RE: three bears metaphor killed

[sawicky@xxxxxxxxxx (Max Sawicky)]

If you really want to publish this . . .

First thing is it's too long.  Columns should
be 750 words.

Second, the paragraphs are too long.  It's a
newspaper, not the AER.

Third, you used Randy Wray's title.  When he
sues you I'm sure he won't ask for too much.

Fourth, you need to state in the first 'graph
what your message is.

If you revise it, you can send it to Brian
Lustig at EPI (blustig@xxxxxxxxxx) and we
will help you place it.  This goes for the
rest of you aspiring pundits too.  Don't
agonize too much about the title; editors
always change them.

On the content . . .

The Euro hasn't looked like much of a threat
to the dollar, nor has inflation been sensitive
to the exchange rate, has it?  I'm not the
best person to judge this, but this is what
casual observation suggests to me.

I note that you neglect a big set of factors
in the trade deficit -- competition from
countries who thumb their noses at any
notion of labor/enviro standards.  What's the
policy recommendation implied by your own take
on the trade deficit?  If you don't have one,
that's a problem.  If you do, what is it?

You don't explain the bankruptcy bill or why
you don't like it, so you might as well not
mention it.

If Japan gets more agg demand & inflation, following
your pal Krugman, I would have thought that would
help the rest of the world by increasing other
nations' exports.   You seem to say this yourself
several paragraphs later.

The only policy you seem to propose is letting
wages rise.  Is this the only thing you favor?
If so (and as you can guess I think that's
inadequate), you should put that in the lead
graph too.

max


The following is my effort at journalistic op-editorializing. . . .