Guest Paul J. Berg Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 ~ Portland long touted as the paradigm of modern urban planning, is awash in corruption, government waste and public discontent. In "Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn't Work," Randal O'Toole catalogues Portland's failures in city planning and offers suggestions to other cities on how not to repeat its mistakes. O'Toole uncovers the vested interests responsible for Portland's bloated and unused transportation infrastructure. The "light-rail mafia," as O'Toole calls it, centered upon former Portland mayor Neil Goldschmidt and a network of cronies who profited from favorable zoning regulations and subsidies. This political machine has held influence and power in Portland for over thirty years. Among the planning racket's beneficiaries is Bechtel Corporation, which received a no-bid contract to build a light-rail line. Planning has resulted in skyrocketing housing costs and traffic congestion -- the outcomes it was supposed to alleviate. "Planners made housing unaffordable to force more people to live in multifamily housing or in homes on tiny lots ... and allowed congestion to increase to near-gridlock levels to force more people to ride the region's expensive transit lines," writes O'Toole. In fact, the high cost of living has forced families to move out of Portland proper, resulting in longer commutes and higher taxes from those who remained in the city to maintain the costly public transit infrastructure. The costs of public investments in mass transit greatly outweigh the benefits. O'Toole shows that despite spending billions of dollars on light- rail and other transit systems in Portland since 1980, the percentage of commuters who ride transit has actually declined. Even Portland's planners acknowledged that congestion would increase despite all the region's land-use and transit plans, but rather than increase roadway capacity, they have actively reduced it. Even ostensible successes in moving families into dense housing units are questionable. While "high-density, mixed-use developments are supposed to herald a new lifestyle that uses less land and resources ... these developments are heavily subsidized, frequently vacant and have not shown any affect on people's travel habits." Subsidies to transportation development projects have led to budget cuts in education, public health, police and other essential services.. O'Toole concludes: "People who want to see their cities remain affordable, uncongested, and livable should look at Portland only as an example of how not to plan." ~ Quote
Guest george conklin Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 "Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message news:14011-469BB004-830@storefull-3237.bay.webtv.net... > ~ > > Portland long touted as the paradigm of modern urban planning, is awash > in corruption, government waste and public discontent. > > In "Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn't Work," Randal O'Toole > catalogues Portland's failures in city planning and offers suggestions > to other cities on how not to repeat its mistakes. > > O'Toole uncovers the vested interests responsible for Portland's bloated > and unused transportation infrastructure. The "light-rail mafia," as > O'Toole calls it, centered upon former Portland mayor Neil Goldschmidt > and a network of cronies who profited from favorable zoning regulations > and subsidies. This political machine has held influence and power in > Portland for over thirty years. Among the planning racket's > beneficiaries is Bechtel Corporation, which received a no-bid contract > to build a light-rail line. > > Planning has resulted in skyrocketing housing costs and traffic > congestion -- the outcomes it was supposed to alleviate. "Planners made > housing unaffordable to force more people to live in multifamily housing > or in homes on tiny lots ... and allowed congestion to increase to > near-gridlock levels to force more people to ride the region's expensive > transit lines," writes O'Toole. In fact, the high cost of living has > forced families to move out of Portland proper, resulting in longer > commutes and higher taxes from those who remained in the city to > maintain the costly public transit infrastructure. > > The costs of public investments in mass transit greatly outweigh the > benefits. O'Toole shows that despite spending billions of dollars on > light- rail and other transit systems in Portland since 1980, the > percentage of commuters who ride transit has actually declined. Even > Portland's planners acknowledged that congestion would increase despite > all the region's land-use and transit plans, but rather than increase > roadway capacity, they have actively reduced it. > > Even ostensible successes in moving families into dense housing units > are questionable. While "high-density, mixed-use developments are > supposed to herald a new lifestyle that uses less land and resources ... > these developments are heavily subsidized, frequently vacant and have > not shown any affect on people's travel habits." Subsidies to > transportation development projects have led to budget cuts in > education, public health, police and other essential services.. > > O'Toole concludes: "People who want to see their cities remain > affordable, uncongested, and livable should look at Portland only as an > example of how not to plan." > > ~ > Well, simply because O'Toole wrote it, everyone here will say it is a lie and quote some city-based web site to prove it too. But industry does support billions for construction projects regardless of the outcomes. And city corruption? Think New York. Quote
