The Circling Crow Humanities Review

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November 01, 2006

Paul Krugman, Brilliant, Pompous Boor

I am a big fan of economist Paul Krugman. His essays are poignant, with a sytle that is very accessible to an average reader. He has the diversity to write a college text in Econcomics as well as write a regular op-ed column for the New York Times. A highly regarded economist, he spent time on President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisors. He has been informing the public for twenty years of the disingenuousness of political economics and how Supply side policies have crippled the middle and lower class. A few years back I wrote an email of encouragement to Mr. Krugman thanking him for teaching the public about these things and encouraging him to continue to do so. Mr. Krugman actually took the time to respond. Oh, yes he did. His response? "I don't have time to respond to you." Period. That's it!

What has always puzzled me was the purpose behind any response from him at all, let alone this one. He took the time to respond to tell me he didn't have time to respond. Apparently, as brilliant an economist Mr. Krugman is, he is a psychological infantile. It reminds me of the old saying "it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out." Figure out what other than rocket science or mathematics? They have no more to do with accounting, social science, art or basic interpersonal communication than a burger flipper at Wendys.

Krugman aside, I still take the time to write the people who are out there on the front line speaking the things people won't hear on FoxNews, thanking them for there efforts and encouraging them. I will continue to do so. I don't need, nor want to meet any one of these people. I simply don't have the time for them. If I had the opportunity to meet Krugman I would politely decline. What would I get out of that? A handful of times in my life I had the opportunity to meet famous people and simply walked by them. Such a situation transcends interpersonal equality and leaves both parties empty. There is only a role to play by, both, admired and admirer. While I admire the work and art of another, I view no man or woman in higher esteem than I do myself. I suspect I share this commonality with Mr. Krugman.