Letter to Paul Krugman

Friday, May 01, 2015

Dear Paul.

Re Your column in the New York Times of May 1, 2015 "Ideology and Integrity"

I admire your efforts to bring a sense of collective responsibility into the blizzard of half to no truths which have characterized the discussions re economics. It is, however, "like tilting at windmills". It would be far easier to get blood from a rock than to get intellectual integrity from amoral individuals.

Beliefs have nothing to do with this. Oh, I suppose that some of those brothers and sisters actually believe what they cater to, but that fact is really a good argument for getting rid of the whole notion of belief anyway. Believing is simply a mental state that has the tendency to lock one into some narrow conclusion re whatever. Once one commits to believing something, game over. Not a good idea in an infinite Cosmos!

Most of the individuals involved here are simply doing what works to achieve their ends. Unfortunately for Humanity, their ends are most deeply involved in the self centered acquisition of some sort of personal aggrandizement…. power, money, ownership of something, anything… regardless of the repercussions to the Common Good. Morality is simply not an issue. But to put on a good show, they will donate millions to museums, concert halls, even Universities if they will follow a few requirements...that is.

I am suggesting that you give up on the soft economic arguments of humanistic reasoning. Reason dialectics require a heart on each side of the discussion. Such is not the case here. You have been trying this approach for many years, without much success, and the efforts are beginning to sound more and more like pleas. I think it is time to go up front with this. 

The bit on Zombies was right on track.

The controlling ideology of selfishness flows from a deep ignorance regarding the Physics, never mind the “morality”,  of how the Planet and the rest of Cosmos works. It is not a brain buster to scientifically, that is to use hard science documentation, to demonstrate that the basic ignorance of soft economic shibboleths such as the “acting for the benefit of one’s individual self”.

For example, there is no “individual self” that exists separate from, or outside of, or independent of the rest of Humanity. There is a conscious realization of one's individuality which is a basic aspect of being human, but the realization, if it is enlightened at all, will recognize that one is an inseparable part of a great whole called Humanity. This is a scientifically demonstrable fact. Basic high school physics is all it takes.

These apostles of self centeredness are on record as denying any whiff of hard science that would trod on either their income or power, or the right to do anything to make it in any arena at all. Just recall the years they drummed up and paid "scientists" to provide them with arguments that would counter the flood of scientific data regarding their very profitable active addiction of the population with nicotine delivery devices called cigarettes. So, we finally took actions that made a big dent in local cigarette consumption.

The response from the self centered entrepreneurs, "O.K. we will make electronic nicotine delivery devices." These are selling like "ecstasy", making tons more money by eliminating the huge costs of growing and processing tobacco, enriching virtually the same crowd, and addicting many of our children. When we get rid of electronic cigarettes, the individuals intent on doing that which will get them money or power regardless, will come up with something else. This has been going on for countless decades, and will go on for more decades, unless we shift the foundations of the economic system from being based on personal wealth generation to serving the Common Good.

So, in terms of the occurring and pending environmental disasters resulting from climate change which was generated by decades of the self-serving economics of entrepreneurs who lack, not intelligence, but integrity which is a heart quality, it is not surprising to find sophist shills such as Ted Cruz shilling away to protect the interests of Big Oil, and various other Corporate Sophist Golems ( a new technique in Golem making) in the defense and weapon manufactures, just to mention a couple.

It is time to bring the entire conversation regarding economics or the blood circulation systems of civilizations as well as the planet under the preview of Science. And it will still be a big struggle, but one we can actually win.

Lots of love

-tom