Kieran Healy

Freedom Markets

Matthew Yglesias notices a FOX news item on the poor domestic economy titled “The Price of Freedom”. He asks:

Does Fox honestly want us to believe that the economy’s poor performance under the Bush administration is some kind of price that we must pay in order to remain free?

Well, yes. I’d say that’s exactly what they want their viewers to think—the price we must pay for the Iraqis to remain free, anyway.

I want regular market reports on the price of freedom and related investments. “Freedom (stock symbol: GOP) fell three points today in heavy trading”, “Freedom futures are being sold off in large numbers after Attorney General Ashcroft’s latest statement”, “This quarter’s Peace Dividend will be paid out of profits from the sale of Bechtel stock”, etc.

Brilliant.
What about Freedom Fries?

Actually, “The Price of Freedom” is Fox’s label they put up for all their business/economic/financial coverage.

It’s really kind of obscene. The price of freedom isn’t $50/share, it’s blood.

The Price of Iraqi Freedom

Take a look at this from MattewYglesias and then read about Kieran Healy’s idea for Freedom Markets.If you start hearing talk about the bad economy being the price of freedom on your local Clear Channel station you can bet that…

Since World War II

Timothy Egan reports on the catastrophes the Bush economy has brought to the states whose rights conservatives are so determined to protect:At a time when the governor of Missouri has ordered every third light bulb unscrewed to save money, when…