Comments on: Another area where the U.S. has lost its competitive edge… http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/11/04/another-area-where-the-us-has-lost-is-competitive-edge/ A posting every day; an interesting idea every three months... Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:28:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: Jacob Rus http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/11/04/another-area-where-the-us-has-lost-is-competitive-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-91062 Jacob Rus Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:40:34 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1115#comment-91062 Lost its competitive edge? Go re-read your Toqueville. America has always spent much more on its political system than other countries. Lost its competitive edge? Go re-read your Toqueville. America has always spent much more on its political system than other countries.

]]> By: Bill http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/11/04/another-area-where-the-us-has-lost-is-competitive-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-90995 Bill Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:35:01 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1115#comment-90995 It's a tax we pay every four years directly into the hands of the media. It’s a tax we pay every four years directly into the hands of the media.

]]> By: Stanislav Shalunov http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/11/04/another-area-where-the-us-has-lost-is-competitive-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-90761 Stanislav Shalunov Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:13:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1115#comment-90761 Dictatorships are democracies, too. The elections are unscheduled and are called civil wars. The total cost of American elections over a century pales in comparison with the costs of even modest revolutions, which tend to happen at least once a century and usually more frequently. The problem with the job of the president isn't that the hiring process is too expensive -- the job description is way too broad. I thought they had a decent one in the constitution. Dictatorships are democracies, too. The elections are unscheduled and are called civil wars.

The total cost of American elections over a century pales in comparison with the costs of even modest revolutions, which tend to happen at least once a century and usually more frequently.

The problem with the job of the president isn’t that the hiring process is too expensive — the job description is way too broad. I thought they had a decent one in the constitution.

]]> By: Paul Graham http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/11/04/another-area-where-the-us-has-lost-is-competitive-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-90738 Paul Graham Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:50:11 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1115#comment-90738 Actually dictators tend to spend a much larger percentage of the GDP remaining in power, indirectly through e.g. grants of (often confiscated) assets to their cronies. Actually dictators tend to spend a much larger percentage of the GDP remaining in power, indirectly through e.g. grants of (often confiscated) assets to their cronies.

]]> By: Glen Raphael http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/11/04/another-area-where-the-us-has-lost-is-competitive-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-90717 Glen Raphael Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:44:11 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1115#comment-90717 The amount the candidates have raised is what, about, $6 per American? And for that we get way more entertainment value than a $10 movie ticket. It's a bargain, I tell you! Next you'll be telling us we need to suspend movies or video games to avoid "falling too far behind" other nations. American politics is a spectator sport, no different from football. It gives people something to argue about. Is football "especially wasteful" because a few teams are virtually untouchable by most of the others? The amount the candidates have raised is what, about, $6 per American? And for that we get way more entertainment value than a $10 movie ticket. It’s a bargain, I tell you!

Next you’ll be telling us we need to suspend movies or video games to avoid “falling too far behind” other nations. American politics is a spectator sport, no different from football. It gives people something to argue about. Is football “especially wasteful” because a few teams are virtually untouchable by most of the others?

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