The Economy: It's not all bad

Nieman's, Sax, Coach, and Tiffany all have posted strong earnings.

Clearly, SOMEONE out there is doing just fine:

"Neiman, which operates both its namesake and Bergdorf Goodman stores, has benefited as high-end shoppers have opened their wallets in an improving economy and a rebound in stock-market valuations."

And the GOP has finally produced a jobs plan that sounds a little bit familiar (tax cuts, tax breaks, oil, etc.). I guess that it's good that they called it what it really is: House Republican Plan for America's Job Creators. Because, really, it's a plan for corporations and rich people who are supposed to create jobs if we give them more money.

Well, they have more money, and they are spending it at Tiffany's.

Or, sitting on it, which is, I guess, what the rest of America can do, in the immortal words of Arthur Fonzarelli: Sit on it.

(As usual, Ezra Klein gets to the meat of it:


“Here’s how it works,” [David] Autor wrote in an e-mail. “1. You have a set of policies that you favor at all times and under all circumstances, e.g., cut taxes, remove regulations, drill-baby-drill, etc. 2. You see a problem that needs fixing (e.g., the economy stinks). 3. You say, ‘We need to enact my favored policies now more than ever.’ I believe that every item in the GOP list that you sent derives from this three step procedure.

“That’s not to say that there are no reasonable ideas on this list. But there is certainly no original thinking here directed at addressing the employment problem. Or, to put it differently, is there any set of economic circumstances under which the GOP would not actually want to enact every item on this agenda? If the answer is no, then this is clearly now-more-than-everism.”)

"To Buy is to Give"

Lose weight while sitting on your ass on the couch!
Make money while sitting on your ass on the couch!
Look younger by wearing this creme while sitting on your ass on the couch!

And now, help the less fortunate by...

SHOPPING!

Yes, the answer to September 11 was: Shop! The answer to the economic crisis is: Shop! And now, we can fight terrorism, recession, AND poverty by: SHOPPING!

Governor Mike Huckabee and The Christian Baldwin are spreading the good news about the Christian Values Network. You sign up, shop through their website, use their credit card, and route money to the cause of your choice. Or, rather, the Christian Cause of Your Choice. A percentage of every Christian Purchase goes to CVN, and CVN gives 50% of that revenue to your designated organization, which must be a registered nonprofit Christian ministry, church or charity.

A quick scan of the website does not tell me what the Christian Values are, which I think would be helpful.

To be fair, which I know is not popular, this is not the only site of its kind. Other groups are raising money in this way, and it's all of the "do nothing and do something" kind of mentality, and I suppose that in some way, it does make sense. You are already going to shop, so why not give something while you do it? After all, I have a cell phone company that gives to progressive causes.

I guess it's the whole mentality that gets to me a little bit. If they really want to help, then any designated nonprofit should be eligible. Otherwise, it's really about expanding the flock, isn't it?

Visual Aid

This was on Paul Krugman's blog, on nytimes.com.

I just thought it was interesting.