[jyl]

This comment will no doubt irritate some of you.

In my opinion, claims that X is good for the economy or Y is bad or Z will move the stock market are of very little value if we don't research, include and crunch the numbers to demonstrate the magnitude as well as the direction of the claimed good or bad effect on the economy.

Our economy is very complex, very imperfect, and riddled with all sorts of internal inconsistencies. Some aspects of the economy reflect government intervention, others reflect free market competition. Some aspects are favorable to corporate profits, others are favorable to labor. Some are bankrupt, others are financially sound. Some are simply stupid, others are pretty smart.

If a person does not research and analyze the numbers, but simply talks qualitatively, then that person is free to focus on whatever aspect of the economy he is ideologically or emotionally passionate about, and to believe that aspect is the dominant force in the economy.

If I compare the economic discussions on PPOT to those in some other places, what stands out to me is our discussions are almost number-free. 95% of it is subjective, qualitative, ideological talk. It is sort of like how a group of English majors, fashion designers, or polisci majors might discuss an issue, as opposed to how a group of engineers or physicists would do.