The U.K.'s The Telegraph has been an uber-reliable warmist doom-monger. If you want an article describing the nasty way that the human species will die (or kill everything else) because of our SUVs, The Telegraph is one of the first places you would look.
Recently the news from the weather and climate science folks, the ones who actually observe (instead of simply creating computer models), has not been supportive of the global warming hypothesis. More specifically, the observed data isn't matching the computer model predictions. This is a little awkward for folks like The Telegraph, and they're struggling to cope...
My prediction is that they will find a new topic on which they can hang their sensational doom-and-gloom forecasts. I respectfully suggest the U.S. economic and political future as a likely alternative candidate...
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Sensible Ms. McArdle Says...
...she's going to cut back on red meat. I can't poke any holes in her logic...
More Charts of Impending Doom...
Jeez, these are depressing...
First up, chart that seems like a reasonable proxy for an non-manipulated (by the government) measure of the overall economy's rate: overall gasoline sales. This isn't a perfect proxy, to be sure. For instance, we know that the overall efficiency of U.S. cars and trucks is improving. On the other hand, that improvement is partially or entirely offset by our growth in population. However, prior to the current recession, gasoline sales have grown steadily and in at least rough proportion to the overall economic rate – so despite the known sources of error, it seems like a good proxy. Plus, it has one extremely important attribute: this is reported as raw data, not “adjusted” by some bureaucrat to suit the current political need. Behold:
Current retail gasoline sales are running at around half what they were in 2007. It's hard to imagine any way that's a good indicator. More here.
Here's a completely different measure, a breakdown of something I posted just a few days ago: labor force participation rates, broken down by age groups.
The only age group where the participation rate is growing is for people aged 55 and older! For all other age groups, the participation rate is falling. That doesn't look like a healthy recovery to me! More here.
First up, chart that seems like a reasonable proxy for an non-manipulated (by the government) measure of the overall economy's rate: overall gasoline sales. This isn't a perfect proxy, to be sure. For instance, we know that the overall efficiency of U.S. cars and trucks is improving. On the other hand, that improvement is partially or entirely offset by our growth in population. However, prior to the current recession, gasoline sales have grown steadily and in at least rough proportion to the overall economic rate – so despite the known sources of error, it seems like a good proxy. Plus, it has one extremely important attribute: this is reported as raw data, not “adjusted” by some bureaucrat to suit the current political need. Behold:
Current retail gasoline sales are running at around half what they were in 2007. It's hard to imagine any way that's a good indicator. More here.
Here's a completely different measure, a breakdown of something I posted just a few days ago: labor force participation rates, broken down by age groups.
The only age group where the participation rate is growing is for people aged 55 and older! For all other age groups, the participation rate is falling. That doesn't look like a healthy recovery to me! More here.
Goodbye to the Iron Lady...
My readers will know that Margaret Thatcher has long been one of my heroes. She's been out of the public eye, ill and suffering from dementia, for many years now. Her death yesterday feels like just one last step in a long process, but still very sad.
If you don't know much about Mrs. Thatcher, I recommend Claire Berlinski's excellent book There Is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters.
Here's a small collection of links to the varied thoughts of some political and economic observers upon her death:
Mark Steyn (an ex-Brit)
James Delingpole (a disgusted Brit)
Paul Johnson
Megan McArdle
My favorite two quotes from yesterday:
With her passing, there are no more men in England.
-- Sanford Begley
The Brits haven't had a PM fit to carry her purse since.
-- Tam
Goodbye, Mrs. Thatcher. The world needed you, and needs you still...
If you don't know much about Mrs. Thatcher, I recommend Claire Berlinski's excellent book There Is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters.
Here's a small collection of links to the varied thoughts of some political and economic observers upon her death:
Mark Steyn (an ex-Brit)
James Delingpole (a disgusted Brit)
Paul Johnson
Megan McArdle
My favorite two quotes from yesterday:
With her passing, there are no more men in England.
-- Sanford Begley
The Brits haven't had a PM fit to carry her purse since.
-- Tam
Goodbye, Mrs. Thatcher. The world needed you, and needs you still...
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