21. november 2003

Fed and IMF warn against protectionism Fed boss Alan Greenspan and IMF's top trade economist Anne Krueger have delivered a clear warning against increasing trade protectionism. "We cannot afford -- especially at this juncture -- any risk of a return to protectionism. Trade can sometimes be a controversial domestic policy issue," Anne Krueger, the IMF's first deputy managing director and top trade economist, told an emerging market conference in New York. "But governments need to resist the pressure to give in to the lobbying of narrow interest groups who cannot benefit at the expense of the wider public," she said. U.S. steel tariffs, ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization last week, European curbs on farm imports, and this week's U.S. import caps on some Chinese textiles, are some of the protectionist tendencies emerging everywhere, say economists. This can hardly be described as anything but clear criticism of Bush, but most of his critics are unfortunately not much better. Short term protectionism is tempting, especially in election years. In the long term protectionism is, as we say here, like peeing in your pants to keep warm. 5:38:39 PM    comment []  trackback []

The Matrix Revolutions review As I expected, the Marprelate Tracts has a great review of Matrix III, cutting through the ignorant crap of so many professional reviewers, who obviously didn't understand the movie. Spoiler alert! Don't read it if you haven't seen it and intend to. But if you have seen it, you should. Lots of exciting interpretations and comments. 4:23:12 PM    comment []  trackback []

Old Europe's favourite American Even for finding ammunition for their anti-Americanism, Europeans have to rely on an American. Michael Moore, the left's own rabid propagandist, has been touring Europe to promote his latest book, and finds an eager audience in countries like Germany. Nowhere has Moore's entertaining, sound-byte light introspection been more successful than in Germany. Riding on a wave of anti-Bush sentiment around the Iraq war, Moore's book "Stupid White Men" sold one million copies in Germany before it did in the United States. His book titles have etched themselves into the newsmagazine Der Spiegel's bestseller lists, and "Bowling for Columbine" drew in half a million fans in the first two months after opening last year. However, even in Germany some people are beginning to see through his lies, distortions and propaganda: But Moore's alleged creative handling of the facts in his books and films, a standard criticism in the United States, is beginning to make its way across the Atlantic. German journalists, professors and critics have begun to take off the gloves when talking about the bestseller. Even devoted fans left feeling empty-handed after an appearance they felt was more entertainment than substance. "I thought it was almost like a kind of cult. He says somebody is crap and everyone cheers," said Max Klemmt, a truck driver. "I thought he would bring a few more examples and a bit more context." How to define irony: In the cult of European anti-Americanism, the high priest is an American. However, I think Americans should not overstate the effect. Western Europe's countries are established liberal democracies, not that different from the US. Popular sentiments only last so long, and as a much more famous American allegedly said, you can't fool all the people all the time. Not even in old Europe. 1:21:13 PM    comment []  trackback []

Different reactions Britain was, along with Turkey, a direct target for al-Qaeda thugs. The leader in The Telegraph urges Europe to wake up. The leader in the Guardian urges everybody to blame Bush and Blair for the terror, and go back to sleep again. 12:41:50 PM    comment []  trackback []

Travel advice The Guardian's "NetJetter" Jim ends up in Oslo, Norway. He obviously has a thing for beautiful blondes. 9:51:22 AM    comment []  trackback []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.12.2003; 12:12:36.