Your Views for July 10

Inflation a problem

Paul Krugman, ever fond of disrespecting those who don’t agree with his extreme political views, likes declaring his own speculations to be “facts,” apparently with the aim to dismiss other’s counter-arguments to his own. But Krugman sorely needs to take a bit of his own medicine.

In recent column (“Beliefs, facts, and money,” Tribune-Herald, July 7), he claims that inflation has “stayed low” despite the Federal Reserve’s $4 trillion expansion of the money supply in recent years. For anyone who has been to the grocery store lately, or the gasoline pump, the reality of rising prices is readily apparent.

Over the past year I have traveled more than usual, and I have seen airfares, hotel rates, restaurant fare and gasoline costs rising more rapidly now than at any time in the past decade. Sure, for a while the recession put a lid on price increases as the Fed printed gobs of money not backed by anything of value, but now inflation is starting to rear its ugly head.

Thus, Krugman’s taunting of the classic economic theory that predicts such an outcome is the same “denial” of facts for which he demonizes everyone from Republican congressmen to Harvard professors. That he would try to fool the American public this way is insulting to ordinary folk and the power elite alike.

Curtis Beck

Hilo

Leave signs alone

Let’s play fair during this coming election. Here in Pahoa, someone has taken down every sign of (Republican gubernatorial candidate) Duke Aiona.

I’m sorry you are so threatened and have no confidence in your opponent that you have to do such a childish act. I was wondering when the “dirty politics” was going to show up, and there you are. I refuse to repay evil with evil; I have better things to do with my time than to destroy property.

Also, just a reminder to everyone to please vote this election. We can’t have a change in our government if you don’t vote.

Colliene Armitage

Pahoa