I do hope you don’t think I’m a wacko for the headline today. (there are so many other reasons that you might use that label though).
It’s just time I share a few thoughts on the futility of paying them much heed.
Here’s a list of a few of the misconceptions we get listening to economists
- The recession is bad, worse, staring, over (all their numbers lag)
- There is a record number of unemployed (many more employed that a few decades back)
- what the President says will affect the economy (only if you are a day trader)
Wacko enough for you? I’m just getting started.
OK.. to be fair, I don’t have enough data on any of the above to claim that I know any better than and economist In my defense, I don’t make a living telling you I do.
Here’s a wonderful film about Marilyn Waring, a woman who chose not to assume that the economist knew what they were talking about. Not some wacko.. a very nice lady.
Love this quote:
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.
George Bernard Shaw
Shaw would have go along fine with the boys over a Firesign Theatre where my favorite album title comes from
“Everything You Know Is Wrong”
Its after midnight. This movie is over an hour and a half. I'll have to come back. Why can't you just post sound bites???
I'll be back to watch the whole thing.
Sound bite “great movie, worth the time to watch it”
This movie has quite disturbed me. (Yes, I came back to watch the whole thing.) It presents an endemic problem that has epic scope and near universal consequences. It presents the problem in a compelling way. But with all the battles that Ms. Waring has fought, as committed as she is and was, besides saving a mountain (not a small accomplishment) and a community, what has she been able to accomplish?
I suppose the small bites are the ones that ultimately make the difference and I suppose I am just an impatient man who doesn't like waiting for the whole pie to be consumed. I'm an eat-it-whole type fellow.
The notion of growth only being measured by economic gain, not by the cost of that gain, is an eye opener. I hadn't thought of that, mostly because I never really considered the whole notion of what GDP really meant.
My first reaction was, what can I do? But I have always hated that question because it comes from helplessness and I am not helpless. What I can do now, I think, is to continue to be educated as the opportunity arises to be educated and to question the conclusions of the “experts” (which I do anyway, just on principle) then let that lead me to more powerful choices.
I like the fish one better. It made me think, but it made me very happy. This one, so far, has made me sad. This, too, shall pass.
How about a little reframing of this message? I found a lot of hope in Waring's mission. We don't have to accept what tradition hands us and the first step to change is to understand that you can 🙂
You are right, of course. As I was writing it, I was attempting to reframe it for myself, to some small degree of success. I have been thinking about this all night and see that the first step (to paraphrase Bill W) is acknowledging the issue.
Thanks.