Ive been fascinated by economics from the moment I understood the term. I mean, I didnt major in economics, but I did take an undergrad macro course, taught by an unashamed neoliberal Friedmanite, no less, and Ive read, just for kicks, more than a few economists over the years, from mainstream guys like Krugman and Stiglitz to Marxists and other radicals like Richard D. Wolffe and Edward Hermann. And I still love it. Probably the main reason for this is that economics is the flip side of politics: you just cant understand whats happening politically in the world if you dont have a handle on the money. But a secondary reason is just as motivating. Economics profoundly affects how we live our lives. And Im not simply talking about whether you have a good job or not. I mean that economics affects our personal decisions in countless ways that we do not attribute to economics. For me, the big one is how the US hardly funds the arts, relative to more civilized nations like France or Germany. Im an actor, a theater artist, and, even though a select few are able to make a living doing this kind of work, most of us have to have day jobs in order to pay the bills while we pursue our lifes calling. If we funded the arts in the way other nations do, this wouldnt be so much of an issue. But we dont, so I wait tables by day, and do theater at night. But thats just my own personal life. Theres MUCH more to how economics directs and shapes our lives in a seemingly invisible way. The linked book excerpt, for instance, presents still more evidence that the rise of the single mother in this country has nothing to do with the traditional morals-oriented explanations, and EVERYTHING to do with the continuing erosion of the American middle class. That is, when the pool of available men is dried up by corporate Americas decision to shift workers into the shitty service sector, or worse, out of the work force entirely, a husband, for many women, then becomes an economic liability, not the solution to poverty, as head-in-assed Republicans have been asserting for years. Indeed, a husband who cannot, due to economic circumstances, add to his familys financial prospects simply makes his familys poverty worse. In this situation, why on earth would a single mother get married? And this is why I study economics. It helps me understand that a lot of public discourse on various topics is totally full of shit, people asserting things they cant possibly know, and being really self-righteous about it. Of course, we see the same thing in the public discourse on economics itself, too, but thats another story. alternet.org/economy/marriage-becoming-luxury-rich
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:14:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015