I hope and pray that the beginning of the last paragraph of today’s article rings true. I love Joe Biden and think he is doing a fine job considering the mess he inherited. If I had the means to I would sponsor a Ukrainian family. 🌻
Thank you for the analysis. I often feel down after watching the mainstream media, but your clarifications help me to find some balance. Red hot labor market! Yea, right! everyone is living large! It just makes sense that with so much wealth going to the top, and the wealthy corporations inflating their stock prices by buying them back, and not being taxed a penny, something has got to give. The workers get less and less, pay more and more, while they are taxed at a higher rate than the wealthy, and now face accusations that their 'riches' are causing inflation! Soon they may be beating a dead horse and wondering why it died!
I think that much of the effort and work in Ukraine has been in the hands of ordinary civilians. They have shown a willingness to sacrifice and help one another in the dire circumstances in which they find themselves. I do not have much money to help these people but, on the other hand, I try to find some funds to support the teams helping the Ukrainians in their time of need and duress. Kindly do what you can to support one of the many organizations extending all sorts of support to Ukrainians in and outside of the country. I choose Unicef for Families Ukraine and Doctors without Borders but there are many others that are helping. The Ukrainians have been a model of courage, self-sacrifice, and fortitude that we would do well to emulate.
I would like to see Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act repealed too! We do not need any more violence plotted on social media, along with fake news.
i hate to say this, but every time i read a news story like smialek & casselman's "blame the victims" hit piece in today's NYTimes, i wonder why i am not instead writing about economics instead of science. (well, except my expertise is in the sciences, but i've noticed that one's expertise does not keep pretenders from writing about things they know nothing about.) i certainly have the integrity to write about economic issues, and the determination & drive to document every teensy detail of every story, every quote, and every graph ... and isn't that what real journalism is all about?
Regarding the war, how about much greater global efforts to resolve conflicts without war? It seems to me the United Nations needs strengthening. Leaders must find more creative ways to prevent wars and end them, if they start, as fast as possible. The risks of escalation and nuclear annihilation are real and currently growing. Now it's Russia, in the future it may be China, Iran or North Korea... We must build an international community of mutual respect, collaboration, and keeping trouble makers in check collectively. We have a long way to go and a short time to get there. The climate crisis makes this all the more urgent.
Robert: your years of involvement and understanding have placed your writing in a very positive and professional manner of explanations, I enjoy reading your comments they express the very way it is, and generally explain a good way out. If only the media, leaders, and public would listen. There is always a way out of all crisis and many is the times the United States of America has led the way. What you see is fact, what you suggest is honest appraisal and good judgment. I hope and pray we have time to activate your proposals. Keep up the good news
Professor, With the midterms nearly upon us, were the recognition Biden is due for his handling of the war in Ukraine not to receive warranted commendation until the history, as you say, is written, I imagine many would consider that lapse a lost opportunity, specifically in light of domestic vulnerabilities over which the Administration has limited control.
As a remedy, I propose that the public air waves be inundated with split screen imagery amplifying distinctions between the current Administration and its predecessor. Granting that we still don’t know the outcome of the invasion, surely there is sufficient factual predication to distinguish the impact of Biden’s commanding presence relative, for example, to mightily helping to fortify NATO as opposed to his predecessor, under whose auspices we were witnessing its near fatal demise.
As for Twitter, and other "word cesspools" I'd propose a much harsher solution - although impossible - of expunging all social media sites. As I recall, Zuck started a site at Harvard to rate girls. Then he got this weird idea that the world would be a better place if people could express themselves - and how did that work out? Sites like Facebook and Instagram serve to let other people know "how great my life is". I've never used social media as I prefer self-examination and self-improvement. I've never grasped the joy of letting the world know what the hell I'm thinking or doing, as who would care. In terms of social media, I guess I'm an iconoclast. Don't see any social benefit of engaging with it - and the last think I need in my life is an electronic "friend". The sheer number of hours people put into social media could be better spent making the world a better place.
