John & Belle Have A Blog: The Economist

April 17, 2005

The Economist

I suppose everyone knows, but I've shifted the bulk of my posting over the The Valve. I probably won't be posting here much in the near future.

OK, one thing. We used to have a subscription to the "Economist" so we got the print version and read it regularly. But that stopped so we stopped. Belle picked up a copy off the rack couple weeks ago. The April 2nd issue. Old news now, but I sat down to read it, like old times. It's so soothing. Every major story has either the 'there are dark clouds on the horizon but there's a silver lining' structure; or 'it looks like a golden age, but there are dark clouds of the horizon' structure. It's comforting to know that, however bad it gets, there will always only be those two major stories, although small items and book reviews may deviate. Plus always with the Scottish devolution. I wouldn't know a thing about it without the "Economist". OK, here's the thing. Isn't it silly the way in which the "Economist" incorporates into its articles not just conservative talking points but American right wing-nut talking-points that are totally at odds with the paper's reality-based philosophy and outlook? From an article about radical Islam in the Netherlands: "What nobody knows is whether the new political right will succeed in persuading the Dutch - and indeed other Europeans - to embrace a new sort of politics which, like its American counterparts, puts strong emphasis on values and principles rather than expediency and compromise." The party of values? Surely no sane person - including sane Republicans - regards that as anything but a tattered banner left over from the lately concluded election. You don't use electoral slogans as premises in serious arguments. From an article about the filibuster 'go nuclear or no?' issue: "More generally, the American right's declared aim is to replace retiring "activist liberal" judges, such as those who sanction gay marriage, with those who interpret the constitution in a less cavalier way." You could interpret that generously, as an extended bit of implied indirect quotation, if it weren't for the scare quotes that open and then close before they get to the end of the scary bit. I suppose it's a sign of my steady leftward drift that I now read the "Economist" and frequently guffaw, whereas once I read the "Economist" and frequently disagreed.

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REVIEWING THE ECONOMIST....John Holbo reviews the Economist:Every major story has either the 'there are dark clouds on the horizon but there's a silver lining' structure; or 'it looks like a golden age, but there are dark clouds of the horizon'... [Read More]

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Comments

I saw a Simpsons where Homer is reading the economist and says something like "Well, it looks like Malaysia faces problems with its foreign currency reserves." It was very funny.

Posted by: bjr@yahoo.com | April 18, 2005 at 06:46 AM

I haven't read the article about radical islam in the Netherlands you mention, but it may be that the author isn't just echoing Republicans, but also knows a few things about Dutch politics. Values and principles - "normen en waarden" - are much more than an electoral talking point for our prime minister Balkenende. He's a 1950s style Christian Democrat, somehow escaped from a time capsule, and is completely obsessed by that "tattered banner". When the Netherlands chaired the EU he even tried to shame the country forever in the eyes of the world by attempting to organize an international conference on the subject.

Posted by: R.Mutt | April 18, 2005 at 02:08 PM

Well, John Ralston Saul announced The end of globalism, so maybe the "Economist" is convulsing in agony or something...

Posted by: abb1 | April 18, 2005 at 07:27 PM

Homer's quote is, "Look at me. I’m reading The Economist. Did you know Indonesia is at a crossroads?"

I still enjoy the Economist, but I'd agree that it seems to be drifting towards a non-reality based viewpoint.

Posted by: FS | April 19, 2005 at 03:41 AM

I'll say I love the Economist's style - wry isn't easy to do. (And yeah, it does have two kinds of articles - there's always an element of 'plus ca change...' in its tone.) The writer of the article did seem to know about Dutch politics - as R.Mutt notes above, Balkenende does talk a lot about values and principles. I agree that the analogy to American politics may not be valid, but it seems less an absorption of the right-wing talking points and more of an attempt to make the subject accessible by using a more well-known analogue...

Posted by: Daryl | April 19, 2005 at 11:44 PM

You know what they say about College Arts and Social Sciences faculties and the left wing :)

Posted by: Agagooga | April 20, 2005 at 01:10 AM

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