I think we've had parallel experiences trying to explore economics in an essentially political forum. Too bad, because reality will force new economics on us whether we like it or not; you can see it coming as digital technologies push costs to zero, unhinging the familiar fundamental economic calculations and leading to experiments like open source and bitcoins.

I have a suspicion--or a hope--that if traditional capitalism continues to fail large numbers of people, people will ultimately create a different economy that re-enfranchises them and leaves the capitalists out in the cold. That's one way to interpret bitcoinage and talk of "reputation markets", and the radical idea of open source that you can prosper by giving it away. I sense an underlying theme of trying to break out of, or circumvent, capitalism with systems harder to game and subvert, that spread the benefits more widely and equitably. The impulse to economic democracy may be wounded these days, but it's not dead; and the 0.1% is foolish indeed if it thinks the present plutocratic order will last forever.

Keep an eye on the millenials, too. I think they're quietly building their own world in parallel with ours, and their rules are unlikely to be our rules--these are the kids being told that capitalism offers them a bleak future any more, and we can't expect them to just roll over and be poor because the gray-haired Establishment says so. I'd suggest that if we don't want them cannibalizing our pensions in 20 years, we should do better by those kids today.

How do we manage to continue talking about economic theory in a highly politicized environment? Do we need a new board to signal a more serious atmosphere? Want to moderate the "Economics" board?