---
title: "[G]iven our inability over the past two decades to deal with an unbre… — John Ralston Saul Quote #48 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "[G]iven our inability over the past two decades to deal with an unbreakable chain of unemployment, debt, inflation and no real growth, we have drifte… — a quote by John Ralston Saul."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # \[G\]iven our inability over the past two decades to deal with an unbreakable chain of unemployment, debt, inflation and no real growth, we have drifted farther and farther out into a cold, unfriendly, confusing sea. The new certitude of those in positions of authority - those out of the water - is that the certain answer is to cut away the life preservers.

[John Ralston Saul](https://quotesby.net/John-Ralston-Saul)\#48

[Economy](https://quotesby.net/John-Ralston-Saul/economy/)[Policy](https://quotesby.net/John-Ralston-Saul/policy/)[Crisis](https://quotesby.net/John-Ralston-Saul/crisis/)[Support](https://quotesby.net/topics/support/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Leaders suggest cutting support during an economic crisis.In plain termsOfficials want to reduce help when the economy is bad.What can you take from it?Policies should not remove support during crises.

### Where it applies

- economic policy
- public discourse
- reform

### Putting it to work

- maintain safety nets
- critique austerity

### Questions to consider

- What protects people in crisis?
- Is austerity right?

### Another view

Some argue cutting spending stimulates growth.

## More from John Ralston Saul

1. > There is something silly about grown men and women striving to reduce their vision of themselves and of civilization to bean counting.

[Permalink to quote \#47](https://quotesby.net/John-Ralston-Saul/47/ "Permalink to quote 47")
2. > Each \[ideology\], in the oppressive air of conformity which ideologies create, will force public figures to conform or be ruined on the scaffold of ridicule. In…

[Permalink to quote \#49](https://quotesby.net/John-Ralston-Saul/49/ "Permalink to quote 49")
3. > On June 22nd, \[1633,\] in the morning, in the great hall of the Convent of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Galileo was found guilty of holding a false doctrine. He w…

[Permalink to quote \#46](https://quotesby.net/John-Ralston-Saul/46/ "Permalink to quote 46")

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