You’d think the global economy was a living, breathing organism the way analysts, politicians and reporters have been describing it.

References to diseases, bodily functions and medical interventions are all used to describe a patient in need of treatment.

We’re looking at CNBC, The Times of London, the BBC, CNN and Canada’s Edmonton Journal.
First, here’s how CNBC’s Squawk on the Street describes the situation.

Our economy is like a patient in intensive care and the more doctor's intervene the sicker the patient gets. And I worry it's ruining any hope we have of returning to confidence.” (CNBC)

The Times of London carries the patient metaphor further by taking a clinical approach to the problem:

When a patient is seriously sick…it is wise to make a careful diagnosis before prescribing the cure. The first step in this…is to decide who is qualified to make the diagnosis and who isn't.” (The Times)

In contrast, the BBC suggests how a cure might work to help stabilize the patient with interesting graphics:
    
Businesses also get a shot in the arm. The government will continue to help small firms through a bank loan scheme - and there will be extra time given to companies to pay their tax bills. But any cure for an ailing economy has significant side effects. The initial pain relief of tax cuts has to be paid back. The shock treatment is future tax rises.” (BBC)

On CNN, correspondent Jeannie Moos compares the economy to a heart attack patient needing CPR:

“…but we'll recover from it. Both the outgoing and the incoming president sound like they're talking about a president in critical condition. We need a stimulus a big stimulus package that will jolt the economy back into shape.” (CNN)

Canada’s Edmonton Journal doesn’t have a lot of sympathy for America’s current predicament, saying poor lifestyle choices are to blame for the ‘patient’s unhealthy condition’.

Forget the stock market. The real disease that afflicts the U.S. economy is greed. The markets merely reflect the symptoms.” (Edmonton Journal)

So, if the economy is like a patient in need of medical attention, what needs to be done?
A cash transfusion? Surgical budget cuts? A little retail therapy?

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your comments on Newsy.com – and we invite you to check out our sources.

Business News

Being Patient with the Economy

November 25, 2008
(2:30)
Various media have described the economic crisis in ways more appropriate to an ailing human being than a large money system. The analogy has taken the media by storm.
   
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