Display:
The silliness derives from Europe going the path of Reaganomics, a B movie actor, who allegedly got his economics platform from a second-rate, no-name economics dabbler in a restaurant in Washington DC. Why can't we hear it from you? Trickle-down was its name, even if you want to discuss concepts like market oriented or greed oriented or Friedman's folly, whatever you want to call it.

Make the rich richer and everyone will get richer. Can we see the data, please?

by shergald on Mon Jan 14th, 2008 at 05:38:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Failure usually has a LOT of related causes.  but in Friedman's case, he would sum up his insanity in one memorable talking point.  During a TV interview, he would turn his face to the camera like a professional and say with all the earnestness he could muster, "A corporation has only one duty and that is to make money for the shareholders."  In fact, he got this point across so well, it actually became enshrined in USA law.

For some reason no one stood up to this fool and said, "No! NO! No!  The primary function of any enterprise is to stay in business--there is a REASON why governments grant corporations eternal life.  And the BEST way to stay in business is to make your customers happy.  If anyone is first in line, it is they"

No Friedman!  The corporation owes a LOT to a LOT of people--it's suppliers, its workers, it's community, and the infrastructure that makes its existence possible.  While lenders are important, to suggest that their agenda should dominate all others is pure, unadulterated madness.  And the amount of destruction to the very fabric of industrial society that inevitably flows from such a monomania has been literally incalculable.

If Friedman doesn't go down in history as the biggest fool ever, the rest of us have not been paying attention.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Tue Jan 15th, 2008 at 06:01:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Recommended Diaries
Clipping the wings of a judge
by Migeru - Feb 10
60 comments

Sarkozy: Enemies Ahoy!
by afew - Feb 10
36 comments

Hunger March wins PR battle
by DoDo - Feb 9
3 comments

LQD: Unsustainable irrigation
by Melanchthon - Feb 9
2 comments

Romania: protests change government
by DoDo - Feb 8
6 comments

Obama wins GOP Primaries (to date)
by Frank Schnittger - Feb 8
11 comments

Murdoch - Outsourcing and Hubris
by ceebs - Feb 3
18 comments

Bristol Pound
by ChrisCook - Feb 7
14 comments

Recent Diaries
Sarkozy: Enemies Ahoy!
by afew - Feb 10
36 comments

Clipping the wings of a judge
by Migeru - Feb 10
60 comments

LQD: Unsustainable irrigation
by Melanchthon - Feb 9
2 comments

Hunger March wins PR battle
by DoDo - Feb 9
3 comments

Obama wins GOP Primaries (to date)
by Frank Schnittger - Feb 8
11 comments

Romania: protests change government
by DoDo - Feb 8
6 comments

Answers to the Renewable Energy Consultation
by Luis de Sousa - Feb 7

Bristol Pound
by ChrisCook - Feb 7
14 comments

The Imitation Of Germany
by afew - Feb 4
31 comments

Strange Fruit
by Frank Schnittger - Feb 4
14 comments

Murdoch - Outsourcing and Hubris
by ceebs - Feb 3
18 comments

Mismatch with the Natural Gas Market
by Luis de Sousa - Feb 3
22 comments

The Future of Economics
by ARGeezer - Feb 2
191 comments

Desert Island Discs - Helen's distortions
by Helen - Jan 31
49 comments

Gorila
by DoDo - Jan 29
14 comments

Rail News Blogging #7
by DoDo - Jan 29
15 comments

Obama's State Of The Union: LQD
by Crazy Horse - Jan 25
74 comments

Democracy Technology
by gmoke - Jan 24
1 comment

The Hydrogen dream
by Luis de Sousa - Jan 24
49 comments

ET Paris Meet-Up 2012 (2 UPDATE)
by afew - Jan 23
113 comments

More Diaries...
Occasional Series