I cannot but admire what Obama's economy team is doing. They received a world in total panic, in total uncertainty, no one was buying anything nor investing in production. Deflationary black hole was sucking in the planet. Japan, faced with similar situation a decade before, was seized by fear and did nothing. Life in Japan stopped since. America choose a young and unconventional President, who put in charge of the economy a young team led by Geithner. They are doing very bold things, trying new strategies, and we are talking about betting hundred of billion dollars on untried ideas. While European governments are unable to take any iniciative at all, and China's leaders are putting their money in US Treasury Bonds (the most conservative and unimaginative thing they could do), America's leaders are fearlessly trying out creative ideas in a truly unprecedented scale. The academy and the pundits are horrorized, they say the wunderkindern are fueling an inflationary conflagration, an unavoidable Weimar style collapse and all that. I am a bit frightened too, but admire American boldness and creativity. America is unique in many ways (I have truly cosmopolitan roots and move with familiarity in several languages and cultures, yet find that the world is a frozen dessert and things are happening only in America), and only America has the courage to put these boys in power with the mission of boldly going ahead where no one has gone before.
11 comments:
I would have let the banks fail. But admittedly that is not as creative.
That would have been creative too. In Japan and Europe no bank is let to go bankrupt. England nationalized all the banks. THAT is not creative. Americans have imagination and courage.
Americans have imagination and courage.
That is what drives me nuts about all of this. You are implying that the foreigners have no imagination, and that therefore we should do better than them in this crisis. But I don't see how what I am proposing is in any way creative.
J, you are the superliterate, world travelling ashkenazi, what do you see in this country that makes us special? I don't get it. Other countries work harder, have better family lives, save for the future, and otherwise manage themselves well. The US debases itself racially, spiritually, morally and financially yet you say we should be the best performer. Please explain.
"Americans have imagination and courage."
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
This line is a perfect example of J's wry, comedic style. His deadpan delivery of absurdities has only ever before been seen in the brilliant Stephen Wright and the hilarious Golda Meir ("I hate Arabs because...").
Kudos to you, Engineer.
Tears of Laughter,
Thanks for attributing me a wry sense of humor. Actually, I meant it, because I greatly admire Americans. Americans do have imagination and courage. You have to live a while in some foreign country to feel the difference. For example, I always laugh when reading about police brutality in America. They dont know what they are talking about. They should meet Argentine police.
"I meant it, because I greatly admire Americans."
There you go again, J. Stop it, you're killing me. Everyone knows there's no such thing as an "American". You might as well say you admire the people in a mall.
You have many talents, Secret Engineer, all of which I appreciate and marvel at. Now I must get back to my life among the courageous.
Argentines have creativity and courage, they have to use both in order to deal with their government, leaving none left over for their own lives.
Everyone knows there's no such thing as an "American".
Of course there is. You can spot an American anywhere from a mile. You can spot an American Negro from two miles.
"You can spot an American anywhere from a mile."
Ah, Future Mayor, in my many travels I have been thought of as many things - a Canadian in Egypt, an Italian in the Czech Republic, an Israeli in Colombia and Kenya. I was not often recognized or pointed out as an American. Even the Palestinians who beat me up in Jerusalem didn't know I was from the land of the courageous and creative, or perhaps they wouldn't have been so quick to jump me. I realize this is anecdotal, but there you have it.
You say there are something called "Americans" in the same manner as you would say "North Koreans". It is not like that here, as you well know, nor has it been for a long time. When you're next in Mexico, I will pick you up and drive you northward, toward my home. Together we will listen to Janet Klein and discuss water issues and the whereabouts of wealthy Taki while slowly cruising down Ventura Boulevard, where you can point out to me which people you consider Americans.
I am sure you wouldn't walk across the veldt and see the leopard, the lion, and the serval and say, "Look at all of these similar-looking felines living on the veldt - I will give them one all encompassing name and ascribe the same attributes to them."
I could be wrong.
Look at the human mass flowing on the Ventura Boulevard! They produced the Three Stooges, The Marx Brothers, The Loco Gangs, Los Trece, Gore Vidal's Van Nuys Caterer, Nuestra Familia and other famous Americana.
Ask me and I say: America in its purest essence.
When I look at Iowa, when I look at Illinois, I see the backbone of America ....
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