Seeing crazy patterns

Not so very long ago, you were only a considered a serious person if you believed that the unleashing of a deregulated financial sector was a prerequisite for economic success in the globalised economy of the 21^st century.

Not so very long ago, you were only a considered a serious person if you believed that bankers’ pay represented fair reward for skill and effort expended in a (near) perfectly competitive labour market.

Not so very long ago, you were only a considered a serious person if you believed that the self-interest of corporations and the individuals who managed them negated the need for regulatory oversight.

Not so very long ago, you were only a considered a serious person if you believed that the shrinking of the manufacturing base was an inevitable (desirable even) consequence of globalisation.

Not so very long ago, you were only a considered a serious person if you believed that the triumph of the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism was inevitable given its superiority over any other form of economic organisation.

Now you are only considered to be a serious commentator on economic issues if you accept that public spending must be slashed on Wednesday.

Anyone see a pattern here?

Stephen Boyd