With Income Gap at 80-Year High, Solutions Remain Elusive « The Washington Independent
But economists say the real key to regaining lost ground, especially for the middle class, is cultivating large numbers of jobs in new and growing industries like green technology and health care, and providing unfettered access to higher education so middle- and lower-income Americans can train for these careers.
“I think it’s widely agreed that education plays a huge role here and more so than in the past,” said Ron Haskins, an economist at the Brookings Institution. “The problem is a lot of people don’t have skills, and that’s because our high school dropout rates are high and people don’t go to college.”
The flip side of that coin is having jobs available for young people after they’ve invested in their education. “There’s potentially a lot of growth in health care and skilled manufacturing, but we need to do a much better job of providing access to training,” said Harvard’s Katz. “The traditional jobs that have provided wages to the middle class are clearly not doing well in today’s economy and are unlikely to come back. We need to think about a different middle class.”
“What we need is a policy conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Will Marshall, president of the Progressive Policy Institute, a think tank. “You need the energy of invention just as we saw in the late 90s. We need another spurt of innovation-fueled growth.”
“Inequality is one of the great structural challenges facing America,” Marshall continued. “It raises questions about whether the American dream still works. … That’s why it demands attention from policymakers as something we’ve got to squarely face.”
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
America's healthiest pleasures: 10 'vices' that are good for you - CNN.com
America's healthiest pleasures: 10 'vices' that are good for you - CNN.com
(Health.com) -- Permission granted: You can officially stop feeling guilty about those little "bad-for-you" habits you can't seem to break. Turns out, many of life's greatest indulgences bring big health benefits -- helping you stay slim, fight off the blues, and kick disease to the curb.
And we've got the 10 best right here, conveniently ranked by Health magazine's expert panelists. Start at the top of the list to get the most bang for your healthy buck, and keep moving on down to learn how to boost your well-being in the most decadent ways possible.
Pleasure No. 1: Getting your zzz's: Our experts unanimously agreed: Sleep is free and has virtually zero health drawbacks, making it the one treat no one should skimp on. Pillow time gives you energy, bolsters your immune system, boosts your memory, and even helps you get (or stay) slim.
Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night, the amount that studies show is ideal. Health.com: 8 factors that could be keeping you awake at night
Pleasure No. 2: Playing hooky: There's a reason it's called a mental-health day. Studies confirm that time off -- whether on a trip out of Dodge or a 24-hour staycation -- relieves stress, lowering your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease.
It also promotes creative thinking (attention, bosses!).
Pleasure No. 3: Sexual healing: Getting frisky is, hands-down, the most pleasurable form of physical activity there is. Having sex releases feel-good endorphins and oxytocin, the hormone that promotes attachment.
"That component of feeling connected to another person really benefits mental health," says Alice Domar, Ph.D., the executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health.
Another plus: Subjects in one study who did it once or twice a week had higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which shields you from colds and other infections. Why doesn't sex rank higher on our list? It can bring unintended consequences, from sexually transmitted infections (especially if you're not currently monogamous and not practicing safe sex) to "oops!" pregnancies.
Health.com: 10 reasons you're not having sex]
Pleasure No. 4: A daily chocolate fix: Our experts gave a hearty thumbs-up to nibbling a little chocolate every day -- as long as you stick to a square or two of the dark kind, to minimize sugar and fat intake and maximize the benefits. (The temptation to overeat this sweet treat accounts for it not making it into the top three.)
Pleasure No. 5: Girls' nights out: A flurry of recent studies have shed light on how huge an impact our friends and family have on our behavior, from what we drink and eat to how much we weigh -- for better and for worse.
But there's little question that strong social ties can bring a host of benefits: fewer colds, better brain health, and a longer life, to name a few.
"Friendships are very good for you -- as long as you hang out with people with whom you have a well-balanced relationship and limit your time spent with people who are toxic for you,"
No. 6: Full-fat dressing: For years we were trained to reach for low-fat everything, but there's no need to deprive yourself of the real deal. Full-fat foods not only taste better but also serve a real health purpose, as long as you get the right amounts of the right kinds. Aim for at least 10 percent of your daily fat intake to come from monounsaturated fats (found in vegetable oils, avocados, and many nuts and seeds), . Plus, "when you have a meal that includes a little fat, you tend to feel more satisfied, so you eat less," Gans says.
Still, no more than 30 percent of your daily calories should come from fat -- even the good kind.
Pleasure No. 7: Your morning java: It's completely OK if you need it to pry your eyes open in the a.m. A wealth of research suggests that coffee doesn't just pick you up -- it fights heart disease and some cancers, and it may even help you push through harder, longer workouts.
Moderate coffee-drinking in middle age has been associated with lower risks for dementia and Alzheimer's. And a 2009 review of more than four decades of research found that for every additional cup of coffee you drink each day -- high-octane or decaf -- your risk of developing type 2 diabetes shrinks by 7 percent, possibly because chemicals in the beverage improve your body's insulin sensitivity and increase metabolism.
Pleasure No. 8: Getting a rubdown: Don't ever feel guilty about shelling out for massages.
"In general, people who are touched regularly are healthier," Domar says. And if your budget doesn't include spa services, consider hands-on time with your honey.
Women in a 2008 study noted less pain, depression, anxiety, and anger when they were massaged twice a week by their partners -- and (bonus!) their partners reported better mental health, too.
Health.com: Which massage is best for you?
Pleasure No. 9: Basking in the sun: Bright days really do lift our moods -- sunshine is the ultimate natural antidepressant, triggering our bodies to nip production of the sleep-stimulating hormone melatonin so we're alert, energized, and ready to face the day. Exposing bare skin to the sun also triggers the synthesis of vitamin D, a hormone that may reduce your risks for cancer, heart disease, fragile bones, and other problems.
Pleasure No. 10: Wine with dinner: The buzz on wine is about its heart-healthy properties, though researchers aren't entirely sure how it works its magic. Its antioxidants may keep blood vessels flexible, or alcohol could boost HDL (good) cholesterol.
