tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766480662363186608.post7393819906703109570..comments2023-10-15T08:33:17.704-04:00Comments on What People Know: The VP DebateHollanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07388479139384630638noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766480662363186608.post-14067702767971698002008-10-03T21:26:00.000-04:002008-10-03T21:26:00.000-04:00Yep, the old Downsian argument -- voting (or keepi...Yep, the old Downsian argument -- voting (or keeping up with public affairs) -- is an irrational act.<BR/><BR/>Unless, of course, you do it for enertainment purposes. Then it's completely rational.Hollanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07388479139384630638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1766480662363186608.post-39023361904059571392008-10-03T20:38:00.000-04:002008-10-03T20:38:00.000-04:00I am an economist. We're pretty warped about voti...I am an economist. We're pretty warped about voting. Unless one side or the other wins my state by one vote, my vote is irrelevant. So, for me, voting is entertainment.<BR/><BR/>I had thought I would be most entertained by voting for Bob Barr. Then along came Sarah. So, yes, I am biased. Flirting with America during the debates? I loved it.<BR/><BR/>I cannot turn off the rest of my knowledge in watching the debate, so I am not much of a judge "Oh! Biden made that (patently ridiculous) point and she didn't counter! Point for Biden." <BR/><BR/>When Biden says something ridiculous, such as "We're going to tax the rich, and help the middle class," I count that as -10, since, according to the IRS, 3/4 of "individual taxpayers" with incomes over $250K are really small businesses. When Biden says, "95% of small businesses have incomes below $250K," I count that as -20 since it is still the case that the 5% of small businesses with incomes above $250K make up 3/4 of "individual taxpayers" with incomes over $250K.<BR/><BR/>So when I watch the debate I mostly score the intellectual honesty and intelligence of the candidates, not the point/counterpoint, as a debate coach would.<BR/><BR/>My only big negatives for Palin are on the "greed on Wall Street" comments. If you take the greed out of human action you have . . . the end of human kind.John Arkwrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14724588347915809218noreply@blogger.com