Two items I couldn't pass up. Very interesting. Sorry to plagiarize another blog, but I suppose it isn't plagiarizing if you source it?
I.
Top Recipients of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008
1. Dodd, Christopher J, D-CT
2. Kerry, John, D-MA
3. Obama, Barack, D-IL
4. Clinton, Hillary, D-NY
N.B.: Senator Dodd is Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
II.
It is widely assumed that health care, like most aspects of American life, shamefully shortchanges the poor. This is less true than it seems. Economist Gary Burtless of the Brookings Institution recently discovered this astonishing data: on average, annual health spending per person -- from all private and government sources -- is equal for the poorest and the richest Americans. In 2003, it was $4,477 for the poorest fifth and $4,451 for the richest. Probably in no other area, notes Burtless, is spending so equal -- not in housing, clothes, transportation or anything. Why? One reason: government already insures more than a quarter of the population, including many poor.
How's that for a daily dose of economic enlightenment?
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1 comment:
Your Fannie Mae campaign contribution stuff is interesting. My first thought was, why on earth would these government-sponsored corporations be making campaign contributions, and my second thought was, if they are, why not hedge bets and contribute equally across the board. Hmmmm. Very interesting. -Eric M.
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