Either way, the key is moderation: one 5-ounce glass a day. More than that can raise blood pressure and pack on pounds.
(Health.com) -- Permission granted: You can officially stop feeling guilty about those little "bad-for-you" habits you can't seem to break. Turns out, many of life's greatest indulgences bring big health benefits -- helping you stay slim, fight off the blues, and kick disease to the curb.
And we've got the 10 best right here, conveniently ranked by Health magazine's expert panelists. Start at the top of the list to get the most bang for your healthy buck, and keep moving on down to learn how to boost your well-being in the most decadent ways possible.
Pleasure No. 1: Getting your zzz's: Our experts unanimously agreed: Sleep is free and has virtually zero health drawbacks, making it the one treat no one should skimp on. Pillow time gives you energy, bolsters your immune system, boosts your memory, and even helps you get (or stay) slim.
Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night, the amount that studies show is ideal. Health.com: 8 factors that could be keeping you awake at night
Pleasure No. 2: Playing hooky: There's a reason it's called a mental-health day. Studies confirm that time off -- whether on a trip out of Dodge or a 24-hour staycation -- relieves stress, lowering your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease.
It also promotes creative thinking (attention, bosses!).
Pleasure No. 3: Sexual healing: Getting frisky is, hands-down, the most pleasurable form of physical activity there is. Having sex releases feel-good endorphins and oxytocin, the hormone that promotes attachment.
"That component of feeling connected to another person really benefits mental health," says Alice Domar, Ph.D., the executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health.
Another plus: Subjects in one study who did it once or twice a week had higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, which shields you from colds and other infections. Why doesn't sex rank higher on our list? It can bring unintended consequences, from sexually transmitted infections (especially if you're not currently monogamous and not practicing safe sex) to "oops!" pregnancies.
Health.com: 10 reasons you're not having sex]
Pleasure No. 4: A daily chocolate fix: Our experts gave a hearty thumbs-up to nibbling a little chocolate every day -- as long as you stick to a square or two of the dark kind, to minimize sugar and fat intake and maximize the benefits. (The temptation to overeat this sweet treat accounts for it not making it into the top three.)
Pleasure No. 5: Girls' nights out: A flurry of recent studies have shed light on how huge an impact our friends and family have on our behavior, from what we drink and eat to how much we weigh -- for better and for worse.
But there's little question that strong social ties can bring a host of benefits: fewer colds, better brain health, and a longer life, to name a few.
"Friendships are very good for you -- as long as you hang out with people with whom you have a well-balanced relationship and limit your time spent with people who are toxic for you,"
No. 6: Full-fat dressing: For years we were trained to reach for low-fat everything, but there's no need to deprive yourself of the real deal. Full-fat foods not only taste better but also serve a real health purpose, as long as you get the right amounts of the right kinds. Aim for at least 10 percent of your daily fat intake to come from monounsaturated fats (found in vegetable oils, avocados, and many nuts and seeds), . Plus, "when you have a meal that includes a little fat, you tend to feel more satisfied, so you eat less," Gans says.
Still, no more than 30 percent of your daily calories should come from fat -- even the good kind.
Pleasure No. 7: Your morning java: It's completely OK if you need it to pry your eyes open in the a.m. A wealth of research suggests that coffee doesn't just pick you up -- it fights heart disease and some cancers, and it may even help you push through harder, longer workouts.
Moderate coffee-drinking in middle age has been associated with lower risks for dementia and Alzheimer's. And a 2009 review of more than four decades of research found that for every additional cup of coffee you drink each day -- high-octane or decaf -- your risk of developing type 2 diabetes shrinks by 7 percent, possibly because chemicals in the beverage improve your body's insulin sensitivity and increase metabolism.
Pleasure No. 8: Getting a rubdown: Don't ever feel guilty about shelling out for massages.
"In general, people who are touched regularly are healthier," Domar says. And if your budget doesn't include spa services, consider hands-on time with your honey.
Women in a 2008 study noted less pain, depression, anxiety, and anger when they were massaged twice a week by their partners -- and (bonus!) their partners reported better mental health, too.
Health.com: Which massage is best for you?
Pleasure No. 9: Basking in the sun: Bright days really do lift our moods -- sunshine is the ultimate natural antidepressant, triggering our bodies to nip production of the sleep-stimulating hormone melatonin so we're alert, energized, and ready to face the day. Exposing bare skin to the sun also triggers the synthesis of vitamin D, a hormone that may reduce your risks for cancer, heart disease, fragile bones, and other problems.
Pleasure No. 10: Wine with dinner: The buzz on wine is about its heart-healthy properties, though researchers aren't entirely sure how it works its magic. Its antioxidants may keep blood vessels flexible, or alcohol could boost HDL (good) cholesterol.
Either way, the key is moderation: one 5-ounce glass a day. More than that can raise blood pressure and pack on pounds.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Call for Papers
| Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution |
Introducing ''Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution"
Dear Colleague,
The Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution (JLCR) is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal published monthly by Academic Journals (http://www.academicjournals.org/JLCR). JLCR is dedicated to increasing the depth of the subject across disciplines with the ultimate aim of expanding knowledge of the subject.
Call for Papers
JLCR will cover all areas of the subject. The journal welcomes the submission of manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence, and will publish:
· Original articles in basic and applied research
· Case studies
· Critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries and essays
We invite you to submit your manuscript(s) to Submit.jlcr@gmail.com for publication. Our objective is to inform authors of the decision on their manuscript(s) within four weeks of submission. Following acceptance, a paper will normally be published in the next issue. Instruction for authors and other details are available on our website; http://www.academicjournals.org/JLCR/Instruction.htm
JLCR is an Open Access Journal
One key request of researchers across the world is unrestricted access to research publications. Open access gives a worldwide audience larger than that of any subscription-based journal and thus increases the visibility and impact of published works. It also enhances indexing, retrieval power and eliminates the need for permissions to reproduce and distribute content. JLCR is fully committed to the Open Access Initiative and will provide free access to all articles as soon as they are published.
