Krugman Finds Pride In America! (My Secret Spies Are Everywhere)

Possibly taken aback by reaction to his despicable 9/11 post, Krugman explains again why he hates most of the rest of us:

It looks as if I should say a bit more about yesterday’s anniversary. So:

The fact is that the two years or so after 9/11 were a terrible time in America – a time of political exploitation and intimidation, culminating in the deliberate misleading of the nation into the invasion of Iraq. It’s probably worth pointing out that I’m not saying anything now that I wasn’t saying in real time back then, when Bush had a sky-high approval rating and any criticism was denounced as treason. And there’s nothing I’ve done in my life of which I’m more proud.

It was a time when tough talk was confused with real heroism, when people who made speeches, then feathered their own political or financial nests, were exalted along with – and sometimes above – those who put their lives on the line, both on the evil day and after.

So it was a shameful episode in our nation’s history – and it’s one that I can’t help thinking about whenever we talk about 9/11 itself.

So the country went in a different direction than he would have chosen, some people were mean to the former Enron advisor, and that is his key takeaway from 9/11.  Whatever.  Hundreds of first responders bravely gave their lives today, citizens rallied on United 93 to save the Capitol, but the main lesson is that Krugman was forced to endure (with Michael Moore) a lucrative role as Angry Lib.

But he did find a brief moment of shining pride:

Now, I should have said that the American people behaved remarkably well in the weeks and months after 9/11: There was very little panic, and much more tolerance than one might have feared. Muslims weren’t lynched, and neither were dissenters, and that was something of which we can all be proud.

No Muslims were lynched - are we a great nation, or what?  I share his pride in our fellow citizens.

Now, do you wonder whether 9/11 is the only horribly tainted day on Krugman's calendar?  Wonder no more!  My ubiquitous secret spies have found his annotated calendar for 2011:

Martin Luther King Day: Our nation shares a collective and eternal guilt for the acts of a nutter gunman.

President's Day: We pretend to honor the President who owned slaves and the President who lacked the courage to free them in the border states.

Memorial Day: Dying in war glorified by the military-industrial complex.

Fourth of July: Ignorant partisans celebrate the founding of a nation stolen from Native Americans and built by slaves.

Labor Day: A once-proud day marred by the collapse of the Soviets.

Columbus Day: Again with the glorification of imperialism and conquest?

Election Day: How many blacks and ethnics will be turned away at the polls today?  And why bother showing up, since the Supreme Court willl select the next winners anyway.

Veterans Day: When is "Peace Activists Day"?

Thanksgiving: Only the Mohegan Sun Casino marks the Native Americans victimized by the Pilgrims.

Christmas:  We violate the separation of church and state to commemorate the birth of the man whose ideas led to the Spanish Inquisition.

New Years Day:  Maybe the new year won't suck as hard.  But I bet it does.

It's always cloudy in Princeton. 

TO BE FAIR: it's not all gloom in Krug-world.  I have no doubt a big smile illuminated Krugman's face as he reported that ObamaCare had succeeded in bending the cost curve.  Ooops.

Comments

[Janet]

Krugman has corrected "Te atrocity" to "The atrocity". I guess he was ashamed.

[Captain Hate]

Who cares what a dumb lying prick like Krugman has to say about anything?

[Extraneus]

F*ck Krugman. If we ever suffer another terrorist attack, I hope it's his kids on the bus instead of mine. Fair is fair.

[OldTimer]

Black, dark, evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, rotten, sinful, unethical, unlawful, unrighteous, unsavory, vicious, vile, villainous, bad, wrong, are all words synonymous with wicked, and ISTM Krugman fits right in there with the best of 'em.

[Jack is Back!]

Earth Day: A paen to a bunch of Birkenstock wearing alarmists who insist on everyone else holding their breath.

February 28th, (Paul Krugman's Birthday) - A day where nothing special occured in 1953 but celibrated throughou the world every 4 years as the day before the only new day in a leap year.

[Appalled]

I guess it says something about the conscience of the Krugman variety of liberal that he can make two posts about 9/11, and not give a thought to those who died -- that his main focus is on what politicians he dislikes did.

As for Krugman's relief about lynchings -- it just goes to show that it is always 1925 in Krugman's mind, when he thinks about the belief aystem of the average white male.

