Economic collapse has a way of turning economic negatives into positives. It is not necessary for the United States to embrace the tenets of command economy and central planning to match the Soviet lackluster performance in this area. We have our own methods that are working almost as well. I call them “boondoggles.” They are solutions to problems that result in more severe problems than those they attempt to solve.
Just look around and you will see boondoggles sprouting up everywhere, in every field of endeavor: we have military boondoggles like Iraq, financial boondoggles like the doomed retirement system, medical boondoggles like private health insurance and legal boondoggles like the intellectual property system. At some point, creating another boondoggle becomes the preferred course of action: since the outcome can be predicted with complete accuracy, there is little risk. Proposing a solution that might work runs the risk of it not working.
Peacenik is having a hard time coming up with Peacenik's own boodoggle. Harper, and Bush before him, and Obama have cornered the market. What boondoggle would address the trillions of dollars of bad assets that the world banking system has on its books? Peacenik doesn't know. It is easier to boondoggle with the Leafs. If only they had some more grit, some more grinders. If only Pogge would get a few more starts. Peacenik suggests the Leafs trade what little talent they have. Peacenik suggests the Leafs get bigger and tougher and slower. Yes that will work.
