selective memory is a powerful thing


Dave wrote:
Yes. In your case it seems to take the form of forgetting who said what.


O contraire.



On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 14:17:24 -0800, "JG" said:
You mean like the tax cut improving productivity, when in fact the reverse
has happened?


Dave wrote:
Sorry, Jon, you're just plain wrong here, unless you propose to argue that
the increase in productivity over the last 4 years is the result of some
other factor than the tax cut. Those of us who read the financial press
rather than the liberals' propaganda sheets know that productivity has been
increasing.

Due to the tax cut???

Propaganda sheet?
4 years?


So touting a "productivity increase" is supposed to make up for all the
other negative factors in the current economy?

Dave wrote:
Not making any arguments about anything's "making up" for anything. Just
pointing out Jon's gross error in claiming that productivity had been
declining.

"Gross error"??


Dave wrote:
No. Because the Times has time and again been blinded by its reporters'
biases and sloppy editorial supervision. Remember Jason Blair?


Jason Blair happened once. So why the "again and again" unless it simply
drives home the fact that you don't like the Times because it's somewhat
liberal.

OK, I'll bite. What's the case for the proposition the productivity hasn't
increased.


Cyclical volume of orders for durable goods.
Increasing demands for off-clock work, unpaid overtime, and overtime
paid at regular wage.
Increasing demand for low-cost low-quality goods
Accounting irregularities skewing returns
Offshore production counted as domestic (ie more accounting tricks)
Consistently low interest rate (ie low demand for capital)


So you are persuaded that productivity has not increased? I don't find the
above very persuasive.

Of course not... but at least you knocked off the slander & the innuendo.



In any event, if productivity has truly increased, it hasn't been
unequivocal and it has not led to increased profitability.


Jon's claims were about productivity, not profitability. I'm sure he would
be screaming like a stuck pig if corporate profits were also up.


But now he's "screaming like a stuck pig."

Where was that about a straw man? Looks like you're right in the
cross-hairs, Dave.

DSK