The Economist used to be a great newspaper. Then it became a middle-of-the-road publication. About five or six years ago, it stopped pretending to be either free market or even-handed. I think I dropped my subscription (just about at the 20 year mark) in 2003.
It was time to cancel years ago, when they began to obsessively pound Israel on every issue.
Interesting, BTW, that the one issue that The Economist consistently stood for since their formation 150 years ago (or whenever) has been free trade. They apparently don't explain how that squares with Obama's xenophobic anti-trade stances.
All the cool kids like Obama, and you wouldn't want The Economist to not be seen as a cool kid, would you?
This post pushed me over the edge and I just cancelled my subscription. They did not even ask why.
As soon as I received this week's issue I contemplated cancelling. I was relatively new to The Economist and was surprised that they would endorses a candidate so openly. Have they done this with any other political candidates? I had been getting the magazine for about 2 months and had the impression that The Economist was a bit more impartial.
Overall I thought the magazine was very informative, but I could, like you, detect latent anti-free market undertones in many of the articles. Like a previous commenter already wrote, they consistently preached free trade, but in other areas like market regulation they were alarmingly statist. I think I'll miss the insights into what's going on in many under-reported places throughout the world, but I will not miss their tendency to editorialize in the Charlemagne, Bagehot, Lexington, or other pieces.
But one outstanding question remains: where do the aspiring, ambitious, and inquisitive young economists turn now for their news? I doubt the blogosphere and The Capn's site will suffice.
What took y'all so long. I gave up on this useless pretentious rag about 10 years ago when at the death throws of the Internet/tech bubble it released a vapid issue praising the yutes, er, I mean youths and how they were the bomb and were going to take over business, yadayadayada. I don't need to read a bunch of British snobs from a rotting country sneering at the US.
The Economist used to be a great newspaper. Then it became a middle-of-the-road publication. About five or six years ago, it stopped pretending to be either free market or even-handed. I think I dropped my subscription (just about at the 20 year mark) in 2003.
ReplyDeleteIt was time to cancel years ago, when they began to obsessively pound Israel on every issue.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, BTW, that the one issue that The Economist consistently stood for since their formation 150 years ago (or whenever) has been free trade. They apparently don't explain how that squares with Obama's xenophobic anti-trade stances.
All the cool kids like Obama, and you wouldn't want The Economist to not be seen as a cool kid, would you?
I wonder how much Obama paid to be on their cover??? I wonder why a publication like that would whore themselves out like that...
ReplyDeleteCANCEL THE SUBSCRIPTIONS!!!
TIME TO FIGHT BACK!
This post pushed me over the edge and I just cancelled my subscription. They did not even ask why.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I received this week's issue I contemplated cancelling. I was relatively new to The Economist and was surprised that they would endorses a candidate so openly. Have they done this with any other political candidates? I had been getting the magazine for about 2 months and had the impression that The Economist was a bit more impartial.
Overall I thought the magazine was very informative, but I could, like you, detect latent anti-free market undertones in many of the articles. Like a previous commenter already wrote, they consistently preached free trade, but in other areas like market regulation they were alarmingly statist. I think I'll miss the insights into what's going on in many under-reported places throughout the world, but I will not miss their tendency to editorialize in the Charlemagne, Bagehot, Lexington, or other pieces.
But one outstanding question remains: where do the aspiring, ambitious, and inquisitive young economists turn now for their news? I doubt the blogosphere and The Capn's site will suffice.
I recognized the bias about 2 years ago -- that's when I dropped the rag...
ReplyDeleteWell, the Economist also endorsed Kerry in 2004, no?
ReplyDelete-JB
I received my endorsement copy today. It had 3 business reply card type subscription forms which I have filled out in the name of Barry Obama.
ReplyDeleteImmature? Yup. Worth it? Yup.
OH SNAP.
ReplyDeleteWhat took y'all so long. I gave up on this useless pretentious rag about 10 years ago when at the death throws of the Internet/tech bubble it released a vapid issue praising the yutes, er, I mean youths and how they were the bomb and were going to take over business, yadayadayada. I don't need to read a bunch of British snobs from a rotting country sneering at the US.
ReplyDelete