Posted on Sat, Aug 27, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.
AnnArbor.com should lose Paul Krugman as columnist
By Letters to the Editor
You would do a significant service to this community if you would cease publishing the horribly biased drivel that flows from the keyboard of Paul Krugman. This "economist" has no problem with increasing government spending on an open-ended basis no matter the debt level. Just go ahead and load up your charge cards no matter the debt!
I realize Mr. Krugman has received a Nobel Prize in economics, but Nobel has awarded honors to the likes of Yasser Arafat, Al Gore and Barack Obama, so the significance is highly questionable.
I suggest that instead of relying solely on The New York Times for so many of your articles that you publish a more balanced outlook by getting some input from The Wall Street Journal.
Alan A. Denton
Ann Arbor
Comments
Bruce Abbott
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:02 a.m.
Mr. Denton, You undoubtedly realize that the debt we have is a result of years of spending on unfunded wars, medicare benfits and tax breaks from the previous administration combined with a significant reduction of revenue due to the housing bubble bursting. So instead of blaming it on too much spending, which is obviously not factual except in the case of the wars, why not listen to Nobel Winning economist opinions about how to get out of this economic crisis?? Why would you surpress the informed opinions of world-class economists in this situation? Whose opinion do you value if not for the opinion of people who have studied the subject for a lifetime??? I really want to know.
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.
Such calls for autocratic (indeed corporatist) censorship are indeed ironic. The first irony is that the Wall Street Journal is purely a one-sided publication. Trading Krugman's columns for one of the WSJ columns solves nothing - it's using the same wrong headed impulse to trade one biased view for another. Also ironic is the request itself because it's been the political "Laissez Faire" movement which has been most one-sided and most vigorous in attacking -any and all - variations from "true belief" Capitalism. One thing about these national columnists bothers me: most provide no means of direct public rebuttal for their views. In fact, if you try to reply to any of George Will's columns - you'll find he has neatly walled off every avenue but the ones in independent web forums.
NoSUVforMe
Mon, Sep 5, 2011 : 3:09 a.m.
$10 trillion of the $14 trillion in national debt was from Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II. Bush II left office with an annual debt of $1.3 trillion. And, the economy was destroyed by his laissez-faire deregulation and incompetence. Why aren't right-wingers crying for Bush's head? Because that don't like reality. Facts have a liberal bias. They want to blame Krugman, Obama, and Roosevelt for the problems in this country. Sorry, Republicans. Reagan was the first to run up massive deficits. Sorry, Republicans. Reagan didn't cut taxes. He borrowed a trillion dollars that we didn't have! Bush II increased the deficit by nearly $7 trillion. How? Two wars, tax cuts for the rich, and Medicare D that wasn't paid for. If honest people really care about deficits, blame Republicans. The Tea Party is clueless.
Jim Osborn
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 7:48 a.m.
Its called the Tea Party. We had poor choices, Bush or algore. Bush or Kerry. Obama or McCain. It makes one long for Clinton Vs Bush or Clinton Vs Dole. And especially long for Reagan.
NoSUVforMe
Mon, Sep 5, 2011 : 1:02 a.m.
How could you possibly have a problem with drivel... Conservative drivel has been served up by every right-wing politician since Ronald Reagan. Conservatives are destroying America.
TC
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.
Um, isn't a columnist supposed to offer opinions?
Cyclezealot
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 8:32 a.m.
And to think how the media makes us suffer from George Will's bs all these years.. These lite headed opinion makers who repeat their pablum have been foisted upon us for decades. Certainly, George Will will never qualify for a Nobel Peace Prize in Economics. I'll stick with my Krugman , whose gained his Nobel thanks to his research in trade policy. If the Ann Arbor News does not carry it , I'll switch to a newspaper that does.. So pay heed , Ann Arbor news.. . For anyone knowledgeable in the New York Times, you know on the day Krugman is published , they round out his views with a columnist called Russ Douhart.. And he sounds as simplistic as George Will , I might add. Yes. there is nothing wrong with Balance Ann Arbor News, but don't deny us the opinions from proven sources.. So , we think Rupert Murdocks ' Wall Street Journal offers balance, there is a gullible. . Finally, I'll take the economics of Paul Krugman over the cut rhetoric revenues of the likes of laissez faire oriented, simple- minded solutions of a Miltron Friedman. It's they who got us into our deficit dilemma.. Had Krugman ruled 20 years ago, I am sure our budget deficit would be a fraction of what it is today.. Friedman economics has ruled all those years and we neither have jobs or a surplus.
