Paul Krugman of the New York Times has misled again. But first, consider his colleague's "A Sinking Feeling in
the Inland Empire" in the Times, February 19, 2009 by Lawrence
Downes, an "Editorial Observer":
"An agent’s flier sent us to 2047 Cherrytree Drive: four bedrooms,
two-and-a-half baths, 1,356 square feet. In 2004, it sold for $247,500.
A year and a half later, it went for $325,000. Now it’s listed at
$98,000.
"I left town wondering what the Inland Empire might look like when the
disaster passes, when places like Mountain View are finally built -- or
bulldozed. After the illusion evaporates, what will remain? What parts
are real?
"The people, of course, the families with young children who I saw
overflowing the Spanish Mass at Corpus Christi Church in Corona. And the
orange groves, trees bursting, spilling fruit onto the cold February
ground."
The disaster will not pass as the New York Times wishes and implies. The
people who "of course" will survive will find that the orange groves have
been almost completely paved over along with the creeks and truck farms of
yesterday. A museum to mass delusion will be the false community erected
by once-cheap petroleum, for there won't be the energy to bulldoze and
remake the disaster of suburbia.
Paul Krugman is an "authority" seemingly making sense for us, as the
economic collapse unfolds. But the guy's an idiot. On Feb. 19 he wrote
"No doubt this recession will pass." - yes, Idiot, but pass into a
depression and collapse.
He has been saying for months that "our" big problem is not enough
spending for the ailing consumer economy. Truthout.org, a liberal and
well-meaning news service, has run his "progressive" material for years.
If I'm a bad guy for finally resorting to ad hominem language to express
my frustration with this false guru, the New York Times had in the very
same edition the column titled "Money for Idiots" by David Brooks,
although this idiot was not referring to his idiot colleague.
Who'll Stop the Pain?
By Paul Krugman
The Obama administration's policy initiatives will help in
this difficult period -- but it's trying to mitigate the
slump, not end it. No doubt this recession will pass -- but
how, and when?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/opinion/20krugman.html?th&emc=th
He goes on to say "population growth... will eventually prompt a housing
revival... we’re building up a pent-up demand for cars." I take it back,
he's not an idiot; he's insane. To show he and economists in general
cannot grasp history, he says:
"The closest 19th-century parallel I can find to the current slump is
the recession that followed the Panic of 1873. That recession did
eventually end without any government intervention, but it lasted more
than five years, and another prolonged recession followed just three
years later."
In those days, was not an unspoiled continent opening up? -- with the
indigenous peoples and their sustainable ways swept aside? "Growth" was
real and physical, whereas of late it has been virtual and phony. - JL
* * * * *
Culture Change
P.O. Box 4347, Arcata, CA 95518 USA, tel/fax: 1-215-243-3144
Please send any feedback or questions via email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please make a donation online at culturechange.org/donate.html.
You can also send a check via standard mail to the above address. For a
tax deduction the check should be payable to "Culture Change/GVI".
Pass this along to a friend: Sign up to receive Culture Change Letters via
email, using the link subscribe
Culture Change mailing address: P.O. Box 3387, Santa Cruz, California, 95063, USA, Telephone 1-215-243-3144 (and fax). Culture Change was founded by Sustainable Energy Institute (formerly Fossil Fuels Policy Action), a nonprofit organization.
Some articles are published under Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. See Fair Use Notice for more information.