Comments on: In Memoriam: Paul Samuelson http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/12/16/in-memoriam-paul-samuelson/ Citizen Economists is an online economics magazine written by citizen journalists. These ordinary citizens provide reports and commentary on the current events affecting the economics of the fields they work in. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:44:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dan McLaughlin http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/12/16/in-memoriam-paul-samuelson/comment-page-1/#comment-26803 Dan McLaughlin Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:31:58 +0000 http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=2555#comment-26803 Samuelson had a profound influence. Unfortunately for everyone, it was a very negative influence. He taught generations of students to be Keynesians and, in doing so, gave government bureacrats just what they were looking for: theoretical excuses for mercantilism, interventionism and legalized theft. His influence is along the same lines as Karl Marx. While the damage may not be as profound as that from Marxism, it is deep and wide. Nearly all government economist are Keynesians and think that every problem in society only arises because government does not control enough or manipulate markets enough or take away enough individual rights. Socialists love Samuelson’s teachings because they can get away with whatever they want to do, with the blessing of the Master. It is never good to see anyone die, but I can't take much more starry-eyed eulogizing of people being called great just because they were influential. He destroyed the truth in a big way and sent economics back to the days of King George and mercantilism. Samuelson had a profound influence. Unfortunately for everyone, it was a very negative influence. He taught generations of students to be Keynesians and, in doing so, gave government bureacrats just what they were looking for: theoretical excuses for mercantilism, interventionism and legalized theft.

His influence is along the same lines as Karl Marx. While the damage may not be as profound as that from Marxism, it is deep and wide. Nearly all government economist are Keynesians and think that every problem in society only arises because government does not control enough or manipulate markets enough or take away enough individual rights. Socialists love Samuelson’s teachings because they can get away with whatever they want to do, with the blessing of the Master.

It is never good to see anyone die, but I can’t take much more starry-eyed eulogizing of people being called great just because they were influential.

He destroyed the truth in a big way and sent economics back to the days of King George and mercantilism.

]]> By: John Forrest http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/12/16/in-memoriam-paul-samuelson/comment-page-1/#comment-26187 John Forrest Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:37:38 +0000 http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=2555#comment-26187 I feel like I've lost a friend from college. I feel like I’ve lost a friend from college.

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