Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Anarchist anthropologist David Graeber explains why we needn't worry about deficit spending in the New York Daily News. It's all wrong to imagine that governments, like households, must be concerned by debt, he argues. Why? Five reasons:
1. Households can't levy taxes.
2. When households owe money, they owe it to other people. The U.S. debt is owed mainly to ourselves.
3. When households owe money to other people, they can't just print it. The government can.
4. When someone in your household writes a check, the recipient tends to cash it. Not so when the U.S. sells Treasury bonds to banks in Brazil or China.
5. If a household doesn't pay its debts, creditors can take them to court or call the cops. Internationally, we are the cops.
Feel reassured now?
- Comment (43)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments :
May '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
This isn't anarchist, it is thuggist. Number 5 especially.
Oct '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Such arguments are persuasive until they are not.
Or, to put it another way, a government's ability to function is partially dependent upon the perception that it can continue to function. The above are arguments offered by those who take the fact of government function as conclusive proof of continuing ability to function. Others may not be so readily impressed.
Edited on Apr 24, 2011 at 5:58amMay '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
See, nothing to worry about! Spend on, bureaucracy!
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
It would help immensely if Mr. Graeber could distinguish between a country and a game of Monopoly.
Jul '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
The guy is messed up...
"David Rolfe Graeber is an American anthropologist and anarchist who currently holds the position of Reader in Social Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London [1] He was an associate professor of anthropology at Yale University, although Yale controversially declined to rehire him, and his term there ended in June 2007. Graeber has a history of social and political activism, including his role in protests against the World Economic Forum in New York City (2002) and membership in the labor union Industrial Workers of the World. His father, Kenneth Graeber, participated in the Spanish Revolution in Barcelona and fought in the Spanish Civil War and his mother, then Ruth Rubinstein, was part of the original cast of the 1930s labor stage review Pins & Needles, performed entirely by garment workers. Graeber's father ultimately found work as a plate stripper and Graeber has sometimes suggested his working class upbringing might have played at least as large a role in the problems he later encountered in academic life as his political activities."
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Okan Altiparmak: The guy is messed up...
"David Rolfe Graeber is an American anthropologist and anarchist who currently holds the position of Reader in Social Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London [1] He was an associate professor of anthropology at Yale University, although Yale controversially declined to rehire him, and his term there ended in June 2007. Graeber has a history of social and political activism, including his role in protests against the World Economic Forum in New York City (2002) and membership in the labor union Industrial Workers of the World. His father, Kenneth Graeber, participated in the Spanish Revolution in Barcelona and fought in the Spanish Civil War and his mother, then Ruth Rubinstein, was part of the original cast of the 1930s labor stage review Pins & Needles, performed entirely by garment workers. Graeber's father ultimately found work as a plate stripper and Graeber has sometimes suggested his working class upbringing might have played at least as large a role in the problems he later encountered in academic life as his political activities." · Apr 24 at 6:18am
In sum, a red-diaper baby who declines to grow up.
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Follow the link embedded in his name to get a sense of just how messed up, Okan.
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
There is a problem, which Dr. Graeber resolutely ignores. At some point, if one follows his advice, no one will buy any American treasury bonds, and no one will accept American dollars in payment for anything -- and, then, the entire Ponzi scheme will collapse. I would bet that Dr. Graeber is aware of this fact. For an anarchist, it is a consummation devoutly to be wished.
May '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Oh, and while he may be technically correct on most of his items, what in Sam Hill does that have to do with the govt living within its means?
His approach is about as ignorant as the following quote from an Obama supporter on the debt:
“That’s an absolute shame. And I don’t think we need to borrow any money. We print the money. So why do we need to borrow the money? Just print some more!”
Feb '11
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
When Graeber is not using the social conditioning argument how does he explain what else might have played a "role in the problems he later encountered in academic life"?
Edited on Apr 24, 2011 at 6:30amJun '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
I don't tweet so I may get this wrong, but my response to this guy's suggestions was to LMAO.
May '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Would this have been written if the national debt was a political problem for a Republican President?
Jun '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Charles Allen: Oh, and while he may be technically correct on most of his items, what in Sam Hill does that have to do with the govt living within its means?
His approach is about as ignorant as the following quote from an Obama supporter on the debt:
“That’s an absolute shame. And I don’t think we need to borrow any money. We print the money. So why do we need to borrow the money? Just print some more!” · Apr 24 at 6:27am
Money supply (M1) has grown by roughly 20% since Obama took office see my post here.
Apr '11
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Go read the comments at the Daily News. You'll feel better about the common sense of Americans, Daily News commentors or both. Most of them strongly disagreed with Graeber and expressed a strong sense that he is an idiot.
Jun '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
I have to reduce things to simple arguments: Is he saying (1) we're so big we can confiscate at will (from Ameican citizens and even from other sovereign countries) and (2) there will no negative consequences from doing so? So, don't worry, be happy.
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
Can anyone find a more charitable way to read his argument?
Sep '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
This is essentially the same argument made by Keynesian economists such as Paul Krugman and Brad DeLong so one need not be an anarchist anthropologist to be this confused. We all need food to live and we haven't got diabetes or heart disease yet so lets keep eating. Why worry.
Aug '10
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
When households owe money, they owe it to other people. The U.S. debt is owed mainly to ourselves.
This is an amazing insight, and another reason not to worry about the debt:
When households make payments, they pay other people. U.S. entitlements are just money that we pay ourselves.
So I guess there are no consequences if we just stop paying them. Whoosh! Problem solved. Wow, what was all the trouble about?
I think this is called a category error.
Edited on Apr 24, 2011 at 8:37amApr '11
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
There's a Weimar Mack the Knife quality to this type of argument. Don't worry; be happy. Love the shark; embrace the knife. Bad is good; enjoy it!
Jan '11
Re: Why Anarchist Anthropologists Shouldn't Make Economic Policy
It would be regrettable if we confuse physical and cultural anthropology, one with the other; the two disciplines are philosophically quite different. The former is based on scientific, metrical analyses, the latter on sociological suppositions of choice, and statistical sculpturing.
In a nutshell, physical anthropologists search for truths and reject hypotheses when evidence proves them to be false. Cultural anthropologists search for evidence to support their hypotheses, and reject any that proves them false.
It's so easy to declare something to be true if one is not particular about empirical evidence. Can't blame them, though; after all, they're making a living and having fun at it. It's the people who swallow their pap that are the real problem.
Edited on Apr 24, 2011 at 9:00am