Intersecting Government and EconomicsJames Fraaschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13590424753782960493noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-20125841553622812462011-02-27T17:32:25.267-05:002011-02-27T17:32:25.267-05:00I'll check out the article. It's funny th...I'll check out the article. It's funny this incestuous relationships between Wall Street and Government. Clearly the banks made bad bets.James Fraaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590424753782960493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-13499868042789449492011-02-27T13:40:13.184-05:002011-02-27T13:40:13.184-05:00For a revealing look at just how bad Ireland’s fin...For a revealing look at just how bad Ireland’s financial problems are, read <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2011/03/michael-lewis-ireland-201103?printable=true" rel="nofollow">Michael Lewis's recent article on the subject for <em>Vanity Fair</em></a>. Lewis, who also wrote the book <em>The Big Short</em> on the American financial crisis, is among the best for making complicated financial issues into fascinating exposés.<br /><br /><em>In Ireland, Lewis finds a housing bubble the likes of which even we Americans struggle to fathom. “In an era when capitalists went out of their way to destroy capitalism,” he writes, “the Irish bankers set some kind of record for destruction.” These hapless bankers loaned billions of dollars seemingly to any property developer who walked in the door. The result: one particularly hapless Irish bank, Anglo Irish, reported losses of €34 billion (a figure that, accounting for population and exchange rates, is more like $3.4 trillion to American ears).</em>Tom Moertelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10226129953235804273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-2625460005145590962011-01-28T06:15:47.103-05:002011-01-28T06:15:47.103-05:00Tom, that is exactly what the situation in New Jer...Tom, that is exactly what the situation in New Jersey seems to prove. Not a single member of a union need lose a job if the right concessions are made. But rather sacrifice a bit for the good of the whole, too many time we see sacrifice of jobs for the benefit of those that have had their job the longest. To me, those actions seems contrary to good union membership.James Fraaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590424753782960493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-34726536335701422032011-01-28T06:12:35.934-05:002011-01-28T06:12:35.934-05:00Let's hope so. Kelly would do a great job repl...Let's hope so. Kelly would do a great job replacing Dan.James Fraaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590424753782960493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-70159651829404874962011-01-27T08:22:09.417-05:002011-01-27T08:22:09.417-05:00All right! Go Kelly!
Here I was all bummed about...All right! Go Kelly!<br /><br />Here I was all bummed about Dan's announcement. What fantastic news! I wish you the best of luck, and, no matter the result, I hope that Ward 5 continues to have the service of a great commissioner.Matt C. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03713516030798353664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-35943904580534983502011-01-26T00:38:18.440-05:002011-01-26T00:38:18.440-05:00I've always found it interesting that most wor...I've always found it interesting that most workers believe that unions exist to protect them. If you examine what unions actually do when push comes to shove, it's evident that most of them exploit their workers for the benefit of a relatively few senior members.<br /><br />I suspect that the rank-and-file workers put up with it because (a) most have no choice and (b) they think that one day they will have seniority, and then the benefits will be reaped by <em>them</em>.<br /><br />What they overlook is that many of them may never reach seniority: the existing senior members have a nasty habit of sacrificing the rank-and-file to protect their own interests.Tom Moertelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10226129953235804273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-73875897802154758062010-12-17T08:02:26.798-05:002010-12-17T08:02:26.798-05:00Matt and Tom, thank you both. I'll still be a...Matt and Tom, thank you both. I'll still be around. Let's see what happens with this next election. Five seats will be up for grabs.James Fraaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590424753782960493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-2227866581542042962010-12-16T20:56:02.751-05:002010-12-16T20:56:02.751-05:00James, thank you for your service to our community...James, thank you for your service to our community. Being on the school board is difficult enough as things are, but for you, often the lone voice of reason on controversial issues, the job must have been a real stress magnet. Again, thank you.<br /><br />All the best,<br />Tom<br /><br />P.S. Your new blog's title is great. I look forward to reading regularly.Tom Moertelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10226129953235804273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-69400961874054420002010-12-16T09:14:22.383-05:002010-12-16T09:14:22.383-05:00James,
Sad to see you go! I know how incredibly ...James,<br /><br />Sad to see you go! I know how incredibly hard it's been for you to continue against the opposition and be a voice of reason, factual analysis, and sincere concerns. <br /><br />Communities need guys like you in charge. Thank you for giving us your strength these past several years. Enjoy your deserved break from the mayhem :)Matt C. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03713516030798353664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-2421575997222122222010-12-16T09:03:54.662-05:002010-12-16T09:03:54.662-05:00Thanks Elaine. I appreciated your support for a nu...Thanks Elaine. I appreciated your support for a number of the positions I took on the Board. It's easy to take a stand when you believe in your heart that you are in the right.James Fraaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590424753782960493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382866222393818480.post-89852524221113891652010-12-16T08:18:16.721-05:002010-12-16T08:18:16.721-05:00James and Kelly,
From the bottom of my heart, than...James and Kelly,<br />From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your dedication, patience, fiscal responsibility, honesty, and transparency. This is yet another sad day for Mt. Lebanon. <br />Elaine GillenLebo Citizenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07936908236243700005noreply@blogger.com