Krugman: Gratifying signs of desperation from the 'austerity' crowd

[pampango]

Gratifying Signs of Desperation

On both sides of the Atlantic, the austerians seem to be freaking out. And that has to be good news, an indication that they realize, at some level, that they’re losing the debate.

First up, the sad story of Joe Scarborough, whose response to my anti-austerian appearance on his show has been a bizarre campaign to convince the world that absolutely nobody of consequence shares my views. Why is this bizarre? Because while I could be wrong about macroeconomics (although I’m not), it’s just not true, provably not true, that I’m alone in arguing that the current and near-future deficit aren’t problems. (Among others, there’s this guy you may have heard of).

Meanwhile, Olli Rehn of the European Commission, a firm advocate of austerity, responds to the disastrous economic news in Europe, which has confirmed the warnings of austerity critics and led to a widespread reassessment of fiscal multipliers; it seems that they are large in a liquidity trap, just as some of us predicted. Rehn’s answer? We need to stop putting out these economic studies, because they’re undermining confidence in austerity!

As I said, these signs of desperation are gratifying. Unfortunately, these people have already done immense damage, and still retain the power to do a lot more.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/gratifying-signs-of-desperation/

[chervilant]

1. We need a Socratic approach

to demystifying matters economic. We are getting reamed by the corporate megalomaniacs who've usurped our media, our politics and our global economy. As long as they get theirs...

[Redfairen]

2. No, we need a tax cut

[chervilant]

3. And

MORE trickle down!

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

5. And Baby Jaysuz...

[deminks]

4. Morning Jerk spent the entire week taking offense at the "ignorance caucus" column.

He even pulled out the 'liberal bloggers in their pj's eating cheetos' tired old rant. Then he pulled out all the third way cronies who are paid to agree with him saying we must destroy medicare and social security in order to save them. (actually, wall street wants the money through privatization).

It was sad. Funny, but sad.

Morning Jerk is all about prosperity for them, austerity for the rest of us.

[CTyankee]

6. I've already written to Joe saying i don't believe him.

How can you say "I'm a small government conservative" on the one hand and then say "I want to cut Medicare to SAVE Medicare on the other"????

Somebody's lyin...

[quaker bill]

8. Don't wear PJ or eat cheetos.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. I love Paul Krugman.

((((((crush)))))

Randi Rhodes has a serious crush on him.

[CTyankee]

10. don't we ALL? There are also plenty of "mancrushes" on Paul, too...some in my family and

with our friends here in liberal community...

[Cowpunk]

9. Stop killing the confidence fairies!

...by pointing out they don't exist.

Krugman, you are a bad, bad man.