tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:51:45 +0000Obamapoliticshealth careCongressreformEconomicThe Great Hoodwinkinsurance#occupywallstreetBusinessWall StreetMillenialsSenateelectionlobbyingmiddle classpopulismDailyKosReidenergyfinancehealthmediaBernankeNancy PelosiPaul VolckerRepublicansTARPfoodtea partyvotingElizabeth WarrenGreg SargentHAMPMitt RomneySimon JohnsonSteve BenendefenseenvironmentgreenhousingpollingAIGBipartisan catastropheCenk UygurDylan RatiganEskowFederal ReserveFox NewsGeithnerGlass-Steagall ActGlenn BeckJayati GhoshJoe LiebermanMitch McConnellSarah PalinSuper CommitteeTreasuryUnited States Senateausteritybay areabiofuelcarsderivativeselectric carsethanolforeclosurejosh marshallracism675Americans for ProsperityAtul GawandeBaby BoomersBart StupakBeau BidenBen NelsonBill MoyersBrian BeutlerBuellCaliforniaCharles B. PierceChris HayesChristina RomerDartmouth CollegeDaytonaEuropeEvan BayhEzra KleinFDICFireboltGary JohnsonGeorge PapandreouGlenn GreenwaldGoldman SachsGoogleGreen PartyGreenpeaceHouse of RepresentativesHoward DeanHyde AmendmentJanet TavakoliJill SteinJohn McCainJonathan CohnJudd GreggKaiser Family FoundationKate SheppardKeynesKonczalLehman BrothersLibertarian PartyLisa EpsteinLos Angeles TimesMaria CantwellMarkos MoulitsasMichael MastersModel SOffshore drillingPeter OrszagPewRahm EmanuelRobert GatesSierra ClubSonia SotomayorSteve SingiserStiglitzSupreme CourtTeslaTriumphWashington MonthlyWeigantWilliam K. BlackWorld War IIXB12Ralternative energybailoutcamelinacommoditiescorruptiondispute resolutionhigh frequency tradingmathmediationmotorcycleorganicsciencesocial justicestatisticsAn attempt at witnessing the unspoken narrativehttp://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)Blogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-7997929070023001552Fri, 08 Nov 2013 17:17:00 +00002013-11-08T09:17:42.509-08:00Let's try this whole "new blog" thing once more, shall we?  Please check this link for more. Thanks!http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2013/11/exciting-news-version-20.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-2892267041231054782Thu, 07 Nov 2013 01:54:00 +00002013-11-06T17:54:55.154-08:00I have a new home for my blog: http://generationalnavelgazing.org/.  As I explain in the inaugural post there, I'll be working to integrate some elements from this blog over there, including (I hope!) my archived posts, but as of yet it's just a simple blog over there, but much much easier on the eyes.  I look forward to you joining me there in this new (ad)venture of mine.http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2013/11/exciting-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-2389485936486985833Wed, 21 Nov 2012 03:48:00 +00002012-11-20T19:48:06.679-08:00Well, what did you expect? Panetta, a former director of the CIA, gave a strong defense of counterterrorism drone strikes and commando raids, calling them “the most precise campaign in the history of warfare,” and indicated strongly that they’re only going to intensify in the coming years. “This campaign against al Qaeda will largely take place outside declared combat zones,” Panetta said in hishttp://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-election-outcome.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-5845469789123617027Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:58:00 +00002012-11-20T00:35:13.382-08:00I’ll try and keep this post short, as I really just want to express one economic principle that’s been roiling around in my gray matter for quite a long time now, but that I believe is worth mentioning. Put simply, apart from any moral or ethical rationales why we, as a society, might desire to reduce the income and wealth inequality that plagues the United States these days, I believe there is http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2012/11/on-inequality.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-8567872568453963703Sun, 28 Oct 2012 03:10:00 +00002012-10-27T20:10:05.970-07:00Bipartisan catastropheelectionGary JohnsonGreen PartyJill SteinLibertarian PartyMitt RomneyObamapoliticsreformvotingConsider the unprecedented nature of the decision we have to make on November 6th between the two major-party candidates. On the one hand, we have an incumbent President who is also a Nobel Peace Prize winner.  This man, lauded for his efforts to bring “peace” to the world by the perhaps-naive Nobel Committee, is also presiding over the expansion of apparently perpetual secret/shadow wars http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2012/10/an-election-of-superlatives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-1909397604064296090Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:21:00 +00002011-12-06T23:21:27.676-08:00EconomicGreg Sargentmiddle classObamapopulismWall Street Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy If you haven’t had a chance to watch this speech, please do, I’ll wait…otherwise, the transcript is here, helpfully provided by the LA Times.  