Comments on: The Minimum Winning Coalition http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html High-minded, fanatically malthusian perspectives Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:09:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tdaxp http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-184120 tdaxp Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:08:54 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-184120 Michael, Generally agreed, with a big exception for #2 <blockquote>2. Force them to build 'green' vehicles There's already a strong incentive for automakers to build hybrids and other high-mileage cars: People buy them. If the government has to "incentivize" a company to build the kinds of products customers want, maybe it should incentivize the top executives to get lost. Besides, Detroit isn't as backward as the lampoonery suggests. There are already a few domestic hybrids, with more on the way. Detroit's Big Three sell economy cars, too. They're just not as good as Honda Civics or Toyota Corollas. But all three U.S. automakers say better models are on the way -- because their survival depends on it. If that's the case, let them prove it.</blockquote. The article's argument is that 'As long as gas prices are high, large auto markers are incentivized to make fuel efficient vehicles.' However, a) the last time gas prices were high (a few months back), this led to a dramatic decline in sales, which led to the request for this government bailout. If the auto makers can obtain government funds, why take the risk producing low-margin efficient vehicles instead of high-margin inefficient vehicles? Further, what evidence has Detroit shown over the last few decades that it is capable of reacting to shifts in the market? b) Even presuming Detroit is capable of following this market, this assumes we want our domestic fuel consumption stance to be a product of the present market mechanisms. However, the present market is itself warped by free-riding on an interstate highway system subsidized to survive a large-scale nuclear war [2] Why should our future fuel consumption be held hostage to strategic choices -- and subsidy choices -- we made generations again? [1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/22/hidden-costs.html Michael,

Generally agreed, with a big exception for #2

2. Force them to build ‘green’ vehicles
There’s already a strong incentive for automakers to build hybrids and other high-mileage cars: People buy them. If the government has to “incentivize” a company to build the kinds of products customers want, maybe it should incentivize the top executives to get lost.

Besides, Detroit isn’t as backward as the lampoonery suggests. There are already a few domestic hybrids, with more on the way. Detroit’s Big Three sell economy cars, too. They’re just not as good as Honda Civics or Toyota Corollas. But all three U.S. automakers say better models are on the way — because their survival depends on it. If that’s the case, let them prove it.

http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/22/hidden-costs.html

]]> By: Michael http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-179189 Michael Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:41:55 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-179189 US New & World Report's take. http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/7-worst-ways-to-rescue-detroit.aspx US New & World Report’s take.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/7-worst-ways-to-rescue-detroit.aspx

]]> By: tdaxp http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-177328 tdaxp Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:04:02 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-177328 The non-rustbelt parts of Fort Wayne are, by the way, quite beautiful [1] [1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archives/tag/fort-wayne The non-rustbelt parts of Fort Wayne are, by the way, quite beautiful [1]

[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archives/tag/fort-wayne

]]> By: biz http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-177321 biz Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:54:42 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-177321 Haven't heard a whole lot lately. I'm in Fort Wayne, IN (about 2 1/2, 3 hours away) So people I hear about people going up for concerts now and again. Too cold this time of year for anything else ;) Haven’t heard a whole lot lately. I’m in Fort Wayne, IN (about 2 1/2, 3 hours away) So people I hear about people going up for concerts now and again. Too cold this time of year for anything else ;)

]]> By: purpleslog http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-175102 purpleslog Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:23:21 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-175102 Biz: Is Detroit's performance music culture alive today? I don't think it is, but I could be wrong. Biz: Is Detroit’s performance music culture alive today? I don’t think it is, but I could be wrong.

]]> By: biz http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-175093 biz Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:46:04 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-175093 To purpleslogs comment about Detroit's music culture, You forget that Detroit has spawned some amazing pop culture music. Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, KISS(?), The White Stripes, Eminem (hey, lots of other people like him) I have a theory that in todays society poverty=better art. To purpleslogs comment about Detroit’s music culture, You forget that Detroit has spawned some amazing pop culture music. Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, KISS(?), The White Stripes, Eminem (hey, lots of other people like him)
I have a theory that in todays society poverty=better art.