Best regards,
Onome Clinton.
Editorial Assistant,
Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution
E-mail: Submit.jlcr@gmail.com
ISSN 2006-9804
Monday, August 16, 2010
Fwd: FAIR Monthly Headlines
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: FAIR (Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform) <subscriptions@fairwhistleblower.ca>
Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Subject: FAIR Monthly Headlines
To: siegholle@gmail.com
From: FAIR (Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform) <subscriptions@fairwhistleblower.ca>
Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Subject: FAIR Monthly Headlines
To: siegholle@gmail.com
FAIR Monthly Headlines: July 2010A list of articles added to the FAIR website last month. These are about whistleblowing, whistleblowers, and government or corporate misconduct exposed by whistleblowers. Holly Watt, Jon Swaine and Elizabeth Colman – July 30, 2010 More than £7.3 billion a year is being "skimmed off" the value of Britons' savings by City bankers and fund managers, an investigation by The Daily Telegraph has found. A range of questionable hidden fees and levies are being deducted from investments, making it difficult for a typical saver to make money from the stock market. Britain's eight million investors are losing an average of £800 a year each to the hidden levies. Nagendar Sharma – July 25, 2010 NEW DELHI — Two Right to Information (RTI) activists in Gujarat and Maharashtra had striking similarities. Both were fighting to expose corruption and both of them were murdered earlier this year despite having alerted the police about their lives were in danger. Vishram Laxman Dodiya and Satish Shetty are among the eight whistleblowers who have lost their lives in 2010. The latest victim was the 33 year-old RTI activist, Amit Jethwa, shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court, Ahmedabad, on July 20. Press Trust Of India – July 25, 2010 NEW DELHI — The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is seeking greater powers to ensure that individuals who expose corruption by government officials and departments are not victimised, hounded or harassed by the bureaucracy. The Commission says it needs "enforcement powers" to protect whistleblowers from harassment. The CVC is a designated authority to receive complaints and to ensure adequate protection to the whistleblowers under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Resolution (PIDPI). David Pugliese – July 23, 2010 Stingy federal bureaucrats, including those at Privy Council Office and Treasury Board, are blocking initiatives that could help the country's Afghan war veterans, the Veterans Ombudsman says. Retired colonel Pat Stogran said the motive appeared to be saving money. "There's huge amounts of pushback from central agencies on anything to do with veterans in any way that might mean more money going out," Stogran said in an interview. "Deputy ministers make more on average in one year than a person who loses two legs in Afghanistan can expect to be paid out for the rest of their life," Stogran said in his harshest words yet aimed at the federal bureaucracy. Federal investigation followed conflict of interest complaint against former assistant deputy minister Daniel Leblanc – July 23, 2010 Ottawa has just recouped more than $300,000 from a major supplier that was recently at the centre of a conflict of interest probe involving a senior bureaucrat. Public Works Canada launched an audit in the fall of 2008 into the work of the Corporate Research Group after allegations that the department's former assistant deputy minister, Tim McGrath, gave preferential treatment to the company because he was a friend of its president, Brian Card. The Canadian Press – July 22, 2010 Canada's controversial asbestos industry was hit with a public-relations tsunami Wednesday, following a volley of damning international media reports that probed the use of the disputed building material in developing countries. The British Broadcasting Corporation — which claims a worldwide audience of 241 million — aired an in-depth series on the asbestos trade as part of a joint investigation. Officer alleged police infighting sank major Hells Angels investigation Chad Skelton – July 22, 2010 A fired biker-gang investigator who sued the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. for wrongful dismissal received $2 million in an out-of-court settlement with the B.C. government, ministry records reveal. Allen Dalstrom was fired by OCABC chief officer David Douglas in 2004 after concerns were raised about Dalstrom's handling of Project Phoenix, a multimillion-dollar investigation of the Hells Angels that was never prosecuted, and over comments Dalstrom allegedly made to a journalist writing a book about the Angels. Gary Mason – July 21, 2010 The trial of Allen Dalstrom versus the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. had been under way in B.C. Supreme Court for only a few days when lawyers representing both sides approached Madam Justice Catherine Wedge asking for a temporary adjournment. It was granted. And although no one knew it then, a wrongful-dismissal case that threatened to level serious allegations of misconduct against high-ranking RCMP members would never resume. Jim Morris and Steve Bradshaw – July 21, 2010 Banned or restricted in more than 50 countries, white asbestos continues to be widely used in China, India, Russia and Brazil, and many developing countries. The BBC's Steve Bradshaw and Jim Morris from the ICIJ report on an industry supported by a global network of lobby groups. The Jeffrey asbestos mine in Quebec is an astonishing sight. "Big and beautiful," says one of the regular flow of tourists and locals who peer into its depths from a public observation deck. The PricewaterhouseCoopers 2009 Global Economic Crime Survey includes a measure of the percentage of respondents from various territories who reported suffering some type of fraud. Canada fares very badly in this survey, with 56% of respondents reporting fraud. Only three of the 54 countries surveyed fared worse: Russia (71%), South Africa (62%) and Kenya (57%). The table below lists the countries with the best and worst results on this measure. PS labour board says government used dismissal as 'scapegoat' to protect itself Kathryn May – July 20, 2010 OTTAWA — The Harper government has been ordered to pay nearly $1.4 million in damages and psychological injury for its "sham" dismissal of a high-powered executive recruited to revamp its real estate operations. In a sweeping ruling, the Public Service Labour Relations Board concluded last week that former Public Works adviser Douglas Tipple's layoff in 2006 was nothing more than a "disguised" termination. Colum Lynch – July 20, 2010 UNITED NATIONS -- The outgoing chief of a U.N. office charged with combating corruption at the United Nations has issued a stinging rebuke of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing him of undermining her efforts and leading the global institution into an era of decline, according to a confidential end-of-assignment report. The memo by Inga-Britt Ahlenius, a Swedish auditor who stepped down Friday as undersecretary general of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, represents an extraordinary personal attack on Ban from a senior U.N. official. The memo also marks a challenge to Ban's studiously cultivated image as a champion of accountability. Rasna Warah – July 18, 2010 I recently met a UN staff member who told me that he had come across incriminating