By way of background, the location of the speech today was a city in Kansas where, 101 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech famously calling for a “New http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/12/presidents-big-speech-today.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-6294313814245843439Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:40:00 +00002011-11-29T00:40:56.949-08:00#occupywallstreetausterityChris HayesEuropeGeorge PapandreoupopulismSuper CommitteeThe Great Hoodwink Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Chris Hayes has been the Editor at Large for The Nation magazine for a few years now, among numerous other gigs, and now has his own show on MSNBC on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  It’s a brilliant re-envisioning of the stale weekly public affairs shows dominated by the same rotating cast of characters, in part http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/11/elite-tensions-with-democracy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-286193281513757852Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:40:00 +00002011-11-21T23:40:26.006-08:00#occupywallstreetBaby BoomersCharles B. PierceCongresscorruptionGlenn GreenwaldMillenialsObamareformThe Great HoodwinkWall StreetJust a short note of gratitude and no small amount of incredulity at the cross-generational dialogues that have been fostered through and around the Occupy movement, which I and others view as largely a Millenial generation-driven thing.  I was just reading a well-done post by Charles B. Pierce at Esquire’s Politics Blog and noting his tone lamenting the political fecklessness of many of http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/11/just-short-note-of-gratitude-and-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-4793696627495655656Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:17:00 +00002011-11-07T22:17:05.620-08:00Brian BeutlerCongressDailyKoselectionGreg Sargentjosh marshallMarkos MoulitsasObamapoliticspollingSteve BenenAs a follow-up to my post from last week regarding polling on the question of whether the GOP is purposely sabotaging economic recovery in order to defeat President Obama next year, I thought I’d bring my dear readers’ attentions to the results of two new polls released today that cover similar territory.  I had mentioned that the Suffolk University poll from last week was just crying out http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/11/ask-and-ye-shall-receive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-3607974585507009660Sun, 06 Nov 2011 04:52:00 +00002011-11-05T21:52:27.675-07:00#occupywallstreetausteritybailoutdefenseEconomicKeynesLos Angeles TimesSuper CommitteeThe Great HoodwinkA headline from today’s Los Angeles Times: Congressional leaders jump in to save 'super committee' In an effort to end the deadlock on deficit reductions, party leaders, especially on the Republican side, are meeting behind closed doors with members of the panel. Okay, so perhaps we’re talking more about a legislative bailout of sorts, but is it not a perfect microcosm of the depravity http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/11/even-super-committee-gets-bailout.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-5049367420270094296Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:33:00 +00002011-11-04T00:33:38.749-07:00#occupywallstreetCongresselectionGreg SargentMitch McConnellObamapollingRepublicansSteve BenenThe Great HoodwinkWhat do you think? A Suffolk University poll was released today that polled registered voters in Florida and asked a key question: Do you think the Republicans are intentionally stalling efforts to jumpstart the economy to insure that Barack Obama is not reelected? Now, I have been telling many of my friends and relatives (much to their collective chagrin, I’m sure) that the political and http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/11/is-gop-purposely-sabotaging-economic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-316729839379099605Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:03:00 +00002011-11-01T01:03:36.459-07:00#occupywallstreetBipartisan catastropheChristina RomerlobbyingMillenialsObamaPaul Volckerpoliticspopulismtea partyvotingWall StreetI was just reading Christina Romer’s very well-done piece in Sunday’s New York Times, making the case that announcing nominal GDP targeting should be the Federal Reserve’s next policy move (I encourage you to read the article for the details).  