#179: Who's oblivious?

KRUGMAN TRUTH SQUAD

The obvious question to ask Paul Krugman after reading The Oblivious Right (04/25/05) is: who's oblivious? He trots out all of his favorite polls and think-tank research to show how bad things are with the U.S. economy. Only the corporate interests are benefiting, says he. But when it comes to the uncomfortable fact that President Bush just won re-election six months ago with expanded majorities in both legislative branches, his only explanation is that Bush exploited the Iraqi war. How lame! Elitists always claim to be for the little guys, but then blame them for being duped when they lose at the polls.

We suggest a better test of how well the economy is doing. Krugman should go to the shopping mall next Saturday morning and see if he can find a parking place within 200 yards of Home Depot. Must be all those CEOs taking up the spaces. Or he should try to rent a beach house this summer within 6 blocks of the water. He'd find he waited too long and those "corporate interest" beat him to it.

There's one howler:

"Democracy Corps, the Democratic pollsters, say that there is a "crisis of confidence in the Republican direction for the country." As they're careful to point out, this won't necessarily translate into a surge of support for Democrats."

Well, why the heck not? Are they going to vote Green?

[The Truth Squad is a group of economists who have long marveled at the writings of Paul Krugman. The Squad Reports are synopses of their discussions. ]