429 Comments

The timing makes no difference to me personally, but I would like to add that the comments, and the enthusiasm they represent, are truly heartwarming. This is now the center of my media universe. I don't do SM, that's social media, or, if you prefer... Today's column by Paul Krugman is a new low for the Times, and the last television show I watched, I believe, was the pilot for "I Love Lucy". So, I'm awfully grateful for this opportunity to think.

A wonderful intellectual community is forming and I'm honored to be part of its genesis.

Expand full comment

Krugman has not been relevant for some time. His smugness was barely tolerable even when he had interesting things to say. Now he is just smug.

Expand full comment
founding

The Nobel Prize gives him a lot of smug.

I went to U of Chicago and they were so blase about Nobel Prizes (so many) that they honored the new laureates with free chips for lunch. Such a cool crowd.

Expand full comment

The "economics" prize has singular purpose: sustain Socialist "economics" in light of abject real-world failure. It certainly should *not* be affilliated, especially by name, with the real sciences.

Expand full comment

The Lincoln Library of Essential Information (I still have my volume) locates Economics and the Useful Arts toward the back of the book where it belongs. It is BSS. (Bull-s Science.)

Expand full comment

The Econ prize is captured like everything else by the post-Depression, post-WWII narrative, which is Keynesian and re-distributive.

GDP = C * I * G, where C = Consumer spending, I = Investment, and G = Government Spending. In order to maximize GDP, you need only attempt to maximize either C or G due to the direct proportionality of the function. Hence why every Statist loves Keynesianism, because they are given a simple method, mathematically, for justifying state intervention in the economy and at the expense of private lenders and most importantly, private *savers*, who provide the necessary capital for use as collateral to maximize "I".

Expand full comment

Exactly right.

A foundational problem is G is wholly cut out of (C + I), and then used to *decrease* wealth over-all because 1) the owners (creators) of the wealth are not the ones deciding how to dispose of it (so it is never "spent" nearly as wisely as when the true owner stands to lose value in poor disposal choices), and 2) the markets, especially in the most important capital and labor markets, are distorted, especially as G grows to today's absurd levels. Free markets, of course, are the *only* method that 1) prices values accurately, and 2) leads to individual agency in affecting one's lot in life. This mechanism is the *only* source of societal wealth (i.e. a raising standard-of-living).

Like I said, Keynesianism is a lie: His "multiplier" *never* reaches even 0.5. Iow, As G rises, wealth creation is *minimized* further, until it becomes non-sustaining, and individuals must shed blood just to survive the overbearing, wealth-destroying State.

Expand full comment

That's satire, correct?

Expand full comment

No. A bit of hyperbole is all.

Did Keynes get a trophy? (Irl, his "multiplier" never reaches 0.5 (zero point five), let alone an absurd 1.)

Expand full comment

U. Chicago socialist economics?

Expand full comment
founding

they cover all the bases but have a lot of Nobel Prises.

Expand full comment

There have been exceptions. To Chicago, also.

And the bigger danger is the Leftist bias in the "science" of economics has bled over into public "science" (covid, environmentalism).

Statism infects all things if not Constituted-against well enough.

Expand full comment
founding

What on earth is Obama sticking his nose into Librarian’s for ????

Expand full comment
founding

Anyone have a thought about why in the blazes the Univ of Wiscon would rename the Zoology Dept. now The Department of Integrative Biology. Maybe someone’s just pulling my leg...

Expand full comment
founding

Sounds fancier?

Expand full comment
founding

Hmmm I’m thinking it’s a tad more nefarious as the Department of Indistinguishable Subjects ... So now u have research studies, for example, coming out of the University of Wisconsin’s Dept of Integrative Biology on, let’s say, a whole cross section of topics..... by the time folks find out it’s zoological the material may be bantered abt as possibly Integrative Medicine which relates to humans. Biology unless specified ie Marine Biology esp. with all that’s being referred to in the gender debate circling back to the Biology of Genders could only create a layer of confusion and we already understand Chaos Theory used as a slight of hand to keep people off track. And I think Wisconsin is one of those states where Chaos will happen as the fight to claim it politically for one side or the other. No?

I may be wrong on this but Your the librarian right? Im only asking because of the way human beings categorize topics etc. as well as thinking about all the animal research that was a failure related to early vaccine testing That wasn’t a national story when it ought to have been and though it may sound like a stretch so from 50 to some number like 400-600 NGO’s on Matt and Micheal’s list for the CIC ( Censorship Industrial Complex) Unfortunately we’ve learned to leave no stone unturned when it comes to the nefarious ways to confuse and conquer. It would be easy to miss this name change…. Now it’s got me wondering where those early animal studies for the vaccine were done. And how many other Dept’s will change to and indistinguishable reference. Ugh

Expand full comment
founding

o, could be. Yes classification is a way of changing structures over knowledge organization over time. Even something as accepted as the Dewey Decimal System reflected its time. It is now managed by OCLC, a global library organization.

https://www.oclc.org/en/dewey/resources.html

Expand full comment

Upon Trump’s 2016 election, Krugman stated emphatically that the markets would collapse and never recover.

