Students and faculty crowded the hallways and auditorium of the
School of Education yesterday to listen to New York Times columnist
Paul Krugman discuss the misconceptions held by the Bush
administration.
- Kate Green
- TREVOR CAMPBELL/Daily
New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman talks about the Bush Administration during a lecture yesterday.
In addition to writing for the Times, Slate and Fortune
magazines, Krugman is also an economics professor at Princeton
University.
Krugman, a major critic of the Bush Administration, attracted
much of his audience with his analysis of government spending
follies.
“I accused the administration of exploiting September 11
for the political gain of wrapping itself in the flag while it
sought weakened environment regulation, tax cuts for corporations
and the rich,” Krugman said.
He added that one of the main goals of the Bush Administration
is to eliminate the role of the federal government in the social
arena through a method referred to as “starving the
beast,” which is performed by cutting taxes and getting rid
of government programs.
“I’m a conservative and these guys are
radicals,” Krugman said.
Krugman added that one of the main reasons that Americans are
unaware of the radical nature of the Bush administration is the
media.
“The media is supposed to be objective but it seems like
they (media) are afraid to take a stand. If Bush said world is
flat, then the headlines would say, ‘Shape of the world:
Views differ,’” Krugman said.
He added that the Times has given him an outlet to speak to a
mainstream audience and he holds no remorse for criticizing the
Bush administration.
Krugman said he was not afraid of being persecuted for his
outspokenness toward the Bush Administration, joking that he could
always find work as college professor in England.
Laurie White, a member of the Ann Arbor Area Committee for
Peace, said Krugman is one of the nation’s chief progressive
spokesmen and that he presents a different viewpoint on Bush than
the mainstream media.
“College students are a vital component of the voter
population and various informative speakers, like Paul Krugman,
help to make us more knowledgeable citizens,” said Emily
Kidston, an RC junior.
“He has one of the clearest analyses of U.S. domestic
policy because of his immense economic background. We feel that the
critique is 100 percent right. He gives us legitimacy,” said
Phillis Engelbert, coordinator for the event and member of the Ann
Arbor Area Committee for Peace.
Last night’s speech was part of a promotional book tour
for Krugman’s new book “The Great Unraveling,”
which consists of mixture of his columns along with analysis on
America’s economic status.
AAACP, the Residential College and Anti-War Action co-sponsored
Krugman’s talk and booksigning.