Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Paul Krugman: Romney is selling optimisim, but who's buying it? - Post Bulletin

Paul Krugman: Romney is selling optimisim, but who's buying it? - Post Bulletin

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Mitt Romney is optimistic about optimism. In fact, it's pretty much all he's got. And that fact should make you very pessimistic about his chances of leading an economic recovery.

As many people have noticed, Romney's five-point "economic plan" is very nearly substance-free. It vaguely suggests that he will pursue the same goals Republicans always pursue — weaker environmental protection, lower taxes on the wealthy. But it offers neither specifics nor any indication why returning to George W. Bush's policies would cure a slump that began on Bush's watch.

In his meeting with donors in Boca Raton, Fla., however, Romney revealed his real plan, which is to rely on magic. "My own view is," he declared, "if we win on Nov. 6, there will be a great deal of optimism about the future of this country. We'll see capital come back, and we'll see — without actually doing anything — we'll actually get a boost in the economy."

Are you feeling reassured?

In fairness to Romney, his assertion that electing him would spontaneously spark an economic boom is consistent with his party's current economic dogma. Republican leaders have long insisted that the main thing holding the economy back is the "uncertainty" created by President Barack Obama's statements — roughly speaking, that businesspeople aren't investing because Obama has hurt their feelings. If you believe that, it makes sense to argue that changing presidents would, all by itself, cause an economic revival.

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