Monday, October 22, 2012

Unemployment High, Gas Prices Low


Halfway through 2008, during the Presidency of George W. Bush, the average price of gas in the U.S. was one dollar and sixty one cents. Take a second to remember those halcyon days of old, but when you're doing that, also think about the fact that between 2008 and 2010, 39 percent of people were "either unemployed, had negative equity in their house, or had been in arrears with their house payments," according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. In addition, between 2007 and 2008, home sales and home prices dropped by 12 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. Nothing was going right.

At least gas prices were low! Well, yes, but this was a sign of, as President Obama says, "an economy on the verge of collapse." Michael Canes, the chief economist of the American Petroleum Institute in 2011, asserts that "rapid and sustained reduction in oil prices that began in 2008 and extended beyond occurred because the world economy began to slow down and ultimately experience a deep recession. This is one way to reduce gas prices, but not a very attractive one." When Newt Gingrich claimed the increase in gas prices was the President's fault during his campaign for the republican presidential nomination this past year, he was wrong. The Wall Street Journal sums it up nicely: "Gingrich ignored the basic fact about U.S. gas prices: They are largely fixed by the price of crude oil, which is determined by global supply and demand....When Mr. Obama was inaugurated, demand (for gasoline) was weak due to the recession. But now it's stronger, and thus the price is higher." Gas prices depend on a global market, and this will remain true whether or not America becomes energy independent. The facts are, if prices go up because of increased demand in the Middle East, they will do the same here. If they go down globally, as they did during the Recession, they will go down here.

If this is true, why have Newt Gingrich, Fox News, and Governor Mitt Romney accused Obama's "failing policies" as the reason for this spike in gasoline costs? Gas prices are highly visible. Whenever Americans pump gas, they no doubt complain about the sight of the price rising so quickly while the gallons of gas go up slow and end up low. Any halfway decent politician will understand this and exploit it. Here lies one of the many issues within our political system today - the lack of research and knowledge resulting from opportunism which comes from politicians and spreads to the American people. Politicians don't need to know their stuff as long as they have a basic understanding of what Americans hate. On a purely emotional basis, I agree with Romney and Gingrich - nobody likes high gas prices -  but I know that the price of gas is not the President's fault, therefore it is a moot point.

Where else does high visibility help and hurt certain politicians? The income tax rebate of 2008 enacted by George W. Bush was primarily a tax cut for the middle class. Bush pulled a genius political move with this though. He sent receivers of the tax cut actual checks in the mail, reminding them that "Hey, your prez here, I'm literally handing you money with this tax cut. I know you love me." This would have worked too, if it wasn't for that meddling deficit, and the Lehman Brothers, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In President Obama's first term he also offered the middle class a 3,600 dollar tax cut, but he didn't send a check which people could hold, and see, and understand, yes, Obama did in fact cut our taxes. Maybe President Obama should have sent a check, because without it people do not truly know if Governor Romney is lying when he says Obama would not cut taxes for the middle class. 

Of course, tax cuts have always been a visible issue which politicians use to generate support. "Oh, we get to save money? You'll let us pay less? Of course I'll vote for you!" President Bush took that a step further by handing people the money he saved them. President Obama has to be more visible if people are to believe him, because high visibility, which ironically does not translate to high transparency, is a characteristic of the modern political climate. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

A Look At "The Heist"

It's difficult to quantify how good music is. Along with other types of art, it is purely subjective. When listening to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' debut album though, it becomes apparent you're listening to not just a collection of rap songs, but an achievement. "The Heist"challenges every Hip-Hop stereotype behind original instrumentals from Ryan Lewis and poetic prose from Macklemore.

Part of what makes this album incredible is the dissimilarity between all the songs. The range between party anthems, personal stories, political statements, lyrical displays, and songs about the struggle of the independent artist shows Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' versatility.

Hip-Hop is an African American art form, so whenever a caucasian tries to rap or comes into some critical acclaim in the genre, it is a compelling situation. Macklemore understands the dichotomy between his skin color and his chosen profession, and he addresses the topic throughout the album. In the second verse in his song "A Wake", Macklemore speaks about the label of being a "conscious" rapper. He doesn't believe he's more conscious than any other rapper because he doesn't talk about guns and killing police or "a stripper on a poll poppin'", rather, he thinks those rappers are as conscious as he is, because this is what they grew up around: "I grew up during Reaganomics/ when Ice-T was out there on his killing cops s**t/ or Rodney King was getting beat on and they let out every single officer in Los Angeles went and lost it."Later in the verse Macklemore wonders if race relations is an issue he should even get involved in: "Don't event tweet R.I.P. Trayvon Martin/ don't wanna be that white dude million man marchin'." He wraps the verse up with: "Don't get involved with the causes of mine?/ white privilege white guilt at the same damn time/ so we just party like its 1999/ celebrate the ignorance while these kids keep dying." Macklemore has had past songs addressing his "white rapper-ship", namely "White Privilege". He obviously struggles with the fact he's a white man in a black art. Still, Macklemore is a symbol of an obviously expanding rap culture. White rappers like Mac Miller, Atmosphere, Eminem, Asher Roth, Brother Ali, and Evidence have become a force in Hip-Hop. The genre is changing and including groups like Chiddy Bang and ANTHM who are rapping about topics usually untouchable for fear of being too artsy or feminine, and instead of just a bass drum and a snare, modern hip-hop instrumentals utilize all types of instruments and are much more layered. Ironically, in this song "A Wake",  Macklemore displays how conscious he truly is. He's conscious of issues he doesn't even address, and is able to speak about them authoritatively and humbly.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis include a few old songs, including "Can't Hold Us", "Make the Money", and "Wing$". The two artists were not well known before the album, so this was a nice touch. They were able to introduce new fans to a few of their quality cuts from the past. One of the highlights of the album though is a brand new jam - "White Walls". Macklemore and Ryan Lewis team up with rapper Schoolboy Q of Black Hippy for a high energy ode to Cadillacs. Macklemore again shows his versatility, proving he can "stunt" too, and yeah, he's got a little money in his pocket: "Oh? Haters? Damn y'all mad/ Thirty K on the Caddy now how backpack rap is that?" When the chorus comes in you can't help but turn up the volume.

In the songs "Cowboy Boots" and "Castle", Macklemore puts out an anthem to his friends and a satire of "party rap" songs. Over a hicked-out instrumental and a chorus that sounds like a bunch of drunk dudes belting out their favorite song, Macklemore laments: "You learn a lot about your friends/ right around 2 A.M." and "acquaintances turn to friends, I hope those friends they remember me/ hold the night for ransom as we kidnap the memories/ not sure if there is a way to express what you meant to me/ sit around a table and use those years as the centerpiece." In "Castle" Macklemore details the most ridiculous party known to man: "Unicorns and wizard sleeves/Hammer pants and make believe," and so on. This song pokes fun at modern rap culture through hyperbole by the use of Macklemore's British alter ego - Raven Bowie.

The album was #1 on iTunes for three days and the duo's grassroots fan base came out in full force to support the event. Macklemore's album stands alone in its honoring of creativity. As he said, he chose "love over a desk" and his soul is still his. He refused to live a regular life, which is inspirational in its own sense, as is his appeal to all people (see: "Same Love"), and is an independent artist in its purest form: "Nowadays if you make good music, the people are your label."