Pious Baloney

[Sigma_Orionis]

Reading these two posts written by my favorite Pinko-Commie-Elitist-Leftist-Blue-State-Bleeding-Heart-Tax'n-Spend-Liberal Economist. I've reached a momentous insight, an "AHA Moment" of epic proportions, one that can only be compared with the number "42". So important, that I think from now on, I will go live on a cave on top of a mountain and when people come to me seeking answers I will answer cryptically: "faith moves mountains, but ye gots to pay" which of course I plagiarized from a real sage (or at least someone who plays one on TV).

This moment of extreme snarkiness is brought to you by my new book: "SciFiFisher's 100 best Motivational Memes", available now at all bookstores of ill repute.

In the first post, Dr. Krugman complains that while the Economic Situation in the Eurozone is exactly as he predicted, he also said that those swarthy-spendthrift-happy-Club-Med-Southern Europeans would have had enough of "Austerity" and demand to leave the Eurozone, and that hasn't happened (yet).

In the second post, Dr. Krugman now complains (irritating fellow ain't he, snarky too) that all those people preaching "Austerity" are given some sort of "special treatment" by the press (even the "Lamestream Liberal Media").

What''s the relation between the second post and the first? The reason for the observation on the second post is simple, those preaching "Austerity" are seen as "very serious, frugal, people who do the painful things for the right reasons". So even if they mess up continuously and get it wrong (Dr. Krugman specifically refers to all the predictions that "Quantitative Easing" was going to bring sudden rapid inflation) nobody tells the "Very Serious People" to STFU and die. The reason for the second post is simple too: You see, we swarthy, messy, happy-go-lucky southerners (yes I am including most Latin-Americans in that lot) have (as I have complained many times) a major inferiority complex. We Latin-Americans with respect to North America (yes TSC, THAT includes CANADA) and most Southern Europeans with respect to Germany, The Netherlands, Austria and the Scandinavian Countries. So IMHO, a lot of Southern Europeans think that they have to suck up the so-called "Morality Play" Dr. Krugman claims that Germany & Co are forcing the Eurozone Periphery through. I am of the opinion that sure: The Greeks cheated their way into the Eurozone (with the help of Germany and France) and the Italians have had high Sovereign Debt since forever, so they better shut up and take their medicine. BUT, the Spaniards didn't do anything like that, their sovereign debt was according to what the Eurozone dictated and they did everything that was asked of them. Yet they have to go through an extremely painful economic adjustment (I'd say that 25% unemployment is painful) like the others and still listen and accept the "Morality Play" (which Dr. Krugman claims that it's completely unnecessary BTW).

I think that those two observations can be labeled as "Pious Baloney". Which happens to be the last refuge religious fanatics have.

So, what was my "momentous insight"? : "Pious Baloney IS STILL BALONEY".

Is this a Shaggy Dog Story or what?

[SciFiFisher]

Actually, Pious Baloney comes with a free condiment of guilt. It's the preferred relish for 9 out of 10 Catholics.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Ahhh, material for the second volume of my book

[SciFiFisher]

Ahhh, material for the second volume of my book

Don't forget to market it as a Kindle Ebook.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Only if the royalties Amazon charges come from YOUR share of the profits

[Rommie]

Yeah, pretty much hit the nail on the head. There's definitely an idea around here that southern Europeans are a bit lazy and that's why this mess happened to them (but not sure what that tells you about, say, Ireland). And there are SO MANY southern Europeans in a place like Amsterdam lately, because it's just impossible to find a job at home.

I confess what a large part of me doesn't get about it is I rather like Mediterranean cultures and think it's good not everyone in Europe is the same- hell a lot of Germans go down there for a few weeks of vacation every year to pretend they're from Italy or Spain!- but it's pretty impossible for most people to not entwine culture with economics when they think of it.

[Sigma_Orionis]

While setting up my Wise Sage Cave and a payment system for the sheep..... errrr my devoted following (we take Major Credit Cards and Bearer Bonds in Swiss Francs) I have another pearl of wisdom to add:

Religious Fanatics have absolute faith in the Super-Natural, Atheist Fanatics have absolute faith in Ideologies.

I (The Grand Poobah of The Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes Lodge No. 26) have spoken.

[SciFiFisher]

While setting up my Wise Sage Cave and a payment system for the sheep..... errrr my devoted following (we take Major Credit Cards and Bearer Bonds in Swiss Francs) I have another pearl of wisdom to add:

Religious Fanatics have absolute faith in the Super-Natural, Atheist Fanatics have absolute faith in Ideologies.

I (The Grand Poobah of The Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes Lodge No. 26) have spoken.

Wilma called. She wants you to pick up a rack of brontosaurus ribs from the Granite Grocery store on your way home.




was that snarky enough for you?

[Sigma_Orionis]

I've seen you do better

[Sigma_Orionis]

Hmmmm let me rephrase that:

Ideology: Faith for Atheists.

There! I'll go back to my cave now

[Sigma_Orionis]

Back to my favorite Pinko Commie Economist.

According to him: Those Serious Swedes are now in deflation.

And he claims that the rest of Europe will soon follow.

So, IF he is anywhere near right, we'll get to see a primary example of what the Pubs want to do in the US, all from those Liberal Pinko Commie Europeans. IF he's right it ain't going to be pretty either.

[cid]

Pious Baloney...where can I get a pound of that, and is that with or without garlic?

[Sigma_Orionis]

To get a pound of Pious Baloney, you need to go to the Per Se Restaurant in New York City. A pound of Pious Baloney goes for about US$ 5,000.00 (or its equivalent in Bearer Bonds in Swiss Francs).

Unfortunately, it only available without Garlic because the very very very picky makers of Pious Baloney consider that Garlic Flavored Baloney is only fit for the Hoi Poloi.