That's what Paul Krugman wants you to think. He proposed this so people will think it's fake once he and his alien pals attack.GestaltEsper said:
Or maybe that's what he wants us to think, so we'll suspect an alien invasion?
...my head hurts now.
Fake an Alien Invasion, Save the U.S. Economy
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Or maybe that's what he wants us to think, so we'll suspect an alien invasion?
...my head hurts now.
But we could also push for more scientific advancement. With more funding perhaps someone could stumble across a better energy alternative.Nikolaz72 said:
*reconsiders*
Yeah. That's way too optimistic. But we would still need a lot of metal if we just "faked an alien invasion".
Er, now that the cat's out of the bag it won't work. GO WITH INSECT PEOPLE FROM BENEATH THE EARTH'S CRUST!
Plus it wasn't just a boost of jobs. WWII helped because it was the start of the military pension system, which KEPT the soldiers returning out of jobs, so that those who were previously unemployed could still keep their jobs. I don't think we can re-promise a pension plan and get it to work...Berethond said:
Well, to play devil's advocate, an alien invasion might be the only thing that could get our military out of all our bloody wars and useless oversea military bases.
The perversion of this thought is what has powered the West, especially the US for the past 75+ years. The conservative social and economic bend, especially neocons, practically worship the fact that "America is at its best when it has an enemy" and all we need to do to stimulate the economy is to give people something to fear. Well, that happened at 9/11 and our response to such things have been fear based for a decade plus. How is our economy now? As it turns out, you can't replicate the World War II circumstances as too much has changed - our manufacturing base is crap, our laws are dictated by moneyed private interests and lots, lots more. For all the fear and faux-patriotism, we've gotten a decimated middle class while the financial elites have plundered nations while telling us "If we don't, the terrorists win".
Fuck that notion. Plenty of Economists are the ones that have ruined this nation to enrich themselves like slimy soothsayers, whispering into the ear of the corporate elite who then direct the government to do their bidding. Yes, in a magical black and white world where EVIL ALIEN HITLERS are invading the entire world, cannot be reasoned with or engaged in any diplomacy maybe then that would help. However, they'd need to be SO powerful to get all of Goldman-Sachs and every investment bank and corporate empire to not even THINK about war profiteering - they'd need to fear for their lives so much profit is irrelevant and I'm not even convinced this is possible for the bankster cartels - and short of going up against an "Independence Day"-or higher level malicious invasion fleet, that isn't going to happen.
In a more realistic world any intelligent life that can make it to our planet in any way we can understand is more than likely benevolent or at least neutral. Those that call for war, even in "unification", will likely be misinformed and result in at best a misunderstanding that the rest of us need to smooth over with our new visitors and at worst peg us as a hostile and barbaric species that certainly should not be privy to advanced technology and may be labeled a threat to the galaxy in the near future as our scientific progress continues. We want someone more like Carl Sagan dictating our interactions with alien visitors, not Karl Rove and Donald Rumsfeld.
Fuck that notion. Plenty of Economists are the ones that have ruined this nation to enrich themselves like slimy soothsayers, whispering into the ear of the corporate elite who then direct the government to do their bidding. Yes, in a magical black and white world where EVIL ALIEN HITLERS are invading the entire world, cannot be reasoned with or engaged in any diplomacy maybe then that would help. However, they'd need to be SO powerful to get all of Goldman-Sachs and every investment bank and corporate empire to not even THINK about war profiteering - they'd need to fear for their lives so much profit is irrelevant and I'm not even convinced this is possible for the bankster cartels - and short of going up against an "Independence Day"-or higher level malicious invasion fleet, that isn't going to happen.
In a more realistic world any intelligent life that can make it to our planet in any way we can understand is more than likely benevolent or at least neutral. Those that call for war, even in "unification", will likely be misinformed and result in at best a misunderstanding that the rest of us need to smooth over with our new visitors and at worst peg us as a hostile and barbaric species that certainly should not be privy to advanced technology and may be labeled a threat to the galaxy in the near future as our scientific progress continues. We want someone more like Carl Sagan dictating our interactions with alien visitors, not Karl Rove and Donald Rumsfeld.
Why do we need aliens as an enemy? The universe itself is brimming over with impersonal threats that make attacking aliens seem benign by comparison. At any time we could be pummeled by a massive asteroid or a nearby star could go nova and fry us with X-rays. Or we could be done in by our dependence on a particular sea level and climate that change on a regular basis. It's absurd and pathetic to focus our economic output on an imaginary danger when there's so many very real ones to menace us.
In any case, the problem isn't with Keynesian economics itself, but that it's taken to extremes. Putting some stimulus and support at the bottom to keep capitalism running smoothly - such as infrastructure, a solid legal system, and small business help - is good. Raising taxes into the stratosphere so you can make useless crap is bad. All this fake alien invasion scenario would accomplish is a direct transfer of wealth into the hands of whoever owned the companies that make the alien-battling gear. The rich get richer and the poor (through the necessary taxation) get poorer.
In any case, the problem isn't with Keynesian economics itself, but that it's taken to extremes. Putting some stimulus and support at the bottom to keep capitalism running smoothly - such as infrastructure, a solid legal system, and small business help - is good. Raising taxes into the stratosphere so you can make useless crap is bad. All this fake alien invasion scenario would accomplish is a direct transfer of wealth into the hands of whoever owned the companies that make the alien-battling gear. The rich get richer and the poor (through the necessary taxation) get poorer.
Actually if I were really an alien planning to invade, and the earth had any sort of chance, I would mind control economists to talk about a fake alien invasion.
Then when I really invaded nobody would believe it until it was too late.
Muhahahahahaha!
Wait forget that last part.
Then when I really invaded nobody would believe it until it was too late.
Muhahahahahaha!
Wait forget that last part.
I like this idea. Let's do it. Though all those who mention it won't work because he already announced it to everyone. You're wrong! IT'S CNN!!