The Downbeat Goes On | 192 comments (190 topical, 2 editorial, 1 hidden)

Two things:

The politicians who are deciding on Europe weren't elected with Europe in mind. The voters had national agendas in mind.

Politicians can discard a portion of the electorate: the people who wouldn't dream of voting for them anyway. Then there is the portion who votes for them in any case. There is only a fairly small group of voters that can be moved, and it is easier to get the ones who can be moved by a nationalistic campaign than those who can be moved by patiently debunking myths.

by Katrin on Fri Dec 9th, 2011 at 10:13:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Downbeat Goes On (4.00 / 4)

The third factor is that it's always easier to sell a morality play than a nuanced explanation. And the present media environment penalizes politicians who attempt the latter, and reward those who do the former.

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Fri Dec 9th, 2011 at 10:48:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Downbeat Goes On (none / 1)

Who can expect the lay person to understand the nuanced explanation behind complex financial instruments dreamed up by PhD mathematicians-turned-bankers?

by asdf on Fri Dec 9th, 2011 at 10:57:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Downbeat Goes On (none / 1)

True, but that's not necessary for voters to make an informed policy decision.

Voters need to know what legislative steps made it possible for them to do so in the first place.

Just as in Europe, voters need to be told that the current crisis is simply the last crisis in a nifty green dress.

The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Fri Dec 9th, 2011 at 11:13:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Downbeat Goes On (none / 1)

Katrin:

The politicians who are deciding on Europe weren't elected with Europe in mind. The voters had national agendas in mind.

In the end that is likely to be at least as significant a factor in the fate of the EU and EZ as are the lack of and the rejection of the need for a transfer mechanism for the EZ.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Dec 10th, 2011 at 01:04:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The Downbeat Goes On | 192 comments (190 topical, 2 editorial, 1 hidden)

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