Guest Baxter Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Free Software - Baxter Codeworks http://www.baxcode.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "george conklin" <george@nxu.edu> wrote in message news:XuOmi.7945$tj6.4177@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net... > > "Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message > news:14011-469BB004-830@storefull-3237.bay.webtv.net... >> ~ >> >> Portland long touted as the paradigm of modern urban planning, is awash >> in corruption, government waste and public discontent. >> >> In "Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn't Work," Randal O'Toole >> catalogues Portland's failures in city planning and offers suggestions >> to other cities on how not to repeat its mistakes. >> > > Well, simply because O'Toole wrote it, everyone here will say it is a lie > and quote some city-based web site to prove it too. But industry does > support billions for construction projects regardless of the outcomes. > And city corruption? Think New York. Ah, yes - the self-proclaimed expert knows far more than anyone who has actually worked as a planner - or even as a developer. I guess being a Forester qualifies you for all sorts of Transportation, Transit and Urban Planning issues. Quote
Guest Paul J. Berg Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 Baxter wrote: > - > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Free Software - Baxter Codeworks http://www.baxcode.com > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > "george conklin" <george@nxu.edu> wrote in message > news:XuOmi.7945$tj6.4177@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net... > > > > "Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message > > news:14011-469BB004-830@storefull-3237.bay.webtv.net... > >> ~ > >> > >> Portland long touted as the paradigm of modern urban planning, is awash > >> in corruption, government waste and public discontent. > >> > >> In "Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn't Work," Randal O'Toole > >> catalogues Portland's failures in city planning and offers suggestions > >> to other cities on how not to repeat its mistakes. > >> > > > > Well, simply because O'Toole wrote it, everyone here will say it is a lie > > and quote some city-based web site to prove it too. But industry does > > support billions for construction projects regardless of the outcomes. > > And city corruption? Think New York. > Ah, yes - the self-proclaimed expert knows far more than anyone who has > actually worked as a planner - or even as a developer. I guess being a > Forester qualifies you for all sorts of Transportation, Transit and Urban > Planning issues. Randal O'Toole is an economist not a forester. He has held the position of director at the Oregon-based Thoreau Institute since 1975. The majority of O'Toole's work has focused on environmental policy, particularly public land use and regional and urban development. Early in his career, O'Toole worked with environmental groups to oppose the United States Forest Service's subsidized sales of public forest timber to the logging industry. His book "Reforming the Forest Service" built on his experience during this effort, and proposed a number of free-market solutions to management of U.S. public land and timber. He has written analyses of the usage and development plans of a number of U.S. national forests, working with state environmental agencies and other groups. In the 1990s, O'Toole emerged as an outspoken critic of New Urbanist design and smart growth strategies. O'Toole contends that these development strategies "in which regulatory measures and tax incentives are employed to encourage denser development, more efficient land use, and greater use of public transportation" ignore the desires and preferences of most housing consumers and ultimately waste public funds. His 1996 book "The Vanishing Automobile and Other Urban Myths" was written as a detailed critique of these styles of planning. He continues to advocate for free market solutions to urban planning and design in his writing and teaching. He has campaigned against smart growth policies and light rail systems. O'Toole has held fellowships at Yale University, and served as a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is an avid cyclist who always rides a bicycle to and from work, and advocates alternative means of transportation where possible. He lives in Bandon, Oregon. Quote
Guest george conklin Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 "Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message news:1184616470.263640.28570@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com... > > > Baxter wrote: >> - >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Free Software - Baxter Codeworks http://www.baxcode.com >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> "george conklin" <george@nxu.edu> wrote in message >> news:XuOmi.7945$tj6.4177@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net... >> > >> > "Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message >> > news:14011-469BB004-830@storefull-3237.bay.webtv.net... >> >> ~ >> >> >> >> Portland long touted as the paradigm of modern urban planning, is >> >> awash >> >> in corruption, government waste and public discontent. >> >> >> >> In "Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn't Work," Randal O'Toole >> >> catalogues Portland's failures in city planning and offers suggestions >> >> to other cities on how not to repeat its mistakes. >> >> >> > >> > Well, simply because O'Toole wrote it, everyone here will say it is a >> > lie >> > and quote some city-based web site to prove it too. But industry does >> > support billions for construction projects