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Called it, 2.5 months ago. Most of HN said I was wrong. If the 1.25B tax break causes a net gain in tax receipts due to the expansion of the economy, then the

Called it, 2.5 months ago. Most of HN said I was wrong. If the 1.25B tax break causes a net gain in tax receipts due to the expansion of the economy, then the deal is a net positive for everyone, job-seekers, Nevada, and Tesla. No one loses when the economic pie gets bigger. Economics is not zero-sum. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8271914 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8271914

tokenadult 12y ago
Economics is easy for people who can faultlessly predict the future. But who is that? Lots of states a lot of the time make tax-incentive deals with business corporations that may or may really make the economic pie bigger. (Well, almost all of those deals make the economic pie bigger for the business corporation, at least in the short term, but the question is always whether they really make the pie bigger for an individual taxpayer like you or me who isn't a direct party to the deal.)
cynicalkane 12y ago
You are still wrong, because "net gain in tax receipts for Nevada" is not identical to a net gain in the economic pie. It's not necessarily better for the USA, and if a loss of benefits per capita is realized, might not even be better for Nevada. You are correct when you say economics was not zero-sum, and according to some people the government is too big, but that wasn't what your claim was about.
reitzensteinm 12y ago
I find this post crass. gph's reply to you was reasonable, and you made no counter. It's a pretty obviously a difference of opinion (and politics), and reasonable points were made in either direction. So now two months later, you paint a picture wherein you've been vindicated - using the proof that Elon Musk says that the deal Elon Musk made is good for everyone. What was he going to say; the ink's dry on our signatures now, Nevada, so I can admit I totally screwed you over and there's nothing you can do about it? Come on. Maybe you are right, maybe not, but no new information has come to light since the last discussion, and claiming victory based on a press release is intellectually dishonest.
- Afforess 12y ago
  As a general rule I don't participate in HN arguments, which is why I didn't reply to GPH. There is nothing I could have really added to the discussion and it would have simply devolved into a shouting match over which economic pet theories were HN's favorite. I am not really interested in shouting the loudest, it's a poor way to win arguments. I am replying to you, because there is something I can add. My explanation of why I avoid replies. Take it as you want.

tokenadult 12y ago

Economics is easy for people who can faultlessly predict the future. But who is that? Lots of states a lot of the time make tax-incentive deals with business corporations that may or may really make the economic pie bigger. (Well, almost all of those deals make the economic pie bigger for the business corporation, at least in the short term, but the question is always whether they really make the pie bigger for an individual taxpayer like you or me who isn't a direct party to the deal.)

cynicalkane 12y ago

You are still wrong, because "net gain in tax receipts for Nevada" is not identical to a net gain in the economic pie. It's not necessarily better for the USA, and if a loss of benefits per capita is realized, might not even be better for Nevada. You are correct when you say economics was not zero-sum, and according to some people the government is too big, but that wasn't what your claim was about.

reitzensteinm 12y ago

I find this post crass. gph's reply to you was reasonable, and you made no counter. It's a pretty obviously a difference of opinion (and politics), and reasonable points were made in either direction. So now two months later, you paint a picture wherein you've been vindicated - using the proof that Elon Musk says that the deal Elon Musk made is good for everyone. What was he going to say; the ink's dry on our signatures now, Nevada, so I can admit I totally screwed you over and there's nothing you can do about it? Come on. Maybe you are right, maybe not, but no new information has come to light since the last discussion, and claiming victory based on a press release is intellectually dishonest.

Afforess 12y ago
As a general rule I don't participate in HN arguments, which is why I didn't reply to GPH. There is nothing I could have really added to the discussion and it would have simply devolved into a shouting match over which economic pet theories were HN's favorite. I am not really interested in shouting the loudest, it's a poor way to win arguments. I am replying to you, because there is something I can add. My explanation of why I avoid replies. Take it as you want.