Comments on: Personal finance IS politics

By: Finally Frugal

Finally Frugal — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:02:33 +0000

I try to stay away from political talk at my blog, although it’s mighty difficult to keep my trap shut, even in public! I figure I have a hard enough time gathering and keeping readers without alienating 50% of ‘em right off the bat!

I was on the light-rail this morning reading over a woman’s shoulder. She had a printout from ‘Canada Free Press’ that basically claims that the entire current economic crisis is a “hoax”, perpetrated by Obama and other politicians to get their hands on the bailout money. Which, I presume, they will use toward their own evil, liberal ends. I almost tapped her on the shoulder and asked: “do you really believe this drivel”?

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:14:49 +0000

Well said. Polite political discourse seems to have gone the way of the dodo. I’d like to see it resurrected. FYI – the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid” was coined by James Carville, a political strategist and one of the architects of Clinton’s 1992 campaign.

By: funnyaboutmoney1

funnyaboutmoney1 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:26:39 +0000

Yes: I agree 100% (politely!) with Peter’s point. Especially at a site like JD’s, which is huge and so gets vast numbers of commenters, a blitz of nasty sniping has got to be undesirable — if only for the amount of time the stuff wastes as you delete the hostile remarks.

And it’s true, people have always felt strongly about their politics. That’s prob’ly why our mothers taught us that we shouldn’t discuss politics, religion, or (ahem!) money.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:33:02 +0000

While I agree with the premise that politics and personal finance are intertwined (to a degree), I can completely understand why JD would want to keep that type of thing off of his blog. People can become so blinded when it comes to politics, and end up doing and saying things they never would otherwise.

I’ve had blogs in the past where I would make a somewhat political post, and then would watch as angry vitriol filled comments would start coming in. People would say some very nasty things! Like it or not politics in our day and age are extremely nasty (although I believe it always has been – look at some of the campaign literature and editorials from the 1800s!) , and if you want to run a blog that you want to appeal to a lot of different people, it probably suits you best to stay out of the fray.

I agree that it would be nice to have a good open discussion of economic policy and political thought, but when people often start out their political discourse talking about how the other side are misguided, or worse, idiots – it makes it difficult.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:20:28 +0000

I agree completely! Even though there are many ideas out there about what should be done, it is important to discuss them civilly. Unfortunately, civility doesn’t bring in the ratings…At any rate I agree that politics can affect personal finance — even though I also believe that your best defense against politics is to follow good financial principles.

By: frugalscholar

frugalscholar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:57:36 +0000

Magnificent essay!

A lot of my students didn’t vote because they claim they are “not political.” Thanks for the answer to that cop-out.

By: kathy

kathy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:07:17 +0000

Good essay. The part about how we need to be well educated and how we need to return to good, honest discussion–no more sniping–great points. Not sure where it all leads with the trend to secluding ourselves with text messaging, television, and the web for our education and entertainment. And with a full-time job at the Great Desert U and doing the work of at least three positions, who has time to think beyond eat, sleep, and clear the in-basket?