[Rob Crawford]

If we ever suffer another terrorist attack, I hope it's his kids on the bus instead of mine.

That's not fair. His kids didn't write that screed.

Hope it's him on the bus. Or his wife, who supposedly writes that crap for him.

[Rob Crawford]

And does it strike anyone else as laughable when a former Enron booster blathers about people "feathering their nests"?

[Ignatz]

--And there’s nothing I’ve done in my life of which I’m more proud.--

Not even taking Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay's payola? Wow.

Doubt there's anything anyone can say in comments here that would discredit the bastard more than that statement of his nor demonstrate more clearly just what a dishonorable life he's led if that's his crowning moral achievement.

[Ranger]

What's the point of being a big name Ivy League type if you can't sell you name to a company for $50K a year?

[Jack is Back!]

Krug = Jar in German. In his case and empty jar that will always ring hallow.

OT: Posted LUN at other thread. Michelle's despicable comment about the flag folding ceremony at the 911 remembrance. Reading her lips, she says to Barry, "All this over folding a flag". And he agrees shaking his head.

[Danube of Thought]

He is a troubled, sick man. Enough about him.

[Danube of Thought]

JiB, I can't really be sure what she's saying, but the last word certainly appears to be "flag." and the look of disdain on her face, no matter what she was saying, had no place at that occasion.

[Jack is Back!]

DoT,

According to triggerjoe who sent it to me, he had a deaf person verify that her words were,"All this over folding a flag".

[Porchlight]

Wow. That is just awful. His expression was almost as bad as hers.

[Chubby]

wow is right. she was certainly expressing disgust about something.

the other day I was ranting because Krugman disallowed comments on his screed. I've changed my mind. if this lipreading youtube goes viral, comments should be disallowed because the few I read were extremely racist.

being disgusted with what looks like a disgusting comment from the First Lady to the president on such a solemn occasion has nothing to do with race.

youtube might even shut it down on that basis

[Porchlight]

Yes, some of the comments are really awful.

Isn't Rush Limbaugh a lip reader? Maybe he can figure out what she said.

[Jim Ryan]

I have a close family member who had a tough week here in town, with the city flying American flags every 100 yards downtown in honor of the 911 commemoration. She hates the flag. On 9/12/01, she flew the UN flag outside her door in reaction to her neighbors' American flags. She has contempt for Americans who don't share her political stance and who believe in God. Likewise, Michelle and Barry hate the flag and the country. It's no mystery.

Exposure to the flag causes a visceral revulsion amongst the left. In the rest of us it causes an increased tendency to vote Republican.

[Jack is Back!]

JR,

Ever wonder why that is so? Endemic lack of self esteem? Brain chemistry? Genes?

All I know is that your close family member is not alone. Medea Benjamin has a whole stable of these nut cases to call forward at the drop of a hat(e).

[Jane]

Exposure to the flag causes a visceral revulsion amongst the left.

We did a stand-out on 911 where a bunch of us (tea partiers) stood out on busy streets with American flags. There was nothing to identify us as tea partiers, just people who loved their country. The reaction of about 80% of the people going by was fabulous. All sorts of beeping and thumbs up and that stuff. WE even got a "neigh" from a horse.

But that other 20% averted their eyes or gave us dirty looks. It was truly amazing to see people who appeared downright offended by this country's flag.

(I kept thinking all day - I would never have imagined being my age and standing on the side of the street holding a flag. I have blown my own mind.)

[Danube of Thought]

Bush 43 appointee:

President Obama's plan to require individual Americans to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty exceeds the powers granted both the president and Congress by the Constitution, a federal district court judge ruled Tuesday in Harrisburg

Federal District Judge Christopher C. Connor said the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce does not give it the power to compel individual citizens to purchase products against their will.

"The nation undoubtably faces a health-care crisis," Conner said. "Scores of individuals are uninsured and the costs to all citizens are measurable and significant.

“The federal government, however, is one of limited enumerated powers,” Conner continued, “and Congress' efforts to remedy the ailing health care and health insurance markets must fit squarely within the boundaries of those powers."

[Porchlight]

I'm glad it was just 20%, Jane. But you're right, that's way too high.

I had a flag sticker on my rear windshield for many years pre-9/11. The window actually got smashed in which could have been because of the flag, since the break was near the sticker and nothing was taken.

