Intro

raderag

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Sep 28, 2011
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Hi There,

I look forward to asking questions and discussing economics on this board. While I read a bit about economics (mostly from a policy standpoint), I would like to refine my understanding of the issues. Currently, I consider myself to be fairly moderate on economic issues in general.

Here is a brief history of my political leanings. I was very liberal in High School and college (not from my parents), and would have voted for Dukakis (I was only 17). I voted for Clinton in '92, but became part of the '94 conservative awakening (or whaterver it might be), and continued to vote for Republican's, with a few exceptions up until today. My understanding of economics when I was young was simplistic and utopian, and could best be described as democratic socialist. The sea change in '94 didn't involve me dropping some of my utopian ideas, and thus caused me to embrace much of libertarian thought. Not that all libertarians are utopian, but that sort of ideology seems to attract some utopian thinkers.

In the last few years, I have moderated almost all of my views, and believe that ideology itself can be a major impediment to governance and good ideas. If I were to best describe my economic views, it would be that I believe that the best economies tend to have free trade, rule of law, fair taxes, no more regulations that needed, and a stable society. I tend to see ideology based supply-side and demand side views as different sides of the same coin in that they are trying to produce something artificially. I tend to think that most stimulus only helps to create a bubble since most of the time an economic stimulus is fairly aimless. OTOH, I tend to see more of a role for government in our economy than do libertarians (i.e. social insurance, government funded education and research, and expansion of infrastructure). I'm normally not a deficit hawk, but would like to see us keep the debt consistently below 50% of GDP. While it was over 100% post-WWII, the rest of the world had been destroyed while at the same time our manufacturing had been built up.

I'm here to refine and correct my views.

I was thinking this was mostly an econ board, so I'll mostly discuss that.
 
Last edited:
Welcome.

There is an "Economy" forum. You'll find it on the Home page.
Use the search function to avoid starting a new topic that's already been discussed over and over and over.
 
Welcome to USMB, raderag. We have a couple of guys who like econ who frequent Foxfyre's USMB coffee shop, where you (and all) are welcome to visit. There, we lock out only political opinion, which keeps things friendly and helps anyone who's interested get acquainted with people from differing views. I'll let you figure out the money men and women. :)
 
Hi There,

I look forward to asking questions and discussing economics on this board. While I read a bit about economics (mostly from a policy standpoint), I would like to refine my understanding of the issues. Currently, I consider myself to be fairly moderate on economic issues in general.

Here is a brief history of my political leanings. I was very liberal in High School and college (not from my parents), and would have voted for Dukakis (I was only 17). I voted for Clinton in '92, but became part of the '94 conservative awakening (or whaterver it might be), and continued to vote for Republican's, with a few exceptions up until today. My understanding of economics when I was young was simplistic and utopian, and could best be described as democratic socialist. The sea change in '94 didn't involve me dropping some of my utopian ideas, and thus caused me to embrace much of libertarian thought. Not that all libertarians are utopian, but that sort of ideology seems to attract some utopian thinkers.

In the last few years, I have moderated almost all of my views, and believe that ideology itself can be a major impediment to governance and good ideas. If I were to best describe my economic views, it would be that I believe that the best economies tend to have free trade, rule of law, fair taxes, no more regulations that needed, and a stable society. I tend to see ideology based supply-side and demand side views as different sides of the same coin in that they are trying to produce something artificially. I tend to think that most stimulus only helps to create a bubble since most of the time an economic stimulus is fairly aimless. OTOH, I tend to see more of a role for government in our economy than do libertarians (i.e. social insurance, government funded education and research, and expansion of infrastructure). I'm normally not a deficit hawk, but would like to see us keep the debt consistently below 50% of GDP. While it was over 100% post-WWII, the rest of the world had been destroyed while at the same time our manufacturing had been built up.

I'm here to refine and correct my views.

I was thinking this was mostly an econ board, so I'll mostly discuss that.

I will quote another member and say see you on the inside. I also got a rep for being new. And for my part, I will say get a shank, and dont drop the soap.
 
If you give me all your money, I'll be richer. Any other econ questions cost a quarter.
 

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