mreconotarian -- All Comments -- In These Times

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mreconotarian

- 18 Dec 06
- 3:12 pm
More than anyone else, Dawkins should recognize that such a universal behavior such as spirituality and religion is probably an evolved trait. He would probably get much more traction if he examined why humanity can be so deluded rather than just saying religion is bad. We have lots of behaviors that stretch rational control (drug use and sex for instance), and each one is associated with negative and positive issues. Religion is the same way. Through understanding the evolution and neurobiology of religion, hopefully we can determine mecahanisms to enjoy it better without suffering the negative conseqeuences. I consider myself a …

Posted to The Godless Fundamentalist
- 28 Nov 06
- 11:22 am
"WTO officials, mainstream economists and the New York Times Thomas Friedman ignored the fact that in much of the world neoclassical reforms had failed to produce the promised growth." This is one of those un-refutable statements that tarnishes people for no reason. What was the "promised growth?" What was the actual growth? What were these "neoclassical reforms" which were actually implemented? Last time I looked, the only Latin America country rated as "Economically Free" by the Economic Freedom of the World Index was Chile, the country with the highest GDP per capita in Latin America, and had 6.1% GDP growth in …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics
- 07 Dec 06
- 12:35 pm
blondemike claims that Chile has a 40% poverty rate. The truth is that Chile has the lowest poverty rate in Latin America, 18.7%, compared with Bolivia which has 64% poverty rate. http://www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes/index.php?nav=story&story_id=12402&topic_id=1

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics
- 08 Dec 06
- 12:52 am
blondemike claims: "UN and other more objective agencies give AT LEAST 40% below the poverty level in Chile" The UN Human Development Report 2004 says that the national poverty level in Chile from 1990-2003 was 17%. Compare with Peru (49%) or Bolivia (62.7%). Mexico's national poverty level is less (10.1%) but you'll see why. Each country has different national poverty lines defined by their governments, so let's compare rates of poverty on a fixed measure, the percent of people living on under $2 per day from 1990-2003. In Chile, the rate is 9.6%. Compare with Peru (37.7%), Bolivia (34.3%), or Mexico …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics