VSL on Colbert Report
From the inbox:
Value of a Statistical Life and Cost-Benefit analysis were topics on the Colbert Report comedy show's "The Word" segment last night (7/14). Economics advances! As a subject of satire, of course, but hey, isn't any publicity good? If you missed it, you might want to check it out on his web site. He also addresses the relationship between VSL and pollution regulation. Why DIDN'T we let this guy run for president??????
Colbert Report? This is a new show for me. I "googled" Colbert Report and found that it is a late night show on Comedy Central (it comes on after The Daily Show, which oddly, doesn't come on daily). I watched the show and was strangely entertained. Mr. Colbert is very much a right wing conservative. Mr. Colbert drank Budweiser in protest (but it seemed like a celebration) of the Belgian takeover. The Word segment? Mr. Colbert made perfect sense but some idiot jackass kept flashing sarcastic phrases to his left that caused an inappropriate audience response (i.e., laughter) and undermined his important message. However, ultimately, I must let you, the misguided with nothing better to do env-econ reader, be the judge:
Hat tip: Chris Dumas.
Oops. Scooped.
Posted by: Gernot Wagner | July 15, 2008 at 11:18 PM
I win by 32 minutes!
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 15, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Are you being sarcastic? You really haven't ever heard of the Colbert Report, and you don't realize that the whole thing is a parody of The O'Reilly Factor?? Wow...you must be stuck in some kind of vacuum!
Posted by: Stephen | July 16, 2008 at 12:35 AM
I eco Stephen. Colbert is a rightwing parody. I'd say the show is very much leftwinf.
Posted by: San | July 16, 2008 at 01:38 AM
You don't know what you've been missing! The Daily Show and the Colbert Report are two of the maybe 4-5 shows from the US that I watch religiously.
You really need to stop working on those papers or whatever you're doing ;-) and start watching the archives. (Hint: if you're a criminal, you can find most episodes on P2P networks.)
And yes, also, it's humor!
Posted by: Gabriel | July 16, 2008 at 03:22 AM
P.S. The guy won a Peabody! Yoohoo!
Posted by: Gabriel | July 16, 2008 at 03:22 AM
No fair! I queued it to this morning. Arg!
Posted by: David Zetland | July 16, 2008 at 06:06 AM
Stephen,
Er, yes, my post was an attempt to give my target audience (i.e., Tim Haab) a yuck and a grin.
The truth is that I might watch a bit too much TV.
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 16, 2008 at 07:51 AM
David,
Rookie mistake!
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 16, 2008 at 08:13 AM
I yucked and grinned--mostly at the commenters inability to see through your post.
Posted by: Tim Haab | July 16, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Tim,
In their defense, I deadpan with the best of them!
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 16, 2008 at 08:28 AM
It's hard not to like Colbert. I especially like his truthiness bit
http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=24039
I am convinced that a lot of politics is guided by truthiness.
Posted by: Paul Hindsley | July 16, 2008 at 09:43 AM