Reckless Consumer Spending = Key to Recovery?

From today's New York Times comes this gem:

…an American Express cardholder whose maximum has been reduced to $1,000 from $1,200 has that much less to spend on clothing or meals out, purchases that lift the economy.

I really hope the New York Times business section gets better writers.

An American Express cardholder whose maximum has been reduced by $200 and thus is unable to spend that amount on clothing or dining out has no business buying clothes or dining out in the first place. An economy floating on debts that people can't pay back can't sustain itself. That's the main reason for the current financial crisis. People in America are generally overextended. That's why when they lose their jobs for even a couple of months, they're unable to pay their bills and fall behind.

It's astounding that some people are still advocating unsustainable consumer spending as the primary means of “fixing” the economy.


2 comments to “Reckless Consumer Spending = Key to Recovery?”

  1. May
    September 29th, 2008 at 5:07 am · Link

    You know, it’s actually a terrible corruption of Keynes’s ideas.

    *shakes head*



  2. Nadia Lee
    September 29th, 2008 at 10:28 am · Link

    But even now, people are advocating excessive consumer spending to get us out of the crisis. I have no idea what to make of it.



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