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

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marty's note and many others are right on target.  Krugman does not
pretend to be a lefty.  During the Clinton years, people attacked him
here, and for good reason.  Barkeley Rosser criticized his professional
behavior -- quasi-plagiarism.

Krugman attacks anyone who disagrees with him, on the left or the right.
Attacking the left did not distinguish him from the mass of paid hacks.
Now, he can distinguish himself by knocking Bush, since so few have had
the courage to do so.  Who knows, someday he may think of himself as a
part of the left.

Stiglitz seems a bit different.  He is much more of a pure academic who
was offended by the political hacks -- Doug would know better than I, but
this is my impression.  I also do not have the impression that he is
someone who craves attention, although he does not shy away from it.

On Fri, Oct 31, 2003 at 07:11:35AM -0800, Martin Hart-Landsberg wrote:
> 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

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx