Favorites August 4 2021

James Medlock @jdcmedlock

I still feel like the best path forward for UBI advocates is to focus on a significantly smaller size benefit (like $50-$200), as a form of cash transfer infrastructure, giving us the ability to reach everyone seamlessly and then be able to scale it up as an automatic stabilizer

Max Ghenis @MaxGhenis

The notion that we'll still be doing guaranteed income pilots in 2027 is frankly depressing. Switching from $500 million in pilot funding in six years to nearly $4 trillion in program costs in seven years is simultaneously feeble and absurdly unrealistic. https://t.co/zqhzESQa36

They should have gotten the automatic stabilizer into one of the earlier bills. As the crisis recedes it’s getting harder and harder to get it done. Emergency preparedness is easiest to do when the last emergency is still very fresh, and the infrastructure to do it via UBI would be even better.

Ioannis Tz @tzoumio

An illustration of how the 5th c.BC Erechtheion on the Athenian Acropolis may have looked with its original paintwork.

Here's more on how the greeks and romans actually painted their sculptures.

Colin McMillen @mcmillen

I knew back in February that this would happen eventually somewhere.

cnn.comSan Francisco will let people who got the J&J vaccine get a supplemental mRNA vaccine doseCNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers viewers’ questions about the latest surge of Covid-19 and the Delta variant. Anderson Cooper Full Circle airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6p E.T.

If you got a J&J shot, this might be useful info.

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal

Fact check - True

Josh Kraushaar @HotlineJosh

.@zeynep: "The C.D.C. Needs to Stop Confusing the Public" https://t.co/XPvsBAXUu4

Kai is usually pretty measured in his opinions, Zeynep was pretty harsh in this one.

Noah Smith 🐇 @Noahpinion

One of my weirder beliefs is that corruption, in general, can be bad or good for economic development, and that what really matters is the *type* of corruption your system allows.

Ryan Sumo 🇵🇭 @RyanSumo

The more I learn about post ww2 Japan the more I realize how much of it was built off corruption. Gives the lie to the idea that all PH needs to thrive is end corruption. But why has JP corruption seemingly benefitted citizens while PH corruption harms us? Thoughts, @Noahpinion

Noah Smith 🐇 @Noahpinion

China's corruption was almost all of the "government official gets kickback for helping private-ish companies grow" type, which has lots of unfair effects and negative externalities, but...seems definitely pro-growth.

Noah Smith 🐇 @Noahpinion

In fact, maybe the best way to characterize corruption types is in terms of the type of asset the corrupt official receives? If the official receives cash, it's just another transaction cost. But if the official receives equity, interests are now aligned.

This is really interesting, in the replies, someone pointed to a book on the subject as well.

Anthony L. Fisher @anthonyLfisher

Public sector labor unions — many with close ties to the Democratic establishment — are digging in their heels and refusing to support vaccine mandates for their members. Elected officials should call their bluff.

businessinsider.comDon’t let public sector unions off the hook when it comes to vaccine mandatesPublic sector unions should show “solidarity” with the public and not fight vaccine mandates for their members.

So, are they going to give in once it's fully approved in a month? Or are they going to oppose Measles vaccines as well?

Kim-Mai Cutler @kimmaicutler

Oh boy....

Political Polls @Politics_Polls

California Governor Recall: Recall 51% (+11) Remain 40% .@surveyusa/@sdut, 545 LV, 8/2-4 https://t.co/KYdc1YH6uC

Apparently Newsom's plan is to just do a massive ad blitz in the last month... I hope it works...

Toronto, 2019