Assorted links

5. “What the first stimulus definitely was is TOO SLOW!” He’s got it right. Keynesians can create jobs, but at what cost. The debate has been a false dichotomy.

What needs to happen is as maddeningly obvious as it is unlikely. There should be a list of projects by state that are to be “shovel-ready” by the next downturn- planned, debated, and tweaked to the nth degree. We don’t have to agree on them. That is the point. Different projects for different states/regions to provide a test bed of stimulus so we can actually prove something while not screwing around with political point-making or horse-choking when the time-critical period arrives.

The Charter Cities idea is fantastic — it could work in Haiti, starting now. Both the US and the EU should attempt to start new Charter Cities in Haiti, which desperately needs manufacturing and, especially, better rules.

Most countries in Africa could afford to get a new charter city, too.

#5 fiscal policy — the Stimulus was too slow. Tax cuts would have been better — and any who call for more stimulus now should be reminded that the prior stimulus hasn’t even been spent yet, and tax cuts could get the cash to the most deserving users of the money the quickest way possible.