Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Last week, the excitable Paul Krugman gave me a good laugh when he went all apoplectic on Britain. His liberal conscience was livid over David Cameron's austerity policies for that country.
But his Sisyphean deathmatch against reality, as amusing as it is to watch, has left me wondering if he's got more than a few screws loose. Take his column today. In the world that Krugman lives in, Obama is as conservative as the Republicans in Congress--the same Republicans who, as Krugman states later in the piece, will shut down government in the next two years.
Is Krugman delusional?
Exhibit A:
If Democrats do as badly as expected in next week’s elections, pundits will rush to interpret the results as a referendum on ideology. President Obama moved too far to the left, most will say, even though his actual program — a health care plan very similar to past Republican proposals, a fiscal stimulus that consisted mainly of tax cuts, help for the unemployed and aid to hard-pressed states — was more conservative than his election platform.
Exhibit B:
A few commentators will point out, with much more justice, that Mr. Obama never made a full-throated case for progressive policies, that he consistently stepped on his own message, that he was so worried about making bankers nervous that he ended up ceding populist anger to the right....The real story of this election, then, is that of an economic policy that failed to deliver. Why? Because it was greatly inadequate to the task.
Exhibit C:
The only question is whether we’ll have political chaos as well, with Republicans’ shutting down the government at some point over the next two years. And the odds are that we will.
If you're looking for evidence to back up these hyperbolic claims, you won't find it. That's because in addition to being an ideological partisan, Paul Krugman may actually be loco. What else could explain his bombastic assault on the truth?
UPDATE, from across the pond: "Will someone please shut Krugman up?"
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Aug '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed. :
But his Sisyphean deathmatch against reality, as amusing as it is to watch, has left me wondering if he's got more than a few screws loose.
I know it's only Monday morning, but I nominate "Sisyphean deathmatch" for Word Picture of the Week.
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Songwriter
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed. :
But his Sisyphean deathmatch against reality, as amusing as it is to watch, has left me wondering if he's got more than a few screws loose.
I know it's only Monday morning, but I nominate "Sisyphean deathmatch" for Word Picture of the Week. · Oct 25 at 6:49am
Songwriter, in some weird way, I think Krugman is my muse--or at least, one of my muses. Is that creepy? After I read his columns, the words just flow. That's not to say that they make sense, however!
Edited on Oct 25, 2010 at 6:59amJul '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
I think there is much to suggest that C is a distinct possibility.
Democrats love to relive the past, and they will see opportunity to seize momentum from Republicans via the Government Shutdown, as they did under clinton.
They will be missing the Bob Let's Make A Deal Dole leadership necessary for the Scenerio to play out properly however. With no senate deal pulling the rug out from under the house, and enabling the media to contrast the "Extremists" in the House to the Reasonable Republicans in the Senate Obama may come off looking like the Obstinant one.
Aug '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
No question in my mind, Paul Krugman has Delusional Cognitive Disconnect, the raging mental disorder of our times.
While large majorities of people look at data that prove Nobel Prize winner Milton Freedman's, Reagan's, and Thatcher's economic policies created wealth wherever they're applied; Krugman denies this utterly, and promotes the opposite punitive tax, massive regulation, and dominant government schemes which are now demonstrably failing worldwide.
The mystery is why Keynesian Economics - as it is known - still enjoys credibility and garners Nobel Prizes such as Krugman's. This delusion is like a virus of the mind that can't be destroyed.
How is it that groups of people can look at an identical image and come away with polar opposite ideas of what the image is and what it means?
It's the equivalent of anorexia, where women (who are for some reason vulnerable) see themselves in the mirror as fat, even when they're starving.
http://photobucket.com/images/anorexia/
Delusional cognitive disconnect is all that explains Bush Derangement Syndrome, Obama Mania, and Clinton Hysteria. It's rather funny, but the consequences are deadly serious.
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
All I could think was how must it be taking a class from this guy. God forbid you should even mention Milton Friedman and it's an instant F.
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
How very peculiar that Krugman reaches back to the Snowden budget of 1931 but does not once mention Margaret Thatcher.
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Denise, you sent me on an online search of a Paul Krugman class syllabus--I couldn't find anything. But what a goldmine that would be.
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Thatcher is an inconvenient truth for Krugman. Which brings me back to River's hypothesis. Does Krugman come by his delusions honestly (via a "cognitive disconnect"--aka insanity), or is he intellectually dishonest?
Sep '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
I have not read any of Krugman’s economic works, but do enjoy his column’s occasionally and find him far from delusional. Since the early 80’s we have witnessed a disinflation trend. Since 2000 the velocity of money has been decreasing despite the Bush’s tax cuts, Bush’s stimulus, the bail out, O’s stimulus, the Fed’s 3T QE, and 7+T of federal government loan guarantee’s. If not reversed deflation is on the way. Krugman, I believe, grasps this and while I do not agree with his solutions at least he is not whistling past the graveyard as many others are.
Jul '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
Does Krugman come by his delusions honestly (via a "cognitive disconnect"--aka insanity), or is he intellectually dishonest? · Oct 25 at 8:08am
Steve Spruiell had a pretty interesting look at Krugman's motivations.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/249942/paul-krugman-professor-ahab-stephen-spruiell
May '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Why do we even care what any of these three think?
May '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Fixing the link. The three wonder boys are here.
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
EJ, that is hilarious! The look on Krugman's face. Priceless. That's about as cheery as I've ever seen him.
Oct '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
And by "peculiar," you mean "utterly predictable."
Oct '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
Does Krugman come by his delusions honestly (via a "cognitive disconnect"--aka insanity), or is he intellectually dishonest? · Oct 25 at 8:08am
Given that Krugman thinks that Schumpeter is one of the founding fathers of Austrian economics, I'm going to go with honest delusion. In my opinion, that just makes him even more dangerous than would otherwise be the case: it's not the liars, cheats, and thieves you have to worry about in political economy; it's the True Believers™.
May '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.: Paul Krugman may actually be loco.
"May"? Actually, he is probably quite rational. His wife, who gives him all of the instructions regarding his op-eds and edits them, is more of a lefty than he is. And if you want to keep peace in your life, you don't cross your bride if she is a lefty.
May '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
EJ, that is hilarious! The look on Krugman's face. Priceless. That's about as cheery as I've ever seen him. · Oct 25 at 9:02am
In that photo Krugman had just been informed that the United States government was spending all of the money. Not a dollar figure. All of it.
Aug '10
Re: Paul Krugman: The Delusional Columnist
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
Songwriter
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed. :
But his Sisyphean deathmatch against reality, as amusing as it is to watch, has left me wondering if he's got more than a few screws loose.
I know it's only Monday morning, but I nominate "Sisyphean deathmatch" for Word Picture of the Week. · Oct 25 at 6:49am
Songwriter, in some weird way, I think Krugman is my muse--or at least, one of my muses. Is that creepy? After I read his columns, the words just flow. That's not to say that they make sense, however! · Oct 25 at 6:58am
Edited on Oct 25 at 06:59 am
When one is in the creating business - whether it's words or musical notes on a page - inspiration is always welcome. And I suppose even creepy inspiration from the likes of Krugman is still inspiration. :) So take it where ever it comes from.
Hey - I wonder if Krugman gets all inspired from his own Nemesis - whomever that may be?