Outdated Krugman
While writing ostensibly about Germany’s economic problems, Paul Krugman makes what is clearly intended as a dig at American conservative politicians.
conservative politicians, clinging to an out-of-date ideology — and, perhaps, betting (wrongly) that their constituents are relatively well positioned to ride out the storm — are standing in the way of action
“Clinging to an out-of-date ideology”? Notice the similarity to Obama’s dismissal of conservatives as “clinging to their religion and guns”. This has, unfortunately, become far too common on the left. They are so convinced not only that they are right but that it is self-evident that anyone who disagrees with them is unintelligent and uneducated. Krugman is apparently so certain of The Truth that he doesn’t even notice the irony here: someone pushing Keynesian policies are is describing others as clinging to an out-of-date ideology. That’s good Paul. Keep up the good work.
He’s also assuming that conservatives oppose his preferred policies essentially for political purposes and that they can do it because they think their constituencies can make it through the recession. I guess it wouldn’t occur to him that they are doing it because they think that’s the most effective way to get out of the recession. Why anyone, as he apparently does, thinks saddling the economy with more debt and regulations is a good way to solve economic problems eludes me.
The current issue of NR includes a piece showing that the most regulated economies worldwide are the ones who have been the most deeply impacted by the recession. So why exactly would we want to impose that on ourselves?