I posted at The Daily Bell regarding their article entitled "What's Behind the US Currency Promotion?" The original article can be found here: http://www.thedailybell.com/1471/Whats-Behind-the-US-Currency-Promotion.html
I felt it necessary to expand on the comments I made at The Daily Bell. Following are my exact comments (in quotation marks), with further explanation and clarification added. Additionally, while this is inherently a political analysis, I feel I should state clearly that my desired preference for social order is quite anarcho-libertarian. However, the reality is that a power and political transition is ahead of us. Following is my speculation on this transition:
"The US wants to maintain control, while trying to pretend that the emperor has clothes. The Chinese want a seat at the table, while pretending (as best they can, because it is so obviously laughable) that the emperor's clothes are still stylish (let alone...exist) in order that the transitions occur as smoothly as possible."
It is obvious on its face that the world order is undergoing a major transition, driven by the drastic economic dislocations which inherently will drive politics, alliances, and control. For much of the last century the US has established and maintained the dominant position on the world stage. For even longer, this can be said about the West in general.
However, while it is obvious to all, both the US and China are trying to go through the transition without admitting the emperor (the US) has no clothes. The US, of course, wants to maintain the appearance of power. China wants a more enhanced seat at the table, with a clear path that corresponds to China's likely continued growth. China, of course, wants the dollar to remain reasonably strong - however recognizes that the US has no political will to make it so (and in fact it may be too late, anyway). Dollar weakness comes sooner if the US is sooner exposed as naked.
"The Chinese will go along with the act as long as they feel power is appropriately being allocated toward them. I believe the Chinese can accept a power-sharing arrangement with the West, as long as they view it is "fair" in their eyes."
It doesn't strike me that China wants to dominate the globe the way the West has attempted to do so. They just want the respect of their position on the world stage.
"The US will move as slowly as China allows. In the long run, this can only be a delaying tactic ‒ absent the US taking China on directly, militarily, which is...NFW."
Certainly, the US doesn't want to race off the stage, they will move as slowly as possible. China, understanding respect - and that an orderly transition is better than a violent one - can go along with this pace, as long as progress is evident.
However, it is only a delaying tactic; the transition will happen...unless the US wants to make military hash of the world to avoid the de-throning. I view this as highly unlikely. The costs and risks are too high, and the US and USSR showed that some sort of sanity can prevail when the alternative is global Armageddon.
"China, and a few others will play their parts in G20 and other global organizations, while at the same time having other conferences without the Western powers in order to focus on alternatives."
To think China and other countries are not working independently to try and find the best path forward is naive. Yes, they will work in established structures, but these structures are dominated by the West - G20, UN, BIS, IMF, World Bank, etc. There is likely some lack of trust by China and others of these institutions, wouldn't you think? For China, pursuing parallel paths is prudent, and I think that it is happening is virtually certain.
"Nothing says China only has the gold they say they have, just as nothing says the West has all the gold they say they have. Both have reasons to share the common lie."
It would cost the dollar if China said they had far more gold than they admit already, and if the US says they have far less. Yet both are possible, and plausible. First, the actual gold reserves are not audited anywhere. Second, it benefits both parties to share the same false information. Third, how much gold has the FED lent to bullion banks which have sold the gold to third parties? We don't know, other than it happens. And to my understanding, this gold is still shown on the FED's books. But if the banks sold the gold to a third party, is it not also on the third party's books as well? Yes, I think.
"China's reserves aren't worth much to the extent they are denominated in USD & EUR (among others). China knows this."
There may be reasons for the Yuan to be a strengthening currency. To the extent the reserves are in USD and EUR, the quality of reserves is not one of the reasons. It is well publicized that China is trying to diversify its reserves. Do we really know how much?
"It is in China's interest (and in the interest of the USG and EU) to lie - in the same direction - regarding China's holdings of these currencies."
Both parties have reasons to say that China's holdings of USD (and separately EUR) are higher than they actually might be. The US wants some semblance of credibility to the dollar, and China doesn't want to lose value in reserves...during its race against diversification.
"China is buying real assets, spending their fiat currency reserves - others still take dollars & Euros in exchange for real stuff."
This is the race - trade pictures of dead Presidents for real stuff. Is China already out in front of the crack up boom? Very likely.
"China, in combination with Russia could easily institute a gold backed currency. Both countries have a complimentary use for each other. While transitioning to a gold backed currency will cause short-term internal havoc in China, such havoc is coming anyway and the CCP needs some way out for the long term. The Chinese are nothing if not long-term thinkers."
