I’m looking for current events that work well as “hooks” to promote my book.
Question: Where in recent headlines do you most clearly see the stamp of voter irrationality?
Don’t hold back!
I’m looking for current events that work well as “hooks” to promote my book.
Question: Where in recent headlines do you most clearly see the stamp of voter irrationality?
Don’t hold back!
Aug 7 2007
Our Library of Economics and Liberty has a lot of interesting new stuff this week. 1. On Econtalk, Eric Hanushek argues that: --human capital is measured more accurately by performance on standardized tests than by years of schooling --better teachers and better schools make a difference (in other words, Steve, it'...
Aug 6 2007
I'm puzzled where Arnold gets the idea that I'm an "atomist." Was it Tyler who wrote this?Perhaps the greatest truth about human nature that you do not find in the typical economics textbook is that people are sheep. Most human beings don't like to be different from the others around them; they want to fit in - to loo...
Aug 6 2007
I'm looking for current events that work well as "hooks" to promote my book. Question: Where in recent headlines do you most clearly see the stamp of voter irrationality? Don't hold back!
READER COMMENTS
Alex J.
Aug 6 2007 at 5:26pm
No major public figures questioned the applicability of democracy to Iraq. I believe this represents a pro-democracy bias amongst the population that the various public figures appeal to.
Ironman
Aug 6 2007 at 5:57pm
Presidential candidate wife Elizabeth Edwards’ giving up of tangerines for the sake of “buying local” to protect the environment, when doing so would actually make the environment worse off.
Tool coming Tuesday to Political Calculations.
Unit
Aug 6 2007 at 7:50pm
I don’t follow recent headlines, but the belief that most people hold that it’s ok to ruin someone’s life and send the person to jail just because they prefer smoking their spices instead of sprinkling them on their pizza is not just irrational but also pretty scary.
Trevor
Aug 7 2007 at 7:57am
Harris County Texas (Houston) proposed to introduce congestion pricing on one of its toll roads into town:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/moveit/4916385.html
Citizens raised a stink and the plan was cancelled, here’s the money quote from the article:
“But it’s interesting that the reversal came, in part, because angry drivers vowed to stop using the congested road. Giving them an incentive to do just that during rush hour was the basic idea.”
Winston
Aug 7 2007 at 8:17am
The most prominent example of voter irrationality is that Arlen Specter, the man who endorsed the Single Bullet Theory to explain JFK’s assassination, is still an elected official.
Jeff
Aug 7 2007 at 8:32am
Ethanol.
Floccina
Aug 7 2007 at 9:01am
The big energy bill. Why do we have a department of energy anyway?
Stephen W. Stanton
Aug 7 2007 at 9:51am
Congress approval rating from 3% to 20%, and yet most will be re-elected.
Or you could rehash Katrina… Most partisans used this as an excuse to more strongly support their party (mayor/governor or President) and oppose the other.
cljo
Aug 7 2007 at 12:03pm
The Minnesota bridge collapse. Many see it as a result of the Republican governor’s refusal to spend money on infrastructure projects. I see it as evidence of government’s inability to efficiently and safely operate an infrastructure system.
Travis
Aug 7 2007 at 12:26pm
All of the recent backlash against immigration and the recent immigration bill that was effectively killed by talk radio.
Rue Des Quatre Vents
Aug 7 2007 at 2:43pm
There’s some interesting survey data about how Americans believe a 100MPG car will thwart global warming.
http://www.auto.xprize.org
8
Aug 7 2007 at 3:29pm
The desire to punish China for selling shoddy products.
“Dependency” on foreign oil.
Alternative energy.
China’s currency manipulation.
The Efficiency Paradox as it relates to energy.
Ironman
Aug 7 2007 at 9:16pm
Following up Rue Des Quatre Vents observation – the tool posted earlier today confirms it. From the post:
It’s not just the technological capability – it’s how it’s used.
Comments are closed.