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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rambi who wrote (110664)	5/5/2009 10:39:08 AM
From: Dale Baker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541465

The inevitable sarcasm and general insults about the fact that I "come from" the Center thread are unpleasant. Who needs it. My general impression is that the ardent wingers are sitting in their clubhouses, combing through all the blogs that match their POV and sneering angrily at everyone outside. I understand where that comes from after being rudely and completely dislodged from power, but what does it accomplish apart from sitting around the clubhouse entertaining one another? Still no viable political strategy or leader to get them back in the hunt. And hardly anyone there seems to mind from the little I have read.

To: Rambi who wrote (110664)	5/5/2009 1:19:49 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 541465

WIth that in mind however, Krugman still is light education years ahead of probably everyone on SI in his understanding of economic principle That really isn't very meaningful in the context of discussions of his ideas. There are many other people who are also light years ahead of probably everyone on SI in terms of education and understanding of economic principles, who come up with very different ideas. Pointing out what an expert says doesn't resolve the issue esp. when experts disagree. Particularly (but not only) in the "soft sciences" like economics, or when dealing with political issues. In such cases I find arguments from authority basically worthless. Arguments from the person who might be seen as an authority might be worthwhile, but that's because your presenting the knowledge, understanding and logic of the authority, rather than just their authority. The actual facts and logic and much more important than "X is an expert and he says Y". That has nothing to do with disdaining his achievements. Its not putting down the achievements, just stating that achievements don't settle political or even economic issues. The achievements and reputation do matter, but many to get past a filter for what your going to pay attention to. Arguments and fact come from all sorts of sources, and no one has time to devote to all of them. Something isn't right just because it comes from a source with a good reputation or prestigious achievements, but its more likely to be worth your while to at least consider.

To: Rambi who wrote (110664)	5/5/2009 1:37:35 PM
From: Steve Lokness	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 541465

WIth that in mind however, Krugman still is light education years ahead of probably everyone on SI in his understanding of economic principles The magnitude that Krugman proposes so much more than has ever been attempted in the entire history of our planet that it should give us pause. If we follow Krugman and he is wrong - our economy is gone. You might be willing to take that chance, I'm not. I would rather follow those who warned us of the mess coming our way if we didn't change and they were smack on. Why should they be ignored now and Krugman embraced?