WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Cornell Economist Robert Frank

There is no persuasive evidence that greater inequality bolsters economic growth or enhances anyone’s well-being. Yes, the rich can now buy bigger mansions and host more expensive parties. But this appears to have made them no happier. And in our winner-take-all economy, one effect of the growing inequality has been to lure our most talented graduates to the largely unproductive chase for financial bonanzas on Wall Street. (NY Times)

This guy is actually ahead in the Colorado senate race

DAVID GREGORY: Do you believe that being gay is a choice?
KEN BUCK: I do.
GREGORY: Based on what?
BUCK: Based on what? I guess you can choose who your partner is.
GREGORY: You don't think it's something that's determined at birth?
BUCK: I think that birth has an influence over it, like alcoholism and some other things, but I think that basically, you have a choice. (Huffington)

Richard Rothstein on the Klein/Rhee "Manifesto"

There is a world of difference between claiming, as the Klein-Rhee statement does, that the single biggest factor in student success is teacher quality and claiming, as Barack Obama does in his more careful moments, that the single biggest school factor is teacher quality. Decades of social science research have demonstrated that differences in the quality of schools can explain about one-third of the variation in student achievement. But the other two-thirds is attributable to non-school factors.(Answer Sheet)

 Fran Spielman's Q & A with Rahm Emanuel

Q. After leaving the Clinton administration, you made a fortune in investment banking in a relatively short time. What will you say to those who characterize you as cashing in on your political connections?
A. I went to the private sector with the purpose to make money, so I could provide for my family. ... I didn't become a lobbyist. I didn't stay in Washington. I didn't write a book about my time with President Clinton and I'm not gonna write a book about my time with President Obama. I serve at their pleasure and it was an honor to serve the country. I chose to do something else ... so I could one day go back to public service. Other people will characterize it as they want. I made a set of choices. (Sun-Times)

My translation: Yes, I cashed in on my political connections.