Robert, thank you for today's letter. I didn't even know of the Communications Decency Act, repealing it certainly makes sense, we are in a different time now. Presently, with the Congress we have now I can't see how that's possible. I can't imagine what can deter the Powell fueled runaway recession train. The Fed knows the truth about what's causing inflation. I believe there are other darker forces at work here. There are advantages to bad actors to have the economy falter. On Biden, he's a Champion. Yes, his patient, steady, focused hand pulling NATO together and finding a path to help defeat Putin without causing a greater conflict is the best thing happening today. The outcome is not close at hand, I fear, but at least there is sanity on the part of our president and other countries in dealing with this crisis. I have thought from time to time, what a worse nightmare this would be if Trump had pulled off his coup and were president. This psychopathically violent man would be like a pig in sh__ wallowing in the chaos of savagery and luxuriating in the attention he could get from it. Biden was a bigger gift to this country than many may ever understand. And yes, the Ukrainians blow my mind every single day. Amazing people....Americans could learn a lot from them...how to fight for Democracy and self rule.
Well, Professor, I have taken to reading you before I read the Times or WaPo. It gives me some ballast. Speaking of wealth, the Times keeps getting fatter but there's not quite enough staff to cover certain aspects of our situation. In the Guardian, I read that the new Times editor is expected to steer more towards the "centre". Heaven help us. I value my mental health too much to follow Twitter, so I thank you for doing it for me. We swim in a sea of misinformation.
Guardrails on Twitter? Easy!! When one publishes an article on ANY journal, one needs to cite references. When someone conveys "information" via Twitter, they should be compelled to cite references, so the readers can check out those references. No references=no publishing on Tweeter. Now that we've straightened this out, should I call Elon to discuss this?
I hope and pray that the beginning of the last paragraph of today’s article rings true. I love Joe Biden and think he is doing a fine job considering the mess he inherited. If I had the means to I would sponsor a Ukrainian family. 🌻
Thank you for the analysis. I often feel down after watching the mainstream media, but your clarifications help me to find some balance. Red hot labor market! Yea, right! everyone is living large! It just makes sense that with so much wealth going to the top, and the wealthy corporations inflating their stock prices by buying them back, and not being taxed a penny, something has got to give. The workers get less and less, pay more and more, while they are taxed at a higher rate than the wealthy, and now face accusations that their 'riches' are causing inflation! Soon they may be beating a dead horse and wondering why it died!
I think that much of the effort and work in Ukraine has been in the hands of ordinary civilians. They have shown a willingness to sacrifice and help one another in the dire circumstances in which they find themselves. I do not have much money to help these people but, on the other hand, I try to find some funds to support the teams helping the Ukrainians in their time of need and duress. Kindly do what you can to support one of the many organizations extending all sorts of support to Ukrainians in and outside of the country. I choose Unicef for Families Ukraine and Doctors without Borders but there are many others that are helping. The Ukrainians have been a model of courage, self-sacrifice, and fortitude that we would do well to emulate.
I would like to see Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act repealed too! We do not need any more violence plotted on social media, along with fake news.
i hate to say this, but every time i read a news story like smialek & casselman's "blame the victims" hit piece in today's NYTimes, i wonder why i am not instead writing about economics instead of science. (well, except my expertise is in the sciences, but i've noticed that one's expertise does not keep pretenders from writing about things they know nothing about.) i certainly have the integrity to write about economic issues, and the determination & drive to document every teensy detail of every story, every quote, and every graph ... and isn't that what real journalism is all about?
Regarding the war, how about much greater global efforts to resolve conflicts without war? It seems to me the United Nations needs strengthening. Leaders must find more creative ways to prevent wars and end them, if they start, as fast as possible. The risks of escalation and nuclear annihilation are real and currently growing. Now it's Russia, in the future it may be China, Iran or North Korea... We must build an international community of mutual respect, collaboration, and keeping trouble makers in check collectively. We have a long way to go and a short time to get there. The climate crisis makes this all the more urgent.