evidence linking a top official with misuse of donor funding. In fact, he suspected that the money had not just been misused, but had been stolen. I asked him if he could report this to an oversight body within the UN and he told me there would be no point in doing so because he would either be fired or there would be a massive cover-up on the part of the organisation's financial officers, who would find a way of cooking the books to legitimise irregular movement of funds. July 16, 2010 Washington, D.C. – The Government Accountability Project (GAP) is praising the newly passed Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (HR 4173) today for four cornerstones of strengthened accountability related to whistleblowing. "Congress has hit a home run for whistleblowers," declared GAP Legal Director Tom Devine. "This reform has teeth, because Congress wisely is protecting frontline witnesses who are critical to enforce it." Gardiner Harris – July 12, 2010 In the fall of 1999, the drug giant SmithKline Beecham secretly began a study to find out if its diabetes medicine, Avandia, was safer for the heart than a competing pill, Actos, made by Takeda. Avandia's success was crucial to SmithKline, whose labs were otherwise all but barren of new products. But the study's results, completed that same year, were disastrous. Not only was Avandia no better than Actos, but the study also provided clear signs that it was riskier to the heart. It is hard to cut waste and excess when people think there are no problems Sean Bruyea and David Hutton – July 6, 2010 The recent announcement of cash rewards for public servants who suggest improvements in the federal government is naive at best and disingenuous at worst, given the prevailing management culture within Canada's public service. Canadians have long been soothed by platitudes such as the claim that we have the best federal public service in the world. Unfortunately such hype sidesteps very real and serious government failures and misconduct: the tainted blood scandal, the sponsorship scandal, the billion-dollar gun registry overrun, and the Air India bombing, to mention but a few. Yet this has not stopped the steady flow of feel-good messages fed by the wellspring of Ottawa's more than two dozen federal departments, claiming all is well in our country's administration. Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR) promotes integrity and accountability within government by empowering employees to speak out without fear of reprisal when they encounter wrongdoing. Our aim is to support legislation and management practices that will provide effective protection for whistleblowers and hence occupational free speech in the workplace. FAIR is a registered Canadian charity. http://fairwhistleblower.ca | Join us on Facebook |
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Fwd: To the Editor and Taxpayers of Brant Re Littel
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: S.Holle <holcrest@worldchat.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:45 PM
Subject: To the Editor and Taxpayers of Brant Re Littel
To: q-jumpers.sieg@blogger.com, siegholle@gmail.com
From: S.Holle <holcrest@worldchat.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:45 PM
Subject: To the Editor and Taxpayers of Brant Re Littel
To: q-jumpers.sieg@blogger.com, siegholle@gmail.com
|
| 261 Oakhill Drive Brantford N3T5L7 519- 754-0018 |
To the Editor- Expositor Thursday, July 29, 2010
Comment from reader
Re: 4 mayor candidates do not show up for the Taxpayer coalition Mayors debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall
In my opinion ,it is unfortunate that the would be mayor hopeful, Mr. Littel could or would not attend" the meet the candidates mayor debate" at the Knights of Columbus hall.. It appears that he was not officially notified and he was thus not officially prepared to be at the debate, or share his vision and plan for Brantford's future. This seems strange coming from one of the first Mayor candidates in the race- Not prepared after campaigning for almost 6 months? The great communicator, the lead champion, planner of the City's south Colborne development project - not prepared to share his views with the common public? How ironic and just what special behind the scene agenda are we, the voters, to believe in now?
Unofficially, this apparent prima donna or Let them eat cake attitude does not say much for his leadership style or ability to listen. Hopefully he will officially attend other public meetings and answer or be willing to answer questions from the voters.
The Taxpayer Coalition public "Meet the Candidates" meetings where well publicized. Most people would think that a Mayor Job candidate would welcome the opportunity to meet the public, the voters and the press to share his views –unofficially or officially
Littel seem to have little confidence in his own ability to debate other serious candidates – pity.
Name Withheld on request
Phone
Address . .
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
To the Editor and Taxpayers of Brant Re Littel
|
| 519- 754-0018 respondfeedbacknow@yahoo.ca |
To the Editor- Expositor Thursday, July 29, 2010
Comment from reader
Re: 4 mayor candidates do not show up for the Taxpayer coalition Mayors debate at the
In my opinion ,it is unfortunate that the would be mayor hopeful,
Unofficially, this apparent prima donna or Let them eat cake attitude does not say much for his leadership style or ability to listen. Hopefully he will officially attend other public meetings and answer or be willing to answer questions from the voters.
The Taxpayer Coalition public “Meet the Candidates” meetings where well publicized. Most people would think that a
Littel seem to have little confidence in his own ability to debate other serious candidates – pity.
Name Withheld on request
Phone
Address . .
Advisors News | Industry news | ADVISORS - Beware the 'Austerians': GMO's Monteir
Advisors News Industry news ADVISORS - Beware the 'Austerians': GMO's Monteir
Interesting read about the dangers of not spending . Personally it is more about effective versus wasteful government spending . Priming a over primed spending pump is illogical and wasteful. PR
Interesting read about the dangers of not spending . Personally it is more about effective versus wasteful government spending . Priming a over primed spending pump is illogical and wasteful. PR
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Economic strategy gets nod - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Economic strategy gets nod - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
This is a good direction - and plan . a worthwhile read
This is a good direction - and plan . a worthwhile read
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Cities Rent Police, Janitors to Save Cash: FCPP - Frontier Centre for Public Policy
Cities Rent Police, Janitors to Save Cash: FCPP - Frontier Centre for Public Policy
What are other cities doing to get more service for less out of choice or necessity? Can we learn from others -a worthwhile read . PR
What are other cities doing to get more service for less out of choice or necessity? Can we learn from others -a worthwhile read . PR
Tax Cuts Stimulate, But They Don't Solve All Ills - Forbes.com
Tax Cuts Stimulate, But They Don't Solve All Ills - Forbes.com
As for the Democrats, it would similarly be best if the biggest tax cut opponents would acknowledge the empirical truth that irrespective of tax rates, federal tax collections have for the last 60 years regularly hovered around 18% of gross domestic product.
