What is relevant for the current discussion is the common factor of the policy lie.
Advised reading then is Paul Krugman (2003), “The great unraveling”. It is a pleasure to read many of my own thoughts in his much more eloquent words. It is also good to observe Paul’s development. Earlier, he uttered “sheer intellectual outrage” when he noted that his own theory was politically abused. Now he exposes the system behind it. Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Samuelson advises the general public to read this book:
“Paul Krugman’s is a lone voice, telling things as they are and debunking Washington policies that are neither compassionate nor conservative. Plutocratic democracy is in the saddle. Rx. Krugman twice a week. Buy. Read. Ponder. Benefit.”
I fully support this.
When the censorship at CPB is resolved, it will be clearer how the policy lies can be averted. Hence, boycott Holland. (And Mom, drop your Dutch stock holdings.)
This is not the place to extend on my views on the failing peace process in particular. But it occupies people, so two remarks can help. (1) I can repeat suggestions already made by others that are neglected at our peril. Translate “Allah” as “God”, and don’t say “moslim terrorists” but simply “criminals”. America isn’t in a “war on terrorism” but is “trying in joint co-operation with the international community to arrest terrorizing criminals”. Stuff like that. Clean language helps to focus on what you really want. (2) It is crucial that the EU is present in the US. Not by propaganda or whatever, but by simply being there as it is. The EU should establish a broadcasting channel in the US to show the diversity of the EU, for example by selections of what is broadcasted in the EU. The current American media appear too unbalanced and the world cannot afford that.
PM. Relevant texts from my website are:
(1) “Understanding 9-11 and its aftermath”, November 11 2001, at http://www.dataweb.nl/~cool/Papers/WarAndPeace/Understanding911.html
It may be recalled that at CPB in 1989-1990, I was removed from the team that eventually published the long term projection 1990-2015, Central Planning Bureau (1992ab), “Scanning the future”. Relevant here is the Global Crisis scenario where it is assumed that some particular events throw the world economy into shambles. My text “Understanding 9-11 and its aftermath” has been written with that in mind.
(2) “Economics and War & Peace” (general entry to other texts), at http://www.dataweb.nl/~cool/Papers/WarAndPeace/index.html