Now, I am going way out there (in case you felt I wasn't out there already).
China has a problem. They have a problem no matter what they do. They must transition their economy because they know the US can no longer buy what they used to buy. And even if the US could, does China still want the paper in trade?
China is buying assets, locking up future supply, etc. These can easily be priced in dollars. A strong Yuan (relative to the dollar) would work wonders for controlling future price inflation in China (which is quite well baked in from the monetary side). What better way to strengthen the Yuan than tie it to gold? Maybe backed 20% or so. Then pay for the assets for pennies on the Yuan, so to speak.
Going to a gold backed currency will cause a large disruption to China's economy. But this disruption is here and now, and is only going to get worse no matter what. In this case, why wouldn't China try to gain some real long term benefit for this pain?
With Russia, there are plenty of gold reserves. With Russia, China secures long term access to commodities. With Russia, military equivalence with the West (if not superiority) is assured.
"This move will be the final dagger to the West's dominance ' a death blow to the self-inflicted wounds (both economically and militarily) begun in the early 1900s."
Inflation in the West skyrockets. With a destroyed currency (relative to the Yuan), what can the West buy?
Everyone looks at currency from the seller's perspective - product can be sold cheaper, therefore I can sell more (a false equation, but one parroted exclusively). However, in order to sell, one must buy. With a weakened currency, the West buys less, so it sells less. Let alone, the drastic impact to the standard of living brought on by mass inflation.
The West has been committing suicide since at least 1914 - so much happened then, but it is enough to say the FED, and WWI. WWII put the nail in the coffin, and having false gold-standards (and after 1971, no gold standard), removed all discipline from the system, allowing clear sailing for complete self-destruction. This end was certain, only a question of when.
"Germany (without EU baggage) and Japan would be natural fits for this China / Russia combination, they just need to figure out how to un-encumber themselves from a no-longer-welcomed tenant."
Germany and Japan bring technology that both China and Russia desire. Russia offers resources desired by both Germany and Japan. In fact, could Australia also be brought in to this new alliance? It makes more sense for Australia economically to be tied in here than with the West.
How does Germany, Japan, and maybe Australia break the current strings? I don't know, but it won't be the first time alliances change. Especially alliances brought on only because of conquest in war, as in the case of Germany and Japan.
"Unlike the West, China does not have a history of desiring global dominance - they just don't want to be dictated to about what they view as their own internal affairs. It is not likely that a new global elite will emerge from China."
If I understand correctly, China voluntarily stood down 500 years ago - destroying the fleet and all records, etc. They haven't explored far since. They just don't want to be told what to do. Given the way the world is turning, that isn't likely to be a problem for China in the coming years, especially under the scenario painted in this speculative piece.
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Monday, October 25, 2010
What Would Friedman do, according to CATO?
Of course, we needed no further proof. It is well known that CATO represents the beltway libertarian view - the libertarian view that is acceptable in polite company. In other words, the view that excludes Lew Rockwell, the Mises Institute, and anyone associated with either.
However, we were handed further evidence in spades, courtesy of the following editorial:
"What Would Milton Friedman Say about Fed Policy Under Bernanke?"
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12502
This is a gem. For those of you who thought that libertarians believed in...liberty, well CATO has another idea. Let's look at some of the highlights:
"However, Friedman's views may not be well understood even by those who would claim him as their intellectual fountainhead — which could be problematic for policy-making."
Right off the bat, CATO is supporting "policy making", not so subtle code for government intervention, meaning market intervention by force and coercion. Isn't this a little wide of the libertarian mark?
"...the Fed should aim to stabilize inflation expectations."
Now wait a minute. Even much of the mainstream is beginning to recognize that the FED IS the CAUSE of inflation and inflation expectations. CATO appears not to even advanced this far from the command and control policies that have brought the world economy to the brink. The FED as the cause of inflation should aim to stabilize expectations? It has been said enough: since the creation of the FED almost 100 years ago, the dollar has lost well over 95% of its value. In the 100 years prior to this, the value has been almost completely stable.
"...the Fed should try to minimize swings in nominal income."
A Soviet Commissar couldn't have said it better.
"Similarly, were Friedman alive today, he would balk at the notion that the Fed is out of ammunition. He would remind us that in the early-to-mid-1930s, when the economic environment was far worse and short-term interest rates were near the zero bound, monetary policy easily generated a recovery. Therefore, the Fed could do likewise today.
"Friedman would likely make the case today for more aggressive monetary action. It is time for "Helicopter Ben" to earn his nickname."