regardless of the outcomes. >> > And city corruption? Think New York. >> Ah, yes - the self-proclaimed expert knows far more than anyone who has >> actually worked as a planner - or even as a developer. I guess being a >> Forester qualifies you for all sorts of Transportation, Transit and Urban >> Planning issues. > > Randal O'Toole is an economist not a forester. He has held the > position of director at the Oregon-based Thoreau Institute since 1975. > The majority of O'Toole's work has focused on environmental policy, > particularly public land use and regional and urban development. > > Early in his career, O'Toole worked with environmental groups to > oppose the United States Forest Service's subsidized sales of public > forest timber to the logging industry. His book "Reforming the Forest > Service" built on his experience during this effort, and proposed a > number of free-market solutions to management of U.S. public land and > timber. He has written analyses of the usage and development plans of > a number of U.S. national forests, working with state environmental > agencies and other groups. > > In the 1990s, O'Toole emerged as an outspoken critic of New Urbanist > design and smart growth strategies. O'Toole contends that these > development strategies "in which regulatory measures and tax > incentives are employed to encourage denser development, more > efficient land use, and greater use of public transportation" ignore > the desires and preferences of most housing consumers and ultimately > waste public funds. His 1996 book "The Vanishing Automobile and Other > Urban Myths" was written as a detailed critique of these styles of > planning. He continues to advocate for free market solutions to urban > planning and design in his writing and teaching. He has campaigned > against smart growth policies and light rail systems. > > O'Toole has held fellowships at Yale University, and served as a > visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is an > avid cyclist who always rides a bicycle to and from work, and > advocates alternative means of transportation where possible. He lives > in Bandon, Oregon. > Ok, but anything he publishes is instantly rejected simply because of who he is, not because he is not right. Quote
Guest Amy Blankenship Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 "Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message news:1184616470.263640.28570@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com... > > > Baxter wrote: >> - >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Free Software - Baxter Codeworks http://www.baxcode.com >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> "george conklin" <george@nxu.edu> wrote in message >> news:XuOmi.7945$tj6.4177@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net... >> > >> > "Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message >> > news:14011-469BB004-830@storefull-3237.bay.webtv.net... >> >> ~ >> >> >> >> Portland long touted as the paradigm of modern urban planning, is >> >> awash >> >> in corruption, government waste and public discontent. >> >> >> >> In "Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn't Work," Randal O'Toole >> >> catalogues Portland's failures in city planning and offers suggestions >> >> to other cities on how not to repeat its mistakes. >> >> >> > >> > Well, simply because O'Toole wrote it, everyone here will say it is a >> > lie >> > and quote some city-based web site to prove it too. But industry does >> > support billions for construction projects regardless of the outcomes. >> > And city corruption? Think New York. >> Ah, yes - the self-proclaimed expert knows far more than anyone who has >> actually worked as a planner - or even as a developer. I guess being a >> Forester qualifies you for all sorts of Transportation, Transit and Urban >> Planning issues. > > Randal O'Toole is an economist not a forester. He has held the > position of director at the Oregon-based Thoreau Institute since 1975. > The majority of O'Toole's work has focused on environmental policy, > particularly public land use and regional and urban development. > > Early in his career, O'Toole worked with environmental groups to > oppose the United States Forest Service's subsidized sales of public > forest timber to the logging industry. His book "Reforming the Forest > Service" built on his experience during this effort, and proposed a > number of free-market solutions to management of U.S. public land and > timber. He has written analyses of the usage and development plans of > a number of U.S. national forests, working with state environmental > agencies and other groups. > > In the 1990s, O'Toole emerged as an outspoken critic of New Urbanist > design and smart growth strategies. O'Toole contends that these > development strategies "in which regulatory measures and tax > incentives are employed to encourage denser development, more > efficient land use, and greater use of public transportation" ignore > the desires and preferences of most housing consumers and ultimately > waste public funds. I think that's interesting. Why doesn't he object to the other regulatory measures and tax incentives that shape those desires and preferences so that people don't even realized they've been quietly coerced into "wanting" less efficient land use? Quote