Anyway, I got some negative comments from lefty friends. Some of those same friends proudly displayed flags after Obama's victory in 2008. I guess they were finally proud of their country.

[Jim Ryan]

Ever wonder why that is so?

Because it's a very innocent and powerful symbol that stand in the way of their pushing their political agenda, which agenda gives them the lion's share of the meaning in their lives (as leftism requires that politics be the lion's share of one's moral life.) It stands in their way epistemically - meaning that it reminds them that their views are in fact inconsistent with natural facts about human beings. And it stands in their way politically, as a reminder that we are stronger than they and won't let them win. It dooms them to figuring out some other moral worldview other than leftist politics. On a more basic level, the flag symbolizes naive innocence and goodness, and leftism requires that one have contempt for that so that one can feel justified in using the naive and innocent as pawns in one's political exploits. They hate innocence because innocence naturally hates tyranny when it eventually encounters it, and they are tyrants.

In order to cover all this up, of course, they tell themselves that they hate the flag because it symbolizes war and greed. It's self-deceit upon self-deceit, a deplorable personal situation.

The flag is like the holy water of an exorcist: very simple, clear and powerful reminder to the demon that he is doomed. So he writhes and gnashes his teeth.

[Jane]

Porch,

When we were done I walked back to my car in a nearby parking lot, with my flags in hand. A guy in a pick-up truck, wearing a marine hate drove up to me and said: "What you are doing is awesome", then he handed me an ice cold bottle of water.

There was no poison in it.

[Jane]

marine HAT

[Captain Hate]

“The federal government, however, is one of limited enumerated powers,” Conner continued, “and Congress' efforts to remedy the ailing health care and health insurance markets must fit squarely within the boundaries of those powers."

Damn straight. Does everybody remember the first Thanksgiving when the poor pilgrims, who came to the New World for socialized health care, sought out the Indians Native aboriginal Americans and exchanged leeches and Medicine men. It was a great moment in our nation's history.

[Ranger]

But in this case it is even worse. The flag here is a sybmol to recognize the sacrifice of those who ran into danger, and of those unfortunate innocents who died not because of anything they did, but because they were, for the most part, Americans. Even those who weren't Americans were taking part in the 'American Dream.'

The dismissive attitude about the ceremony is really dismissing the idea that what happened that day means anything. There is no understanding that those who run into danger to save the innocent deserve any special recognition when that act does actually require the ultimate sacrifice. There is also no real understanding of the tragedy that those who died, died simply for trying to live their lives in the United States. They see nothing to be respected and nothing to be mourned in 9-11.

[Captain Hate]

Andi of Sullivan Headquarters has another anti-Palin post up.

[Ranger]

BTW, I am surprised that YouTube hasn't hit Drudge yet.

[macphisto]

OT: i'm sorry that the Gourds are out here--i'm in Santa Cruz--right now. i'd love to see them and perhaps meet Mr. Porchlight, but this really isn't a good time for me to be out and about. perhaps some other time.

[Dave (in MA)]

See the Silsbee thread for another theory on what FLOTUS said. I would like to think that's more like what has been suggested before.

[Cecil Turner]

The fact is that the two years or so after 9/11 were a terrible time in America – a time of political exploitation and intimidation, culminating in the deliberate misleading of the nation into the invasion of Iraq.

That's a fact? Seems to me the "misleading" was a fiction, despite near-unanimity of intelligence to the contrary. And the propaganda meme, created by liberals after the fact, saved their political capital at the expense of our national interest.

But the memory of how the atrocity was abused is and remains a painful one. And it’s a story that I, at least, can neither forget nor forgive.

That atrocity bit is right. When the lefties in this country rode enemy propaganda into political power (much like the aftermath of Vietnam). I won't forget, either. (But perhaps forgiveness is possible, eventually.)

[narciso]

The Ewoks are in a scrum over the fact that the CDC offered Gardasil, to the state of Alaska, funded in part by the federal government

[matt]

Krugman must have hit the water table by now. He's just digging himself deeper and deeper.

Maybe we should all just pitch in and buy him a ticket to Canada since he hates @ 75% of the population so much.