This is an interesting article - a strong dollar seems to be the answer . What are your thoughts ?
As for the Democrats, it would similarly be best if the biggest tax cut opponents would acknowledge the empirical truth that irrespective of tax rates, federal tax collections have for the last 60 years regularly hovered around 18% of gross domestic product.
This is an interesting article - a strong dollar seems to be the answer . What are your thoughts ?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Candidates share visions for city's future - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
Candidates share visions for city's future - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA
We have real candidates that are interested in comming for the public interview and sharing their views -These are the real people who care and are not under investigation for behind closed door dealing
We have real candidates that are interested in comming for the public interview and sharing their views -These are the real people who care and are not under investigation for behind closed door dealing
In the community interest
Proud of candidate meetings
Posted By
Posted 30 minutes ago
Posted By
Posted 30 minutes ago
In response to the July 29 Expositor article on "Four candidates miss
the Taxpayers Coalition debate at the Knights of Columbus Hall ...."
With respect, the inability to communicate or conversely the inability
to hear what the people of Brantford are saying or want appears to be
an apparent common weakness in Brantford governance process. For the
record, we are proud of the "meet the candidates" public meetings in
bridging the information gap and allowing all people to make informed
and wise decisions through their power of voting for the most
qualified candidate of their choice. All candidates were invited to
the Taxpayers Coalition "meet the candidates" public scheduled events.
This information was conveyed in a grassroots manner -- by personal
invitation, phone, word of mouth, e-mail social media and well
publicized in both local newspapers and local community television. In
our opinion, the quality and participation in the debate process, by
the participants -- candidates from all wards was high. The ward and
mayors debates where extremely informative to the voters. Those that
did not attend missed an opportunity to be heard. One wise person, a
serious candidate, made the following realistic and astute observation
and comment about this public process. "If you have a job interview
with the public, it is wise to show up for the interview."
It is unfortunate that some candidates, could not or chose not to
attend, due to personal, work commitments, or other scheduling
conflicts. A special public "meet the candidates" meeting is scheduled
for Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus hall to
give these people the opportunity to speak and to ensure that everyone
is fairly represented and objectively treated. Please contact us if
you "officially" wish to participate. Respectfully speaking and with
nothing to hide.
Sieg Holle
Communications director Brant Taxpayers Coalition
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants"
http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Some people are unhappy as Canadians -what is your opinion?
Please read this one from our readers..
Everyone that lives in Canada should see this.and ask for changes .
I AM CANADIAN
I am in the minority in Calgary , Vancouver , Toronto
and every casino in this country.
I was born in the forties, fifties or sixties, yet I am somehow responsible for some First Nations people being screwed out of their land in the 1700's!
I pay import tax on cars made in Ontario
I am allowed to skydive and smoke, but not allowed to drive without a seat belt.
All the money I make until mid July must go to paying taxes..
I live and work among people who believe Americans are Ignorant....
These same people cannot name this country's new territory.
On April 1st, 1999, the map of Canada changed for the first time in 50 years with the creation of Nunavut Territory .
The Northwest Territories was split and approximately 2 million square kilometers of the central and eastern arctic became ' Nunavut '.
Although I am sometimes forced to live on hamburgers and don't have a pot to piss in,
I sleep well knowing that my taxes helped purchase a nice six figure home in Vancouver for some unskilled refugee.
Although they are unpatriotic and constantly try to separate...
Quebec still provides most of my nation's prime ministers.
95% of my nation's international conflicts are over fish.
I'm supposed to call black people African Canadians,
although I'm sure none of them have ever been to Africa for that matter.
I am being told that paying a 200% tax on alcohol is fair.
I am also being told that the same tax on gasoline is also fair.
Even if I have no idea what happened to that old rifle my
Grandfather gave me when I was 14, I will be considered a criminal if I don't register it.
I am being told that spending $15 billion to promote the French language in the rest of Canada is fair when the province of Quebec doesn't support or recognize the English language.
I am being told that paying $1million for 3 Stripes
('The Voice of Fire' painting in Ottawa )
by the National Art Gallery was a good purchase, even though 99% of this country didn't want it or will ever see it.
When I look at my pension and realize that I take home a third of what I actually make, I say
'Oh well, at least we have better health care than the Americans.'
I must bail out big corporations who drive their business into the ground and say,
'yeah that's ok.'
When they move all their manufacturing plants and jobs to a third world country and say,
'no problem.'
Pledge Billions of Canadian Dollars to Rebuild Haiti But Can't give Pensioners a decent pension to Live on after taking their hard earnd wages for Fourty years of work
"Goverments arn't wrong"
My National Anthem has versions in both official languages.
Canada is the highest taxed nation in North America, the biggest Military buffer for the United States, and the number one destination for fleeing terrorists.
I am not an angry white person.
I am one pissed off taxpayer,
who is broke
I am Canadian !!!
-- I am a Canadian who believes that knowledge ,and worthy people can change things for the common good
who is broke
I am Canadian !!!
-- I am a Canadian who believes that knowledge ,and worthy people can change things for the common good
Please pass this on to those that care and can make a difference.....
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Advisors News | Industry news | ADVISORS - IMF: Canada likely to outperform this year
Advisors News Industry news ADVISORS - IMF: Canada likely to outperform this year
Canada's economy is on track to grow more quickly this year than previously expected, putting it ahead of the United States and most other advanced economies, according to new estimates from International Monetary Fund.
The IMF said Thursday it's raising the 2010 growth forecast for Canada to 3.6 per cent from its previous estimate of 3.1 per cent, issued in April.
