David Wynn › Comments

Wow... for goodness sake please no one take this title out of context... - David Wynn

Where's the "Scream in Anguish" button on Google Reader? - David Wynn

"First, the engagement is always appreciated Berin. I'll grant you the distinction between glittering generalities and negative terms like cyber-socialism. I was trying to highlight their similar hyperbolic (and polarized) nature rather than their positive or negative tone. To your point, I would argue that asserting the Internet as a basic right doesn't lead to cyber-socialism any more than asserting water as a basic right leads aqua-socialism. A regulated environment perhaps, but not necessarily communally owned means of production. Profits do still exist in utilities, even if their maneuverability is significantly restricted. I don't disagree with Adam's and your point that claiming rights like these leads to government intervention with no clear end in sight. Especially at higher and higher network levels, the implications are something that certainly merit consideration. I'm not a fan of positive rights in general, which makes me wary of any argument that starts with them...." - David Wynn

"Berin, Please don't take the TLF down the path of name-calling and hyperbole. I find the perspective here absolutely invaluable because of its reason, not because of its heat-level. Accusing the other side of using glittering generalities while leaning on Orwell and the threat of "cyber-socialism" yourself is both unpersuasive and insulting. Stick to the analysis and leave the labels at home." - David Wynn

Marc here is a bit more cut-throat than I am, but I do think the brain drain argument is overblown when it comes t executive pay. That said, I tend to think anything to do with executive compensation happens on a small enough scale (relative to a company's normal cash flow) that it doesn't merit regulation either. - David Wynn

It might be a bad idea to try and regulate banks again, or then again, it might not. Way to go with the principled argument against reform in general: it might not work... so why bother? - David Wynn

This is how I too judge all complex policy analyses: by how their critics react to them. I often don't have time to read the reports themselves, or even really all the substantive critiques of particular documents. Instead, I just read the sensationalized headlines that flow through my inbox, and conclude the their opponents must have weight because of their ridiculousness. What could possibly go wrong with that plan? Also, Klin needs to read up on the assumptions made in the report. Zero preference shifts, 100% monetary transfers... essentially qualities that don't exist in reality. /sigh... - David Wynn

This article is a great case in point for the breakdown of logic in American political discourse. Going point by point, though never quite saying so, Cohen essentially describes the rebuff of reason in partisan cheer after partisan cheer. When will those with a voice like Politico finally have the courage to stand up and say that people holding views contrary to evidence or switching opinions when politically expedient are the ones really hurting America? - David Wynn

This article is a great case in point for the breakdown of logic in American political discourse. Going point by point, though never quite saying so, Cohen essentially describes the rebuff of reason in partisan cheer after partisan cheer. When will those with a voice like Politico finally have the courage to stand up and say that people holding views contrary to evidence or switching opinions when politically expedient are the ones really hurting America? - David Wynn

Fascinating to hear this logic work. I'll have to break out my old Econ textbooks and follow the graphs to get a better grip on it though. - David Wynn

Fascinating to hear this logic work. I'll have to break out my old Econ textbooks and follow the graphs to get a better grip on it though. - David Wynn

I don't comment much on Pajamas MEdia these days, but I HAVE to say that this article is astoundingly far off the mark. I don't think Blumer really understand what ICANN is or does beyond that it somehow "controls the Internet," which leads him to predict that the Internet might fall under similar corrupting influences as the UN. That's just... incredibly ignorant of how the Internet works and what power ICANN wields. This fear-based argument of taxation and over-regulation comes from the same side of the fence that argues the UN is completely ineffectual in what it does. It's pieces like this, with no grounding in fact but entirely in fear, that make me feel like we NEED to have a better media mechanism that correlates to truth in an increasingly wired and opinionated world. - David Wynn

I don't comment much on Pajamas MEdia these days, but I HAVE to say that this article is astoundingly far off the mark. I don't think Blumer really understand what ICANN is or does beyond that it somehow "controls the Internet," which leads him to predict that the Internet might fall under similar corrupting influences as the UN. That's just... incredibly ignorant of how the Internet... more... - David Wynn

I've got news for Hoyt et al if they actually believe the last quote in this piece: "even the suspicion of bias is a problem all by itself." Media trends are pushing people to suspicion, regardless of how biased organizations actually (and based entirely on what the consumer chooses to read). As we move to an increasingly fragmented media ecosystem, it becomes increasingly impossible to prove one's lack of bias by what people believe, and more important to prove it to prove it by more objective means. In my opinion, THOSE are means we should be looking to improve, even if they are imperfect at present. - David Wynn

