Cliffs, Ceilings, Bombs, and Explosions…
Cliffs, Ceilings, Bombs, and Explosions…
…When Metaphors Go BAD
Cliffs, Ceilings, Bombs, and Explosions: When Metaphors Go BAD.
Jim LukeLCC EconomicsJanuary 30, 2013
Blog: econproph.comInfo: jimluke.comCourses: econproph.netDownload: http://wp.me/pR94N-gj (or search at jimluke.com)
Twitter: @econproph
Twitter: James Luke
DISCLAIMERS & Legal Fine Print
While many phrases have been tortured, no actual words have been destroyed. Yet.IANAWP – don’t quote me on metaphors vs. similes vs. analogies vs. other stuff.
Metaphors and stories help us think about things – like the economy.
Metaphors can limit thinking too.
Let’s Look At Some Examples
What Have You Heard?
metaphor trouble
Economy Going Off The Fiscal Cliff
But Why? Debt and Spending? NO. This is double BAD.
BAD: Fiscal Cliff was about debt and deficits hurting the economy.
Reality: Fiscal Cliff was automatic spending cuts & tax increases.
Spending cuts & tax rises SLOW the economy
BAD: The “Debt Ceiling” has to do with spending.
Reality: Budget mandates spending, taxes, and borrowing. Debt ceiling is a silly law.
Reality:The debt “ceiling” is a charade and kabuki theater.
Reality: Not raising the debt ceiling would be catastrophic for U.S., the world, and you.
BAD: Govt debt is a “bomb”, just like private debt is a “crushing burden”.
Reality: One of these is not like the other.
Credit Cards (private debt)
US Government Bonds
US Federal Reserve Notes
Reality:U.S. Cannot “Go Broke” orGo Bankrupt
Reality:U.S. is not like Greece, or Ireland, or Spain, or Argentina.It is like Japan, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. – sovereign in money.
Reality:Default can only happen by choice.
Non-convertible (floating) rates Debt in own currency.
BAD:Govt budget should be balanced just like your household budget.
Reality:
Government is NOT like a household.
Reality:Deficits are NOT bad, but surpluses are.
Surpluses are followed by recessions. Necessary if private sector wishes to save. Supply of safe financial assets.
BAD:Cutting spending can balance budget.
Reality:“Austerity” slows an economy and worsens deficits.
Taxes are % of GDPAutomatic stabilizer effectUK & Ireland proving it (again)
Reality:Deficit will shrink as employment returns. Growth heals.
BAD: We can balance the budget by cutting “waste”.
check out the zero’s in *illions.
Reality:The U.S. government is an insurance company with an army.
Big Social Security (self-funded) Defense (unfunded) Medicare (part funded)
Medium – income transfers Interest Medicaid & Income Security
Insignificant Everything else
BAD:Spending has exploded under Obama.
Reality:Recovery and Obama budgets have cut spending.
Ignorance
Politics
Ideology
Hide the real agenda
Good sources for facts.
Econproph.com Tax.com CalculatedRiskBlog.com NakedCapitalism.com AngryBear.com
Presimetrics.com
Krugman.blogs.nytimes.com“FRED” at research.stlouisfed.org
Others…?
Sources & Images• http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2013/01/philip-pllkington-purging-economics-of-religion-a-rebuttal-to-robert-nelsons-defence-of-the-
great-chain-of-being.html/graph3• http://radio.foxnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/1-6-debt-ceiling.jpg• http://www.sleuthsayers.org/2011/11/metaphor-hunting.html• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid
=72fwfKqKE32n7M&tbnid=0ZoZLXH6UyTraM:&ved=0CAIQjBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.businessweek.com%2Fcms%2F2012-12-20%2F0803_cliff_630x420.jpg&ei=6u0GUa-9AsX6qwGE6YGoDg&bvm=bv.41524429,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNEsodTvHsJ674IwCKvPtv3MjmjE0g&ust=1359494550883237
• http://netrightdaily.com/2012/12/fiscal-cliff/• http://www.wlwt.com/image/view/-/17343332/medRes/2/-/maxh/460/maxw/620/-/41bw25/-/Fiscal-cliff-notes-jpg.jpg• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f5/US_$50_1993_Federal_Reserve_Note_Obverse.jpg• http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/12/10/Editorial-Opinion/Graphics/toles12112012.jpg• https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTYtn5eycKKLe51EwkeoIyoDby2F7sSfNL08QSEzq_6glpYveeX• https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTnLcEfK3HDFlutcFOr2T4Th3VlJBcRSUtr8hkbY67vtFlWgeoY1Q• https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrEvhRfftkWFxwJK2SvKGRAi4ILVBFSeou8paXonv_CZuxLqVN• https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIvgD10FL5tzHs7pnOzt1QKUWIhefomNwMlqmSa8pDulgOYsn8pQ• https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQYKURNQI3vm_hZYXxDRgZ8T3RVKKXzS2tRL3oY5o5YIRc0cv7CtQ