MB reader Jeff M. writes:

Is that really how you would run a business, by firing or cutting the pay of the people that are the driving force and the differentiation factor of the business? Historically, that hasn’t worked very well in the sports, entertainment or corporate environments. But then I wouldn’t expect you to understand something as complicated as running a large business, what with your qualifications and all. Or perhaps it’s just a case of envy considering you work for a small circulation publication and are far from a household name and the requisite compensation that follows.
I would be most interested to read something of yours that wasn’t bitter or whiney as I do enjoy your investigative abilities.

First of all, I didn’t know I had “investigative abilities”, but I’m not picky about compliments, so thanks.

Second, considering the morale at the NY Times is, according to both reported sources and personal friends, comparable to the morale at Initech, and considering that my buddies and I sit around all day laughing at e-mails like this one and making fun of The Situation Room, I wouldn’t trade my job for one at the Times even if it meant achieving the “household name” status of Frank Rich, which, in my household, is uttered as a punchline.

Finally, you ask, “Is that really how you would run a business, by firing or cutting the pay of the people that are the driving force and the differentiation factor of the business?” You’re referring to my suggestion that the New York Times fire Paul Krugman who, prior to his sequestration behind the wall of TimesSelect, frequently appeared atop the Times “Most E-mailed Articles” list.

Let me rephrase the question and put it to you: If you had an employee who routinely showed no respect for the most fundamental ethical tenets of your business, who acted like a petulant child when asked to correct his mistakes, and who, despite his popularity, was doing more damage to your credibility as an institution by the column inch, would you fire him?

As Don Luskin explains in his piece on NRO today, Paul Krugman has no respect for facts — and facts are the one thing a good journalist must respect above all. Now, I’ve made errors of fact. Every journalist has — it’s unavoidable in a business dominated by deadlines. But when Paul Krugman makes mistakes, he time and time again has refused to correct the record. It’s inexplicable to me that any newspaper would stand for that. But of course, as you point out, I don’t know anything about running a business. Maybe Pinch Sulzberger and, I don’t know, Dennis Kozlowski could teach me a thing or two.