Henry Baker

British, interested in politics and economics. Formerly HM Treasury

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@NealFejedelem @PeterDClack Depends if you can build them like the Koreans (on time and on budget), or like Americans or British (eye watering delays and cost overruns). That heavily affects the comparison with alternatives

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@NealFejedelem @PeterDClack Yes? Cost is the only problem with nuclear IMO

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@PeterDClack Maybe you live in Tasmania or Patagonia, who knows, but the most of the rest of humanity has been chugging air pollution since at least the Industrial Revolution. Austin today wasn’t too bad, but could be improved, and each improvement means fewer premature deaths

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@ChristofKi8795 @PeterDClack Net zero means any carbon we emit is matched by carbon we remove. It doesn’t mean zero emissions, it just means the net effect on atmospheric CO₂ is zero

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@thunguyenthom @ranavain @RichardHanania And that depends on exactly how transformative, disruptive and/or dangerous AI turns out to be. “Ah but they own it now, so should own it forever, on principle, and nationalization is theft’ I don’t find very convincing on its face, if that leads to dystopia.

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@thunguyenthom @ranavain @RichardHanania I should be clear, I am undecided on the wisdom of Bernie’s exact ‘nationalize 50%’ plan, I’m just not willing to immediately categorically dismiss it, that’s all. I’m just entertaining the notion that it could solve real problems, and be welfare-enhancing (on the whole).

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@thunguyenthom @RichardHanania Yeah, there’s a balance to be struck, competing priorities. I’m no fan of an overbearing, all-powerful state. But neither do I believe in a powerless state.

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@thunguyenthom @ranavain @RichardHanania I mean, that’s what progressive taxation is sort of about, no?

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@SBakerMD @CatLvr5303 What’s that scraping sound? Oh, it’s the goal posts being moved

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@AlyssaLogic Yup, referenced here - https://t.co/K0nzkl0yCy

It’s just a factor, doesn’t guarantee you carpal tunnel

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@RichardHanania The ‘just a bartender’ attack on AOC didn’t age well for the people who made it. Bold to run it back

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@lazerphaze73032 @Pumpkanpie @AbraarKaran Lazerphase’s Guide to Research

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@EileenChollet @billbadgerchick @mattyglesias Right - I’m saying they should. The US has done entry screening for Ebola and Marburg before, and they have the legal power to quarantine, they just usually decline to use it

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@billbadgerchick @EileenChollet @mattyglesias Stop press, rescinding ‘almost certainly’

[Joseph Allen @j_g_allen]

Earlier today I spoke with the doctor on the ship and he confirmed something. CDC messaging continues to say "prolonged, close contact" but that contradicts: 1) what's in the literature, and 2) what's happening on this ship.

--> the doc told me a few who got infected/died DID have direct contact w/ very sick patient while treating them, but 3 who tested positive did NOT have direct physical or close contact - only shared time in a few spaces on the ship where people congregate (dining, lecture area)

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@billbadgerchick @EileenChollet @mattyglesias I’d go so far as to say, it’s probably correct. Even ‘almost certainly’… but the downsides of being wrong are so enormous, and the costs of some sort of preventative action are low (quarantine of a small number of people from the cruise ship?) it strikes me as a no brainer.

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@Matthuber78 @mattyglesias @NathanJRobinson @nytopinion You’d think, but modern socialists prefer to wait around for everyone to realize they were right all along, and then get handed power.

No need for the grubby business of politics and appealing to voters, that’s beneath them. How else can they keep up their in-group status games?

[Henry Baker @econobaker]

@elonmusk