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Taking credit for Krugman

18 February 2005

FT's the Observer was proud to announce yesterday that it was their idea to put Paul Krugman and Michael Tanner (Cato) together for the NYSEC/openDemocracy event on March 15th, after Cato "failed" to invite Krugman to one of their own Social Security events last week.

"The Cato Institute has succumbed to the strength of Observer's arguments and invited Paul Krugman, Princeton economist and New York Times columnist, to a debate with Michael Tanner, one of Cato's top boffins, in New York next month," said the Observer.

"Your wish is our command," said Cato's Communications Director (also taking credit for the event). "We are happy to debate anyone, any time, anywhere on Social Security reform," he said.

This is going to be a knock-out debate. The policy punches are already flying.

But for the record: this event is co-sponsored by the New York Society for Ethical Culture, openDemocracy, The Century Foundation, The Nation, and Democrats.com - and we invited both speakers.

Stop the secrecy: Publish the NHS COVID data deals


To: Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

We’re calling on you to immediately release details of the secret NHS data deals struck with private companies, to deliver the NHS COVID-19 datastore.

We, the public, deserve to know exactly how our personal information has been traded in this ‘unprecedented’ deal with US tech giants like Google, and firms linked to Donald Trump (Palantir) and Vote Leave (Faculty AI).

The COVID-19 datastore will hold private, personal information about every single one of us who relies on the NHS. We don’t want our personal data falling into the wrong hands.

And we don’t want private companies – many with poor reputations for protecting privacy – using it for their own commercial purposes, or to undermine the NHS.

The datastore could be an important tool in tackling the pandemic. But for it to be a success, the public has to be able to trust it.

Today, we urgently call on you to publish all the data-sharing agreements, data-impact assessments, and details of how the private companies stand to profit from their involvement.

The NHS is a precious public institution. Any involvement from private companies should be open to public scrutiny and debate. We need more transparency during this pandemic – not less.

By adding my name to this campaign, I authorise openDemocracy and Foxglove to keep me updated about their important work.

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