14 Comments

This is really great. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Apr 22Liked by Noah Berlatsky

I never tire of seeing Richard Spencer getting punched in the face.

Expand full comment
author

IKR?

Expand full comment

I had always assumed that progressives had a more sophisticated understanding of how economies work...

sigh

Here's the one I cart out regularly...several years ago the U.S. threw away over a trillion dollars on fighter jets that DIDN'T FUCKING WORK, and there was not ONE SINGLE GLITCH in the economy...no recession, no inflation, no losses in employment numbers that could be attributed to, and i'll say it again, LITERALLY throwing over ONE TRILLION DOLLARS US into the fucking toilet..

We effectively have the money for WHATEVER we need WHENEVER we want it...(I know that's an oversimplification, but ONLY just)...regular adjustments by the fed can ameliorate some of those effects...

OTOH, the REASON the money wasted on jet fighters didn't affect the economy is because no one KNEW about it on any discernible measure...So perhaps if you spend a huge amount of money surreptitiously it doesn't affect the economy but if people KNOW about money being wasted like that it could change some of the high roller's habits

I really don't know...just spitballin'

Expand full comment

Funding the defence of Ukraine is loose change compared with the cost of another world war. Or cheaper than the cost to the rest of the world of Putin owning all Ukraine ports and natural resources.

Expand full comment

While the US budget is not like a household budget, at some point deficits do matter. With the economy humming along like it is now, this would be a good time to raise taxes on rich people, and even on old, upper middle class guys like me. My taxes should be higher. I don’t expect our dysfunctional Congress to raise taxes any time soon, but I hope it lets the Trump tax cuts, which were a waste of $1.7 trillion, expire at the end of next year. America can afford food, healthcare, and supporting Ukraine at the same time. What America can’t afford in the unquenchable greed of oligarchs and fascists.

Expand full comment
author

it's really unclear that deficits matter; the US isn't going to run out of money. there are other solid reasons to raise taxes on the wealthy, though; hoarding wealth increases inequality which allows billionaires to distort the political system and crush workers.

Expand full comment

You are correct. Again.

Expand full comment

Glenn… fucking… Greenwald. What a schmuck.

Expand full comment

"That includes the reactionaries next door like Trump and Tucker Carlson and, you know, maybe Greenwald too, who are eager to put their boots on your neck."

No 'maybe' about Greenwald

I STILL can't figure that dude out...

Expand full comment

Dore lost me ca 2020...Some 'progressive' enclaves start to feel like a 'boys club' eventually ,That's when I pack up and head for greener pastures...That happened for me with the Dawkins/ Shermer/ Harris/ Hitchens club...I still have mad respect for the expertise and intellectual rigor of especially Dawkins and Hitchens, but it all got too smug and buthurt and whiny over 'political correctness' (I put Bill Maher in that club too though I NEVER cottened to him at any point)

Expand full comment

I assume that the description of Jimmy Dore should be “Comedian and (supposedly) progressive YouTuber Jimmy Dore declared”. It doesn’t change the message.

Expand full comment

I always got more of a 'libertarian' vibe off of Dore...A 'Bill Maher' vibe if you will

Expand full comment

Exactly!!! Perfectly expressed. Thank you!!! Maybe Video record yourself and put this up on YouTube. Or ask someone to do that giving you credit for what you are expressing. Good strong stuff!! People don’t read or think much anymore.

Expand full comment