Wednesday 21 January 2015

"It'll be a disaster!"


At least three times on this morning's Today programme I heard a mixture of BBC commentators and experts' telling us that if Greece votes for Syriza it'll be a 'disaster'!

If we unpack this, we get to who and what an 'economist' is and what they say and what politicians say and what commentators say is, and is not, a 'disaster'. So:
A massive cut in the standard of living for millions of people is NOT a disaster. 

A massive cut in the standard of welfare available to millions of people is NOT a disaster.

Any threat to mega-rich people getting repayments on their loans or bonds WOULD BE a disaster.

A 'strong' economy can be an economy in which poor people are getting poorer and rich people getting richer.

A 'strong' economy can be called a 'recovery' even as the mass of the population are experiencing a cut in wages, and cuts in public services.

This is the bullshit we have to put up with every day, every hour in the press, on the radio and on TV.