Paul Krugman was on NPR Fresh Air today

[chookie]

I hope some of you got to hear it. He's been making media appearances to promote his new book "The Great Unravelling."

He said that Sept 11 2001 will be looked upon, in history, as a great watershed-- but not for the reason that most people now think it was. Instead, it will be known as the beginning of a fundamental transformation of America as we know it. There is no underestimate the depth of cynicism of this administration, and how they used the shock and awe of this horrific national tragedy to advance pre-existing programs, and to justify actions that have *nothing* to do with the evtns of that day. He says it will come to be a day we will be ashamed of, when our nation took a serious wrong turn.

He said that the greatest danger to our country at present does not come from foreign terrorists, but instead an internal challenge to our basic way of life that is being carried out by the political extremists in power.

He predicts a slight upturn over the next year, and some percentage of job gain -- but warns that the shit does not hit the fan, really, until after 2004. Then, we will be on the brink of disaster, which will unfold in one of 3 ways: either massive tax increases, or else the dismantling of basic programs like Medicare, Social Security, or else a Banana Republic style economic collapse a la Argentina.

He says that the Bush administration KNOWs that even at best their policies are going to have harsh effects on the country, but says he doesn't understand why they think they will be able to get away with it. (I think I do: parts of the Patriot Act will be used in an authoritarian crackdown in the event of civil unrest)

[ThomWV]

1. When

Did this air last night?

Thom

[HootieMcBoob]

2. Krugman is the best

Someday people will look back and see that he was the one unrelenting voice of reason in the mainstream media.

Hopefully that'll be archived at NPR's site so that we who missed it can all listen to it later.

[Beetwasher]

3. How they think they can get away with it

Patriot act plus rigged elections...

[chookie]

5. That's what I foresee

Krugman says that the current combination of utter irresponsibility and authoritarianism is ominous.

Someone who spoke very powerfully on this last night was Al Sharpton -- when he spoke of a "virtual" civil war currently going on in our country.

[Larkspur]

4. This is why we need Howard Dean for President

Yes, what he faced in Vermont in 1991 is minimal to what Bush is leaving for the next Prez to clean up, but Dean has an innate ability to turn disasters into boons. It won't be painless for us, but if anyone can find a way to get our economy out of Bush's graveyard spiral, it will be President Howard Dean.

[chookie]

7. I'm a Dean supporter myself

I believe Dr Dean could make it happen. But I also believe most of the other candidates could as well.

But simply putting one of these excellent candidates into power is only half of what we must do. We must also simultaneously expose them for the radicals that they are, and how they have used the cover of the dust of the collapsing twin towers to advance an extremist agenda which seeks to utterly transform our nation as we know it. I believe that we need a balance of power in this country, and that differing polical views must give and take as policies are outlined -- however, we have to discredit the radicals who will seek to derail any progress a Democrat will try to make.

This is perhaps why you and I and other feel Dean is the man -- because he has seen through these bastards as long as we have, and all along has been bold enough to speak out against them, as we have done, when others were seemingly afraid to speak out against a "popular" president.

[scarletwoman]

6. This is a MUST LISTEN! Streaming audio link here:

Paul Krugman

You can listen to it now, or anytime! Just click on "listen to Paul Krugman".

Absolutely outstanding interview!

sw

[SnohoDem]

8. Kick

:kick:

And thanks for the link Miz Scarlet.

[gristy]

9. Here's one point Krugman made

He stated that with the deficits we are running now, one of three things HAVE to happen:

1) Taxes are raised (a lot)
2) Spending is cut (a lot)
3) The government's access to the bond markets dries up and it is forced to pay "usurious" (sp?) interest rates. The U.S. finds itself in an "Argentina-like" meltdown.

I don't think Krugman explained #3 very well. He just didn't explain what such an event would look like to the AVERAGE AMERICAN. And I think because of the utter unreality of the scenario that #3 hints at, coupled with the expert's (including Krugman's) inability to quantify what this will really look like, Americans just can't come to terms with the dangerous likelihood - no, the inevitability - of this happening if neither #1 or #2 occur.

Maybe he says in his book. I wish he'd said in his interview with Terry.