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

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>]

> 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

The "broader progressive movement" is lacking in political clarity
when it comes to the FTAA and free trade, because it is a very
politically mixed bag, a dominant component of which in the USA has
been protectionist officials of organized labor.  If Krugman is not
advancing any kind of radical vision of change, neither are
"anti-globalization" activists and advocates of industrial policy and
strategic trade in the USA, whom Krugman criticizes.
--
Yoshie

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