Robert: your years of involvement and understanding have placed your writing in a very positive and professional manner of explanations, I enjoy reading your comments they express the very way it is, and generally explain a good way out. If only the media, leaders, and public would listen. There is always a way out of all crisis and many is the times the United States of America has led the way. What you see is fact, what you suggest is honest appraisal and good judgment. I hope and pray we have time to activate your proposals. Keep up the good news
Professor, With the midterms nearly upon us, were the recognition Biden is due for his handling of the war in Ukraine not to receive warranted commendation until the history, as you say, is written, I imagine many would consider that lapse a lost opportunity, specifically in light of domestic vulnerabilities over which the Administration has limited control.
As a remedy, I propose that the public air waves be inundated with split screen imagery amplifying distinctions between the current Administration and its predecessor. Granting that we still don’t know the outcome of the invasion, surely there is sufficient factual predication to distinguish the impact of Biden’s commanding presence relative, for example, to mightily helping to fortify NATO as opposed to his predecessor, under whose auspices we were witnessing its near fatal demise.
As for Twitter, and other "word cesspools" I'd propose a much harsher solution - although impossible - of expunging all social media sites. As I recall, Zuck started a site at Harvard to rate girls. Then he got this weird idea that the world would be a better place if people could express themselves - and how did that work out? Sites like Facebook and Instagram serve to let other people know "how great my life is". I've never used social media as I prefer self-examination and self-improvement. I've never grasped the joy of letting the world know what the hell I'm thinking or doing, as who would care. In terms of social media, I guess I'm an iconoclast. Don't see any social benefit of engaging with it - and the last think I need in my life is an electronic "friend". The sheer number of hours people put into social media could be better spent making the world a better place.
Robert, thank you for today's letter. I didn't even know of the Communications Decency Act, repealing it certainly makes sense, we are in a different time now. Presently, with the Congress we have now I can't see how that's possible. I can't imagine what can deter the Powell fueled runaway recession train. The Fed knows the truth about what's causing inflation. I believe there are other darker forces at work here. There are advantages to bad actors to have the economy falter. On Biden, he's a Champion. Yes, his patient, steady, focused hand pulling NATO together and finding a path to help defeat Putin without causing a greater conflict is the best thing happening today. The outcome is not close at hand, I fear, but at least there is sanity on the part of our president and other countries in dealing with this crisis. I have thought from time to time, what a worse nightmare this would be if Trump had pulled off his coup and were president. This psychopathically violent man would be like a pig in sh__ wallowing in the chaos of savagery and luxuriating in the attention he could get from it. Biden was a bigger gift to this country than many may ever understand. And yes, the Ukrainians blow my mind every single day. Amazing people....Americans could learn a lot from them...how to fight for Democracy and self rule.
Libel law. Not liable law. You're welcome.
Well, Professor, I have taken to reading you before I read the Times or WaPo. It gives me some ballast. Speaking of wealth, the Times keeps getting fatter but there's not quite enough staff to cover certain aspects of our situation. In the Guardian, I read that the new Times editor is expected to steer more towards the "centre". Heaven help us. I value my mental health too much to follow Twitter, so I thank you for doing it for me. We swim in a sea of misinformation.
I agree that Ukraine, NATO and Biden deserve credit In a tough situation.
Guardrails on Twitter? Easy!! When one publishes an article on ANY journal, one needs to cite references. When someone conveys "information" via Twitter, they should be compelled to cite references, so the readers can check out those references. No references=no publishing on Tweeter. Now that we've straightened this out, should I call Elon to discuss this?
This is a solution especially with excess profit tax for corporations. Thank you
thank you for tackling issues like this. your sound reasoning, easy to understand content are truly appreciated.