Smart Links 08 June 2012

Paul Summerville • June 7, 2012

Tags: Canada, China, Europe, Inequality, Japan, Unions, Yes

Commentary on the sources and consequences of inequality, the shocking impact of unintended consequences, 50 ways to leave your lover, the little island row between Japan and China, and unions in Saskatchewan.

The inequality debate.

Bloomberg – Income Inequality: What`s Wrong With It?
Joseph Stiglitz versus Edward Conrad.

Unintended history.

TED -- Edward Tenner: Unintended consequences
Every new invention changes the world -- in ways both intentional and unexpected. Historian Edward Tenner tells stories that illustrate the under-appreciated gap between our ability to innovate and our ability to foresee the consequences.

Europe, Europe, Europe. Thanks to Ken of Tokyo/Hong Kong for putting the European crisis in perspective.

Financial Times -- A Greek exit would be national suicide
An exit from the euro would be catastrophic for Greece.

Youtube – 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Expensive oil makes countries behave badly. Thanks to Jeremy of Tokyo.

Financial Times -- Japan cautions diplomat on China remarks
Japan’s government has rebuked its ambassador to China after he warned that plans by the Tokyo municipal government to buy islands claimed by Beijing could spark an “extremely grave crisis”.

Wisconsin north?

Financial Post – Saskawisconsin
Could Brad Wall’s labour reforms help subvert the Rand formula?

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Twin Virtues: Inequality of Outcomes & Equality of Opportunity©

LimeSpot: Own the Experience.

Leveraging Social Networks for Profit.

Marrying the product portfolio of brand name firms with the personal profile information on Facebook.

The LimeSpot enabled revolutionary new sales channel.

Ultimately, the most successful societies find the balance between the twin virtues of inequality of outcomes and equality of opportunity.

The new politics must marry the twin virtues of unequal outcomes and equality of opportunity.

When too few get too much everybody ends up with less.

Can it be that striving for equality of opportunity however imperfect the process not only benefits the individual but also creates benefits for the society as a whole that are unintended but wonderful?

Economics must be a 'moral enterprise' as much as politics claims to be. Economic outcomes need to be framed in terms of right and wrong not just efficiency if only because these often align in surprising ways.

My vision of Canada is that any Canadian child from a family of limited circumstance can expect to have a chance at lifetime of unlimited opportunities.

Tax policy should be founded on the principle of generating steady tax revenues sufficient to maximise environmentally sustainable economic growth in order to fund fair government.

Public policy should be designed to decrease inequality before the law and increase equality of opportunity.

Capitalism is not the problem; the problem is what we do with capitalism.

Content is always more difficult to argue than conspiracy.

Let the state regulate and the market operate (most things).

Welfare strategies are best designed as a hand up not as a hand out.

Political debate should not be fact free fighting.

Explanation lasts longer than eloquence.

Always favour empowerment over dependency.

The most enduring public figures are embraced for the causes they fought for and not the concept of themselves they hoped others would remember them by.

Find your voice and don't be the echo of somebody else.