Now, when Gordon was Chancellor he revelled in his reputation for prudence - ask him for money for stuff and he'd say no, because it was the prudent thing to do.
But when ordinary people are being prudent, because we're frankly terrified and we want to hang onto our money and buy cheap stuff, that's the wrong thing to do.
So it's vital for us to spend, even though the various governments and financial institutions have royally karked things up and everything's uncertain. But it's okay for him to refuse to spend. Which of these?
I may have overestimated Gordon's grip on things a few weeks ago. You'll all have realised long ago that I'm no expert, but to me the pre-Budget statement smacks of desperation, the nuclear option. Which gives me the scary impression that after this, there are no other plans.