MUST READ Krugman: Hoping For Fear

[MADem]

Hoping for Fear
By Paul Krugman
The New York Times
Published: August 14, 2006

Just two days after 9/11, I learned from Congressional staffers that Republicans on Capitol Hill were already exploiting the atrocity, trying to use it to push through tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. I wrote about the subject the next day, warning that "politicians who wrap themselves in the flag while relentlessly pursuing their usual partisan agenda are not true patriots."

The response from readers was furious — fury not at the politicians but at me, for suggesting that such an outrage was even possible. "How can I say that to my young son?" demanded one angry correspondent.

I wonder what he says to his son these days.

We now know that from the very beginning, the Bush administration and its allies in Congress saw the terrorist threat not as a problem to be solved, but as a political opportunity to be exploited. The story of the latest terror plot makes the administration's fecklessness and cynicism on terrorism clearer than ever. ....

http://64.226.238.78/PA/pk/pk225.shtml

[MysteryToMyself]

1. Charging for Krugman is assinine

One of very few writers that can relate to the common man and his articles are put on at a price.

I love Krugman, but unless the Democratic party wants to pay a fee where all can read his article, I am not buying his articles.

Just goes to show what is happening with every source of truth.

[MADem]

2. Click on the link, it is free NT

[MysteryToMyself]

5. Thanks

Most that have an excerpt to Krugman take you to where you have to pay to read the rest of it.

Charging for Krugman and Herbert is a pet peeve of mine. There are many that don't have access to them now. Most newspapers get advertisers according to the number of visitors to their sites instead of charging.

Krugman and Herbert have a way of putting the truth in simple terms. They seem so calm and sensible after watching and reading FoxNews and their ilk.

[MADem]

6. If you look around, you can often find them reposted

And I agree, they are well worth reading. The old "fair use" practice for intellectual discussion will out, even if NYT tries to firewall the articles. I liken it to picking up a paper on the seat next to you, that someone has left behind. You didn't pay for it, but here it is...turn those pages, and enjoy!

[Dudley_DUright]

3. Although I rarely buy the dead-tree version of the NYTimes,

today I was traveling and bought one at the airport for the flight. Krugman's article alone was worth the buck, and Bob Herbert's article was an added bonus.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. K & R, Krugman is a clear voice for all of us who felt disenfranchised

after 9/11.

I was horrified at the blank check that was written for gwb and the bfee after that horrific day. And no one, except a brave handful of folks, demanded accountability or pointed out that this happened on their watch.

I would have never thought it would take five long years for Krugman's rational voice to reflect a mainstream view. MKJ