Guest Bill Shatzer Posted July 16, 2007 Posted July 16, 2007 Paul J. Berg wrote: > > Baxter wrote: > >>- >>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>Free Software - Baxter Codeworks http://www.baxcode.com >>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >>"george conklin" <george@nxu.edu> wrote in message >>news:XuOmi.7945$tj6.4177@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net... >> >>>"Paul J. Berg" <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote in message >>>news:14011-469BB004-830@storefull-3237.bay.webtv.net... >>> >>>>~ >>>> >>>>Portland long touted as the paradigm of modern urban planning, is awash >>>>in corruption, government waste and public discontent. >>>> >>>>In "Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn't Work," Randal O'Toole >>>>catalogues Portland's failures in city planning and offers suggestions >>>>to other cities on how not to repeat its mistakes. >>>> >>> >>>Well, simply because O'Toole wrote it, everyone here will say it is a lie >>>and quote some city-based web site to prove it too. But industry does >>>support billions for construction projects regardless of the outcomes. >>>And city corruption? Think New York. >> >>Ah, yes - the self-proclaimed expert knows far more than anyone who has >>actually worked as a planner - or even as a developer. I guess being a >>Forester qualifies you for all sorts of Transportation, Transit and Urban >>Planning issues. > > > Randal O'Toole is an economist not a forester. He has held the > position of director at the Oregon-based Thoreau Institute since 1975. > The majority of O'Toole's work has focused on environmental policy, > particularly public land use and regional and urban development. Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- O'Toole. With funding sources from the usual suspects. http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only degree is a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. Milton Friedman he is not. > Early in his career, O'Toole worked with environmental groups to > oppose the United States Forest Service's subsidized sales of public > forest timber to the logging industry. His book "Reforming the Forest > Service" built on his experience during this effort, and proposed a > number of free-market solutions to management of U.S. public land and > timber. He has written analyses of the usage and development plans of > a number of U.S. national forests, working with state environmental > agencies and other groups. > In the 1990s, O'Toole emerged as an outspoken critic of New Urbanist > design and smart growth strategies. O'Toole contends that these > development strategies "in which regulatory measures and tax > incentives are employed to encourage denser development, more > efficient land use, and greater use of public transportation" ignore > the desires and preferences of most housing consumers and ultimately > waste public funds. His 1996 book "The Vanishing Automobile and Other > Urban Myths" was written as a detailed critique of these styles of > planning. He continues to advocate for free market solutions to urban > planning and design in his writing and teaching. He has campaigned > against smart growth policies and light rail systems. > O'Toole has held fellowships at Yale University, and served as a > visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is an > avid cyclist who always rides a bicycle to and from work, and > advocates alternative means of transportation where possible. He lives > in Bandon, Oregon. And when quoting wikipedia verbatim, good form requires an appropriate attribution. Quote
Guest Joe the Aroma Posted July 18, 2007 Posted July 18, 2007 "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... > Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- > O'Toole. > > With funding sources from the usual suspects. > > http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm > > And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only degree is > a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. > > Milton Friedman he is not. A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the ignorant students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. Quote
Guest Amy Blankenship Posted July 18, 2007 Posted July 18, 2007 "Joe the Aroma" <bdjr76@gmail.com> wrote in message news:pJ6dneesCs6Y9gPbnZ2dnUVZ_r-3nZ2d@comcast.com... > > "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... > >> Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- >> O'Toole. >> >> With funding sources from the usual suspects. >> >> http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm >> >> And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only degree is >> a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. >> >> Milton Friedman he is not. > > A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the > ignorant students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. You should run around them. Quote
Guest george conklin Posted July 18, 2007 Posted July 18, 2007 "Joe the Aroma" <bdjr76@gmail.com> wrote in message news:pJ6dneesCs6Y9gPbnZ2dnUVZ_r-3nZ2d@comcast.com... > > "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... > >> Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- >> O'Toole. >> >> With funding sources from the usual suspects. >> >> http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm >> >> And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only degree is >> a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. >> >> Milton Friedman he is not. > > A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the > ignorant students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. > > Tht web site above is another propaganda mill based not on facts, but on who says them. Pathetic. Quote
