Paul Krugman’s Take on the Fraternity of Failure Is Justified

© 2015 Peter Free

 

15 May 2015

 

 

Psychologists agree that hanging out with losers is usually a bad idea, but we seem to delight in it

 

The cogent economist Paul Krugman said this recently:

 

 

You can learn a lot by studying recent history, and . . . even more by watching how politicians respond to that history.

 

The big “Let’s move on” story of the past few days involved [Republican presumed presidential candidate Jeb] Bush’s response when asked in an interview whether . . . he would have supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He answered that yes, he would.

 

Then he tried to walk it back . . . .“going back in time” is a “disservice” to those who served in the war.

 

Take a moment to savor the cowardice and vileness of that last remark.

 

Mr. Bush is trying to hide behind the troops, pretending that any criticism of political leaders . . . is an attack on the courage and patriotism of those who paid the price for their superiors’ mistakes. That . . . tells us a lot more about the candidate’s character than any number of up-close-and-personal interviews.

 

My best explanation is that we’re witnessing the effects of extreme tribalism.

 

It doesn’t matter that the skeptics have been proved right. Simply raising questions about the orthodoxies of the moment leads to excommunication, from which there is no coming back.

 

So the only “experts” left standing are those who made all the approved mistakes.

 

It’s kind of a fraternity of failure . . . .

 

© 2015 Paul Krugman, Fraternity of Failure, New York Times (15 May 2015) (extracts)

 

 

It is not just Republicans who do this

 

Democrats have predominantly been in President Obama’s often mendacious corner throughout his two terms.

 

The main distinction between the two American political parties is that Republicans are arguably psychotic in exhibiting loyalty to the delusions they cultivate.

 

 

The moral? — We will apparently continue to murder innocents, so as to keep from admitting that we have done disastrous things

 

Stupidity, denial, and cowardice are not success-fostering cultural traits.

 

Too bad we are swamp-sucked by all three.