Paul Krugman Refuses To Speak At Occupy Wall Street

Paul Krugman told his readers on Tuesday that they will not see him addressing Occupy Wall Street crowds or marching by their side. The New York Times Op-Ed columnist may have disappointed some with this news, but shared his thoughts on why he finds it imperative to remain on the sidelines.

Krugman has dedicated his past two columns to the Occupy Wall Street movement. He wrote that the protesters are, "angry at the right people" and that the "protests have already elicited a remarkably hysterical reaction from Wall Street, the super-rich in general, and politicians and pundits who reliably serve the interests of the wealthiest hundredth of a percent."

On Tuesday, Krugman took to his blog, writing that readers had been asking him to speak at one of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. While Krugman said he would use his column to advocate on behalf of the protesters, he wrote that officially joining the protest would be crossing the line. "I’ve been granted the enormous privilege of expounding my own views twice a week in the world’s greatest newspaper...There are, however, some restrictions that come with the privilege; one of them is not crossing the line between advocate and activist," Krugman wrote.

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Comments

[Frosted Flake]

10:03 PM on 11/25/2011

Hat tip to Mr. Krugman.

[mbi11]

01:01 PM on 10/22/2011

One person participating in a rally is not nearly as effective as having a national voice to espouse its views.

[Mirriam Egglebrecht]

04:06 PM on 10/20/2011

Krugman is a wimp

[AlejandroMS]

09:54 PM on 10/16/2011

@wingnut marine, we're here, we're not goin anywhere

[Randolph Greer]

02:09 AM on 10/16/2011

I think Krugman is just doing the wise thing. The N.Y.Times is a so-called "revered institution" for a columnist. All journalists and columnists go to bed every night still dreaming of having the N.Y.Times added to their moniker. Now, the great unwashed in this land do not read the N'Y'Times and therefore think it is a meaningless publication in the age of the Huffington Post which is where most readers get to read him. So, for us, its no big deal. Krugman is N0. 1 in his profession. Why would he dare risk his standing? He has done his work, the rest is up to us.

[wingnut marine]

11:45 AM on 10/14/2011

Krugman please go away..very far away.

[morbius]

10:10 AM on 10/17/2011

Only after Melton Friedman has left (oops, pardon the pun).

[den1953]

11:22 AM on 10/14/2011

I would rather see MS Warren stop by more so the MR Kugman!

[chronic]

11:15 AM on 10/14/2011

"There are, however, some restrictions that come with the privilege; one of them is not crossing the line between advocate and activist," Krugman wrote."

I wish some would stop whining that the Chief Executive President Obama would come stand with them too!!!!

[DNAtsol]

10:54 AM on 10/14/2011

By acting is a satellite capacity he has a greater impact. It retains his and their autonomy while synthetically supporting each other.

[Tea for me]

10:34 AM on 10/14/2011

As far as I can see, most in OWS sites appreciate positive feed back and explanations and support from intelligent writers, pundits, politicians, business people, entertainment folks, etc., ...but, do not want or encourage such to speak for them in person/on sites. I believe this stance is correct.

Those who can...do continue to inform in print..by social networks..TV..radio... Those who can...show support in your cities...show up...write letters to editors...send funds to OWS to help finance the movement and provide $ for food, shelter, publishing, etc.

This movement must not....as much as possible....be taken over by the big names....unless the councils ask for you for a specific reason...So, stay back and do what you do best...whomever you are in the public eye:>)

Tea

[judibluiz]

09:24 PM on 10/14/2011

This is what I am hearing as well Tea. The OWS are being very careful, and smart. They do not want any personality or group political or otherwise, to co opt their movement.

[Tea for me]

09:39 PM on 10/14/2011

Absolutely..... things will change....politicians/bills/ads etc.will come....but not yet....eventually.

To impact ..laws/bills will have to be introduced and passed...it will come..I believe that.
But for now...let it unfold in its own way and pace....it really is beautiful to behold:>)

Tea....feelin' groovy....from my 60's and 70's protest days...and beyond.....LOL

[squat6971]

09:33 AM on 10/14/2011

Smartest guy in the room. Stand tough, PK

[catbyte]

09:54 AM on 10/14/2011

Wow, I would have thought that Krugman would be your enemy given your micro-bio! :)

[Dan Slander]

07:54 AM on 10/14/2011

Krugman is strictly a limo liberal that like most if not all talk the talk oh so eloquently and convincingly but only rubs shoulders with fellow millionaires and effective elites in the finest penthouses and at lavish retreats. The great unwashed may inspire his pen and faux sympathies but at the end of the day ( did you note the suck up and self praise around The NY Times) he retreats into his wealthy insular world and gets down to the reality of who he really is.

[paul haugen]

08:37 AM on 10/14/2011

Who is the elitist-'the great unwashed' ???? Krugman has been a truthsayer in the age of lies and distortion for the corporate and the wealthy.

[Dan Slander]

12:15 PM on 10/14/2011

If you can't figure it out then why bother commenting. Krugman meanwhile exploits the issue for down payments on his Hamptons summer. As far as "the age of lies and distortion" it's been around for some time.

[dvoconnor2]

04:03 AM on 10/14/2011

No person in this country has done more to inform the public and speak out against this nation's massive wealth gap than Paul Krugman. The reason any of you are informed on this subject at all is because of this guy. He's been fighting this battle longer than most Occupants have been alive - and now he's criticized for "not showing up" and "not speaking out?"

What's wrong with you people!

[viko]

03:45 AM on 10/14/2011

The Media embedded with the illegal Iraq war .
You shall reap what you have sown and we shall know you by your fruits.
We bailed the banks and they sold us out we are used to this we are conditioned .
You have a

[CenaW]

12:21 AM on 10/14/2011

HA HA HA! is this the same Krugman who has spent the last three years
calling President Obama a wuss?

Ranting because President Obama doesn't tell the f. a. sc. ist. to
shove it?

Hey Krugman, you are the wuss.. . .. . 100%

How about speaking up for the 99%?

[FDRinhell]

03:56 AM on 10/14/2011

Nope. Occupy speaks for Leftist moochers and dregs of society, not for me.

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

05:33 AM on 10/14/2011

FDR - you are wrong. And you know it.

[El Justiciero]

10:46 AM on 10/14/2011

My elderly parents are in the 1% and they're out there standing with the 99%. I know at least a dozen people, all of whom are well employed, highly educated, highly motivated people who likely pay more taxes than you and they went to a lot of trouble to arrange for the time to get out there and protest while you sit on your butt and whine about nothing.