John Kenneth Galbraith -- The Man Who Taught True Economics Dies

Economics is not just a technical science or craft. It is a political process.

This is what John Kenneth Galbraith taught to those very few who would listen. It goes like this:

1) If you make something someone else wants to buy, you have a potential economic transaction;
2) If, instead, you create a demand for a product you plan to make, you have many potential economic transactions;
3) When your competitors see what you have done, they will also try to create a demand for their products;
4) When potential purchasers see that producers are competing, they create a demand for the best products, inspiring innovation;
5) This moves economies from primitive barter systems to sophisticated modern exchanges.

The whole process is based on demand creation, which is a cultural, social and political phenomenon, limited only by the innovativeness of the people. The system is corrupted by lies and frauds, so the aim of economic management is simply to control and bar those who cheat.

It was a brilliant analysis, never seriously taken up by any government. Instead, modern western governments follow the idiocy of monetarism, a simple system for supporting the rich.

Galbratih is now dead, at the final age of 97. He was a great man.

Arthritis exercise -- Shoulder

The View from our Front Room Window 2005


Here's a tip for anyone with shoulder arthritis. Get yourself a light dumbbell (5 pounds is ideal; less if you need to), or use a medium-sized cola bottle (full). Hold it in your hand, stand with legs apart, and lift the weight until your arm is sticking out straight from side. Rotate the weight and bring your arm so that your weight is straight in front of you. Then lift the weight right over your head (make sure you don't drop it!), hold it for 30 seconds, rocking it gently frontwards and backwards. Then lower it carefully, reversing all the above actions. Repeat (or build up to) 5 or six times a day.

A physiologist attached to my Doctor taught me this, and it has saved a lot of pain, made me stronger (its good to do it with both arms, to balance your strength). I'm not a great exercise freak, so anyone who has the ability to build up muscle strength in the shoulder should be able to manage.

I've been rose-pruning today. It should have been done a month or so ago, but we've had such a long cold winter in North Central England that every growing thing was stalled until last week.

I also cleared out a bunch of ivy, but left a largish patch. Ivy provides very good cover for small birds like wrens or dunnocks, and it's worth leaving some, despite its bad effect on the soil.

And finally, as we approach critical Local Elections in English Cities on May 4th, it looks like this ward is moving towards George Galloway's "Respect" party. I'll still be voting Liberal Democrat, but with little hope. Our glorious leader Menzies Campbell -- the one who "helped" the very popular Charles Kennedy from leadership last Christmas -- is about as inspiring as a wet spinach leaf. Ah, well. Our society sinks ever further into Americanism.

Nut Hatches and Willow Warblers

Sandra first noticed that our rather small garden was becoming a haven for very large numbers of very pretty birds. I won't detail them, because I just appreciate their appearance and sometimes bizarre behaviours.

Anyway, why should the birds come? Was this Hitchcockian? No, it's much simpler than that. One of our dogs loves peanuts and demands them from me every time I have any. I mostly give in, because I'm always sorry for dogs. I love them dearly, but they are soooooo subservient and desiring to please.

Dogs stomachs don't work on peanuts. I suppose some oily nutrient seeps through, but not much. And all the little peanuts come out in the turds. Now, because I have a very bad hip and the weather has not been great this winter and spring, the dogs have had to use the garden sometimes as a loo.

Guess what: the pretty birds come swooping down on the poos and pick out the nuts. Our garden is suddenly a veritable Mecca, er .... , a really big attraction for all seed-and-nut-eating avians. Of course, it helped that Sandra started feeding the birds proper food last winter, but I think it was originally down to the peanut-filled dog shit.

Our daughter Jane is finally getting over Drum & Bass music and moving onto stuff that is ever weirder. God alone knows if the birds will abandon us if and when she ever finishes setting up her sound system.

And what about Avian flu, I ask myself. Oh, I don't know. But I don't want these birds to die now; I've fallen in love with most of them.