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Harris Goldstein

Minneapolis, MN
Commenter for
3 years 36 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 05/09/13 at 10:47 am in response to Union files grievance over Minnesota State Mankato coach's firing

I have no doubt that hospital charges have very limited relationship to actual cost, but I think we have some sloppy reporting here.

The $45,212 referenced was what the hospital charged. They were paid $23,500. The Fergus Falls example you referenced had a charge of about $36,000 and a payment of about $12,000.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, with all due respect to the hospital in Fergus Falls, if you have a complex procedure you're likely to go to Minneapolis or...

Posted on 05/06/13 at 08:36 am in response to The next multimillion-dollar subsidy: the Mall of America

I'm a bit confused by this. It's described as a tax break, which I interpret as a "discount" on future tax receipts. But the article says that the "House and Senate bills would tap money from Fiscal Disparities". This suggests that we are providing the money up front. I call that a subsidy. Or welfare.

As to the projected 20 million more visitors this would draw, who made that projection, what's their level of objectivity, and what's their "skin in the game"?

Posted on 04/09/13 at 09:27 am in response to Taxes on sports memorabilia, suites and seat licenses back in stadium mix

Don't those ticket holders for the Wild, the Timberwolves and the Twins (well-heeled or otherwise) benefit from the state subsidizing Target Center, Target Field, and Xcel Energy Center?

Posted on 04/08/13 at 05:29 pm in response to Dayton wants $750 million for construction projects

Why does the slippery slope argument always seems to travel in one direction - based on the views of those using that argument?

Isn't it just as valid to say that if government can tell churches who they can and cannot marry, the slippery slope is that government will tell churches how they must worship?

Posted on 03/28/13 at 12:54 pm in response to Tax-by-miles-driven experiment flops

The experiment wasn't a flop if:
a - it was a valid test of smartphone technology
b - it accurately determined that the technology was not able to track number of miles driven

Posted on 03/12/13 at 07:17 pm in response to GOP budget cuts spending, changes Medicare and kicks off fresh budget battles

can balance a budget based on unspecified cuts in loopholes and deductions. And, irony upon irony, it keeps the so-called $700m cut in Medicare for which he blasted Obama.

By staking out an extreme position, it's another squandered opportunity to enact meaningful, if somewhat painful, spending cuts.

Posted on 03/12/13 at 10:32 am in response to Minneapolis apartment development booms, but not in the burbs

I think you have a typo here. Maybe 1500 sf.

As to all the apartments coming into downtown, including over 1500 units to North Loop alone, you have to wonder if there's a bubble in the making.

Posted on 03/05/13 at 05:55 pm in response to Report: Shattuck administrators were told about sex abuse

To qoute Ecclesiastes (or the Byrds if you prefer): "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven"

I've worked in organizations that used telecommuting very effectively. It's great. And it saved the company a lot of money on office space.

But it is not the most effective approach for creative collaboration. If Yahoo wasn't fighting for it's existence, it would make sense to continue it's telecommuting policy. But if they don't do every thing...

Posted on 02/19/13 at 09:32 pm in response to Did GOP gerrymander its way to controlling U.S. House?

Good article on this recently: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/10/the-league-of/309084/

Republicans have been better at this; due in part to their control of more state legislatures. The shape of some of these districts are amazing.

Posted on 02/19/13 at 11:12 am in response to Kline doesn't rule out race against Franken

You actually have to read the commentary. About 2/3 down you find out that it's been big government, bureaucrats, and trial lawyers that have stood in the way of basic research. Who knew?

For example:

"Unfortunately, after decades of overregulation and egregiously predatory tort litigation, the “pipeline” of new drugs has substantially dried up. So while we must keep our high ethical standards intact, we need a rigorous overhaul of the way we conduct research and develop new...