EC's Duisenberg as capitalists' heartthrob

[Carl Remick]

Here's another quintessential New York Times Week In Review comment I
thought I'd share with folks who don't spoil their Sunday mornings
reading this stuff.   This particular article yesterday -- "Europe's
Back, and It's Worried" -- noted that Europe is suffering from "reform
fatigue" (i.e., electing a lot of leftists) but counseled readers not to
worry; the new European Central Bank can veto any wild-eyed leftist
right into the ground.  Here's how the NYT put it:

"... why are the currency markets so sanguine?  The answer is that
politicians do not control the new central bank.  And the bank's
president, Wim Duisenberg from the Netherlands, is almost typecast for
the role of the gruff banker who doesn't let politicians push him
around.  A big man with piercing blue eyes and a shock of white hair,
Mr. Duisenberg has thus far refused to budge on his policies and has
perfected a curmudgeonly scowl that projects wonderfully over
television."

Nothing like a "curmudgeonly scowl" to set the currency markets' hearts
racing!

Carl Remick