Justin, you almost had me in tears. (In a good way.) This session was like a support group for people who feel what’s going on. I hadn’t realized that there was a crust forming, made up of click bait zingers, like poll numbers and gas prices.
A total stranger from a news network or polling outlet could ask someone what’s most important to them about the (take your pick: state of affairs, economy, war, election, etc…) and they’ll say “gas prices” or some other symbol. The question is designed for a quick answer, but their answer doesn’t convey what they mean.
I’m also really glad that you spoke up about the war. It was decided last March, or maybe even before it started (which is why other administrations didn’t do it.)
Keep it up! 👍🙏🫶
PS: and what you said about the breakdown of our institutional infrastructure!!!
Many more journalists and pundits and podcasters should realize, as Prof Wolfers noted, "it might not be worth it to answer questions that begin with “the president said.” He has nothing to say of value. Watch what he and his minions in the regime DO and look at the impact on our country and our future. What we can see across multiple measures is that trump, the bribed Supreme Court , and corrupt Republicans have done is destroy the once solid and respected American economy and system of governance. Fox propaganda and others have made fortunes by using the statements of a declining and deranged person as click bait for their blabber. But when the last episode of trump reality television is over, we STILL have to rebuild and form a functioning form of government. THAT is what real journalists and real pundits should be discussed day in and day out.
With all respect, for an academic economist like you the upcoming election may be about the economy decades down the road but that isn’t the perspective of most Americans. There is a substantial minority of people who have never accepted the egalitarian premises upon which the U.S. is founded and have always wanted strong man rule. For that bunch, Donald Trump is a godsend. For most others however, though they are not cut from the same cloth as the aforementioned illiberals, they are nonetheless busy people and therefore uninterested in politics most of the time. For this cohort the political-personal interface is the cost of living and when that changes one way or another it impacts their political engagement.
Dear Professor Wolfers. Impressive thoughts and article. I've found that Americans think with their pocketbooks. When the pocketbook is full, we are pleased and other concerns, to state politely take secondary consideration. We seem to emphasize short term solutions and ignore long term consequences. Our current political, economic, and social dilemmas support the band aid responses rather than the surgical relief.
Just subscribed, though have followed your posts and podcast interviews. So much of what has been going on has bothered me, but I’m no economist or historian. The following quote from your post resonated:
“This election isn’t about the economy in 2027. It’s about the economy in 2060. Prosperity comes from institutions like the rule of law, markets, a free press, and capitalism (not crony capitalism). Those are the things under attack.”
Hope you and others will share that concept loud and clear with other media sources.
Sorry mate, I have to disagree. To an economist, the election is about the future. To a political scientist, it is about our fears. To the current crop of voters, it is about NOW: "we can all be dead later." That is why all that matters is the monthly payment, not the underlying cost of the asset. When you combine FOMO, YOLO, financial illiteracy, and lack of impulse control, you get chronic insolvency.
Justin, you almost had me in tears. (In a good way.) This session was like a support group for people who feel what’s going on. I hadn’t realized that there was a crust forming, made up of click bait zingers, like poll numbers and gas prices.
A total stranger from a news network or polling outlet could ask someone what’s most important to them about the (take your pick: state of affairs, economy, war, election, etc…) and they’ll say “gas prices” or some other symbol. The question is designed for a quick answer, but their answer doesn’t convey what they mean.
I’m also really glad that you spoke up about the war. It was decided last March, or maybe even before it started (which is why other administrations didn’t do it.)
Keep it up! 👍🙏🫶
PS: and what you said about the breakdown of our institutional infrastructure!!!
Many more journalists and pundits and podcasters should realize, as Prof Wolfers noted, "it might not be worth it to answer questions that begin with “the president said.” He has nothing to say of value. Watch what he and his minions in the regime DO and look at the impact on our country and our future. What we can see across multiple measures is that trump, the bribed Supreme Court , and corrupt Republicans have done is destroy the once solid and respected American economy and system of governance. Fox propaganda and others have made fortunes by using the statements of a declining and deranged person as click bait for their blabber. But when the last episode of trump reality television is over, we STILL have to rebuild and form a functioning form of government. THAT is what real journalists and real pundits should be discussed day in and day out.
With all respect, for an academic economist like you the upcoming election may be about the economy decades down the road but that isn’t the perspective of most Americans. There is a substantial minority of people who have never accepted the egalitarian premises upon which the U.S. is founded and have always wanted strong man rule. For that bunch, Donald Trump is a godsend. For most others however, though they are not cut from the same cloth as the aforementioned illiberals, they are nonetheless busy people and therefore uninterested in politics most of the time. For this cohort the political-personal interface is the cost of living and when that changes one way or another it impacts their political engagement.
Dear Professor Wolfers. Impressive thoughts and article. I've found that Americans think with their pocketbooks. When the pocketbook is full, we are pleased and other concerns, to state politely take secondary consideration. We seem to emphasize short term solutions and ignore long term consequences. Our current political, economic, and social dilemmas support the band aid responses rather than the surgical relief.
Thank you for your scholarship and sharing.
Just subscribed, though have followed your posts and podcast interviews. So much of what has been going on has bothered me, but I’m no economist or historian. The following quote from your post resonated:
“This election isn’t about the economy in 2027. It’s about the economy in 2060. Prosperity comes from institutions like the rule of law, markets, a free press, and capitalism (not crony capitalism). Those are the things under attack.”
Hope you and others will share that concept loud and clear with other media sources.
Sorry mate, I have to disagree. To an economist, the election is about the future. To a political scientist, it is about our fears. To the current crop of voters, it is about NOW: "we can all be dead later." That is why all that matters is the monthly payment, not the underlying cost of the asset. When you combine FOMO, YOLO, financial illiteracy, and lack of impulse control, you get chronic insolvency.