Expand full comment

Yeah, he lost the plot long ago, but he's approaching the realm of senility now. No idea what planet that guy resides on.

Expand full comment

Planet Tribe?

Expand full comment

Sera, I feel the same way as you - that we can connect over like mindedness on some issues, share our thoughts and walk away with our dignity and integrity intact. At least, that's been my experience so far.

Expand full comment

It will always be one of my life's mysteries that Mr. Krugman is anywhere near as 'accomplished' as he is made out to be, or listened to at all, really.

He is obviously lacking in *any* intellectual curiosity, let alone balance/nuance, and is just as obviously (to me) nothing more than a State shill.

Expand full comment

Yes. I tune in to SM momentarily to see if insaneville is alive and well.

Expand full comment

It's alive. But it ain't well.

Expand full comment

I personally love to listen after my work day Friday, so it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll be listening regardless.

Expand full comment

Same. It's great to hear it the end of the week.

Expand full comment

I've commented before that I love the Matt & Walter show as my Friday afternoon virtual "happy hour" company.

In a my world, all of us working grunts spend Friday afternoon waiting for the boss to split early as he tries to beat traffic for his jaunt to his weekend ski/beach house. This is perfect for slipping out early and hitting the local watering hole in time for the drinks specials. Walter & Matt are already there and we spend an hour or two reflecting on the weeks events while winding down into weekend mode.

As the show is titled "America This Week", I also feel that Friday morning is too early. Still a chance for a big news story to break on Friday before noon. But after lunch, things slow down so I think that a Friday afternoon time slot is perfect for this podcast.

The timing doesn't have to be too rigorous...but sometime between about 2 and 6pm on Friday (Eastern Standard Time) is ideal in my opinion. Friday morning I am still working hard and after about 6pm I'm moving onto other things.

Just my 2¢, but the Friday happy hour is my sweet spot of this show.

Expand full comment

Isn't the watering hole meant to be a place to chat in person with others in a device-free respite? Listening to Matt and Walter requires quietude, not the clinking of pints and the ambient babblings of others, no? Then again, perhaps I misunderstand your scenario.

Expand full comment

I’ll take it when I can get it. Definitely high on my list of favorites.

Expand full comment

Just happy to have to show.

Expand full comment

Whatever suits yours and Walter's schedule. I know with kids, you have to plan around their lives too.

Expand full comment

Just wanted to express my gratitude for the show. I think a consistent time is more valuable than an early time if that’s helpful feedback.

Expand full comment

No preference as to when it’s released from my end. I usually listen at some point over the weekend

Expand full comment

No preference on timing here--I often save it to listen on the weekends while I'm working around the house. Also, no preference on when transcripts are published. I'm just thrilled you guys do all of this. I love this podcast and look forward to it each week. Please keep it up!

Expand full comment

I'm retired so it matters not to me, both with regard to the podcast and the transcript release. I usually listen on Saturday morning. It takes me back to all those years I listened to Car Talk on NPR on Saturday mornings, except with less car and more politics, books, etc.❤

Expand full comment

I have fond memories of listening to Car Talk on Saturday mornings with my dad.

Expand full comment

I loved that show! Such witty and smart guys. Click and Clack.

Expand full comment

How about their legal counsel....Dewey, Cheatum and Howe? LOL

Expand full comment

Same here

Expand full comment

Yes, KathywithaK, ATW is as habit-forming as Car Talk. Except I prefer to watch the video version. 🦅

Expand full comment

I am a transcript person. As soon as you can get that out would be great. Thanks for asking.

Expand full comment

Ditto with me. I just don't have the time to sit still and listen to people talk. I read toward the end of the day. Thanks. Been following Matt since I discovered he doesn't speak with a forked tongue. Don't always agree with him but he seems to be coming my direction anyway. Dom't quit your work. One of the few places of sanity.

Expand full comment

No preference for me. I really look forward to what you guys have to say any time.

Expand full comment

My only request is to get the transcript as soon as possible. I prefer listening (you guys are great!), but sometimes just can’t find the time. The transcript is something less than listening, but is better than missing out completely. Thanks!

Expand full comment

Could the show tweet or share here the name of the short story before the release? I like to read the story and then listen to your show.

Appreciate the earlier release!

Expand full comment

Matt and Walter, I LOVE your podcast and look forward to it every Friday. So, the earlier the better, as far as I am concerned! Just keep it coming... Oh and BTW, I've read every book/story you've reviewed so far. Great stuff!

Expand full comment

The only timing that matters is giving us a chance to read the story ahead.

Expand full comment

I dig the transcriptions more than the pod (i like to read). So the sooner the better for that

Expand full comment

Doesn’t matter. I haven’t missed a single one!

Expand full comment

I only read the transcript’s so it would be great to release (consistently) at same time.

Expand full comment