The Fallacy of "Green Jobs"

Every time I hear a politician talk about government spending to create "green jobs" I can't believe the illogic of the argument:

1. If "green" energy works, it will take the place of "old" energy - oil, coal, natural gas, etc.
2. So if green jobs go up, old energy jobs go down.  Best case there is a one-for-one trade off a lost carbon energy job for every green worker who gains a job.
3. If green energy really is more efficient, it means that the total energy needs of the U.S. will be supported by fewer people, so green energy means a net loss of jobs.

But at the end of the day "green jobs" is just a code word for government spending boondoggles that do nothing to help the employment picture, or create more energy, or bring energy costs down, but some people go along with it because it "sounds good".

Dumb Move. First They'll Steal Your Technology, Next They Will Crowd You Out

Lesson 1: don't trust the Chinese.  Lesson 2: they will stab you in the back (see Lesson 1).  But GE, thought to be a well-run company, apparently doesn't know since they agreed to share their jet technology with China.

 
Name one - any - company that is happy with their joint development efforts with China.  Name one that hasn't had their technology boldly ripped off?  Name one who has made money in the long run.

Literary Quote of the Day

The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break, it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too, but there will be no special hurry.

- Hemingway, "A Farewell to Arms"

Business Quote of the Day

The most dangerous negotiation is one you don't know you're in.

- Jim Camp

Ads Showing Calm When People Should Be Freaking Out

While wandering through a catalog that hit my doorstep this week I was bemused by the ad for a "fire ladder".  The product seems like one of those things that won't ever be around for people who need them, and the people who buy them are probably the most prepared, planning (i.e. anal) type least likely to have a fire.  But what I really found amusing was the picture that accompanied the product.  Does this woman look like she is fleeing a burning house?

Put her in a bathing suit with the ladder descending into a pool and her expression would be just fine.

This reminded me of the safety instruction cards on airplanes.  Tell me these people are in a crashing plane:

Of course, maybe this isn't a fair example, since according to Tyler Durden in Fight Club, you WILL be calm:

Tyler Durden: [pointing at an emergency instruction manual on a plane] You know why they put oxygen masks on planes?

Narrator: So you can breathe.

Tyler Durden: (Pure) Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you're taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. It's all right here (shows pictures on emergency manual). Emergency water landing - 600 miles an hour. Blank faces, calm as Hindu cows.