Kristof and Krugman

Kristof writes a nice ops piece today in the Times by Kristof. Reminds me of my mispent years in Latin class. I particularly enjoy the comparison of Rumsfeld to Ajax (the Greek hero).

I've started reading Paul Krugman's 1999 book "The Return of Depression Economics". I agree with just about everything in every column I've read by him, but strongly disagree with the following statement on page 5:

For a century and a half the idea of socialism — from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs — served as an intellectual focal point for those who disliked the hand the market dealt them.

I think this misses the point entirely. Socialism is a focal point who believe that the game is corrupt, regardless of the quality of an individual hand. Any system where there can be as dramatic a disparity between the quality of life for anyone, particularly children is fundamentally unjust. I think Krugman approaches the argument from a capitalist perspective, founded in the theory that individuals act in a completely self-interested manner. It would then stand to reason that those with poor lives would prefer socialism, but he presents the argument as though that is the only reason individuals would prefer it. I'll have to ask him about it next month when I see him at a local bookstore.