Re: In defence of Krugman and against Alexander Cockburn: choice of targets

[Martin Hart-Landsberg <marty@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the problem with the Krugman phenomenon is not so much Krugman
but the broader progressive movement.  Because Krugman has written
columns critical of the Bush administration he gets raised to the
status of intellectual leader of the progressive movement--by
progresives.  Krugman came through on a book tour to my city and many
progressives promoted his talk as if he were one of them.  The danger
comes of course because he is not advancing any kind of radical vision
of change.  By giving him legitimacy it ends up confusing people who
then continue to read his work and find out he is for the FTAA and free
trade etc.  There was a similar problem with the way the left treated
Stiglitz.

It is great to have mainstream economists raise critical points about
policy, but we need to be clear that these criticisms are limited and
that these economists do not share our broader vision or understanding.
Said differently the problem is largely rooted in the lack of political
clarity in our movement.  Given that problem it is not so bad to every
once in a while highlight the political limitations of these mainstream
critics of mainstream economics.

Marty Hart-Landsberg