Comments on: The list of idiots

By: I get mail!

I get mail! — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:03:22 +0000

[...] a recent post about the list of idiots I get this comment: As one of the idiots, I’d like to thank Mr Worstall for being so right about [...]

By: Martin Parker

Martin Parker — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:33:00 +0000

As one of the idiots, I’d like to thank Mr Worstall for being so right about everything. His absolute certainty in his own judgement makes me feel confident that his policy recommendations must make complete sense and that his analysis of how capitalism works is clearly the only correct one. Unless he might be wrong? But no, someone capable of dismissing everyone he doesn’t agree with as idiots must be right.

By: eric the red

eric the red — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:05:03 +0000

You are a pathetic unfunny incorrect person

By: Davinder Kohli

Davinder Kohli — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:07:16 +0000

The list is very unfair. Tim Worstall should be heading it, but then he is hardly known for any original thinking.

By: Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:55:13 +0000

Well I've always believed that admitting one's mistakes is salutary, and worth the embarrassment, and I think I might have to prepare myself to climb down from my initial response to this windfall tax idea. Martin Wolf, a man whom I regard as about as far removed from an idiot as its possible to get, is also in favour of a windfall tax on bonuses. I need to think again.

By: Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:54:36 +0000

so, what's the best argument in favour of this ... that, by virtue of having been bailed out by the taxpayer, enjoying increased market share, and the opportunity to profit from chaotic market conditions and very cheap access to capital, the banks are enjoying a one-off bounty that ought to be reclaimed? Are they up to this sort of thing? Presumably Compass intend this tax to apply to the high street banks, whereas aren't the big profits being made in investment banking?

By: Kay Tie

Kay Tie — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:08:39 +0000

I can see no reason why it should be acceptable for government to claim tax for actions that, at the time of the act, were not taxable.

Take that up with #3 on the list..

By: Dennis the Peasant

Dennis the Peasant — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:17:50 +0000

Note that not one of them has a current career rooted in business.

By: gene berman

gene berman — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:27:14 +0000

Surprised the list is so short.

By: Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:58:03 +0000

oh dear, why does the UK left have to be so witless? Martin Wolf’s more radical than this lot. Unlike you, I think there’s a case for reducing the future profitablity of the banking sector, hence making it harder for the banks to raise new capital, because I think parts of banking do little more than extract rents from the economy, and I’d like to see the rules change to make certain activities less profitable for them. There are various proposals by various economists along these lines – of course it would be too much to expect this bunch of clowns to be familiar with that sort of thing.

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:30:47 +0000

Windfall taxes are also an example of Retroactive law. I can see no reason why it should be acceptable for government to claim tax for actions that, at the time of the act, were not taxable.

By: Ross

Ross — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:29:05 +0000

“Will Straw, Editor, Left Foot Forward”

Proof of the dangers of drug taking.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:36:57 +0000

So I presume they are in favour of windfall subsidies then. We shouldn’t have been lending money when banks made a loss, nor buying their stock- we should simply give them money.
Sounds like a plan.

By: Derek Buxton

Derek Buxton — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:35:28 +0000

Bloody hell, what a list. The list contains those running “business schools”, mind I have always thought that a lot of them were stupid.

By: dearieme

dearieme — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:19:15 +0000

“28. Tony Robinson, actor & broadcaster” – see, he had a Cunning Plan.

By: Kay Tie

Kay Tie — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:17:32 +0000

Excellent list. Come regime change we know where to make funding cuts because, as pointed out by Kit, we’re all paying them. There’s billions to be saved right there.

By: Kit

Kit — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:21:44 +0000

And most are dependent on the government teat.

By: Flatcap Army

Flatcap Army — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:02:44 +0000

Acts as a handy ready reckoner for business schools to avoid, too, if that’s what passes for intellectual thought from the faculty. I’m not surprised to see Cranfield, Imperial and London Business School unrepresented.