Mish Shedlock Gives Out Blue Ribbon for Nuclear Hype

Mish Shedlock runs the Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis Blog; one of my favorite blogs in the entire world and a blog that I read religiously everyday. Sometimes Mish really cracks me up too!


In a recent post, Mish has given out his blue ribbon for over the top hype and sensationalist reporting. From Popeye Comments on Reports from Japan Mish quotes from an article entitled, "Who are the Liquidators?":


The prime minister of Japan has said that his government is “not in a position where we can be optimistic” about the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. 

The sensationalist writer goes on then to conclude:

Is there any logical conclusion to draw from that statement other than that a large chunk of Japan is going to be uninhabitable?


I can imagine Mish throwing his hands in the air in exasperation. He adds: 


There is no point in reading an article beyond such absurd hype. There are hundreds of logical possibilities and conclusions one might draw.

The first thing on my mind certainly would not have been that a "huge chunk of Japan was about to become uninhabitable".


I would have thought something along the lines "the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is totally destroyed". However, I assumed that well over a week ago.

Note that the author did not even phrase his opinion as a "possibility" but rather as an inevitable "logical conclusion".

When you hit a sentence like that, you know the author is in competition for the blue ribbon for hype award. There is no point in reading further because the author has already completely discredited himself.


Mish is always incredibly informative and entertaining. Read more excellent commentary on Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis Blog here.