Economics.

[Rolling Thunder]

Ah, the ultimate of the studies. How all else falls before it's all-encompasing glare, it's mighty patterns and it's sublime workings, how it twitches the puppet strings of the world with each and every shift in it's eddies.

Now, questions(You only have to answer one, or open your own point-these are just conversation-starters):

1. Is leftwing economics deficent.
-Sub-question: if so, why?

2. Is right-wing economics deficent?
-Sub-question: So why, if?

3. Obama vs. McCain. Economics only, if you please. AND IF YOU FLAME I WILL STRIKE THEE DOWN WITH MINE WRATH. And then I'll invite Ultrajoe to do the same. And then I'll report you.

4. Command economy vs. Pure Free Market vs Mixed Economy.

5. What would you describe the relation between politics and economics as?

 

[Saskwach]

How all else falls before it's all-encompasing glare, it's mighty patterns and it's sublime workings, how it twitches the puppet strings of the world with each and every shift in it's eddies.

So all in one sentence economics has is a being with eyes, is an artwork or object, is an artist or creator of some sort, is a puppet master or manipulator, and a river. I've never seen so many metaphors in one sentence; it's wonderful.
Forgive me, but I only recently revised metaphor for linguistics.
Meanwhile, I'll deign to answer a few of these questions.

3. Obama vs. McCain. Economics only, if you please. AND IF YOU FLAME I WILL STRIKE THEE DOWN WITH MINE WRATH. And then I'll invite Ultrajoe to do the same. And then I'll report you.

Both are pretty much kids swimming in the deep end - but I hear Obama has the better advisors.

4. Command economy vs. Pure Free Market vs Mixed Economy.

Mixed - and just how mixed depends on my day. I think on average it's on the PFM side of the scales.

5. What would you describe the relation between politics and economics as?

To quote from memory:
The first rule of economics is scarcity; the first rule of politics is to forget the first rule of economics.

 

[Byrne]

1. Is leftwing economics deficent.
-Sub-question: if so, why?

Left wing economics, take the wealth and redistribute it is a nice idea in theory, but in all honesty I couldn't really give a damn about everyone else, and neither do the general public. People baw on about wanting equality and complain about people being poor, however as soon as taxes are increased they're quick to turn and get enraged.

Also, the dregs of society. I don't want to have to pay for them. The situation over here in the UK with the number of unskilled immigrants, or those unable to work? Why should I pay for them to live? I'm aware of the Polish and others filling jobs our own people won't do, but to be frank we should be forcing our own to take these jobs rather than get more into the country.

I agree with the regulation of companies, and to make sure there are no market failures. The free market economy takes its course then its up to the government to fix their mistakes.

2. Is right-wing economics deficent?
-Sub-question: So why, if?

It could be described as brutal, and non caring. But that is how the world is. People should take responsibility for themselves and not live on bailouts from the government. I'm 16, I live alone in rented accomodation and work three jobs a week while remaining in education and I live pretty comfortably. I'm sure if people got off their arse and retrained all their woes would disappear.

Also, anyone who claims to be in poverty and can still 'afford' to spend money on cigarettes and alcohol needs to re-evaluate their priorities.

And as for lack of regulation, yes its bad for the companies who get punished for their business practices, but if it is required to maintain growth I'm all for it.

3. Obama vs. McCain. Economics only, if you please.

Don't know enough to comment. Both seem idiots to me.

4. Command economy vs. Pure Free Market vs Mixed Economy.

Mixed economy all the way. We only need to look at the free market healthcare in America to see what a shambles it is. It suffers from a lack of information from both parties. (Insurance and people) and the fact we're all going to need healthcare at some point, making the insurance pointless. We only need to look at the system here in the UK to realise a national insurance policy produces better results and more cheaply.

However, I do feel that people with the money to choose which drug or treatment they wise to use, should be allowed to do so.

As for wants, free market. You can't put a price on your health but you can for everything else. A free market system determines how much people want of a product and makes sure it arrives to the people who value it most. And since all these things arn't needed? If you can't afford it ; tough.

A command economy suffers from a lack of knowledge, as far as I'm aware. I havn't studied it in any great depth, apart from I know they're associated with communism and left wing-ism.

5. What would you describe the relation between politics and economics as?
Don't know enough.

 

[fix-the-spade]

The only rule of economics is do not trade in things that do not exist.


Sadly the world markets persistently ignore this, trading in everything from bad debts to speculative oil. Then they wonder why it all goes tits up every twenty years...

 

[John Galt]

1. Is leftwing economics deficent.
-Sub-question: if so, why?

It's got its flaws. I don't see a wholly communist society working out too well in practice. The devotion to collective well being is admirable, but I don't have enough faith in humanity to consider it as a legitimate economic ideology. The main problem I see in communism and left-leaning socialism is the drive for equality. In any system, you need a hierarchy. Those on the bottom may not like it but those on the top (the ones with power, mind you) cannot live without it. There's nothing wrong with a safety net and all, but I am of the opinion that a society requires a bit of economic mobility, be it downwards or upwards to survive and sustain itself.

2. Is right-wing economics deficent?
-Sub-question: So why, if?

I like economic mobility, but I've got my standards. Unregulated capitalism leads to massive gaps between classes which brews discontent. Capitalism works out much better, if not less predictably, than communism in the long run (as was demonstrated by the Cold War), but still has its downfalls (finance capitalism makes me want to slug Ayn Rand right in the jaw).

3. Obama vs. McCain. Economics only, if you please. AND IF YOU FLAME I WILL STRIKE THEE DOWN WITH MINE WRATH. And then I'll invite Ultrajoe to do the same. And then I'll report you.

Unsatisfied with both. Obama shares some of my ideals, but I doubt his ability to deliver, and McCain leaves me as excited as a cold shower.

4. Command economy vs. Pure Free Market vs Mixed Economy.

When it comes to economic matters, I see a mixed economy as the best way to go. I feel that industries essential to the survival of a state, like arms manufacture, steel production, coal mining, farming, basic health care, and whatever else is essential to infrastructure should be under the authority of the state. Things like that are too important to leave to the erratic behavior of capitalist systems. However, I don't think that the government would be able to effectively control every industry, so you'd need private enterprise to fill the gaps. However many computers, movies, office chairs, and whatnot are produced wont be integral to the survival of the state.

5. What would you describe the relation between politics and economics as?

Don't know enough.