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Politics : Impeach George W. Bush -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jttmab who wrote (3765)	6/30/2001 9:09:55 PM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93284

I may have already copied this to you, but I want to underscore that I do not have an "attitude", but an understanding of the way business is conducted: As knowledge and technical expertise increase, no one is able to encompass the whole. Even in areas like law, medicine, and engineering, it is necessary for specialists to give their attention to the body of knowledge and technique that will arise under the general rubric, but constitute enormous areas of discrete study. Although it is possible for specialists to communicate with "generalists" to some extent, for the most part their relation to others not expert in their specialty is little better than their relationship with laymen, who can only understand in the most general terms. Similarly, as organizations become larger and more sprawling, it is increasing necessary to delegate authority to individuals, teams, or committees who are in a position to study, analyze, and decide the specific problems that arise in the course of operating a large enterprise. For example, in a legislative body, the accumulation of documentary evidence and testimony is handled by sub- committee, with ample staff support, and reviewed with the objective of reporting out recommendations which, in the ordinary course of things, will be accepted with few amendments by the larger committee, which will then pass on the recommendations to the body as a whole. In the total scheme of things, it is standard that those delegated to actually study the question will have their recommendations followed. Similarly, management theory increasingly deplores attempts at top- down management, and recommends the general setting of policy, including coordinating sectors and setting goals, while leaving individuals and teams alone, for the most part, supporting them in devising the best ways to get things done. In both of these ways, one can see that the limitations of knowledge and requirements of parceling out responsibilities lead to decentralization of decision- making as a more efficient means of conducting business than the highly centralized model............ There was a flat tax proposal, but you are right, most have slight graduation. I see manipulation of public opinion all over the place. I will consider most outrage to be too selective, and therefore don't care to debate the issue. Given the lapse of time, I think I will take some time to review matters before addressing the rest of the post. I hope to get back to you.......

To: jttmab who wrote (3765)	7/1/2001 12:13:05 AM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93284

Let's see....If there is any sort of drag on the economy through marginal rates, then the principle of making them as low as possible holds. What might militate against sheer flatness? Since revenue requirements can always, in principle, be met through a flat tax, it is the social policy of favoring the relatively poor that is put in the balance. There is, perhaps, not a magic number, but there is a sense of equitableness that can be satisfied in massaging the numbers, especially when "loopholes" through manipulative tax policy are factored in. I see nothing wrong with revisiting the question periodically and approaching it somewhat adversarially in Congress. The lesson of supply side economics is that production can be the leading factor in economic growth, that growth need not be demand driven. In fact, as a matter of history, in the technological era, production has often lead demand, because of the innovative, unimagined products brought to market, first considered desirable luxuries, and later necessary amenities of civilized life, like a good stereo. Rich people are more amenable to high risk ventures, and therefore are crucial to supplying the venture capital that can bring about innovation. I am sorry if I have misunderstood the method of counting the savings rate. I am not sure where I might have gotten such an impression. On productivity, I have certainly read enough claims that digitization is the main factor, but I cannot say for certain. I will note that the interesting thing is that the per worker yield is much higher than a dozen years ago, very likely is attributable to tools. I am sorry, I must have missed something. To hell with the family, because some people like to shop on Presidents' Day, or find it convenient to shop after work? Besides, I thought Da spent most of his evening at the pub, with lukewarm Guiness and a game of darts. Everyone likes vacations, can't make much out of that. I have never stayed at a bed and breakfast, and do not find the idea congenial. I prefer more privacy, for one thing, and do not want to be forced into intimacy with my hosts or the other guests. On the television, well, if one spends some time resting in the room, a television can be a tremendous convenience. Of course, if I had nothing much to watch than Sister Wendy or the Fat Ladies, adorable as they are, I might prefer staring out a window....... Yes, government is not a business. However, there is a degree of consumer sovereignty and competition at the ballot box, and the administration who can get deliver the best services at the least cost will win. That is why, for example, Guiliani swept all of the boroughs in his second mayoral campaign.......