Krugman's Cockroaches

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

In the wake of the Dem victory of November, Paul Krugman isn't merely doing a victory dance. He reminds me more of one of those ardent football fans up in the stands after his team scores the winning touchdown. Stripped to the waist, painted in team colors, getting up in the face of an opposing fan to taunt "na-na-na-na, goodbye" followed by a rousing chorus of "start the bus."

In his pay-per-view opus of this morning, "A Failed Revolution," Krugman proclaims that not merely has the Republican revolution of 1994 failed, but that it "was always based on a lie."

Just what is that lie? According to Krugman it was the belief expressed by Dick Armey at the time that: "most government programs don’t do anything 'to help American families with the needs of everyday life . . . and very few American families would notice their disappearance."

And how does Krugman prove that Armey was lying? By noting that "more than a few families would notice the disappearance of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid." No doubt. There's only one problem. Republicans never called for the abolition of any of those programs. So who's lying now?

After hurling some more invective Republicans' way - "utter failure," "failed revolutionary" movement, "web of corruption," "adversaries . . . harassed with smear campaigns and witch hunts," Krugman closes with this charming little analogy:

"Is that the end for the radical right? Probably not. As a long-suffering civil servant once told me, bad policy ideas are like cockroaches: you can flush them down the toilet, but they keep coming back."

Sore winner.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[1rudeboy]

We miss you, Willie. Come back and tell us why Krugman's a genius.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Krugman-cockroach ping to Today show list.

[Brilliant]

"more than a few families would notice the disappearance of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid."


That's exactly right, Paul, and the WILL NOTICE.

It's going to be interesting to see the Dems breach the social security promis after claiming that there is no crisis, and no need for the GOP to revamp the program.

[Long Island Pete]

I would love to smack him just for my mental health.

[mighty_righty]

Are you talking about ol'Willie 'the sky is always falling' Green?

YEAH...I too miss ol'Willie's half-full posts.

[maryz]

As a long-suffering civil servant once told me, bad policy ideas are like cockroaches: you can flush them down the toilet, but they keep coming back

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a "long-suffering civil servant" have a great deal more experience with policy ideas of the left than of the right?

BTW, would this be former Enron advisor Paul Krugman? ;-)

(Almost as ubiquitous as "It's Bush's fault," but I couldn't resist!)

[Sooth2222]

"more than a few families would notice the disappearance of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid."

Most families - the vast majority of families - wouldn't notice the disappearance of Medicaid, and that's a fact. Many might notice the disappearance of Social Security and Medicare, but that's not the majority of government programs.

I don't see how Princeton University manages to keep its reputation inact when it hires its faculty straight out of the looney bin.

[MurryMom]

Only the neocons presently ruling Washington are capable of believing the lies about forged Niger uranium documents, aluminum tubes allegedly intended for use as uranium hexafluoride centrifuges even though other essential centrifuge parts were missing and the uranium did not exist other than in the focrged Niger documents, the fallacy of a need for SS reform even though it is now running a surplus greater than $172 billion yearly and rising, the short-lived story that Mark Foley was a Democrat (squelched as soon as national media became involved), scurillous allegations by Republicans that elected Democrats were somehow involved in the Abramoff criminal matters, and the idea that victory in Iraq can be achieved by a surge in troop strength (even the term "victory" seems to have a have an unstable definition).

Republicans don't deny they are involved in efforts to suppress minority votes, but they still cling to the false belief that voter fraud would skyrocket without their vote suppression efforts. Republicans then wonder why minority votes for Democratic candidates have approached 90% in recent elections.

Krugman's story is supported by the historical record. It's a shame he doesn't have a full page every day to report all of the lies, deceptions, and bigotry fostered by Bush and numerous others in his administration. I expect that events of the coming months will bring out Krugman's points in spades.

[Pharmboy]

He is a socialist down to his marrow, as is essentially everyone else on that miserable rag. What separates him from the others is a mean streak a mile wide.

[samtheman]

Let's line up the predictions of Krugman, along with the dates he made those predictions, and go down the list one-by-one and see how he's doing.

[randita]

IBTZ

[Jonah Hex]

Nah, the mods let MM hang around as an example...

[teeman8r]

welcome to FR and your views are welcome, what a breath of fresh air, take it now for it is thinking like yours that will get you a nice burkha in basic black and your tongue cut out by the islamofascists that you cannot see as the enemy that needs to be dealt with. the 'neocons' know the price of submission to islam, our way of life and individual expression will be doomed, for some here it has already been squashed.

teeman8r

[metesky]

Good girl, MM, good girl. Here's some attention...

[PLMerite]

When is DU going to return the favor?

[RayStacy]

"And how does Krugman prove that Armey was lying? By noting that "more than a few families would notice the disappearance of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid." No doubt. There's only one problem. Republicans never called for the abolition of any of those programs"

And THAT is the problem. And Krugman is 100% correct -- abolish those programs and I'd notice right fast. I'd have SO much more money in my pocket.

[listenhillary]

http://www.amazon.com/Economics-Paul-Krugman/dp/1572591501/sr=8-5/qid=1167400592/ref=pd_bbs_5/104-5649420-4669502?ie=UTF8&s=books

Krugman should practice what he preaches and sell his economics textbook for $10 so the little people going to college can afford it.
$140 for a textbook?

[mak5]

Other than the Iraqi officials who were in Africa trying to get uranium ore, other than the Iraqi documents detailing attempts to get uranium ore, other than the fact that Abramoff did pay for trips for Democratic congressmen Clyburn and Franklin, other than his ties to Harry Reid, who did favors for his clients, what is there not to believe?

How about the three truckloads of VX and Sarin gas being taken from Syria into Jordan? Hint: Syria doesn't produce them...but Iraq did, and had 14 months before the invasion in which we watched trucks rolling into Syria and the Bekaa valley. Iraqi general Sadr says that in addition to that, 57 gutted 747's flew WMDs into Syria near the Bekaa valley.

Krugman hasn't been right yet. But I am as of yet unaware of any lie from the administration.

[Mo1]

the fallacy of a need for SS reform even though it is now running a surplus greater than $172 billion yearly

Ummmm .. even Obama in his new book admits SS is in trouble