Economists are fond of discussing opportunity costs. According to Investopedia: (1) An opportunity cost is the cost of an alternative that must be forgone in order to pursue a certain action. Put another way, the benefits you could have received by taking an alternative action. (2.) The difference in return between a chosen investment and one that is necessarily passed up.
In other words, the cost of an aircraft carrier is not $10 billion. It is 10 regional hospitals, plus the value of improved regional health, plus the incremental additional tax revenue produced by healthier people, plus . . . plus. You get the picture.
As we begin wading into the deeper waters of the Trump presidency, the media will be blamed for his problems, ignoring the fact that media exists only to please advertisers. Coverage of this train-wreck will be 24/7 because it brings eyeballs to advertisements. If Americans would watch the Lifetime channel or National Geographic or anything else on cable, instead of news/opinion programs, the media would chase those eyeballs.
But, there is another silent cost. We are not debating a new tax plan, we are not debating an infrastructure/stimulus program, we are not debating minimum jail sentences, nor a host of other important issues. The oxygen is being sucked out of the room, and that's a shame!
Impeachment is bad for the economy, and it is not a one-time charge. There will be a cumulative effect on the economy that continues for years. Perhaps, that is the opportunity cost of democracy.
And don't expect the stock market to be happy about this!
In other words, the cost of an aircraft carrier is not $10 billion. It is 10 regional hospitals, plus the value of improved regional health, plus the incremental additional tax revenue produced by healthier people, plus . . . plus. You get the picture.
As we begin wading into the deeper waters of the Trump presidency, the media will be blamed for his problems, ignoring the fact that media exists only to please advertisers. Coverage of this train-wreck will be 24/7 because it brings eyeballs to advertisements. If Americans would watch the Lifetime channel or National Geographic or anything else on cable, instead of news/opinion programs, the media would chase those eyeballs.
But, there is another silent cost. We are not debating a new tax plan, we are not debating an infrastructure/stimulus program, we are not debating minimum jail sentences, nor a host of other important issues. The oxygen is being sucked out of the room, and that's a shame!
Impeachment is bad for the economy, and it is not a one-time charge. There will be a cumulative effect on the economy that continues for years. Perhaps, that is the opportunity cost of democracy.
And don't expect the stock market to be happy about this!
