Already at the ASA meeting 6 weeks ago, numerous people complained about the value of this discussion and its appropriateness for this forum. Being somewhat libertarian-minded, I determined not to say anything in the hope that the discussion would come to some closure and that we would move on to something else. However, it hasn't, and I fear that the widespread interest in this discussion group is somewhat at risk.
Several comments seem to be in order.
That's only fair. You do the work. I see it also as parallel to the debates over racial issues, segregation, Jim Crow laws, etc. 5. I am unsurprised about complaints at the ASA meeting. I've had a couple e-mails of like substance.