AI: Research paper finds ChatGPT has political biases
One of the dangers of generative AI is that people will use it's false answers or biased answers as "appeal to authority" justification for action.
Economy: National rent control
Activists demand a national rent price control law. Question: If rent price control makes sense, why not college tuition price control? Or health care price controls? Or food price controls?…
Public health: CDC’s social distancing and lock down concepts inspired by China
The official meme was lock downs came from a 14 year old's science fair project, but seems the idea came from China.
Social: Combat disinformation via thinking
What a radical concept – so radical this just might work! “Instead of relying on regulation, we should be relying on building more robust social resilience,” said Vilas Dhar, president…
Norway’s wealth tax results in a drop in tax revenue
Their 1.1% tax on net wealth (not income) has led to the wealthy leaving the country and a dramatic drop in tax revenue.
Business, Demographics: Economists advocate more immigration to halt wage growth
“More immigration would help meet today’s excess demand for labor, which over time would limit wage and price growth,” wrote Gordon Hanson, an urban policy professor at Harvard and Matthew…
Big infrastructure projects are hard
California’s plan is to build an electric train that will connect Los Angeles with the Central Valley and then San Francisco in two hours and 40 minutes. But 15 years…
Government: High income earners fled high tax states during Covid restrictions
New York and California lost over $90 billion in income during Covid, according to new IRS data. It accelerated the trend of high-earners relocating to lower-tax states like Florida and…
Public health, Education: Schools really did close a long time
Oregon closed schools on Mar 12, 2020, then directed to re-open as "hybrid" in Apr 2021, and fully re-open in Sep 2022.
Business: Brightline rail building private sector passenger rail services in the U.S.
Seems to be doing very well too: Brightline is the beginning of U.S. high-speed rail, says Fortress Investment co-founder Meanwhile, California government’s own “bullet train” is at $128 billion, way…
Crime, Security: Property Crime seems to run rampant in major U.S. cities
Portland, Oregon San Francisco Elsewhere An increase in shoplifting crime is blamed on An increase in shoplifting and property vandalism are reportedly spreading to other countries. Recent crime data itself…
Healthcare: Interesting example of “healthcare privilege”
44 inpatient days at Walter Reed: Pennsylvania hospitals admit thousands of people for depression annually. Only a small fraction of patients stay as long as Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman did…
Energy: “California utility companies propose charging customers based on how much money they make”
Three major utility companies in California are looking to restructure customer billing, and part of that means customers could be charged based on how much money they make. Source: California…
Climate oops: “Dutch minister warns of waning public support for climate policies”
Measures to protect environment have led to stand-off between government and farmers in the Netherlands Source: Dutch minister warns of waning public support for climate policies | Financial Times The…
EV sales need to grow 34% every year to achieve 2030 EV goals
To reach 60% by 2030, that means we need to grow EV sales at a compound annual growth rate of 34% between now and then – a similar growth rate…