tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post4026751010926432276..comments2024-03-29T04:57:22.173-04:00Comments on the daily howler: Postscript: David Brooks’ star professors!<b>bob somerby</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02963464534685954436noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-5396473587624538822012-05-07T22:23:50.768-04:002012-05-07T22:23:50.768-04:00And it was 4 times in 8 years, by the way...And it was 4 times in 8 years, by the way...onepaddlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-50984229302589804512012-05-07T22:18:23.122-04:002012-05-07T22:18:23.122-04:00well, 4% unemployment, when was the last time we h...well, 4% unemployment, when was the last time we had 4% unemployment, let me guess, President Clinton? And that was only 4 times.onepaddlenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-82413294646148405892012-05-07T19:51:31.431-04:002012-05-07T19:51:31.431-04:00Krugman may be correct that the government should ...Krugman may be correct that the government should borrow and spend a lot given today's economy, for all I know. However, his argument is weak. Here's why:<br /><br />1. Today's enormous national debt and annual deficit are different from what they were in the past. Krugman ignores the enormous risk to our currency from continuing these deficits. At some point, foreign lenders are going to jack up the interest rates they charge the US. If they raise interest rates by 5 percentage points, it will cost an extra $800 billion/year to roll over our debt of $16 trillion. That will throw us into a hole that makes today's economy look rosy.<br /><br />2. Saying that Milton Friedman agreed with monitary activism under very different circumstances doesn't tell us what Friedman would believe in today's economy. Friedman is dead; he can't defend himself. <br /><br />3. Calling Republicans "fringe", "fanatics", "charlatans", and "cranks" is merely ad homimen. These nasty labels are ironic in an article complaining about "the degradation of our economic discourse" and blaming others for that problem.<br /><br />4. Krugman ignores the fact that Mr. Obama's stimulus was a failure by Mr. Obama's own standard -- namely that it would keep unemployment under 8%.David in Calnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-92200736740035357392012-05-07T16:26:31.288-04:002012-05-07T16:26:31.288-04:00There is a larger question about why serious socia...There is a larger question about why serious social science does not inform legislation and policy in general. The first president to incorporate academic research into policy was Clinton. After that, no one, including Obama.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-41538083117987471082012-05-07T15:28:51.042-04:002012-05-07T15:28:51.042-04:00They've been at:
http://robertreich.org/
http:...They've been at:<br />http://robertreich.org/<br />http://baselinescenario.com/<br />http://www.cepr.net/index.php/beat-the-press/<br />http://rortybomb.wordpress.com/<br />and other sites including this new address<br />http://www.thedailybeast.com/davidfrum.html<br /><br />Granted, not all listed above are Ivy League professors, but they do have a solid foundation in economics.<br /><br />The question should be, "Why aren't these other stars featured more prominently in media?" <br />That is Bob's point here.<br /><br />We have no-nothing politicians allowed to spout whatever voodoo economics they want, and no economists to challenge them. And we do know why.<br /><br />And yes, politicians are allowed to spout nonsense on any subject under the sun without any serious rebuttal on most "serious" news shows.gravymeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16075831177588700301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-80481929756825314752012-05-07T14:39:57.963-04:002012-05-07T14:39:57.963-04:00There is no reward and some potential harm in spea...There is no reward and some potential harm in speaking publicly from academia. If you are interviewed and your views are distorted (as is inevitable) it diminishes your reputation because people think you actually said the things you're quoted as saying. If you blog you're suspected of neglecting your real work. If you publish outside journals, you are seen as definitely neglecting your real work. The main route for academics to influence society comes from what we say in the classroom. Does it surprise anyone that education is being reformed these days (under the guise of response to a financial crisis)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-19298204591990588512012-05-07T13:08:11.244-04:002012-05-07T13:08:11.244-04:00"I'm old, I'm rich, and I'm white..."I'm old, I'm rich, and I'm white. What can they do to me?" P. O'Neill<br /><br />Turns out, there's a lot that they can do to anyone singing from a different hymn book. Just ask Joe Wilson, or Al Gore.<br /><br />The media superstar commentators are simply paid performers; it's easy to understand their motivations. But what about professionals who should (and probably do) know better? Are they just bought off?<br /><br />That's the obvious conclusion reached by the increasingly incredulous Krugman. Reading him and William Black leaves you shocked at the extent of the level of incompetence and dishonesty on display.t3chimannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-29272787219478859042012-05-07T12:59:10.692-04:002012-05-07T12:59:10.692-04:00Academics usually mind their own business, and don...Academics usually mind their own business, and don't get involved with public controversies. Writing letters to the editor or a column in the mainstream media doesn't contribute to your CV, and may get you branded with the awful sobriquet of "popularizer." Academics are usually happy to be quoted in the media, but what they get to say is then determined by the reporter and her editor, which can be a turn off.hardindrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05275899305949454964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-3767767319780188342012-05-07T11:34:08.379-04:002012-05-07T11:34:08.379-04:00"But where have the other stars been?" -..."But where have the other stars been?" - b. somerby <br /><br />ive often wondered about that myself. perhaps they are raising their hands, but the corporate media wont call on them? or, refective of the populace generally, they just dont care enough? or, they are of a culture which sees it as unseemly to speak out? ...rawnoreply@blogger.com