Google and Government

My main takeaway from David Ewing Duncan's interview of Bill Maris, a Google Venture Managing Partner, is that we need people in government today who have bigger ideas. From The Atlantic.

Soldiering.

Good news: The U.S. is giving money to aid in the education of Lebanese college students. They're also giving 100 times that much to the Egyptian military.

Where Economists Agree

According to Megan McArdle, for the Atlantic, "there have been several issues where this ideologically diverse group of economists have shown resounding unanimity. "

1. NAFTA, on the margin, is good.
2. Gas prices aren't affected by government policies.
3. The stimulus and bailouts lowered unemployment.
4. The Gold Standard is not a good idea.

and also: rent control is bad, congestion pricing is good, eliminating tax deductions and lowering rates is efficient, and the tax deductibility of healthcare creates consequential distortions.

And We Think Mailmen Have It Bad?

Census takers have it rough.

A Government Agency That's Working For Me?

This is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Joe Nocera thinks it's an agency devoted to making a difference in people's lives.