Guest Lobby Dosser Posted July 18, 2007 Posted July 18, 2007 "Amy Blankenship" <Amy_nospam@magnoliamultimedia.com> wrote: > > "Joe the Aroma" <bdjr76@gmail.com> wrote in message > news:pJ6dneesCs6Y9gPbnZ2dnUVZ_r-3nZ2d@comcast.com... >> >> "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message >> news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... >> >>> Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- >>> O'Toole. >>> >>> With funding sources from the usual suspects. >>> >>> http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm >>> >>> And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only >>> degree is a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. >>> >>> Milton Friedman he is not. >> >> A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the >> ignorant students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. > > You should run around them. > LOL! Quote
Guest Bill Shatzer Posted July 18, 2007 Posted July 18, 2007 Joe the Aroma wrote: > "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... >>Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- >>O'Toole. >>With funding sources from the usual suspects. >>http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm >>And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only degree is >>a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. >>Milton Friedman he is not. > A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the ignorant > students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. Students are generally students because they recongize their ignorance and wish to learn and remedy their ignorance. Hopefully, they are no longer ignorant when they receive their degree. Still, whatever a degree in economics does not qualify a person for, it certainly qualifies them to call themselves an "economist". Peace and justice, Quote
Guest Amy Blankenship Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message news:b9CdnUs4if_MEQPbnZ2dnUVZ_u6rnZ2d@comcast.com... > Joe the Aroma wrote: > >> "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message >> news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... > >>>Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- >>>O'Toole. > >>>With funding sources from the usual suspects. > >>>http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm > >>>And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only degree is >>>a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. > >>>Milton Friedman he is not. > >> A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the >> ignorant students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. > > Students are generally students because they recongize their ignorance and > wish to learn and remedy their ignorance. Hopefully, they are no longer > ignorant when they receive their degree. > > Still, whatever a degree in economics does not qualify a person for, it > certainly qualifies them to call themselves an "economist". Education just teaches you how to learn, if you're lucky. Most people don't really have any useful skills until they have held down a job for a few years. Quote
Guest Lobby Dosser Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 "Amy Blankenship" <Amy_nospam@magnoliamultimedia.com> wrote: > > "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:b9CdnUs4if_MEQPbnZ2dnUVZ_u6rnZ2d@comcast.com... >> Joe the Aroma wrote: >> >>> "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message >>> news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... >> >>>>Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- >>>>O'Toole. >> >>>>With funding sources from the usual suspects. >> >>>>http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm >> >>>>And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only >>>>degree is a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. >> >>>>Milton Friedman he is not. >> >>> A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the >>> ignorant students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. >> >> Students are generally students because they recongize their >> ignorance and wish to learn and remedy their ignorance. Hopefully, >> they are no longer ignorant when they receive their degree. >> >> Still, whatever a degree in economics does not qualify a person for, >> it certainly qualifies them to call themselves an "economist". > > Education just teaches you how to learn, if you're lucky. Most people > don't really have any useful skills until they have held down a job > for a few years. > > > Shatzer is retired from a job and Still doesn't have any. Quote
Guest lein Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 Bill Shatzer <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in news:b9CdnUs4if_MEQPbnZ2dnUVZ_u6rnZ2d@comcast.com: > Joe the Aroma wrote: > >> "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message >> news:BOCdnU6y2IPxdgbbnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@comcast.com... > >>>Heh! Little wonder, the so-called Thoreau Institute essentially -is- >>>O'Toole. > >>>With funding sources from the usual suspects. > >>>http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_lrt_2007-01a.htm > >>>And, while O'Toole may -style- himself an "economist", his only >>>degree is a bachelor's in Geology and Forest Management. > >>>Milton Friedman he is not. > >> A degree hardly qualifies anybody for anything. You should see the >> ignorant students I run across here in Boston. It's simply pathetic. > > Students are generally students because they recongize their ignorance > and wish to learn and remedy their ignorance. Hopefully, they are no > longer ignorant when they receive their degree. > > Still, whatever a degree in economics does not qualify a person for, > it certainly qualifies them to call themselves an "economist". > > Peace and justice, > There is little difference between the number of idiots who have degrees and the number of idiots who don't. Quote
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