Here’s the key section I’d like to highlight: HOW would this help to heal the economy? Like the Volcker money target, it would be a powerful http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/11/occupywallstreet-precursors-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-2062581559540246777Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:41:00 +00002011-11-05T08:35:57.216-07:00#occupywallstreetBeau BidenDylan RatiganElizabeth WarrenMitt RomneyObamaRepublicansThe Great HoodwinkUnited States SenatevotingWall StreetA Washington Post headline today that speaks volumes: Obama still flush with cash from financial sector despite frosty relations: …Obama has brought in more money from employees of banks, hedge funds and other financial service companies than all the other GOP candidates combined, according to a Washington Post analysis of contribution data. …Obama’s ties to Wall Street donors could http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/10/dont-think-its-not-bipartisan-it-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-4666332076925669714Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:20:00 +00002011-10-18T23:20:17.140-07:00#occupywallstreetEconomicforeclosureHAMPhousingMitt Romney Take a look at the first 1:30 of the video above and consider what you hear (or read the transcript of the conversation below): “As to what to do for the housing industry specifically — and are there things that you can do to encourage housing? One is, don’t try and stop the foreclosure process,” said Romney. “Let it run its course, and hit the bottom, allow investors to buy http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/10/mitt-romney-and-apparent-triumph-of-big.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-4757158541115472868Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:31:00 +00002011-10-06T21:15:36.343-07:00#occupywallstreetEskowfinanceGeithnerHAMPhousingMillenialsObamaThe Great Hoodwink  Bank Consolidation; h/t Angry Black Lady As noted in last night’s post, Occupy Wall Street is an inchoate (I haven’t seen that word used as often in the popular press as I have these past two weeks) movement that drives the mainstream media kind of nuts with its inchoateness.  What are they protesting?  Why are they occupying?  What http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/10/we-dont-need-redistribution-of-wealth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-7506123273271109577Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:12:00 +00002011-10-05T01:13:46.714-07:00#occupywallstreetmiddle classMillenialspopulismThe Great HoodwinkWall StreetApologies for the extended radio silence (almost a full year since the last post, in fact.)  Blame finishing up graduate school, getting married this summer, and starting a new job recently.  All wonderful, joyous life-events; I am blessed. So what’s changed in our world since November 2, 2010?  Anything much? h/t Mike Konczal Chances are http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2011/10/we-are-here-occupywallstreet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-3420601439425222830Tue, 02 Nov 2010 07:04:00 +00002010-11-02T00:04:22.282-07:00CaliforniaelectionenergyenvironmentpoliticsvotingIn a few prior elections I’ve provided relatively informal election guides to my friends and family as a small service to those who may not follow the news, and particularly politics, as closely as I do.  Given that these midterm elections on November 2 are shaping up to provide a veritable cornucopia of answers to some of the fascinating open questions bouncing around in our nation’s http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/11/max-november-2-california-voting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-7281166569719932998Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:18:00 +00002010-10-26T00:18:35.837-07:00Dylan RatiganEconomicfinanceforeclosureLisa EpsteinWilliam K. BlackCollusion between the government and the financial sector to cover up the perilous state of the banks’ balance sheets has been a running theme in the current economic crisis.  As I mentioned in my previous posting on the foreclosure fraud mess, it appears that the scale and scope of systemic fraud that has been uncovered by the foreclosure fraud scandal may simply be too great and widespreadhttp://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/10/foreclosure-fraud-mess-continued.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-3824895956977452733Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:56:00 +00002010-10-14T01:56:08.152-07:00EskowEzra KleinfinanceGeithnerHAMPhousingJanet TavakoliKonczalObamaRepublicansSimon JohnsonStiglitzTARPtea partyThe Great HoodwinkTreasuryWall Street The foreclosure fraud case is one of the BIG stories I’ve been trying my best to follow lately.  