Flicker Fusion

On average, in years when the president is a Democrat, the economy grows faster; inflation is lower; fewer people can’t find a job; the federal government spends a smaller share of GDP, whether or not you include defense spending; and the deficit is lower (or—sweet Clinton-years memory—the surplus is higher). The one category that Republicans win is, unsurprisingly, federal taxes as a share of GDP. But it is no trick to lower taxes if you don’t lower spending.

On average, in years when the president is a Democrat, the economy grows faster; inflation is lower; fewer people can’t find a job; the federal government spends a smaller share of GDP, whether or not you include defense spending; and the deficit is lower (or—sweet Clinton-years memory—the surplus is higher). The one category that Republicans win is, unsurprisingly, federal taxes as a share of GDP. But it is no trick to lower taxes if you don’t lower spending.

—Michael Kinsley posits that Democrats are better for the economy than Republicans. Fancy that.

Governor Palin broke Alaskan state law publicly advocating against an initiative that would have protected salmon fisheries

Governor Palin broke Alaskan state law publicly advocating against an initiative that would have protected salmon fisheries

The Clean Water Initiative was meant to limit the amount of arsenic that could be dumped in Alaska’s coastal waters, which would have protected salmon spawning ground. Instead, a giant gold and copper mining site will go into full operation.

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The campaign to make high-fructose corn syrup palatable has begun. Make no mistake about it, this shit is evil. The environmental impact of producing this vile stuff (hydrochloric acid is often used in processing corn kernels into soda sugar) alone is reason to ban it, not to mention the fact that its widespread use has tracked almost step by step with a nationwide growth in obesity. But America’s corn growers – mostly giant multinationals, not folksy farmers in the heartland – saw what happened to partially hydrogenated soybean oil and have decided to get out in front. Smart, even if it decimates the American diet even further. My own personal corn syrup ban remains in effect. [via buzzfeed]