The acceptable libertarian think tank is advocating for an even more aggressive FED policy than the one seen over the last two years. On the one hand, stunning. On the other hand, expected. This is, after all, CATO.
If one thing the last two years has proven, anything espoused by Chicago School monetarists (including Friedman) as regarding centrally planning the money supply is a failure. Nowhere was it ever expected that in one month a central bank would more than double its 95 year old balance sheet. If someone wrote a dissertation on the reasons why such beneficial actions would need to be taken one day, please let me know. If these desperate actions haven't convinced you of the fallacy of centrally planned money, then nothing will.
But of course, such central planning has been discredited - both in the Soviet Union, and now in the halls of the Federal Reserve. However, we shouldn't expect to read the obituary in the mainstream press. And of course, we will not read about it from CATO.
Some professors associated with GMU have come out against the FED (this was discussed heatedly at The Daily Bell more than once over the last month or two), and advocate free-market money and banking. GMU and associated institutions are supported by the Koch brothers, the same people that support CATO. It would be refreshing to read a strongly worded rebuttal to this editorial from one of the scholars.
However, we were handed further evidence in spades, courtesy of the following editorial:
"What Would Milton Friedman Say about Fed Policy Under Bernanke?"
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12502
This is a gem. For those of you who thought that libertarians believed in...liberty, well CATO has another idea. Let's look at some of the highlights:
"However, Friedman's views may not be well understood even by those who would claim him as their intellectual fountainhead — which could be problematic for policy-making."
Right off the bat, CATO is supporting "policy making", not so subtle code for government intervention, meaning market intervention by force and coercion. Isn't this a little wide of the libertarian mark?
"...the Fed should aim to stabilize inflation expectations."
Now wait a minute. Even much of the mainstream is beginning to recognize that the FED IS the CAUSE of inflation and inflation expectations. CATO appears not to even advanced this far from the command and control policies that have brought the world economy to the brink. The FED as the cause of inflation should aim to stabilize expectations? It has been said enough: since the creation of the FED almost 100 years ago, the dollar has lost well over 95% of its value. In the 100 years prior to this, the value has been almost completely stable.
"...the Fed should try to minimize swings in nominal income."
A Soviet Commissar couldn't have said it better.
"Similarly, were Friedman alive today, he would balk at the notion that the Fed is out of ammunition. He would remind us that in the early-to-mid-1930s, when the economic environment was far worse and short-term interest rates were near the zero bound, monetary policy easily generated a recovery. Therefore, the Fed could do likewise today.
"Friedman would likely make the case today for more aggressive monetary action. It is time for "Helicopter Ben" to earn his nickname."
The acceptable libertarian think tank is advocating for an even more aggressive FED policy than the one seen over the last two years. On the one hand, stunning. On the other hand, expected. This is, after all, CATO.
If one thing the last two years has proven, anything espoused by Chicago School monetarists (including Friedman) as regarding centrally planning the money supply is a failure. Nowhere was it ever expected that in one month a central bank would more than double its 95 year old balance sheet. If someone wrote a dissertation on the reasons why such beneficial actions would need to be taken one day, please let me know. If these desperate actions haven't convinced you of the fallacy of centrally planned money, then nothing will.
But of course, such central planning has been discredited - both in the Soviet Union, and now in the halls of the Federal Reserve. However, we shouldn't expect to read the obituary in the mainstream press. And of course, we will not read about it from CATO.
Some professors associated with GMU have come out against the FED (this was discussed heatedly at The Daily Bell more than once over the last month or two), and advocate free-market money and banking. GMU and associated institutions are supported by the Koch brothers, the same people that support CATO. It would be refreshing to read a strongly worded rebuttal to this editorial from one of the scholars.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Copyright at The Daily Bell
This is in response to two article at The Daily Bell, listed here:
http://www.thedailybell.com/1437/The-Tyranny-of-Copyright.html
http://www.thedailybell.com/1441/Copyright-Redux-and-the-Brilliance-of-Kinsella.html
Until recently, I have purposely avoided internally addressing this subject of IP, in whatever form (copyright, patent, etc.). For some time, at Mises by Kinsella and others, it had been addressed, but I ignored the subject - I think for two reasons: 1) on my "change the world if I could" list, I had several items far more valuable than this to me (for example, the four planks of the Daily Bell Platform all carry much more import), and 2) I didn't want to have challenged my belief that such protections were necessary in the forms currently practiced.
Over the last week or two, I have begun to cross into this swamp of my own creation. Therefore I found TDB's article today and yesterday quite timely.
