President of Estonia versus Paul Krugman
I relished this.
The president of Estonia chewed out Paul Krugman on Wednesday, using Twitter to call the Nobel Prize-winning economist "smug, overbearing & patronizing," in response to a short post on Estonia's economic recovery.
Krugman's 67-word entry, entitled "Estonian Rhapsody," questioned the merits of using Estonia as a "poster child for austerity defenders." He included a chart that, in his words, showed "significant but still incomplete recovery" after a deep economic slump.
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves responded to Krugman in a series of outraged tweets, taking offense to Krugman's tone and writing that Krugman didn't know what he was talking about.
"We're just dumb & silly East Europeans. Unenlightened. Someday we too will understand," he tweeted. "Guess a Nobel in trade means you can pontificate on fiscal matters & declare my country a "wasteland". Must be a Princeton vs Columbia thing."
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Mar '11
Re: President of Estonia versus Paul Krugman
Krugman was born too late. He missed his calling as a Soviet central planner. Krugman has said that he became an economist after reading Asimov's books with "psychohistorians" that could predict trends, and thus, plan the future and shape the world. He saw economists of the Keynesian school as the nearest equivalent in real life, so that's what he became. Krugman's deepest impulse is that of the domineering central planner, playing god and moving all the chess pieces in a dance to produce the world that he wants, and if the rest of us don't agree with this anti-liberty impulse, well, too bad. He's smarter than us, and we will obey. Because if we dont, then... well, he'll call us names in the New York Times.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 6:17pmApr '12
Re: President of Estonia versus Paul Krugman
We are all Estonians now!
Apr '11
Re: President of Estonia versus Paul Krugman
Krugman is to me the epitome of those that insist disagreement with their positions is prima facie evidence of one's ignorance and unsophistication. He substitutes ego for argument. I would take exception with Ilves tone were I unaware of what an intellectual fraud Krugman is.
Apr '12
Re: President of Estonia versus Paul Krugman
I forget who said this, but it's (unfortunately) true: "Most people don't read any economists. Those who do only read one, and that one is Paul Krugman." No wonder there is so much confusion in the world.
Oct '10
Re: President of Estonia versus Paul Krugman
He also ignores geopolitics, and its effects on fiscal policy around the world. If the Chinese are quietly telling us behind the scenes that they won't fund a new massive stimulus (which I suspect they are), it won't happen. That's what it means to have an economy dependent on debt: all the quick fixes require more debt and willing creditors.
Apr '12
Re: President of Estonia versus Paul Krugman
The president of Estonia tweeting his version of economic reality demonstrates the braveness if this leader. The article he wrote shocked me with its sheer honesty and should be put up as a main feed post for all to read. What he writes is the essence of capitalism and conservatism. He also gives controlled voice to the rage at silly, spoilt Ivey educated pontificators who casually hang posters of Che or Marx or Mao on their dorm wall with no comprehension of human lives changed by grand theories forced on others. Ilves gives voice to many unsayables. His line it must be a Princeton vs Columbia thing is just dripping with exquisite irony.