"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Monday, July 23, 2012
That earlier story showing that Canadians are now richer than we are?
The veracity of the original story aside, there are some serious flaws in Elizabth MacDonald's methodology. It reads as if she is clutching at straws. Alas not an uncommon response from even the most savvy of US citizens when presented with an anecdotal allegation that the USA may not be the world leader in a field.
The veracity of the original story is the whole point, and at least some of those "straws" to which you refer strike me as pretty substantial.
With respect to those U.S. citizens (savvy or otherwise) who take umbrage at being challenged on the country's primacy in various categories, I think that is not a uniquely American phenomenon (as an aside, I will state that we are far more likely to produce citizens - including the present occupant of the White House - who preen themselves on their pseudointellectual "globalism" and look on their own country as a hopeless backwater). As for me, I was neither surprised by the assertions in the original report, nor alarmed by them, except insofar as the changes in relative net worth reflect poorly on the economic and fiscal policies of the U.S. under both 2political parties (always, of course, granting pride of place in sheer irresponsibility to the Democrats).
I wondered if this was just another sensational headline meant to demoralize Americans.
ReplyDeleteJust because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
Maybe the Canadians planted the story to soften us up. Maybe they're planning an invasion!
ReplyDeleteAnd we're attacking NYC and DC first.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Captain: You can have 'em!
ReplyDeleteThe veracity of the original story aside, there are some serious flaws in Elizabth MacDonald's methodology. It reads as if she is clutching at straws.
ReplyDeleteAlas not an uncommon response from even the most savvy of US citizens when presented with an anecdotal allegation that the USA may not be the world leader in a field.
The veracity of the original story is the whole point, and at least some of those "straws" to which you refer strike me as pretty substantial.
ReplyDeleteWith respect to those U.S. citizens (savvy or otherwise) who take umbrage at being challenged on the country's primacy in various categories, I think that is not a uniquely American phenomenon (as an aside, I will state that we are far more likely to produce citizens - including the present occupant of the White House - who preen themselves on their pseudointellectual "globalism" and look on their own country as a hopeless backwater). As for me, I was neither surprised by the assertions in the original report, nor alarmed by them, except insofar as the changes in relative net worth reflect poorly on the economic and fiscal policies of the U.S. under both 2political parties (always, of course, granting pride of place in sheer irresponsibility to the Democrats).