Stealing the Common Good

Paul Krugman

"Elections determine who has the power, not who has the truth"

You Can't argue with the truth of this statement, but this presupposes that there is only one truth: the truth. We all like to believe in a world of absolutes where such a thing exists, yet we delve into the media, innocently believing that we will be enlightened with it, but are hoodwinked not believing in myths.

"A better, more democratic answer would be to seek a better-informed electorate. One really striking thing about the British economic debate is the contrast between what passes for economic analysis in the news media — even in high-end newspapers and on elite-oriented TV shows — and the consensus of professional economists. News reports often portray recent growth as a vindication of austerity policies, but surveys of economists find only a small minority agreeing with that assertion. Claims that budget deficits are the most important issue facing Britain are made as if they were simple assertions of fact, when they are actually contentious, if not foolish."

Public education is a good topic. Conservative political elites who have gained power through devious means such as these are notorious for having as one of their core beliefs, the debasement of public education to produce a more malleable electorate, more easily fooled into electing incompetent assholes who are good for nothing but stealing the common good.

Briefly reported in the media this week was an Australian professor of economics displayed on tv saying words to the effect that the only good tax reform would be an increase or expansion of the GET.

This is so breathtakingly ignorant it beggars belief, yet it stemmed from the mouth of a teacher of economics at the highest level.

That is all for now. Read this article. It is a good one.