I've got news for Hoyt et al if they actually believe the last quote in this piece: "even the suspicion of bias is a problem all by itself." Media trends are pushing people to suspicion, regardless of how biased organizations actually (and based entirely on what the consumer chooses to read). As we move to an increasingly fragmented media ecosystem, it becomes increasingly impossible to... more... - David Wynn

Most appropriate "your mom" come back ever... - David Wynn

Most appropriate "your mom" come back ever... - David Wynn

Wow... this is a very bad precedent to set. I wonder if the guy gets forwarding on his address or anything. This is a bit like stopping your mail service if a bank accidentally send you someone else's monthly statement. Why doesn't the court see that this is clearly an overreach? - David Wynn

But what happens if we reach a technology that DOES significantly hinder us as humans? How would we even know the difference between it and other revolutionary technologies? - David Wynn

I absolutely cannot wait to see how this escapade plays out in Congress. Hopefully it'll keep contractors a little more accountable than previously. That said, I am a bit worried about the precedent this sets in terms of process. Step one, create a huge public outcry over a specific organization. Step two, pass overly broad law to cut off federal funds to it. Step three, list out the umbrella'd offenders. If people start Step one with Step three in mind, we might have some trouble on our hands... - David Wynn

Now THAT'S a good idea. Much applause... and here's to hoping that this isn't simply a token gesture. - David Wynn

Wait wait wait... is this really necessary? Military contractors who get twice as much federal funds in a single year as ACORN did over 15 years don't get special prosecutors. Why should these guys get one? I'm all for being good stewards of public money, but this seems like a pretty clear waste of time and effort. - David Wynn

I was thinking the exact same things about people complaining about Atlanta's Metro (MARTA) during the Tax Day Protests. - David Wynn

In my view, this is exactly the wrong way to be headed. We do not need to be granting corporations MORE power in the political than they already have. I sincerely hope the Supreme Court rules narrowly on this case, because I fear a broad ruling will not help our democracy as a whole. - David Wynn

Wow... this is big. This is also probably unfortunate for many of us who know and love Mint as it stands today. :-/ - David Wynn

Am I the only one who thinks it a bad idea to incentivize juvenile outbursts like Wilson's with changes to major legislation? - David Wynn

Listen to that language: "But only a confused moron like David Brock and his minion would be so vapid and shallow as to take Congress at its word". how the hell are we supposed to have dialogue and debate if we explicitly stop listening to what each other says and instead go searching for justifications however we like? When do we trust the other side enough to at least believe what they say? - David Wynn

Wait... now this argument is starting to get weird. I was under the impression that "covers illegals" meant that they would get tax money. What Jacobson has done here is note that illegals would be allowed in the exchange, thus the legislation covers illegals. But... isn't that like saying mall regulation covers illegals because it doesn't prohibit them from shopping there? Isn't this line of logic taking things one step into ridiculous-ness? We don't explicitly exclude illegals from every piece of legislation we pass because it would be needless and redundant... right? - David Wynn

Jeez Laweez... can somebody point this guy to the Section that explicitly states that no person unlawfully in the States will be covered by this plan? Indeed the CRS reports there are no checks... instead there is the black and white statement you can read for yourself. When people start willingly getting the facts wrong about documents that are PUBLICLY AVAILABLE then we start to really have a problem with our public discourse... - David Wynn

I think Media Matters goes overboard sometimes, but here they're pretty solidly on the money. As media has grown and fragmented, the number of entities who search for facts has plummeted while the number willing to chase conflict has shot through the roof. That's not good news for the fourth estate. :-/ - David Wynn

Wow... any game reviewer that can do a 4.5 minute review entirely in limericks deserves a look. - David Wynn

I'm going to be horribly angry if the attempts at attacking Sunstein are as successful as those against Jones. I'm a big fan of Sunstein, and I think to dismiss the process he's going through as analogous to the one Jones went through is fundamentally naive. - David Wynn

I'm not sure what the end game for this level of polarization and rhetoric is either. Perhaps that concept merits some thought. Simple gridlock, even if absolutely demonizing gridlock, would probably be ok. I have to have hope though, that the MAJORITY of people don't like and don't want this trend. So the question then becomes, how do we either keep reasonable people at the forefront, or properly marginalize unnecessarily incendiary speech? The present shock-driven nature of the media won't fix this... so what will? - David Wynn

My favorite reference here is the video of Weiner asking Scarbourough what the value of a private insurance industry is. I have to agree with the overall point though, that it seems like policy-crafting isn't working so well right now. And I'd also like to say that I think we would run into these EXACT SAME hang ups if the party positions were switched and Republicans had power. Part of why public deliberation is collapsing is that no party seems to be above political point scoring anymore. - David Wynn

While I don't stake as much of the bias on reputation as Greenwald does, I am a big believer in doing our best to uphold our leaders to the rule of law rather than excuse them from it. - David Wynn