Josh Barro
Writes Very Serious, a newsletter on politics, the economy and culture.
Everything they publish, on ppll ↗
Josh Barro did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
-
Our reading
The identity politics of Woke 1 alienated the ordinary Americans the left once championed.
Their wordsBy demanding the purification of the individual and branding broad swathes of the public as oppressor classes, 'Woke 1' besmirched the average Americans who Democrats once championed.
↗Woke 1 Was Anti-Populist, and Not in the Good Wayjoshbarro.com 1st of 3 in this piece
-
Our reading
Treating ordinary people as an oppressor class that must repent is incompatible with left populism.
Their wordsThis worldview - that the masses, basically everyone except the most marginalized and most oppressed, must reckon with their roles as oppressors and repent2 - is incompatible with the populism that has since risen on the left.
↗Woke 1 Was Anti-Populist, and Not in the Good Wayjoshbarro.com 2nd of 3 in this piece
-
Their wordsZohran now understands how "defund" is incompatible with a mass movement in a society where the masses want protection by the police.
↗Woke 1 Was Anti-Populist, and Not in the Good Wayjoshbarro.com 3rd of 3 in this piece
- 4 weeks earlier
-
Our reading
Modern technology has made seasonal clock changes far less burdensome than they were decades ago.
Their wordsthe main relevant difference between 1974 and now is that technology handles clock changes on our behalf, so time changes are less burdensome than they used to be.
↗Permanent Daylight Saving Time Is the Perfect Stupid Idea for Our Stupid Timejoshbarro.com 1st of 3 in this piece
-
Their wordsthe increasing unreasonableness of an electorate that wants all its groceries in one bag and also doesn't want the bag to be heavy is a primary driver behind permanently low approval of politicians in both parties
↗Permanent Daylight Saving Time Is the Perfect Stupid Idea for Our Stupid Timejoshbarro.com 2nd of 3 in this piece
-
Their wordspoliticians acting based on what they think polls well, rather than based on what will actually produce results that make voters happy
↗Permanent Daylight Saving Time Is the Perfect Stupid Idea for Our Stupid Timejoshbarro.com 3rd of 3 in this piece
- 4 days earlier
-
Their wordsThey get women to sleep with them, but they attract both men and women and cause them to surrender their better judgment and make bad choices in a variety of contexts, including the voting booth.
↗Graham Platner Was Just Hunter Biden With Worse Inkjoshbarro.com 1st of 2 in this piece
-
Their wordsAfter all, one of the main reasons bad boys are bad is that they lie.
↗Graham Platner Was Just Hunter Biden With Worse Inkjoshbarro.com 2nd of 2 in this piece
- 2 weeks earlier
-
Our reading
European countries are wealthy enough to afford widespread air conditioning, comparable to Japan.
Their wordsEurope is not actually poor. Japan is about as wealthy as Europe, and almost all Japanese homes are air-conditioned. Europeans could afford to air-condition their homes (and their hospitals!) just like the Japanese do.
↗Europe Needs Air Conditioningjoshbarro.com 1st of 3 in this piece
-
Their wordsEuropean leftists explicitly advocate that people should be kept poor, uncomfortable, and literally sweating.
↗Europe Needs Air Conditioningjoshbarro.com 2nd of 3 in this piece
-
Their wordselevators are the rare part of the economy where Europeans have embraced market dynamism while Americans choose overregulation and labor market rigidity.
↗Europe Needs Air Conditioningjoshbarro.com 3rd of 3 in this piece
- 4 weeks earlier
-
Their wordsif you nominate people whose life history reflects a high degree of unreliability, they may prove unreliable once in office.
↗Low-Conscientiousness Losers Are Bad Senate Candidatesjoshbarro.com 1st of 3 in this piece
-
Their wordsa member of Congress should be better, on most measures, than the people he or she represents.
↗Low-Conscientiousness Losers Are Bad Senate Candidatesjoshbarro.com 2nd of 3 in this piece
-
Our reading
Having worked at a highly selective, demanding employer signals conscientiousness and reliability.
Their wordsHaving worked there is a signal that you work hard, you complete your assignments, you adapt well to new tasks and requirements, and you're ready to take on new challenges.
↗Low-Conscientiousness Losers Are Bad Senate Candidatesjoshbarro.com 3rd of 3 in this piece
- 12 days earlier
-
Their wordsI think it's likely Democrats could peel off enough Republicans to actually pass an impeachment resolution against Blanche.
-
Their wordsMy guess is Republicans have lost the necessary cohesion to fall on Trump's sword and block a trial.
- 7 days earlier
-
Our reading
Federal Reserve Board members have historically often resigned before completing their full terms.
Their wordsFederal Reserve Board members have often resigned their positions well before their 14-year terms expired, since that's quite a long time to spend in one position in government.
↗Fed Board Members: Stay In Your Seatsjoshbarro.com 1st of 3 in this piece
-
Our reading
Waging political war on a central bank does not serve a president's own political interests.
Their wordsA war on the Fed has not served Trump's political interests and generally does not serve any president's interests.
↗Fed Board Members: Stay In Your Seatsjoshbarro.com 2nd of 3 in this piece
-
Our reading
The Federal Reserve will need to raise interest rates rather than cut them to bring down inflation.
Their wordsI will be surprised if there are any votes for rate cuts, even from Warsh himself. The Fed may need to hike rates this year to tame inflation.
↗Fed Board Members: Stay In Your Seatsjoshbarro.com 3rd of 3 in this piece
- 6 days earlier
-
Our reading
Seeking special tax treatment that could not sustainably be extended to everyone is morally wrong.
Their wordsit's also morally wrong to seek out special treatment that could not sustainably be offered to everyone.
↗Stop Microlooting the Tax Codejoshbarro.com 1st of 3 in this piece
-
Our reading
Stronger enforcement against tax and benefit cheating would raise social trust in government.
Their wordsIt would behoove politicians to take cheating more seriously, because better enforcement would improve social trust
↗Stop Microlooting the Tax Codejoshbarro.com 2nd of 3 in this piece
-
Their wordsThe necessary tax rates depend on how big a government you want, but all these systems rely on people paying taxes.
↗Stop Microlooting the Tax Codejoshbarro.com 3rd of 3 in this piece