2012 U.S. Presidential Election

[kurai]

I am fairly sure that I know what a Cabinet post is. A two-part question arises from your following remark:

1) How does one reform economics without approaching 'social issues'? They are inextricably embedded in one another. You can not reform tax policy without reforming spending policy. You can not change the approach to foreign aid without changing the social incentives on which it is based (see Perry's direct remarks as above).

2) A high-level Cabinet post necessarily means an entrance to the line of succession. Even if merely a consultant, should one not meet Presidential standards to also be in Cabinet, especially given the dramatic environment that would be present alongside the necessity of such succession?

[Roy Karrde]

1) How does one reform economics without approaching 'social issues'? They are inextricably embedded in one another. You can not reform tax policy without reforming spending policy. You can not change the approach to foreign aid without changing the social incentives on which it is based (see Perry's direct remarks as above).

Reforming spending by and large would be the focus of Congress. For the President it would mainly be appointments to the NLRB and repeal of overburdening regulations.

2) A high-level Cabinet post necessarily means an entrance to the line of succession. Even if merely a consultant, should one not meet Presidential standards to also be in Cabinet, especially given the dramatic environment that would be present alongside the necessity of such succession?

That is true, but the chance is so fairly remote, that it should not be something to keep the appointment from happening. Or if to satisfy you, he could be appointed to a Czar role, which has no chance of succession.

[kurai]

Reforming spending by and large would be the focus of Congress. For the President it would mainly be appointments to the NLRB and repeal of overburdening regulations.

-

That is true, but the chance is so fairly remote, that it should not be something to keep the appointment from happening. Or if to satisfy you, he could be appointed to a Czar role, which has no chance of succession.

You forget that the executive's foremost role in reform is as the unifying stage on which the direction of policy is set (the voice of the nation; the bully pulpit). You also set aside the notion that economics and social intention are inseparable - choices will have to be made, social values have an input on these choices. Rick Perry's social values are repugnant, but you seek to include them in the policy process.

-

Rick Perry is not qualified to participate as a Czar-level economic adviser - he has no relevant academic credentials? If combined with his social approach (as above), I do not see value to his inclusion in the governing process.

[Roy Karrde]

You forget that the executive's foremost role in reform is as the unifying stage on which the direction of policy is set. You also set aside the notion that economics and social intention are inseparable - choices will have to be made, social values have an input on these choices. Rick Perry's social values are repugnant, but you seek to include them in the policy process.

His social values toward Gays is wrong, does that mean all of his social values are wrong? No of course not. But to think that Perry would have any guiding role in social issues in a cabnet position is inane. The reforms that we need right now, mainly in terms of regulations to create job opportunities have very little to no social impact what so ever. Not to mention his position would be to advise, not to set actual policy.

Rick Perry is not qualified to participate as a Czar-level economic adviser - he has no relevant academic credentials? If combined with his social approach (as above), I do not see value in his inclusion to the governing process.

There is no need for him to have any academic credentials for the Czar position, only to be able to inform the President on a specific policy. The growth of the Texas economy in and of itself is more than relevant for that.

[kurai]

His social values toward Gays is wrong, does that mean all of his social values are wrong? No of course not. But to think that Perry would have any guiding role in social issues in a cabnet position is inane. The reforms that we need right now, mainly in terms of regulations to create job opportunities have very little to no social impact what so ever. Not to mention his position would be to advise, not to set actual policy.

-

There is no need for him to have any academic credentials for the Czar position, only to be able to inform the President on a specific policy. The growth of the Texas economy in and of itself is more than relevant for that.

You can not conduct economic policy which has no social impact - this claim does not even make sense.

As an advisor, Rick Perry would contend that foreign aid should not be contingent on LGBT treatment in a given country's legal system (he has said so publicly!). This is the kind of advice he would provide to an economic end which relies on a social values basis. As for his other values, the specifics are uncertain, but they do not need to be otherwise: one instance of repugnancy ought to be enough for disqualification.

-

Sorry, can you point to any current Czar which has been appointed towards economic oversight based purely on political credentials? They all have advanced degrees in economics or law. What would be the point of appointing Rick Perry rather than the qualified economic advisors which he personally used?

[Roy Karrde]

You can not conduct economic policy which has no social impact - this claim does not even make sense.

As an advisor, Rick Perry would contend that foreign aid should not be contingent on LGBT treatment in a given country's legal system (he has said so publicly!). This is the kind of advice he would provide to an economic end which relies on a social values basis. As for his other values, the specifics are uncertain, but they do not need to be otherwise: one instance of repugnancy ought to be enough for disqualification.

And why would a President place him in a Czar or Cabinet position to handle foreign aid? His experience is on domestic economic issues. Hell the Secretary of Labor would be a fitting position.

Sorry, can you point to any current Czar which has been appointed towards economic oversight based purely on political credentials? They all have advanced degrees in economics or law. What would be the point of appointing Rick Perry rather than the qualified economic advisors which he personally used?

You mean such as say the Bank Bailout Czar and TARP Czar who previously had a role in the Treasury Department and graduated from college with a degree in "aeronautical engineering". I wonder what does Aeronautical engineering have to do with TARP or Bank Bailouts? Nothing, he had prior experience at the treasury and before that Goldman Sacks. The appointment, like many was purely based on political experience.

Or there is the next person who took over the role of Bank Bailout Czar and TARP czar, who held the previous position as CEO of Fannie Mae, Chairman, President, and CEO of TIAA-CREF, and various positions at Merrill Lynch.

[kurai]

And why would a President place him in a Czar or Cabinet position to handle foreign aid? His experience is on domestic economic issues. Hell the Secretary of Labor would be a fitting position.

-

You mean such as say the Bank Bailout Czar and TARP Czar who previously had a role in the Treasury Department and graduated from college with a degree in "aeronautical engineering". I wonder what does Aeronautical engineering have to do with TARP or Bank Bailouts? Nothing, he had prior experience at the treasury and before that Goldman Sacks. The appointment, like many was purely based on political experience.

Or there is the next person who took over the role of Bank Bailout Czar and TARP czar, who held the previous position as CEO of Fannie Mae, Chairman, President, and CEO of TIAA-CREF, and various positions at Merrill Lynch.

The Secretary of Labor would return him to the line of succession. Foreign aid is connected to domestic economic issues - it is all out of the same federal budget. What exact role do you propose for Perry? What is the current analogue to this position?

-

I think you can do better than this. Neel Kashkari earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. Combine this with financial sector and treasury experience - how is this a solely political appointment?

As for Herbert M. Allison, he "earned a B.A. in philosophy from Yale University. Following four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy, including one year in Vietnam, he received an M.B.A. from Stanford University." Then we see decades of financial sector and policy consultation experience.

This is a wide berth from a B.S. in animal science and experience in the political executive. You seek to appoint an executive as an advisor instead of putting an advisor in that role, despite the anti-American rhetoric which should disqualify them altogether.