Project for Philosophical Evaluations of the Economy |
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Iran twitters the World Economy
Dialog on the people’s protest in Iran between Noah denkt™ and its Alter Ego, first drafted on June
18, published on June 21, 2009
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Question by Alter Ego of Noah denkt™ (AE): What conclusions do we have to draw from the fact that Twitter,
Facebook and MySpace play such a big part in organizing the moves of the opposition in Iran?
Answer by Noah denkt™ (Nd): We learn from this that the recovery of the world economy and the creation of the
next bubble will not take as long as Paul Krugman and other experts think.
AE: Why do you say this?
Nd: Well, we feel that the facilitating role which Twitter and others play in the Iranian protests underscores, first,
the tremendous interconnection that exists in today’s world and secondly evidences the overwhelming desire for
change that is driving the societies of the BRIC countries. And so it seems reasonable to us to expect that this
aggregated demand for a better life-style will rapidly lift the ailing economies of the West out of their doldrums.
AE: Isn’ that a little optimistic? After all, there is no denying of the fact that all these emerging countries rely
heavily on the purchasing power of the US consumer in order to be able to fulfill themselves a dream of prosperity.
Nd: Surely, there is that. But then again, this energy for change that is now being demonstrated by the Iranian
opposition is so contagious that no economy in the world will be able to shield itself from the impact that such
enthusiasm has. So we feel that there is sufficient ground to be optimistic.
AE: Your positive thinking certainly is a welcome breath of fresh air in tough times. Still, we have to bring back
reality into the equation here. After all, incompetent governments, absence of rule of law, sub-par education and
social inequalities will not go away overnight. And so it seems questionable to me whether this desire for change
will actually be able to orchestrate itself in such a constructive and efficient manner that will make its impact felt
over a sustained period of time..
Nd: Good point. But then again, the Iranian people have just now demonstrated how constructively they can
overcome a substantial impediment that has been put in their way. Doesn’t that convince you?
AE: A little bit, but not altogether. Don’t forget that this show of revolutionary power is only a short-lived
phenomen. Once that has ebbed away the stark shortcomings of a developing society will make itself felt again.
Nd: Granted, it may be that sustainable progress takes longer than the momentous events in Tehran suggest
right now. But don’t forget that it is ultimately only a shot of confidence that the world economy needs to turn the
perception of itself around.
AE: A change of perceptions, though, does not make the huge amount of debt go away that the private and the
public sector have heaped onto themselves.
Nd: Well, hope can a long way in making that pain seem a little less painful.
AE: In other words, you are suggesting that people should dilute themselves with dreams about a better
tomorrow?
Nd. We are not suggesting anything. We only maintain that people are, at all times, prepared to dilute themselves
if circumstances give th
Dialog on the people’s protest in Iran between Noah denkt™ and its Alter Ego, first drafted on June
18, published on June 21, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question by Alter Ego of Noah denkt™ (AE): What conclusions do we have to draw from the fact that Twitter,
Facebook and MySpace play such a big part in organizing the moves of the opposition in Iran?
Answer by Noah denkt™ (Nd): We learn from this that the recovery of the world economy and the creation of the
next bubble will not take as long as Paul Krugman and other experts think.
AE: Why do you say this?
Nd: Well, we feel that the facilitating role which Twitter and others play in the Iranian protests underscores, first,
the tremendous interconnection that exists in today’s world and secondly evidences the overwhelming desire for
change that is driving the societies of the BRIC countries. And so it seems reasonable to us to expect that this
aggregated demand for a better life-style will rapidly lift the ailing economies of the West out of their doldrums.
AE: Isn’ that a little optimistic? After all, there is no denying of the fact that all these emerging countries rely
heavily on the purchasing power of the US consumer in order to be able to fulfill themselves a dream of prosperity.
Nd: Surely, there is that. But then again, this energy for change that is now being demonstrated by the Iranian
opposition is so contagious that no economy in the world will be able to shield itself from the impact that such
enthusiasm has. So we feel that there is sufficient ground to be optimistic.
AE: Your positive thinking certainly is a welcome breath of fresh air in tough times. Still, we have to bring back
reality into the equation here. After all, incompetent governments, absence of rule of law, sub-par education and
social inequalities will not go away overnight. And so it seems questionable to me whether this desire for change
will actually be able to orchestrate itself in such a constructive and efficient manner that will make its impact felt
over a sustained period of time..
Nd: Good point. But then again, the Iranian people have just now demonstrated how constructively they can
overcome a substantial impediment that has been put in their way. Doesn’t that convince you?
AE: A little bit, but not altogether. Don’t forget that this show of revolutionary power is only a short-lived
phenomen. Once that has ebbed away the stark shortcomings of a developing society will make itself felt again.
Nd: Granted, it may be that sustainable progress takes longer than the momentous events in Tehran suggest
right now. But don’t forget that it is ultimately only a shot of confidence that the world economy needs to turn the
perception of itself around.
AE: A change of perceptions, though, does not make the huge amount of debt go away that the private and the
public sector have heaped onto themselves.
Nd: Well, hope can a long way in making that pain seem a little less painful.
AE: In other words, you are suggesting that people should dilute themselves with dreams about a better
tomorrow?
Nd. We are not suggesting anything. We only maintain that people are, at all times, prepared to dilute themselves
if circumstances give th