Cult of Personality

on Nov 09 in Economics tagged by Trevor Hicks

The New York Times has an interesting profile on Dick Armey, the former Republican congressman turned think tank head. I found a lot to agree with Mr. Armey, such as this:

“We are a wealthy nation, and there is not much reason that I can justify for anybody who lives within our borders doing without essential health care, and I’m happy to tell you that very few people do,” he said. “If there’s 15 percent who are in that category, then let’s construct a 15 percent solution so they can have it. To me, that’s a wonderfully generous act.”

And then, of course, there’s this idiotic statement:

“President Obama is a talented person who showed up at exactly the right time, but I don’t believe the man has ever been exposed to a serious economic idea, and I’m not sure anyone around him ever has, either.”

I pointed out that Obama’s circle of advisers includes some decorated economists, including Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard — a controversial figure but not one generally regarded as an intellectual slacker. “I don’t consider Larry Summers a serious economist,” Armey said. “You can get a Ph.D. from Harvard without ever having seriously considered the subject.”

Beware putting too much stock in the opinions of anyone, even me!