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Saturday, February 21st, 2015

Cranking Up for 2016

Author:     Paul Krugman
Source:     The New York Times.
Publication Date:     FEB. 20, 2015
 Link: Cranking Up for 2016
Stephan:   This is a brilliant assessment of the problem.  I absolutely agree with Krugman that, "Across the board, the modern American right seems to have abandoned the idea that there is an objective reality out there, even if it’s not what your prejudices say should be happening. What are you going to believe, right-wing doctrine or your own lying eyes? These days, the doctrine wins." The question is: On Election Day will a sufficiency of voters recognize this, understand its importance, and vote accordingly? Given the recurring election of Theocratic Rightist politicians who serve this doctrine, in the face of the  social outcomes in those states I have to admit, I'm not sure. But I am sure about this. In 2016 we are going to make our choice again. We have between now and then, to create a national consciousness that collectively, chooses the compassionate life-affirming options on election day.
Paul Krugman Credit: Businessweek

Paul Krugman
Credit: Businessweek

Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, is said to be a rising contender for the Republican presidential nomination. So, on Wednesday, he did what, these days, any ambitious Republican must, and pledged allegiance to charlatans and cranks.

For those unfamiliar with the phrase, “charlatans and cranks” is associated with N. Gregory Mankiw, a professor at Harvard who served for a time as George W. Bush’s chief economic adviser. In the first edition of his best-selling economics textbook, Mr. Mankiw used those words to ridicule “supply-siders” who promised that tax cuts would have such magic effects on the economy that deficits would go down, not up.

But, on Wednesday, Mr. Walker, in what was clearly a rite of passage into serious candidacy, spoke at a dinner at Manhattan’s “21” Club hosted by the three most prominent supply-siders: Art Laffer (he of the curve); Larry Kudlow of CNBC; and Stephen Moore, chief economist of the Heritage Foundation. Politico pointed out that Rick Perry, the former governor […]

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