I hear so many incorrect opinions on the internet and in real life, and while mostly I’d like to leave them alone, I would at least like to be able to regurgitate the basic line of reasoning for why what they just said was bullshit. Maybe you can help me. I’m going to list some issues that I come across, and if you could just give me the brief point-by-point argument for why the right argument is correct, I would appreciate. Don’t worry about details, terms, links, complex explanations. and certainly not data; I can look that up. I’m just looking for something I can copy down and drill in my head. Think index cards, with big writing even. If you’re sitting on some brief explanations for things I haven’t mentioned, feel free to bring it up.

Here are some things I’d like quick, practical explanations for:

1. Why Glass Steagull is not a panacea/Why it didn’t cause the financial crisis

2. Why the lump of labor fallacy is wrong

3. Why cheap labor across seas isn’t as bad for those workers

4. Why low skilled and/or skilled immigration is good for domestic workers. If this is only true under a particular plan or immigration status, feel free to name names, but you don’t have to lay out your immigration plan

5. Why infrastructure spending is so hard to direct effectively. If there is a simple solution to this, feel free to mention it. Otherwise, just the phenomena is fine.

6. Why trade negotiations have to be secretive

7. As I understand, a carbon tax creates disincentives to use carbon and incentivizes alternative fuel investment, while subsidies and tax credits are second best because you’re not sure what could succeed, and you might distort the market. If that’s not correct or there is a better argument, let me know

8. I know there isn’t a consensus about what the minimum wage should be, other than maybe it should be higher. A simple explanation of the factors that go into what makes a justifiable minimum wage would be helpful. This was explained to me before, but I forgot it. I’ll copy it down this time

9. I understand some people believe the wage gap is either exaggerated or an outright myth. A simple explanation of why people think this would help

10. Why we currently should/shouldn’t generally cut spending more than we should cut taxes

11. Why high frequency taxes are a good/bad idea

That turned out to be a lot, but just grab one or two.

Seriously, you don’t have to write paragraphs. If you feel the basic argument can’t be explained in a few sentences just forget about it. Again, don’t feel like you have to dumb down or explain your terms. I plan to use good comments here as reference, so I can just look them up.