the cultural vogue for zombie apocalypse

Zombies and Congressional Dysfunction: What’s the Connection? by Jared Bernstein

The Walking Dead on AMC has been a huge hit. This summer on his HBO Show, Bill Maher ticked off Republican "Zombie lies" like trickle-down economics. I thought of Quiggin's book. Maybe Maher and his writers got it via Krugman. Right now the FX channel has the alien vampire zombies of The Strain. (Patient zero is "The Master," a squid-like vampire alien.) In September, the Syfy channel will have a series titled "Z Nation" about a zombie apocalypse.

Since I pay attention, the 2008 financial crisis was scary as was the recent debt ceiling clown show. I've become less worried and a little inured to it since Obama faced the Republicans down and the Fed has resolution authority, bit if we hit the next recession while at the Zero Lower Bound - and given the hatred for bailouts - we could enter Mad Max territory:



Fortunately Yellen seems to get it and understands the danger of raising rates too quickly. Also the debt-to-GDP ratio is low again, not that it ever was seriously a problem. There will be less fiscal drag going forward.

Also the movie Pacific Rim, with its Jaegers versus Kaiju. The Japanese are making a push with Abenomics. Germany and Europe are struggling. (Although Germany is riding a bit high after winning the World Cup. But then again Ukraine.)

I'd add that shows like Masters of Sex and The Knick are more hopeful from a progressive perspective. They suggest a hope in science and empiricism like we've seen in the Obama stimulus, QE, and Obamacare. And progress on the social front like gay marriage, a black two-term President and marjuana decriminalization. There's a lot of shows about hospitals, like House.