We learned today that all 50 state Attorneys General have opened an investigation into mortgage industry practices: The state attorneys general are looking at allegations some banks did not properly review files or submitted false statements to evict delinquent borrowers from their homes http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/10/foreclosure-fraud-mess-day-of-reckoning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-1993603356050639042Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:25:00 +00002010-10-14T01:25:05.639-07:00DailyKoselectionjosh marshallMillenialsPewpoliticspollingSteve Singiser I’m experimenting with a new site layout to try and make my blog more reader- and user-friendly (and more orange!)  Please feel free to comment and/or make suggestions about the design in the comments section if you’re so inclined. While I have a more substantive post in the works concerning my personal suggestions for the upcoming November 2 elections here in California to be posted laterhttp://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-layout-and-some-good-reading.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-8954748866989005830Sat, 09 Oct 2010 19:31:00 +00002010-10-13T20:09:22.401-07:00biofuelcommoditiesderivativesEconomicenergyethanolfoodJayati Ghosh Just a quick note that I noticed a news piece yesterday that struck fear into my heart for the vulnerable populations of the world: Corn rallies to two-year high after crop forecast Corn and other grains futures shot up Friday after a U.S. Department of Agriculture report pointed to the tightest supply and demand balance for corn in 14 years. The Agriculture Department on Friday forecast a http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/10/is-another-global-food-crisis-in-offing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-6981306821769420312Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:06:00 +00002010-09-19T01:02:20.373-07:00EconomicElizabeth WarrenEvan BayhGlenn BeckJudd GreggpopulismSarah Palinsocial justiceThe Great Hoodwink Above is an infamous clip from earlier this year of Glenn Beck arguing that “social justice” should not be a part of a church’s mission, and that if his listeners found that their churches promote “social justice” then they should leave that church: "I'm begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as youhttp://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-all-fuss-about-social-justice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-5918289749894228728Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:24:00 +00002010-09-19T01:05:48.782-07:00Americans for ProsperityEconomicfinanceFox NewsGlenn Beckmediamiddle classObamaracismSarah Palintea partyThe Great HoodwinkThere was no irony: Palin, the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008 and a potential White House contender in 2012, and Beck repeatedly cited King and made references to the Founding Fathers. Cited King?  Palin likened the rally participants to the civil rights activists from 1963. She said the same spirit that helped them overcome oppression, discrimination and violence would help http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-events-at-lincoln-memorial-today.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-5427511905586104645Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:57:00 +00002010-09-22T16:04:35.398-07:00DailyKosdefensemediaObamapoliticsRobert GatesWorld War IIImage by Beverly & Pack via Flickr It was a poignant moment for me, if a bit flustering.  My grandfather and I were sitting at breakfast last Monday morning, Memorial Day, following a cousin's wedding over the weekend, and my grandfather asked me why the news never shows videos of flag-draped caskets returning our fallen soldiers from battle anymore?  His remark was a simple one, http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/06/honoring-our-fallen-heroes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-865927612382299017.post-1577267362026646929Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:41:00 +00002010-06-03T13:39:21.143-07:00Atul GawandeBusinessCongressDartmouth CollegeEconomichealth careObamaPeter Orszagstatistics Peter Orszag Image via Wikipedia UPDATE: I had originally written this post based mainly off of the NY Times piece linked to below, coupled with my own knowledge of health care policy, but it seems that this article has sparked a vigorous debate in the blogosphere regarding just how accurate it's claims about the Dartmouth Health Atlas are.  I have edited parts of my post below to http://generationalnavelgazing.blogspot.com/2010/06/health-care-statistics-undermining.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Max Messervy)0