Why the Central Bank’s economic forecast has left my stomach in knots

WHY would the news of an imminent Central Bank forecast fill a reasonably sane man with foreboding?

Why would I immediately start to wonder — George Lee, why did you abandon your post? Why aren’t you here to explain to us immediately what all this means? And why would I start to shake with anticipation at the thought of the slew of other forecasters, commentators and economists, who seem to prowl the corridors of Montrose and TV3 waiting for their chance to terrify the nation? Why would I struggle to sleep with the images of David and Constantin swirling around in my head? There was a time in my life when I was engaged in the daily struggle of politics. I was completely obsessed with the ups and downs of it. So whenever I heard that a political opinion poll was imminent, I’d get a knot in my stomach.

Sometimes I might pick up the vibe that there was going to be a poll three days hence. And I wouldn’t be able to rest until I’d found out what it had to say. Who was up, who was down? How was my lot doing? What were the personality ratings, the leadership approval figures – like? Once I knew — whether it was good or bad – the knot would settle (sometimes into a dull ache), and I’d begin to figure out what it really meant.