Two Who Pay Close Attention

If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying AttentionDo you remember this bumper sticker? It has always made a lot of sense to me. Just the same, I try to keep calm. In recent years, this has been more and more difficult.

There are two political commentators who I think of when I reflect on, “If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention!” The first is Eric Alterman, who I write about quite often—most recently, Paul Ryan’s Holy Trinity. The second is Dean Baker, who I also write about often—most notably, Copyright is for Wimps.

Today in a take down of an Ezra Klein article that I haven’t yet read—Still Getting the Housing Bubble Wrong—Dean Baker has a parenthetical comment that I think is infinitely quotable:

Remember, the purpose of economics is to make simple things complicated so as to exclude most of the public from debates on the most important policy issues that affect their lives.

Who doesn’t love any professional who thinks lowly of his profession? We need more lovable curmudgeons like Eric Alterman and Dean Baker.

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About Frank Moraes

Frank Moraes is a freelance writer and editor online and in print. He is educated as a scientist with a PhD in Atmospheric Physics. He has worked in climate science, remote sensing, throughout the computer industry, and as a college physics instructor. Find out more at About Frank Moraes.

0 thoughts on “Two Who Pay Close Attention

  1. What a great quote! And yes I share your love for professionals who "think lowly" of their profession.

    Thanks for stopping by and posting verse at my Political Madness Blog!

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