]]> By: tdaxp http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-174582 tdaxp Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:53:54 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-174582 The failures of the city of Detroit demonstrate the need to allow cities to fail. Companies can evaporate. [1] Urban areas can too. The failures of the education system of Detroit demonstrate the need for industrial quality control to be applied to public schools. [2,3] We know how to make schools successful, but it requires being more hard-headed than we are now. The failures of the populace of Detroit demonstrate the need for genetic therapy. [4,5] [1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/19/protectionism-and-the-detroit-bailout.html [2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/11/no-child-left-behind-the-quantitative-revolution-applied-to-publi-schools.html [3] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/03/science-technology-engineering-mathematics.html [4] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/06/13/clearing-the-ghettos.html [5] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/03/stem-cell-therapy.html The failures of the city of Detroit demonstrate the need to allow cities to fail. Companies can evaporate. [1] Urban areas can too.

The failures of the education system of Detroit demonstrate the need for industrial quality control to be applied to public schools. [2,3] We know how to make schools successful, but it requires being more hard-headed than we are now.

The failures of the populace of Detroit demonstrate the need for genetic therapy. [4,5]

[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/19/protectionism-and-the-detroit-bailout.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/11/no-child-left-behind-the-quantitative-revolution-applied-to-publi-schools.html
[3] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/03/science-technology-engineering-mathematics.html
[4] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/06/13/clearing-the-ghettos.html
[5] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/03/stem-cell-therapy.html

]]> By: purpleslog http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-174232 purpleslog Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:02:30 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-174232 A snowy New Orleans without the great music performance culture. I love New Orleans and go there frequently. The last time I was in Detroit I drove through the downtown and I felt - the best way I can put it - wary of my surroundings. It was not a welcoming place. A snowy New Orleans without the great music performance culture. I love New Orleans and go there frequently. The last time I was in Detroit I drove through the downtown and I felt – the best way I can put it – wary of my surroundings. It was not a welcoming place.

]]> By: tdaxp http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-174208 tdaxp Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:26:47 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-174208 Is this [1] a city you want to live in? <blockquote>However, since 1950 the city has seen a major shift in its population to the suburbs. The city population dropped from its peak in 1950 with a population of 1,849,568 to 916,952 in 2007... For the 2000 Census, median household income in the city was $29,526, and the median income for a family was $33,853. Males had a median income of $33,381 versus $26,749 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,717. 26.1% of the population and 21.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 34.5% of those under the age of 18 and 18.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.</blockquote> Certainly it would be better for the country if Detroit would somehow go away, though a snowy New Orleans is probably a more likely outcome. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit#Demographics Is this [1] a city you want to live in?

However, since 1950 the city has seen a major shift in its population to the suburbs. The city population dropped from its peak in 1950 with a population of 1,849,568 to 916,952 in 2007…

For the 2000 Census, median household income in the city was $29,526, and the median income for a family was $33,853. Males had a median income of $33,381 versus $26,749 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,717. 26.1% of the population and 21.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 34.5% of those under the age of 18 and 18.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Certainly it would be better for the country if Detroit would somehow go away, though a snowy New Orleans is probably a more likely outcome.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit#Demographics

]]> By: biz http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/26/the-minimum-winning-coalition.html/comment-page-1#comment-172119 biz Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:43:21 +0000 http://www.tdaxp.com/?p=6475#comment-172119 the question is: Is this a good time to buy an investment home in Detroit? Well, really two others. Can America support 2 cities with New Orleans level economies? Or will it bounce back? the question is: Is this a good time to buy an investment home in Detroit?

Well, really two others.
Can America support 2 cities with New Orleans level economies?
Or will it bounce back?

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