Dismal Scientists for Kerry

I don't always think much of the political opinions of my fellow economists. Too much time shut in an office with Malthus, indifference curves and rational self interest and a guy starts to think of his own moral conscience as nothing more than a sunk cost. But I see that even the solidly right-wing opinions of American Economic Review referees are no match for the Bush adminsitration's utter incompetence.

Of 56 economic professors surveyed by The Economist 70% rated Bush's policies "bad" or "very bad". 20% consider health care costs and the budget deficit to be in "crisis". Kerry was ranked higher on every question except foreign trade. (Summary and graphic here, full results here)

Doesn't that tell you something?

These guys aren't pussy leftists or tax and spend liberals. These guys are hard nosed, free market, free trade, anti-regulation gurus. It's not about politics; Bush's economic program is simply insane.

But then, this isn't the only area where respected conservative experts have balked at Bush's irresponsible actions. Brent Scrowcroft and Henry Kissenger warned against the preemptive war. Nowadays even the National Review is getting skittish. And then there was that letter from the Nobel laureates censuring Bush's science policy.

Bush's appeal to the radically religious and his attendant preacherman antics ("We have climbed the mighty mountain") are no accident: these days one cannot support Bush without a faith capable of withstanding any incursion by reality and rationality. Watch his diehard backers on TV, especially Karen Hughes -- they look possessed, like members of a cult. And there's Bush, leading them off to some utopian Bushtown where they'll drink the national Kool-aid of endless war, infinite deficits, the end of social security and medicare, no taxes on wealth, the final dismantling of all government regulation, and the long-awaited reunion of church and state. Too bad for us, it won't be in Guyana.