The IMF's July report also raised its U.S. growth estimate to 3.3 per cent, up from 3.1 per cent and its world estimate to 4.6 per cent from 4.2 per cent.
Asian countries with rapidly maturing economies will grow more quickly than the United States, Japan and European countries that have historically been more advanced.
Excellent this is our decade !!!! Sieg
Canada's economy is on track to grow more quickly this year than previously expected, putting it ahead of the United States and most other advanced economies, according to new estimates from International Monetary Fund.
The IMF said Thursday it's raising the 2010 growth forecast for Canada to 3.6 per cent from its previous estimate of 3.1 per cent, issued in April.
The IMF's July report also raised its U.S. growth estimate to 3.3 per cent, up from 3.1 per cent and its world estimate to 4.6 per cent from 4.2 per cent.
Asian countries with rapidly maturing economies will grow more quickly than the United States, Japan and European countries that have historically been more advanced.
Excellent this is our decade !!!! Sieg
Friday, July 09, 2010
Fwd: Business development SCC -informal thoughtsto garner expression of interest2
| Saving 200 jobs in Brantford Positioning thoughts on | Confidential 519- 754-0018 |
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sieg Holle <siegholle@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Subject: Fwd: Business development SCC -informal thoughtsto garner expression of interest2
To: Levac_Dave-MPP <dlevac.mpp@liberal.ola.org>, Phil <McColeman.P@parl.gc.ca>
Cc: steelworkers <rmason@usw.ca>, mayor <johnsless@rogers.com>
Community leaders mobilize and pass it on . -This is a worthy cause that deserves priority attention. You can be part of the solution -please comment and make suggestions you can make the difference . Sieg
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
From: Sieg Holle <siegholle@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Subject: Fwd: Business development SCC -informal thoughtsto garner expression of interest2
To: Levac_Dave-MPP <dlevac.mpp@liberal.ola.org>, Phil <McColeman.P@parl.gc.ca>
Cc: steelworkers <rmason@usw.ca>, mayor <johnsless@rogers.com>
Community leaders mobilize and pass it on . -This is a worthy cause that deserves priority attention. You can be part of the solution -please comment and make suggestions you can make the difference . Sieg
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: S.Holle <holcrest@worldchat.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 6:50 AM
Subject: Business development SCC -informal thoughtsto garner expression of interest2
From: S.Holle <holcrest@worldchat.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 6:50 AM
Subject: Business development SCC -informal thoughtsto garner expression of interest2
"When good men do nothing there are normally bad consequences and loses by default"- Sieg Holle BS MBA About us
The purpose of this working paper is to see if there is the will or means in the community to save Shoprite ( Screenprint) and the 200 jobs in a revitalized and restructured form . The Shoprite Community Corporation or SCC model has proved effective in the past and is a means to such an end .
Facts and background:
Fact:
Shoprite is a mature Brantford headquartered company with an over 50 year tradition of providing prosperity to the community or people of Brant /Brantford in terms of higher paying jobs ,municipal, provincial, and federal tax revenue, and is both a purchaser and proven leading supplier of needed goods and services to the Canadian and international markets.
The company is in technical receivership with estimated assets of 2.5 million and liabilities of 5 million dollars. Over 200 jobs, with an average hourly pay level of $28 are at risk . The Receiver is presently running, and winding down the 2 facilities located on Elgin street They are in the first stage of the receivership process and fulfilling existing orders. No formal RFP for the company or its assets have been publicly posted as is required. The entity is still in operation on a scaled down basis.
Fact:
Based on information provided by political candidates at the Taxpayer Coalition sponsored "Meet the Candidates" and other concerned citizens input- there are compelling reason to retain high paying jobs in the community.
- One in four jobs in Brantford has been lost in the economic downturn which has placed additional strains on community services and other community businesses.
- There are many empty or underutilized industrial factories in the Brant/Brantford community. The economic base and tax base is eroding.
- Two mayor candidates ( Sless and Calnan) have expressed support and suggested that a community initiative be undertaken to save the jobs and company if feasible .
Should good men in the community do something? Are their benefits that override the risks? When is talk and political posturing not enough?
· Why not find out ? – a prudent business strategy and community decision What is required ? –basically a will to succeed.
o The five step process is proven and simple - pre-feasibility( public consultation), Feasibility, Business Plan, Financial /ownership Plan , Implementation
· Leadership required – Who will champion the cause legally?
o An entity is needed to consolidate community interests
o SCC is an entity which can be formed for the specific purpose
· Considerations
o Do the creditors have an incentive to keep the restructured company alive by receiving a benefit greater then getting a tax write off and write downs ?
§ What acceptable terms can be negotiated in everyone's best interests?
o What is the market for the existing and new products that can be produced and marketed by the restructured company?
o What good men should serve on the SOS task Force committee and in what capacity?
o What assistance is available from government or other sources?
§ Capitalize creditor write-offs
§ Incentives -municipal, provincial, federal
· Training
· Equipment
· Product service orders
· Other
· Guarantees
· Tax deferrals and grants
· Talent or services lend for task at hand
o Time is of the essence
Other Points to be made:
- Once the company is decommissioned , it is a sad fact that it will be hard to revitalize . The cost of creating the same level of jobs has proven to be more expensive. See Enterprise benchmarks . The following adages apply
- A bird in hand is worth many promises in the bush
- All the kings horses and all the kings men will not be able to put humpty back together again
- Real time starts when the Receivers asks for public tenders or RFPs. Can we be ready ? It is estimated that this is a 3 to 6 month process.
Can the SCC model work?
Yes , with a few good men, real people that are motivated, knowledgeable, productive and with intelligent leadership
Should we make it work?
Yes , with real action , real energy , real plans, real people –not talkers or self interested posturing .
There are 1200 people ,their families, with their purchasing power and influence at stake.
Is it worth a shot? Yes Maybe No
|
Job creation benchmarks – Brantford
|
|
Economic performance benchmarks Information based on Enterprise Brant
Enterprise Brant is responsible for delivering the Community Futures Program in Brantford·Brant County which is a job creation program funded by Industry Canada.