[Jim]

I used to wonder why Progressives blamed Bush for the lies of WMD (there were 16 reasons to go into Iraq) when all foreign spy agencies, some of whom gave us their intelligence, and most prominent Dems agreed that Iraq had them. That is a heck of a conspiracy.

Then I realized. Progressives are not debating terrorism, even though they are guilty about it.

The Progressive message is essentially one simple theme: No matter what happens, no matter who comes after us, we don't want to fight. We will hide while you fight. Do not count on us.

That predicts and explains every progressive talking point since the 1960s. Forget the rest of their rhetoric.

[Rob Crawford]

The Ewoks are in a scrum over the fact that the CDC offered Gardasil, to the state of Alaska, funded in part by the federal government

They're more interested in destroying Palin (who isn't even in the race) than in defeating Obama.

[PD]

Progressives are willing to fight: They'll fight tooth and nail anyone who believes this country is good and decent.

[Rob Crawford]

I used to wonder why Progressives blamed Bush for the lies of WMD (there were 16 reasons to go into Iraq) when all foreign spy agencies, some of whom gave us their intelligence, and most prominent Dems agreed that Iraq had them. That is a heck of a conspiracy.

A conspiracy that included every single one of them, too during the waning years of Clinton's administration.

[Extraneus]

Palin jumping on Perry with the "crony capitalism" charge (which seems pretty unfair, but what do I know) is the biggest hint yet that she's planning to get in.

Seems like it only helps Romney.

[narciso]

Yes, it struck me that there should have been some record of the destruction of said WMD's
but the wikileaks excerpts, actually suggest
the opposite

[daddy]

Jane,

I think "marine hate" was right.

Northern Arizona University officials confront students over U.S. flag handouts.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I heard a comment yesterday that works for me. In answer to the diversity crowd, those who think we should fly flags for every country equal to flying our own, and the phony tolerance the left spouts:

"This country is a melting pot, not a salad bowl."

[Porchlight]

"What you are doing is awesome", then he handed me an ice cold bottle of water.

That's so great.

macphisto, never fear, they come back to SC at least once a year. Take care.

[Jack is Back!]

Palin is very, very wrong about what "crony capitalism" is and the Gardisil/Merck kerfulfelle is not representative of it. Obama and GE is a good example. As is Solyndra. As is Goldman Sachs. If she applies the Merck example she opens herself up for similiar Corporate political contributions made to her and where those led. I know of no pol that has more than 2 digits of separation between contributions and state business. Even Ron Paul.

As for Bachman, she really does make my skin crawl. She allowed heresay from someone she encounters after the debate and turns it into a truth that has been shown to be unfounded.

[Paul Zrimsek]

Has anyone located any non-imaginary people who actually accused Krugman of treason for his brave, brave criticism? I tried googling "krugman treason" and all I got was page after page of references to his 2009 column accusing Republicans of treason against the planet.

[Jack is Back!]

Hey PD,

How are you driving back home? Are you going through Kansas? Or are you going back up north to Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota?

If you go thru Kansas make sure to keep an empty stomach for BoBo's Drive In, Topeka, The best burger and onion rings in the world.

[Captain Hate]

They're more interested in destroying Palin (who isn't even in the race) than in defeating Obama.

If ace was any more cooter-phobic I'd have a betting pool on when he comes out of the closet.

[Stephanie 'Kindred Spirit Sister']

I posted this at PW last night re Palin:

Just saw the Palin thing in its entirety. She framed the crony capitalism/Perry thing in terms of people on our side need to learn to not be afraid of calling each other out to clean up government. She framed it as quit being go along to get along and folks not really thinking about how it plays to do things that appear to be against the interests of fair and open government and that since the American people already distrust government we need to be watchdogs for each other and bring it to the forefront so that we will stop doing it. I think it was paired up to go with her crony capitalism speech from Iowa. She mentioned that she had been unafraid to call out both sides and republicans should not shy away from keeping each other on the straight and narrow.

Need to find the whole interview with her to get the full gist as the Perry swipe was more of a .22 across all the candidate’s bows and not an indictment of any one candidate. Perry was the unfortunate example and she acknowledged Reagan’s 11th amendment but said that turning a blind eye to any impropriety was not good for the country no matter if you think you are protecting your side.

