“Lerner’s argument is impeccable but heaven help anyone who tries to put it across to the plain man at this stage of the evolution of our ideas.” (Keynes to Meade, April 1943)
“The need to balance the budget is superstition … a myth. It’s like a religious doctrine that is used to get people to believe a certain thing.” (Paul Samuelson)
Election time serves as a reminder of how difficult it is to break through the popular illusions clouding public debate. Try as we might – and this goes for anyone seeking to dispel prevailing neoliberal dogmas – the public perception, if it budges at all, appears to do so painfully slowly.
