Economics – BroadViews

American Voters May Be About to Fall for the Second-Biggest Lie in Politics

**Republican standard-bearers outline their economic plan**

Next week the midterm election will determine whether the Democratic Party maintains its tenuous hold of Congress, or the Republican Party takes over. Polls indicate that there’s a better than even chance that the Republicans will take over both bodies of Congress. And if you listen to the “person on the street” interviews on major news outlets, it will be because a huge number of voters consider “the economy” the largest single issue influencing their vote.

If voters opt for Republicans on the assumption that that party is better able to tackle economic challenges, they will have fallen for the second biggest lie in American politics.

ESG investing helps people choose investments that align with their values. It works… if those values include a disdain for social obligations and governance norms.

Investors who used to feel guilty about having their retirement savings invested in pariah companies that did not reflect their values now have a choice. They can channel their investments into “ESG funds,” which supposedly focus on companies that stack up well against a list of Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria, and rest assured that the companies they own a stake in are environmentally responsible, operate according to high ethical standards, and act as responsible citizens of their communities.

Or can they?

Continue reading “ESG investing helps people choose investments that align with their values. It works… if those values include a disdain for social obligations and governance norms.”

Confused, Muddled and Misleading – Ontario’s Plan for Climate Change

ontario-pc-anti-carbon-tax-ad (2)

“Marge, come here! There’s money coming out of the walls!”

Doug Ford’s Conservative government is spending millions of Ontario tax dollars to complain about a federal carbon tax, which he argues will cost Ontarians dearly. But, the television ads which have cluttered the airwaves for the past few weeks show a different picture – a puzzled man sitting on a sofa reading a newspaper, watching a stream of cash spurting from a heat vent onto his living room floor. A stunned-looking woman filling up with gas being treated to a cascade of coins flowing from the pump. Grocery store shoppers side-stepping the money shooting out from between ketchup bottles. Contrary to DoFo’s intentions, the ads show that under a federal carbon tax, cash streams in, not out.

That sort of confused, muddled and misleading thinking and messaging epitomizes DoFo’s entire approach to climate change. It’s a bit of a mess. Continue reading “Confused, Muddled and Misleading – Ontario’s Plan for Climate Change”

Risky business: How conservatives are rolling the dice on climate change

burying-head-in-sand

Conservative symposium on climate change

To argue against the scientific conclusion that human activity is fueling climate change and that it will likely result in catastrophic consequences, is to put oneself in the same bracket of scientific credibility as flat earthers, young earth creationists, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The overwhelming majority of the world’s climate scientists have determined that the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere will lead to more severe weather events, unprecedented droughts and floods, a rise in sea level, and record high temperatures. It’s already happening, and it’s projected to get worse. So how are conservative leaders dealing with the issue? By hiding from it. Continue reading “Risky business: How conservatives are rolling the dice on climate change”

“But the economy….” If that’s what’s keeping Trump and the Republicans afloat, they’re in trouble.

The Trump economic “miracle” is just a big house of cards.

“The Economy is soooo good, perhaps the best in our country’s history (remember, it’s the economy stupid!)” Donald Trump via Twitter September 10, 2018

As Donald Trump lurches from one lie to another, one national embarrassment to another, and one moral failing to another, Republicans forgive his behaviour and deficiencies by focusing on the economy. A common refrain heard from likely Republican voters is, “He’s not perfect but he’s really turned our economy around.” A Republican ad running just before the midterms warns that [the strong economy] “could all go away if we don’t remember where we came from.” Where they came from, according to the Republicans, is an economic nightmare of high unemployment and slow growth, apparently just “a few years ago.” Continue reading ““But the economy….” If that’s what’s keeping Trump and the Republicans afloat, they’re in trouble.”