Yesterday Richard Garwin spoke in the Science Center about the role of nuclear energy in the country’s energy future, and I was once again amazed at how clearly the numbers demonstrate our nation’s strong need for nuclear energy. If we want to stem global warming and continue to grow our economy at a strong pace by continuing to provide low-cost ... Read More
I agree with the Zoey’s points about Iran’s incentives to accept American diplomatic outreach. But I would take her conclusion further. It wasn’t just Bush’s failure to be “attuned to geopolitical realities” that prevented this sort of progress; it was his failure, on a deeper level, to respect or conceptualize properly the purpose of diplomacy generally. It’s a fitting occasion ... Read More
Yesterday Richard Garwin spoke in the Science Center about the role of nuclear energy in the country’s energy future, and I was once again amazed at how clearly the numbers demonstrate our nation’s strong need for nuclear energy. If we want to stem global warming and continue to grow our economy at a strong pace by continuing to provide low-cost ... Read More
When former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao spoke at Harvard as a visiting fellow, I hoped she would spark debate on everything from white collar overtime regulations to pension assets. I attended her study groups and can attest to the fact that she did this and more. Ms. Chao was engaging, provocative, and thoughtful, the type of speaker who helps ... Read More
The Australian government announced last week a massive 8-year, $31 billion investment in broadband that would leave the land down under with the most impressive internet infrastructure in the world. Not only does the plan promise tenfold faster download speeds (imagine streaming multiple HD movies at once), but promises to bring that speed to over 90% of Australian households. The ... Read More
Yesterday, The New York Times reported that Obama is considering removing the condition that Iran cease its nuclear enrichment before the U.S. negotiates with Iran on nuclear matters. By any standard, this would be a monumental policy shift from the Bush Administration, which demanded Iran cease enrichment as a precondition to negotiation. It’s also, potentially, a very risky move, but ... Read More
So if you didn’t get it from the liveblog below, Elise and I went to a debate between Harvard Republicans and Harvard Democrats about various labour questions: Lily Ledbetter, card check, Harvard layoffs. In debate terms it was pretty standard fare. The Democrats argue that card check is necessary to protect against management intimidation, the Republicans argue that union intimidation ... Read More
8:28 Dylan asks, “Are you on the side of workers or management?” 8:30 Matt replies, “Are you on the side of dichotomies or expanding pies?” I’m on the side of logic, Matt. Logic says that you pay a woman more or less, that you let a union form or not, that a worker is hired or kicked into the street. ... Read More
8:33 Debate ends. Wrapup coming 8:29-Republicans–Matt says-one more dichotomy, do you believe that labour and management are at odds. Shouldn’t they come together to create profits (I thought the Republican point was that Harvard shouldn’t make profits). Matt-we have to protect the long term financial health so we can retain our dominance as the top employer in the region? See ... Read More
8:17 Questions begin. So I have been holding my tongue for a while, but this is the part of the debate that entirely ticks me off. “Harvard is for the students and faculty first”? “If we were the only university we could save jobs, but we need to compete with Georgetown”? Seriously? First of all: it is not at all ... Read More
8:20-Colin Motley, President of the Republican club, asks Democrats “if card check increases wages for workers who have jobs, but decreases the jobs available, is that a good thing.” 8:19–Democrats-People don’t make decisions based on what percentage of the budget goes to stein clubs. 8:17–Republicans-Let’s preserve the endowment (that’s a very Burkian sentiment). Also, preserving jobs makes up a ... Read More
8:08–And now the Republican position: It sucks. The sucks refers to layoffs, oh you of the dirty mind. Also “this university doesn’t exist to give workers jobs. We need to save money so that we can expand to Allston and Brighton.” Is it just me, or do the expansions always make you quote Caesar: “Omnia Allston in tres partes divisa ... Read More
7:56: Card Check comes up. Language note–I notice that Peter Bacon calls it card check. The democrats call it EFCA, the Republicans go back and forth. 7:54: “There’s no obligation to know the salaries of other employees.” I take it someone has never paid Liar’s poker with pay envelopes. 7:53: Counter-counter-counter: “There’s a lack of information on both sides.”–partially, also ... Read More
7:49: Dylan catches Peyton’s slip. Apparently, American employers don’t need to discriminate to fire women. 7:47: Dyan Matthews–The question is whether discrimination should fall under increased statute of limitations. 7:46: Question from Peter Bacon: Is the Lily Ledbetter act a good idea? Hmm, I wonder what the response will be. 7:44: Card Check goes by without a single mention of ... Read More
Tonight, I will be spending the next hour at a debate about layoffs. Of course, this being Harvard, the layoffs are not the 8.5% unemployed nationwide, nor those whose jobs are in threat through the machinations of the macroeconomy. Instead, the debate goes no further than layoffs in the Harvard community. Some might say it’s a petty issue, others might ... Read More
