PARTLY FACETIOUS: Ministry of Finance operates like President Trump

“So, is plausible deniability, people specific?”

“I think the right question is whether it is individual specific or portfolio specific.”

“Portfolio!”

“Well, to put it starkly: is it President Trump specific or is it specific to whoever is the President of the United States?”

“And”

“And what?”

“What is the answer?”

“The answer will depend on who is asked. Trump’s supporters think that when he disclaimed knowledge of the Ukrainian attack on Russian nuclear bomber sites it was specific to Trump – maybe the briefers told him they will not inform him of the details so he could have plausible deniability or perhaps his mind wandered when he was being given the briefing or….”

“Right but Iran says they have irrefutable proof that the US is engaged in the attacks and the US President has denied any….”

“Well, who has the information that Israeli bombers do not have the capacity to refuel midair and the US does.”

“Hmmm I reckon plausible deniability doesn’t really make sense because modern day war is less about narratives.”

“Irrespective of the credibility of the narrative – Israel attacked Iran but it was in self-defence, Iran retaliated and it needs to stop, accept all Israeli conditions and…”

“Yeah anyway what portfolios have plausible deniability in the Land of the Pure?”

“The Ministry of Finance operates like President Trump: they issue a set of indicators that are constantly challenged and always ignored.”

“True and I say the glass as more than half full – consistency in economics is something that governments must strive for.”

“Their narrative has been the same as that of the previous three to four administrations – the only time the narrative is challenged and implausible deniability sets in is when how shall I put it: push comes to shove…”

“Or someone turns over the page.”

“Again glass is more than half full - we may have very low literacy rates, but we are a nation of readers though we tend to focus on the one page of a book.”

“The most important page…”

“Precisely.”

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