David Brewster Lawrence Summers on what’s profoundly disturbing about Trump’s Carrier deal, signaling deals-based capitalism. It reminds me of the stadium wars, where sports teams threaten to move (as to Mexico or China) and are rewarded handsomely for staying put (until the next round).[...]
Posts Tagged ‘Commentary by David Brewster’
November 29th, 2016 - 2:35 pm § in Misc.
Democracy Under Threat
DAVID BREWSTER: It’s clear that democracy is under threat in U.S., but here’s evidence of the decline in democracy, and belief in democracy around the world, and particularly with younger voters. Researchers have developed a 3-step measurement for stability. “The first factor was p[...]
November 21st, 2016 - 1:54 am § in The Ave Scene
David Brewster: Is the Seattle boom a bubble?
David Brewster Here’s an admirably complete and nuanced story by Paul Roberts on the Seattle economy, and whether the signs of a mild slowdown could turn into another one of Seattle’s periodic busts. The signs would indicate the wisdom of a cautious path in government spending and projec[...]
November 17th, 2016 - 10:56 am § in Misc.
David Brewster This story on Europe’s innovation zones is a good illustration of how sophisticated Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post is becoming in graphics. It also maps Europe’s economy and makes an interesting point about how Germany, with relatively low college graduates, is nonethel[...]
November 12th, 2016 - 6:11 pm § in Misc.
Coasts vs American Middle
David Brewster More interesting analysis from Joel Kotkin, proposing a new political faultline between producing states in the Heartland, and the “ephemeral economy” on the coasts. He predicts that this war, once the poseur populist Trump is off the stage, will define our politics in the[...]
November 11th, 2016 - 5:13 pm § in Misc.
Commentary by David Brewster: Maybe Leaderless is Good?
David Brewster Fascinating times for Democrats, now leaderless. The article contends that the Dems were so occupied in rescuing the economy during Obama years, and then coalescing around Hillary, that they have not really debated whether to be the party of sane liberal capitalism/globalism/identity [...]
November 9th, 2016 - 11:15 am § in Misc.
FACEBOOK DIALOG: Should Obama Pardon the Clintons?
David Brewster Step 1, Hillary is elected. Step 2, Republican resistance goes crazy. Step 3, Obama pardons Hillary, as presidents have done in the past in the name of national amnesty. It would probably ruin Obama’s reputation, but it’s an interesting gambit to ponder. Consider: “A[...]
October 10th, 2016 - 1:22 pm § in Misc.
Trump’s mastery of new media
David Brewster Amid all the commentary on the presidential debate, I find this article most interesting. It traces Trump’s mastery of new media, through sensation and threading plot lines that other media can’t resist. It’s catching up with him now, but I worry that other politicia[...]
October 9th, 2016 - 10:32 am § in Misc.
Washington state about the worst in nation in terms of taxing the top 1 percent.
Two political scientists, Paul Pierson and Jacob Hacker, argue that the path to prosperity lies through blue states, which invest in education, infrastructure and human services, rather than red states, which cut taxes and rely on extractive industry. The charts are interesting, particularly the one[...]
Racial Politics is A Toxic Soup for Dems
David Brewster Here’s a fine-grained look at the state of racial politics in America. Among the provocative assertions: minorities do better economically in red states; as minorities move up the economic ladder they drift toward Republicanism (Trump did better with college educated black males[...]