A big nothing burger against Perry IMHO. It does set him up nicely to rag on Obama and the Soylandra crony capitalism, though, with a possibility to expand on it and propose a platform to crack down on lobbying in general.

She put country over party and I’m sure Allah and Ace will stroke out over it. All in all Perry was a minor point being made about a major skirmish.

Followed up with:

I think Palin should couch her problem with republican’s crony capitalism issues without breaking Reagan’s 11th. Unfortunately, the way Greta framed the question, it was in the set up (thanks to Bachmann attack) and at least she didn’t shy away from the point of the question. She acknowledged the $5k and lobbying after leaving a govt post by Perry’s whatever the hell employee he was and then expounded on the larger issue in general as something that should be fought by all.

She actually answered the question even though it was a potential mine field. Beats the hell out of most pundit’s and candidate’s habits of ignoring the point of the question and launching into OH, Bunnies!

Had Ace nailed and I still think it's a big nothing burger for Perry or Palin.

[PD]

How are you driving back home? Are you going through Kansas? Or are you going back up north to Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota?

From Vail to Pierre, SD on our way to Willmar, MN where my Dad lives. Then home to Madison.

BoBo's does sound good, though.

[Porchlight]

Palin is very, very wrong about what "crony capitalism" is and the Gardisil/Merck kerfulfelle is not representative of it.

No, she isn't, and yes, it is.

In degree, it is not close to Obama/GE (what could be, on the state level?), but in kind, it very much is.

[Porchlight]

Reagan's 11th commandment has nothing to do with the sharp elbows routinely thrown in a primary. It has to do with interparty warfare.

Reagan challenged an incumbent Republican for the nomination, for goodness' sake, arguably weakening him to the point he couldn't beat the challenger. He threw and landed many a blow against fellow Republicans in every primary he competed in.

[Stephanie 'Kindred Spirit Sister']

True, Porch. My problem with her potentially/possibly breaking that commandment (or being careful not to do so) comes because she is currently a pundit and labeled as a conservative pundit and as such it isn't the same as candidate v candidate. It's Rovian.

We get pissed off at Rove for flaming O'Donnell and we shouldn't get pissed at Palin if she does it, too? I don't think so.

She needs to be careful how she treads is all. Rove is not careful and he is rightfully vilified for it. Plus, he seems to especially enjoy slamming anyone tea party anyways and by extension Palin. It is an extremely fine line she walks when doing commentary for Fox.

[Captain Hate]

We get pissed off at Rove for flaming O'Donnell and we shouldn't get pissed at Palin if she does it, too? I don't think so.

Rove fragged a primary winner in a fit of pique; I've not seen Palin do that (although maybe I've missed something)

[Porchlight]

We get pissed off at Rove for flaming O'Donnell and we shouldn't get pissed at Palin if she does it, too? I don't think so.

What pissed people off about Rove was that he trashed O'Donnell after she was the nominee. Big difference. If the 11th commandment has a place in an election, it's after the nominee has been selected. Then, you support or you shut up. But until then, all's fair.

Regarding Palin's Fox gig, I think her announcement is imminent, so soon either she will no longer be a potential candidate or she will no longer be doing commentary on Fox.

[narciso]

Why are we surprised, except in the sense that they left a paper trail

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/emails-obama-white-house-monitored-huge-loan-connected/story?id=14508865

[Ranger]

"If you guys think this is a bad idea, I need to unwind the W[est] W[ing] QUICKLY," wrote Ronald A. Klain, who was chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, in another email sent March 7, 2009.

That's pretty close to a smoking gun right there.

[Extraneus]

I agree with everything Porch said. (As usual.)

[narciso]

Ron Klain, who was Reno's chief of staff, if memory serves

[narciso]

Yes, and has a tie to Fannie Mae, that's so unexpected

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Klain

[Stephanie 'Kindred Spirit Sister']

I'm not criticizing Palin for doing so, either. I'm amused at the commenters over at Ace's who are. I realize the prickly position she is in having to comment on the debates and the likelihood she will piss off Ace and Allah' Girl Cootie Couterie.

IIRC Rove has recently been trashing Perry to promote Duke and Duke LLC. He can't seem to help himself. It's not just doing so after they are primaried, it is doing so specifically to maintain the status quo 'lose less slowly' crowd and thus his true colors shine through. He is a party man.