Jim Osborn
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 7:45 a.m.
The Ann Arbor News stopped publishing 2 years ago. This is "Ann Arbor Dot Com" a shell of what the Ann Arbor News once was.
Diagenes
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
I agree more balance on the editorial page is needed. Regular contributors, Maureen Dowd and Paul Krugman, regurgitate the same old liberal talking points produced in the communications office at the White House. George Will helps improve the balance. But he does not write specifically about economic matters. A balanced approach with writers from both sides would better serve the readers.
TC
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
Well, for the same reasons, I would like Peter Luke removed from the editorial pages.
AAFish
Mon, Aug 29, 2011 : 12:19 a.m.
And George Will continues to regurgitate the same old conservative talking points. He's been doing this for forty years or so. He's basically of the same mentality as a truck-stop yahoo. He just tries to cloak it in pseudo-intellectual terms.
Mike K
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.
Krugman may be prize winning economist, but let's face the facts, left in charge, we would be the United Socialist States of America. His agenda is politically driven - anti repubican, pro democrat, pro government. He doesn't care about how and why this nation was founded. To him, those ideas are old and stale. I continue to read him though; in an attempt to have "balance".
Bruce Abbott
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:16 a.m.
Not sure what your point is Mike K. This nation was founded on the idea that every human being should be free. But the reality is that government can take actions that are for the common good, a Christian ideal by the way. So what is it about government serving the common good and protecting freedom that you disagree with? Krugman is trying to provide advice that serves both goals. What exactly is it that you think he is advocating that is contrary to the ideals of the American culture??
Mike
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
I agree with this opinion. The Ann Arbor News far too often sides to the left, even in the writing that it purchases. Mr Krugman offers the same remedy to every problem: spend spend spend. When all you have is a sack full of hammers, every problem looks like a nail. Readers deserve a greater diversity of opinion than Krugman drivel.
Bruce Abbott
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:08 a.m.
I don't like labels, left and right. What is it about Krugman's opinions that you think are not based on fact and years of the study of economics. I am not sure what you think drives an economcy Mike? Do you think "lack of spending" encourages business to expand?? Spending has to happen whether it is from consumers or government. Stupid spending by the government is a total drain on the economy, I agree. Smart spending is what is needed whether it is from government, consumers or business.
AAFish
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 10:42 p.m.
@bhall -- touche!
bhall
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
@Mike, You mean The Ann Arbor News (which doesn't exist anymore) that endorsed Bush for president -- twice! LOL.
catfishrisin
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
Alan = Mike
klondike
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
Alan - you do not speak for the community. In fact, you're in the STARK minority in this community. As a matter of fact, why are you even here? Move to Grand Rapids, or something.
Not from around here
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 : 11 p.m.
I though everyone knew...Everything the Liberals rail against; censorship, intolerance, et all, is actually part of their game plan. Liberals are all in favor of free speech, as long it mirrors what they believe.
Mike
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
Why is such intolerance so typical of Ann Arbor liberals?
Diagenes
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
Such intorerance is not good. I thought hate was not a family value. No one said Allen speaks for the "community". But he is entitled to express his opinion, as are you, no matter how repugnant it may be.
Polyjuce123
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:50 a.m.
So, it sounds like Alan has a bigger problem with liberals and spending, than he does with someone he's never met. The WSJ will provide very little deviation in opinion on economic topics than the NYT, furthermore, if your not a member of the top 2% of this society the articles in the WSJ won't affect you much anyhow.
theodynus
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 3:28 a.m.
Lets play a game. Anyone think they caught four logical fallacies in this letter? All I got is three.
AAFish
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
And -- "balanced" -- WSJ? It was bad enough BEFORE Murdoch took it over.
AAFish
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 9:15 p.m.
The entire letter is one continuous fallacy.
Mike
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
I found one fallacy in your brief irritating reply.
Arborite
Sun, Aug 28, 2011 : 2:02 a.m.
It's sad to see that you're so deranged by the presence of someone who disagrees with you. I guess this is what's called "epistemic closure" -- the search for an impermeable echo chamber where no contrary views or evidence can penetrate. The letter misrepresents Krugman's views, shows a misunderstanding of how Nobel prizes are determined, and misrepresents the Wall Street Journal editorial page as balanced. Other than that...