Comments on: Economic arrogance on the left

By: Richard Aubrey

Richard Aubrey — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 01:05:58 +0000

One of the reasons most people speak with less than absolute certainty is the possibility that they might be wrong. Ben Franklin counseled that we should begin assertions with something like, “It seems to me….” or “The way things look now….” and then make the statement. It’s more likely to be accepted, less likely to annoy others, and contains less crow if you’re wrong.
One reason for speaking with absolute certainty is being certain that you’re absolutely right. Absolutely certain.
Or, you don’t care what happens if you’re wrong.

By: Baklava

Baklava — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:18:22 +0000

There is only one thing that curls my toes. 🙂

By: John

John — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:18:19 +0000

“Just focus on that phrase “we know perfectly well how to prevent it.” The mind-boggling, toe-curling arrogance it expresses, the unbounded faith in the human understanding of exceedingly complex systems and human ability to intervene effectively, and the idea that failure to do so is a combination of failure of will and the evil impulse, is unapologetic and monumental arrogance of the classic leftist variety. The Vision of the Anointed in its purest form.”

That sums up the left’s position on everything.

By: Wandriaan

Wandriaan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:16:20 +0000

Intellectual arrogance is the most dangerous form of arrogance, because it is the most impenetrable by argument. Therefore intellectual humility-which is a daily and constant effort- is the most important of the virtues.
To me this is deepest meaning of the biblical aphorism: ‘All wisdom begins with the fear of God’.
God is Ultimate Truth, wisdom begins with the conversion from arrogance towards the Truth to humility towards the Truth.
I still remember my conversion when I was 22 from arrogant atheist Leftism, first to theism, and then to Christianity. The most difficult part was keeping my mouth shut on things I had no clear and founded knowledge on. And more than thirty years later I still struggle with it.
I also remember how I sometimes ‘regretted’ my conversion: arrogant leftism was so much more easy to do. But the regrets were short lived. By just remembering how corrupting this leftist ‘shooting my mouth of’ had been to my soul.
Intellectual arrogance is by the way to be found everywhere, not just on the Left. It is also on the Right, in the churches, synagogues, it is everywhere. I sometimes think the main purpose of a human life is to overcome it- a lifelong struggle.

By: T

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:02:13 +0000

Gringo,

Excellent refernce. Thank you!

By: Richard Aubrey

Richard Aubrey — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:36:26 +0000

Supposing Drum&Co’s view of “fixing” the economy “perfectly well” is substantially and dangerously different from what one would ordinarily expect when the discussion is about “fixing” the American economy.
And his comment is as positive as it is because, potentially, some are fooled by absolute confidence.

By: Gringo

Gringo — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:25:57 +0000

Funny thing: my comment @ 9:14 p.m. Friday was initially eaten by spam-o-meter- with only one link ( as a previous comment with only one link had been eaten). Neo later liberated it last night.

When I looked at the comments this morning, my comment @ 9:14 p.m Friday was no longer there- spam-o-meter in action again. Which is odd, as Neo had previously liberated the comment. Spam-o-meter overriding blog owner?

Right after I posted my comment @ 11:11 a.m., my comment @ 9:14 p.m. Friday shows up as “awaiting moderation.” Which is even odder.

My comment on Saturday morning is better written, so no need to liberate my Friday night comment.

Conclusion: embedded links, even if there is only one link, have a higher chance of not flying by the spam-o-meter, compared with a naked link.

By: Gringo

Gringo — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:11:45 +0000

neo-neocon Says:
August 19th, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Gringo: I liberated your comment from the spam folder.

It was a liberation of short duration, as the comment no longer shows. When a comment with only one link gets spammed, there is a problem with the spam-o-meter. I will try it with a naked link.

Kevin Drum:
“Watching the world slide slowly back into recession without a fight, even though we know perfectly well how to prevent it, is just depressing beyond words. ”

The best reply to those who believe that “we know perfectly well how to prevent it,” is to bring up the graph that the all-knowing Democrats circulated in support of passing the Stimulus Package.

It predicted what unemployment would be with passage of the Stimulus Package, compared to what unemployment would be without passage of the Stimulus Package.

For example, it predicted that with the passage of the Stimulus Package, unemployment by Q3 in 2009 would be just under 8%. Actual unemployment by Q3 2009 was about 9.5%, and rising.

That shows that the “experts” don’t know their radius from their coccyx, anatomically speaking. Mr. Drum, if the “experts” were dead wrong on their unemployment predictions with passage of the Stimulus Package, why should be believe your claim that “we know perfectly well how to prevent it (a recession).”

Once fooled, shame on you. Twice fooled, shame on me.

Let’s see if THIS comment gets by the spam-o-meter.

http://www.qando.net/?p=10933

By: SteveH

SteveH — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:02:42 +0000

“”Isn’t it in the end a matter of what works and what does not? How many examples of failed ‘leftist economics’ do we need to know the answer?””
Parker

Given a choice, a liberal will take a feel good failure over any success cloaked in uncaringness. They can’t wrap their minds around the fact that if you really care about people, you’ll have to go out of your way to not go out of your way for them.

By: Alex Bensky

Alex Bensky — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:42:13 +0000

“We know perfectly well” what to do about the economy.” Does this mean that when they dumped $1.2 billion (including interest( they didn’t, but now they do?