During the past 21 years of operation Enterprise Brant has:
• approved over $16 million in loans to over 600 businesses in Brantford/Brant
• granted over $3.5 million to over 231 Community Development Projects
• assisted over 800 unemployed individuals with starting up 757 new businesses, creating 1028 jobs over the past 21 years.
Small and medium sized businesses can borrow up to $250,000 to expand an existing business or start a new one.
Quick benchmarks Enterprise Brant
These funds are part of the South West Community Adjustment Funds that were allocated to Enterprise Brant to administer for stimulating local economic growth in Brantford and Brant County. As part of the Economic Stimulus package implemented by the Federal Development Agency for Southern Ontario, it is important that these funds are allocated to businesses that will enable them to grow and/or position themselves to take advantage of the improving economy.
What are 200 jobs worth?
SCC comparison using Enterprise benchmarks
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" http://www.ic.gc.ca/ccc/search/cp?l=eng&e=123456239975 .
Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care
Monday, July 05, 2010
Advisors News | Industry news | ADVISORS - OBSI swamped with complaints
Advisors News Industry news ADVISORS - OBSI swamped with complaints
focus of 44 cases.
On the MFDA side, Investors Group Financial Services Inc. was the subject of 29 cases, followed by WFG Securities of Canada with 24.
Banking
Among the most common complaints in the banking sector were those regarding pre-payment penalties charged to customers seeking to refinance their mortgages. In most of these cases, OBSI found that the charges were explained in the mortgage documentation.
TD Bank saw the greatest number of banking-related complaints (102), followed by Scotiabank (79) and CIBC (48).
Overall, a disproportionate percentage of complaints came from Ontario clients, accounting for 57.8% of complaints, but only 38.8% of the country's population. British Columbians (13.3% of population) made 13.2% of complaints, while Quebec (23.4% of population) made only 12.5% of complaints.
"The proportionately lower number in Quebec reflects the fact that the caisses populaires Desjardins do not participate in OBSI for banking services," OBSI notes.
For the full OBSI report, click here.
Note :
Have you been ripped off by a bank lately ? Have they taken funds from you without your authorization? In normal countries that is known as stealing - do not let them get away with it. SH
Lets us know if you have been whooshed ,fees taken without your consent. A sorry is just not good enough! Let us know and we can start class action proceedings against them .It is your money -Banks are in a legal trust position which should not be abused without consequences and damages to them for bad behaviour .
focus of 44 cases.
On the MFDA side, Investors Group Financial Services Inc. was the subject of 29 cases, followed by WFG Securities of Canada with 24.
Banking
Among the most common complaints in the banking sector were those regarding pre-payment penalties charged to customers seeking to refinance their mortgages. In most of these cases, OBSI found that the charges were explained in the mortgage documentation.
TD Bank saw the greatest number of banking-related complaints (102), followed by Scotiabank (79) and CIBC (48).
Overall, a disproportionate percentage of complaints came from Ontario clients, accounting for 57.8% of complaints, but only 38.8% of the country's population. British Columbians (13.3% of population) made 13.2% of complaints, while Quebec (23.4% of population) made only 12.5% of complaints.
"The proportionately lower number in Quebec reflects the fact that the caisses populaires Desjardins do not participate in OBSI for banking services," OBSI notes.
For the full OBSI report, click here.
Note :
Have you been ripped off by a bank lately ? Have they taken funds from you without your authorization? In normal countries that is known as stealing - do not let them get away with it. SH
Lets us know if you have been whooshed ,fees taken without your consent. A sorry is just not good enough! Let us know and we can start class action proceedings against them .It is your money -Banks are in a legal trust position which should not be abused without consequences and damages to them for bad behaviour .
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Why Friedrich Hayek Is Making a Comeback: FCPP - Frontier Centre for Public Policy
Why Friedrich Hayek Is Making a Comeback: FCPP - Frontier Centre for Public Policy
Why Friedrich Hayek Is Making a Comeback
With the failure of Keynesian stimulus, the late Austrian economist's ideas on state power and crony capitalism are getting a new hearing. Russ Roberts, Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2010
Hayek's classic, "The Road to Serfdom," on his TV show, the book went to No. 1 on Amazon and remains in the top 10. Hayek's persona co-starred with his old sparring partner John Maynard Keynes in a rap video "Fear the Boom and Bust" that has been viewed over 1.4 million times on YouTube and subtitled in 10 languages.
Why the sudden interest in the ideas of a Vienna-born, Nobel Prize-winning economist largely forgotten by mainstream economists?
Hayek is not the only dead economist to have garnered new attention. Most of the living ones lost credibility when the Great Recession ended the much-hyped Great Moderation. And fears of another Great Depression caused a natural look to the past. When Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke zealously expanded the Fed's balance sheet, he was surely remembering Milton Friedman's indictment of the Fed's inaction in the 1930s. On the fiscal side, Keynes was also suddenly in vogue again. The stimulus package was passed with much talk of Keynesian multipliers and boosting aggregate demand.
But now that the stimulus has barely dented the unemployment rate, and with government spending and deficits soaring, it's natural to turn to Hayek.
He championed four important ideas worth thinking about in these troubled times.
First, he and fellow Austrian School economists such as Ludwig Von Mises argued that the economy is more complicated than the simple Keynesian story. Boosting aggregate demand by keeping school teachers employed will do little to help the construction workers and manufacturing workers who have borne the brunt of the current downturn. If those school teachers aren't buying more houses, construction workers are still going to take a while to find work. Keynesians like to claim that even digging holes and filling them is better than doing nothing because it gets money into the economy. But the main effect can be to raise the wages of ditch-diggers with limited effects outside that sector.
Second, Hayek highlighted the Fed's role in the business cycle. Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's artificially low rates of 2002-2004 played a crucial role in inflating the housing bubble and distorting other investment decisions. Current monetary policy postpones the adjustments needed to heal the housing market.
