A Strange Cure

Most times, to me a Jamaican voodoo doctor rattling chicken bones makes as much sense as an economist, and I’d say there is a greater probability the voodoo doctor’s predictions will come true.

The fact is I simply do not understand economics. It’s as much a mystery as astrology. Or tarot cards. Or a scientist staring at a patch of mud in South America and declaring it proves (without a shadow of a doubt) a million years ago the Amazon River was in Africa, before the continents split apart.

But, every now and then, when it comes to G-8s, derivatives and economic multipliers (which I don’t understand anymore than voodoo) I get a flash of light that’s like bedrock under my feet.

It happened yesterday morning reading the newspaper. On page 3A. Second column. Third paragraph: We’re going to build swimming pools to get the economy out of the recession. That’s right. Swimming pools. Right there in Obama’s stimulus package.

Think about it: America may be the only nation in the entire recorded (and unrecorded) history of mankind to come up with swimming pools as a cure for its economic problems.

The president’s for it.

The Senate’s for it.

The Congress is for it.

And it’s hard not to wonder if we’ve gone plumb loco.

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Carter Wrenn

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A Strange Cure

Most times, to me a Jamaican voodoo doctor rattling chicken bones makes as much sense as an economist, and I’d say there is a greater probability the voodoo doctor’s predictions will come true.

The fact is I simply do not understand economics. It’s as much a mystery as astrology. Or tarot cards. Or a scientist staring at a patch of mud in South America and declaring it proves (without a shadow of a doubt) a million years ago the Amazon River was in Africa, before the continents split apart.

But, every now and then, when it comes to G-8s, derivatives and economic multipliers (which I don’t understand anymore than voodoo) I get a flash of light that’s like bedrock under my feet.

It happened yesterday morning reading the newspaper. On page 3A. Second column. Third paragraph: We’re going to build swimming pools to get the economy out of the recession. That’s right. Swimming pools. Right there in Obama’s stimulus package.

Think about it: America may be the only nation in the entire recorded (and unrecorded) history of mankind to come up with swimming pools as a cure for its economic problems.

The president’s for it.

The Senate’s for it.

The Congress is for it.

And it’s hard not to wonder if we’ve gone plumb loco.

Click Here to discuss and comment on this and other articles.

Avatar photo

Carter Wrenn

Categories

Archives