She needs to exercise caution that she isn't accused of trashing candidates to clear the field for herself..and I think she knows that. People on our side are starting to get exasperated with her 'maybe I will, maybe I won't' who used to be open to her potential and she needs to act fast to stem it IMO.

[Stephanie 'Kindred Spirit Sister']

(As usual.)

LOL!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

In the majority of the commentary I've seen since the debate, the consensus has been that Perry didn't do all that well, especially in the 2nd half, so I don't think Sarah's critique is much different from what I've heard most of the day.

[Soylent Red]

From Vail to Pierre, SD on our way to Willmar, MN where my Dad lives. Then home to Madison.

One of my good buddies is from Wilmar. Clan Bullerman.

Anyway, once you get as far as Sioux City, IA/South Sioux City, NE you will be in my general stomping grounds and thus you can experience the sensory wonder that is a Runza.

Don't bother with anything else, just get a runza and onion rings from one of the regional Runza restaurants. You will pee yourself they are so good.

Reagan's 11th commandment has nothing to do with the sharp elbows routinely thrown in a primary. It has to do with interparty warfare.

As I remember it, and I could be wrong, the 11th Commandment originally did not apply to friendly fire on ideological issues. The common Reagan version of it was more like a reminder not to sell out fellow Republicans for short term political gain. It had to do with Republican primaries giving Democrats their talking points, and Republicans holding grudges after elections.

And yes John McCain - Reagan is speaking from the grave to you.

[narciso]

It's time for another instance of not getting the point, from Mark Lynch:

http://lynch.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/09/10/the_israeli_embassy_disaster

[jorod]

Off with his head!..oops.

[Porchlight]

She needs to exercise caution that she isn't accused of trashing candidates to clear the field for herself..and I think she knows that.

Definitely agree with this. And I think she knows she has to jump soon. But, assuming she does get in, most of the "will she, won't she" complaints will just be a fading memory within a few weeks.

Thanks Ext and Soylent - I should look up Reagan's use of the 11th. For some reason I thought it specifically didn't apply to primaries. But then, maybe it wasn't all that specific.

I am all for unity in the general. I think that's what bothered me so much about Rove during the 2010 elections. This time around, I;m assuming he's working for Romney (or plans to be), but I could be wrong.

Mmmmmm....runza.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Yesterday, Mike Huckabee said that Romnney is more electable than Rick Perry. I had to look out the window to see if pigs were flying by.

[narciso]

Why don't I trust this fellow, besides having taken an ethics course with Bill Clinton, once upon a time

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/opinion/veto-a-state-lose-an-ally.html?_r=1

[Soylent Red]

Yesterday, Mike Huckabee said that Romnney is more electable than Rick Perry.

Welp...that settles it then.

Perry is my candidate.

[Soylent Red]

And by the way, WRT Rove...

I look at Rove like anthrax: very useful for waging war on your enemies, but you don't want it blowing back in your face and it is maddeningly persistent.

We need to lock him up in a bunker somewhere until the general election.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Welp...that settles it then.

Perry is my candidate.

LOL

[Ralph L]

I have blown my own mind.)

Posted by: Jane
I hope this has been added to Hit's Hit Parade.

[Jim]

Karl Rove calling Obama a spendthrift is like Ron Perlman deriding Steve Buscemi for being ugly; it may be true, but it also makes him a hypocrite.

And unlike ugly, hypocrisy tends to smear people standing beside you.

[Mark Folkestad]

PD, it is a small world. Until a year ago, I had lived in or near Willmar from 1964. How long has your father been there? I might know him. I graduated from high school there in 1969. From 1972 forward I had my legal residence on the NE corner of Green Lake, just up Hwy. 23 from Willmar.

[Cecil Turner]

I see we have Krugman on record calling SS a "Ponzi":

Social Security is structured from the point of view of the recipients as if it were an ordinary retirement plan: what you get out depends on what you put in. So it does not look like a redistributionist scheme. In practice it has turned out to be strongly redistributionist, but only because of its Ponzi game aspect, in which each generation takes more out than it put in. Well, the Ponzi game will soon be over, thanks to changing demographics, so that the typical recipient henceforth will get only about as much as he or she put in (and today's young may well get less than they put in).

Worth a chortle, I think.