Comments on: The dangerous power of negative thinking

By: truthpatrol

truthpatrol — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:02:31 +0000

The dangerous power of wealth.

By: Nullcorp

Nullcorp — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:28:53 +0000

Boundless optimism is the basis of the American dream. Looks like that’s working out really well lately. We CAN restructure Iraq and Afghanistan. We CAN continue to burn fossil fuels and delay setting (or even meeting existing) emissions targets. We CAN fix the economy by printing more paper. We CAN fight two insanely expensive wars and lower taxes at the same time.

What America really needs now is a great big injection of fear and uncertainty – and it sure is getting it. Risk should create negative feedback but people just kept handing out those loans and credit cards as if there was no chance of problems. The bottom fell out, and what happened? First, people panicked. Then they sobered up and realized that maybe they were a little too laid-back, had a little too much faith in things working out OK. They remembered that bad things can actually happen.

People need to be fearful, worried, concerned, cautious, even anxious. We’re able to feel those emotions because they have been retained throughout millennia of intense evolutionary pressure. In other words, those emotions are useful. There is still a place for them in American life.

People need to become more thrifty, more creative, more resourceful, and live lives that are more simple and austere. All of that is happening. People are saving what they have, reusing old things, fixing broken things instead of throwing them in the landfill and buying a shiny new one. Also, the EPA noted that US emissions dropped 6% in 2009 (compared to 2008). These are all positive trends, in my view.

By: saoirse

saoirse — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:12:35 +0000

1. Even accepting your analysis, the damage being done to the poor and unemployed in the UK by the financial implosion (especially the young unemployed) is unconscionable.
2. What is the appropriate response on the part of Government? It seems that the current Chancellor is wedded to an ideological driven policy which takes little for no account of the common good?

By: rpodraza

rpodraza — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:02:16 +0000

Trust in Allah… But tie up your camel.

Sinbad the Sailor

By: mitchitoo

mitchitoo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:16:06 +0000

I lost my job, home and self-respect. I have been looking for a job for two years. What’s not to be pessimistic about?

I think a Portland Occupy Portland protester said it all with his sign. “If I still had a home, I’d be there now.”

By: Oren1

Oren1 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:19:43 +0000

Excessive negative thinking is as bad as excess positive thinking that isn’t reality. When both sides are made up and you all go dancing on faux results you get what you deserve.

I’m pessisimistic that the politicians can solve anything. Now there’s reality staring us in the face.

By: VonHell

VonHell — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:58:11 +0000

Indeed… they are not yet the french prior revolution, hehe. Not yet, anyway…
Well… this article is… interesting…
I got curious and i read the autor’ previous article, with the title:
“World moves closer to 2008-style cliff”
And found something like:
“There is a mess in the euro zone and signs that GDP has stopped increasing in much of the world, but neither the markets nor any large economies have fallen off a 2008-style cliff. Not yet, anyway.”
“But there are good reasons to hope that the global economic fabric will not be torn.”
“But these bulwarks might not be strong enough to resist a Lehman-like unexpected calamity.”
“Everyone should hope that does not happen. After Lehman, the world’s authorities could offer effective relief. But now policy rates can no longer be cut and more stimulus, either monetary or fiscal, would be as likely to increase panic as to calm nerves.”

hmm… dramatic?…
The dangerous power of negative thinking… maybe is not about confidence in the markets(cause they only lose confidence if something big happens)… but about more people start thinking more about negative things that used to pass by without the proper attention… even because the problems already started to affect the people…
I grew up watching that american cold war movies about capitalism vs comunism… when would i imagine the capitalist people of america occupying wall street…

By: CarlOmunificent

CarlOmunificent — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:23:33 +0000

Andy AE – Don’t weep for the GOP, Argentina! Nobody wages class warfare as well as Republicans. I think the point of the article is that, compared to previous generations who suffered far worse economic calamities, the current crop of Americans and Europeans are relatively insufferable. Throw in heaps of ignorance plus widespread suffrage, and you cannot be surprised if electorates cut off their nose to spite their face in upcoming elections. In the US, Republicans presently yield the most damage per vote, as we all saw in July. In short, Louis XVI was right.

By: slowsmile

slowsmile — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:55:06 +0000

This piece of writing is very disappointing and seems to consist of what I would call “ethereal economics”. There are no concrete facts, figures or charts presented to back his own very limited views and Mr Hadas seems to have absolutely no feelings or perceptions about long-term downward trends and what actually drives them.

Instead Mr Hadas would seem to be promoting yet another version of hope and change thruough rosy but very distorted spectacles. These arguments will not work or convince even my budgie. And if I were a poor or middle class American, I would quietly advise Mr Hadas to retire to his bathroom, have a bath and play with his plastic duck for some more constructive and logical inspiration.

The world is falling apart economically and this man worries about attitudes?

Can we have a proper economist please?

By: AndyAE

AndyAE — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:05:37 +0000

And then, of course, there’s the issue of the democrats using class warfare to fuel the rage and prevent a republican from winning the White House. Today’s oppressor is the “millionaire” (a/k/a republican).