This from the Letters to the Editor at the Democrat-Gazette today...
The [Jonathan] Gruber Affair has suggested a variation of an old economist joke. Here it is.
The president is looking for a health-care adviser. Three people apply. An accountant, an engineer, and an economist--Jonathan Gruber. A transcript of the interviews reveals the following:
The accountant is called in and the president asks: "How much is 2 plus 2?"
The accountant answers, "Four."
The president thanks him and calls in the engineer. He asks, "How much is 2 plus 2?"
The engineer answers, "Four, give or take a little for unknown factors."
The president thanks him and calls in Professor Gruber. He asks, "How much is 2 plus 2?"
Professor Gruber gets up, closes the blinds, and shuts the door. He returns to this chair and asks the president, "What do you want it to be?"
As a joke, it is funny; as truth, it is sad.
MEYER BELOVICZ
Dover, AR
![Tullius est [et Tullius non est Cicero]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDG4xhsMn9o9J6nFVbJuaWEgUYVbxr7B9gbOXGZ3gwOu55lJg3q0Ev-z3MhLy29603_fkvvngkYmsTvRd4BATcVzZvVOhgkPSy-GIAuaFE0sCVBc_zcTW_d2mKKeCWhMxsZhAPyqXzymO/s1600/cicero-right-1024x603.jpg)
Unlike my ancient predecessor, this Tullius hasn't had his hands chopped off. With hands attached I offer my thoughts on philosophy, religion, politics, and whatever else I find worth mentioning. I'm conservative religiously and politically (with libertarian leanings). I value reason and freedom but also traditions and "Oldthink." I relish being on the wrong side of history when history is wrong--part of a philosopher's job is to be unpopular. (Views given here may not represent my employers')
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