Preventing Economic Disaster by Bailing out the F.I.R.E. Sector
The first part is a speech by cognitive linguist,
George Lakoff, entitled "Moral Politics". He explains the nature of metaphor and presents two contrasting approaches to parenthood, the "
Strict Father" and the "
Nurturing Parent" models, linking these to Republican v. Democratic politics in US. I present some information I've uncovered about "economic literacy", and how it business leaders used it to promote the set of ideas that Lakoff refers to as the "Strict Father" model.
The second hour revisits
Lyn Gerry's reading of
Richard Moore's "
Escaping The Matrix" essay from
episode 87, deconstructing the economic and political agenda of the 1980's in US/UK and beyond. We conclude with another lively deconstruction, by economist
Michael Hudson, likening the FIRE (Finance, Insurance & Real Estate) sector to a parasite that lives on the back of the productive economy. Most obviously, it sucks money from it, less remarked upon, it numbs the brain of the body politic, through control of mass media, to present itself as essential to the health of its host the real economy.
Thanks to Bonnie Faulker for Guns and Butter. ★ Start a Discussion about this episode (
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