Rant of the Day

I had often suspected that Chris Black, city editor for the Evening Standard, was an economic illiterate. Reading his comment in today's issue has confirmed this:

'We have muffed our chance to lead the world'

What is he talking about you ask? The government’s decision not to recommend Gordon 'Calamity' Brown for the top job at the IMF. Maybe he is being sarcastic, or secretly wants Brown to work his magic there and destroy that institution. But if he seriously believes that 'With Brown at the helm, the IMF would be honest and moral' I want whatever he's been smoking. At least he admits Brown has his faults:

Yes, he oversaw the explosion in Britain's debt (although I for one do not recall many siren voices being raised then)- Erm I think you’ll find Dan Hannan, Eamon Butler and most Austrian school types did,

Yes, he left the nation straddled with an almighty public spending deficit- in the good times too, least we forget was a £30 billion deficit prior to the 2008 crisis,

Yes, he's a prickly brooder (and bruiser)- just ask the staff who had Nokia's hurled at them!

Anyone that takes Paul 'more stimulus' Krugman seriously looses all credibility in my eyes as an economics expert. Is not just him, last week was a columnist attacking the CPS (the think tank, not the Crown Prosecution Service), and another last month had a go at the IEA.

If you're going to pay people to write on business and financial affairs at least hire someone who understands and supports the bloody things. Where do they find these people?