I don't think NPR has ever packed more stupid into any single story, here's just a sample:Ouch...
No. 1 There is no "Rule" that the same goods have to have the same price. This is not taught in ANY economics or business class. If you reporters weren't apparent economic illiterates and had attended at least one economics class you would have known that price is a function of supply and demand. In fact, this proves this imaginary NPR "Rule" is nonsense.
No. 2 The reporters compare prices of canned pasta and announce that a price of $1.00 is pretty close to a price of $1.09. NO IT'S NOT. There's a 9% difference in price, which is a significant difference (Would your reporters take 9% less in pay because its "pretty close"?) Less than a minute into the report, and the "Rule" doesn't work.
No.3 Most hospital are not businesses, they are non-profits, so contrary to your reporter's contention, their goal is to serve the public not achieve maximum profits.
No.4 Why does no one on Planet Money have the foggiest grasp of the concept in "inelastic demand"? Which proves that comparing health care to canned pasta is bogus.
No.5 Why does Planet (worship the)Money ALWAYS frame health economics terms of Right Wing Freeper world view? On Planet Money (and NPR) there is absolutely no moral component to health care. Which seems to explain your reporter being perplexed as to why an emergency room can't turn anyone away.
Please, please find someone at that understands basic math, I've given up on any hope of you finding someone that understands economics.
Doesn't NPR have editors?
Friday, November 13, 2009
I'm In the Stupid Aisle
Okay, Chana Joffe-Walt actually said, "I'm in the the soup aisle" as she spoke to her partner in inanity, David Kastenbaum on their Planet Money story on this Friday's ATC. NPR Check reader, Grumpy Demo, picks apart the Planet Monkeys latest effort in the Q Tips below and in the comments section of the NPR story:
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NPR seems to be one big stupid isle
Galbraith's Actions May Hurt Independent Advice (by Michele Kelemen)
No, really, Michele?
What ever brought you to THAT brilliant conclusion?
NPR seems to be furiously pumping out the propaganda to save galbraith's reputation.
Makes one wonder how much NPR is getting paid to do so.
"Former U.S. ambassador Peter Galbraith denies there were conflicts of interest when he advised the Kurdish government about their constitution. He says the Kurds knew about the business relationship he formed with a Norwegian oil company a year later."
It is interesting what NPR apparently considers "independent" advice.
It is all become clear to me now.
That's why NPR's ombudsman (Alcia Shepard) sees no "conflict" with NPR airing a series on the wonders of natural gas while simultaneously running ads for ANGA.
NPR even repeats the ANGA propaganda which includes the word "independent":
"ANGA bills itself as an education organization representing leading independent natural gas companies.
Independent obviously means whatever the hell NPR wants it to mean.
Orwell, anyone?
Shepard does not appear to be stupid so that means she is dishonest -- and thinks NPR listeners are idiots.
Shepard (on her ombotspage) about the ANGA ads:
"Clearly this looks like a MAJOR conflict of interest -- that NPR took underwriting money to influence journalism," wrote Ensalada. Many others questioned the ad placement.
Ensalada is correct about one thing: It didn't look good to have the sponsorship banner on the same web page as the series.
"The sponsorship deal was negotiated months before the series ran and was scheduled to appear periodically on our business pages," said Kinsey Wilson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, NPR Digital Media. "There is no relationship between editorial decision-making and corporate underwriting."
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Shorter Shepard/Kinsey: "As long as the ads have been bought and paid for before NPR starts reporting, there is no conflict of interest."
I am assuming Shepard was laughing out loud (uncontrollably) when she wrote that because no one who is not a total moron could write utter nonsense without laughing.
Makes perfect sense. The check has to clear first. Thanks for clearing that one up there, Rapunzel~
MYW, thanks for the promotion!
I guess I do some of my best work when NPR gets me pissed off, that and three glassed of Chardonnay.
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