The arguments advanced by Krugman and Uncle Dan are profound, influential and old. It’s fitting that Greece is a centerpiece of their application. Uncle Dan’s reasoning makes him the intellectual descendant of Aristotle, who was condemning fraudulent government promises and confiscatory action 2,600 years ago. In blaming Germany for Greece’s sins, Krugman is the descendant of the ancient sophists who blamed a tree for providing the wood that made the arrow that killed a man, rather than the man who fired the arrow and stood accused of murder. Unfortunately, many in power have been listening to the likes of Krugman for a long time.
Since 2007, prophecies of global economic doom have been commonplace. Today they’re reaching a fever-pitched crescendo. George Soros says we have less than three months. Mark Steyn says run for the hills. Glenn Beck expects food scarcity and is predicting riots. Nancy Pelosi blames the rich. Eric Holder blames racism. Debbie Wasserman Schultz blames Bain Capital and the Koch brothers. And Paul Krugman, of course, says the disaster could be averted if we only spent more.
I disagree with them all. I’ve changed my mind about the inevitability of economic collapse. I’m not saying that it won’t happen. It will. But I’ve decided that it could be a good thing, especially in America.
Through monetary policy and bailouts, our leaders are currently employing the tactics of delay. They should stop. Bring on the doom. The problem will only get worse, and our people are better equipped to endure it now than they will be after a few more years of food stamps. Sure, half of the country is on the government dole. But half isn’t. As bad as our situation is, we’re still better off than most countries. We still widely believe in independence. When collapse does strike, the citizens of China, Italy, Spain and Greece will look to their governments for help and sustenance. Americans will likely look to themselves.
Independence is the desire to confront and address problems without the government’s help. Thankfully, there are a lot more Uncle Dans in America than there are Paul Krugmans.
Yates Walker is a conservative activist and writer. Before becoming involved in politics, he served honorably as a paratrooper and a medic in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. He can be reached at yateswalker@gmail.com.