Third, as Hayek contended in "The Road to Serfdom," political freedom and economic freedom are inextricably intertwined. In a centrally planned economy, the state inevitably infringes on what we do, what we enjoy, and where we live. When the state has the final say on the economy, the political opposition needs the permission of the state to act, speak and write. Economic control becomes political control.
Even when the state tries to steer only part of the economy in the name of the "public good," the power of the state corrupts those who wield that power. Hayek pointed out that powerful bureaucracies don't attract angels—they attract people who enjoy running the lives of others. They tend to take care of their friends before taking care of others. And they find increasing that power attractive. Crony capitalism shouldn't be confused with the real thing.
The fourth timely idea of Hayek's is that order can emerge not just from the top down but from the bottom up. The American people are suffering from top-down fatigue. President Obama has expanded federal control of health care. He'd like to do the same with the energy market. Through Fannie and Freddie, the government is running the mortgage market. It now also owns shares in flagship American companies. The president flouts the rule of law by extracting promises from BP rather than letting the courts do their job. By increasing the size of government, he has left fewer resources for the rest of us to direct through our own decisions.
Hayek understood that the opposite of top-down collectivism was not selfishness and egotism. A free modern society is all about cooperation. We join with others to produce the goods and services we enjoy, all without top-down direction. The same is true in every sphere of activity that makes life meaningful—when we sing and when we dance, when we play and when we pray. Leaving us free to join with others as we see fit—in our work and in our play—is the road to true and lasting prosperity. Hayek gave us that map.
Despite the caricatures of his critics, Hayek never said that totalitarianism was the inevitable result of expanding government's role in the economy. He simply warned us of the possibility and the costs of heading in that direction. We should heed his warning. I don't know if we're on the road to serfdom, but wherever we're headed, Hayek would certainly counsel us to turn around.
Mr. Roberts teaches economics at George Mason University and co-created the "Fear the Boom and Bust" rap video with filmmaker John Papola. His latest book is "The Price of Everything" (Princeton, 2009).
Why Friedrich Hayek Is Making a Comeback
With the failure of Keynesian stimulus, the late Austrian economist's ideas on state power and crony capitalism are getting a new hearing. Russ Roberts, Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2010
Hayek's classic, "The Road to Serfdom," on his TV show, the book went to No. 1 on Amazon and remains in the top 10. Hayek's persona co-starred with his old sparring partner John Maynard Keynes in a rap video "Fear the Boom and Bust" that has been viewed over 1.4 million times on YouTube and subtitled in 10 languages.
Why the sudden interest in the ideas of a Vienna-born, Nobel Prize-winning economist largely forgotten by mainstream economists?
Hayek is not the only dead economist to have garnered new attention. Most of the living ones lost credibility when the Great Recession ended the much-hyped Great Moderation. And fears of another Great Depression caused a natural look to the past. When Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke zealously expanded the Fed's balance sheet, he was surely remembering Milton Friedman's indictment of the Fed's inaction in the 1930s. On the fiscal side, Keynes was also suddenly in vogue again. The stimulus package was passed with much talk of Keynesian multipliers and boosting aggregate demand.
But now that the stimulus has barely dented the unemployment rate, and with government spending and deficits soaring, it's natural to turn to Hayek.
He championed four important ideas worth thinking about in these troubled times.
First, he and fellow Austrian School economists such as Ludwig Von Mises argued that the economy is more complicated than the simple Keynesian story. Boosting aggregate demand by keeping school teachers employed will do little to help the construction workers and manufacturing workers who have borne the brunt of the current downturn. If those school teachers aren't buying more houses, construction workers are still going to take a while to find work. Keynesians like to claim that even digging holes and filling them is better than doing nothing because it gets money into the economy. But the main effect can be to raise the wages of ditch-diggers with limited effects outside that sector.
Second, Hayek highlighted the Fed's role in the business cycle. Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's artificially low rates of 2002-2004 played a crucial role in inflating the housing bubble and distorting other investment decisions. Current monetary policy postpones the adjustments needed to heal the housing market.
Third, as Hayek contended in "The Road to Serfdom," political freedom and economic freedom are inextricably intertwined. In a centrally planned economy, the state inevitably infringes on what we do, what we enjoy, and where we live. When the state has the final say on the economy, the political opposition needs the permission of the state to act, speak and write. Economic control becomes political control.
Even when the state tries to steer only part of the economy in the name of the "public good," the power of the state corrupts those who wield that power. Hayek pointed out that powerful bureaucracies don't attract angels—they attract people who enjoy running the lives of others. They tend to take care of their friends before taking care of others. And they find increasing that power attractive. Crony capitalism shouldn't be confused with the real thing.
The fourth timely idea of Hayek's is that order can emerge not just from the top down but from the bottom up. The American people are suffering from top-down fatigue. President Obama has expanded federal control of health care. He'd like to do the same with the energy market. Through Fannie and Freddie, the government is running the mortgage market. It now also owns shares in flagship American companies. The president flouts the rule of law by extracting promises from BP rather than letting the courts do their job. By increasing the size of government, he has left fewer resources for the rest of us to direct through our own decisions.
Hayek understood that the opposite of top-down collectivism was not selfishness and egotism. A free modern society is all about cooperation. We join with others to produce the goods and services we enjoy, all without top-down direction. The same is true in every sphere of activity that makes life meaningful—when we sing and when we dance, when we play and when we pray. Leaving us free to join with others as we see fit—in our work and in our play—is the road to true and lasting prosperity. Hayek gave us that map.
Despite the caricatures of his critics, Hayek never said that totalitarianism was the inevitable result of expanding government's role in the economy. He simply warned us of the possibility and the costs of heading in that direction. We should heed his warning. I don't know if we're on the road to serfdom, but wherever we're headed, Hayek would certainly counsel us to turn around.
Mr. Roberts teaches economics at George Mason University and co-created the "Fear the Boom and Bust" rap video with filmmaker John Papola. His latest book is "The Price of Everything" (Princeton, 2009).
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