It was the feedback from yesterday’s article that helped to clarify the issue for me. Such condemnation of TDB – aggressive and angry. And often, complete support that the state’s enforcement was necessary in this instance. This was quite disheartening to me. Feedbackers coming out foursquare on the positive benefits of government force in this matter.
Eventually, I went from disheartened to some real peace on this issue. Indulge me while I share my journey....
The state is the monopoly of legalized violence over a given geographical jurisdiction. For the moment, I avoid addressing my view of the "right" answer for protection of IP (if any), but I know the wrong one. For me, there is no cause that justifies praying to the state for the answer. The monopoly of legalized violence. I let that sink in while I read the feedback advocating a desire for this (inherently uncontrollable) beast to provide salvation.
This worship is most dangerous on items such as IP (also climate change, financial regulation, etc.). Inherently, the solution must be global. To allow a "leak" in the state's protection services of IP in any jurisdiction inherently leaves the floodgates open (as pointed out in today’s article) - unlike localized, "physical" crimes that may or may not be illegal in other jurisdictions (e.g. drugs, prostitution). These "preferences" can be quite localized.
Not IP. It must be enforced globally or it doesn't do the trick. (Perhaps one reason, for those who wonder why the PE “allowed” the internet, that they “allowed” the internet). Therefore, those praying to the state for salvation of IP are praying for the continued path toward one world government. I don't see how this is avoided. But even if it can be "localized", it is still praying to the state - the monopoly of legalized violence.
What is the private solution? I have some thoughts, but the reality is - I don't know. Thank God, like almost everything around me, human action has brought forth solutions to many problems I knew I had, and human action has created conveniences I never dreamed of. I don't have to have "the" answer for how a market might protect IP, just like I didn't have to come up with the answer for almost everything I enjoy in modern life. However, I am certain the answer does not lie in the state.
Philosophy does matter. Not "whatever works" or "expediency of the moment." Granting some people a monopoly of legalized violence is agreeing to your own death wish. People who are drawn to such positions in government are never agreeable to limiting the applications of force. We see this around us every day, and even those who see it most clearly can become blind to it if the subject is too close to home.
So there it is. Thank you feedbackers - not so much the ones who supported the DB's view (although you were quite wonderful in your comments) - but to those who so aggressively attacked the DB's position while advocating state force as the only/best solution. It was this attitude that reminded me that even the most seemingly rational people with monopoly power cannot be trusted to lord over the rest of us.
http://www.thedailybell.com/1437/The-Tyranny-of-Copyright.html
http://www.thedailybell.com/1441/Copyright-Redux-and-the-Brilliance-of-Kinsella.html
Until recently, I have purposely avoided internally addressing this subject of IP, in whatever form (copyright, patent, etc.). For some time, at Mises by Kinsella and others, it had been addressed, but I ignored the subject - I think for two reasons: 1) on my "change the world if I could" list, I had several items far more valuable than this to me (for example, the four planks of the Daily Bell Platform all carry much more import), and 2) I didn't want to have challenged my belief that such protections were necessary in the forms currently practiced.
Over the last week or two, I have begun to cross into this swamp of my own creation. Therefore I found TDB's article today and yesterday quite timely.
It was the feedback from yesterday’s article that helped to clarify the issue for me. Such condemnation of TDB – aggressive and angry. And often, complete support that the state’s enforcement was necessary in this instance. This was quite disheartening to me. Feedbackers coming out foursquare on the positive benefits of government force in this matter.
Eventually, I went from disheartened to some real peace on this issue. Indulge me while I share my journey....
The state is the monopoly of legalized violence over a given geographical jurisdiction. For the moment, I avoid addressing my view of the "right" answer for protection of IP (if any), but I know the wrong one. For me, there is no cause that justifies praying to the state for the answer. The monopoly of legalized violence. I let that sink in while I read the feedback advocating a desire for this (inherently uncontrollable) beast to provide salvation.
This worship is most dangerous on items such as IP (also climate change, financial regulation, etc.). Inherently, the solution must be global. To allow a "leak" in the state's protection services of IP in any jurisdiction inherently leaves the floodgates open (as pointed out in today’s article) - unlike localized, "physical" crimes that may or may not be illegal in other jurisdictions (e.g. drugs, prostitution). These "preferences" can be quite localized.
Not IP. It must be enforced globally or it doesn't do the trick. (Perhaps one reason, for those who wonder why the PE “allowed” the internet, that they “allowed” the internet). Therefore, those praying to the state for salvation of IP are praying for the continued path toward one world government. I don't see how this is avoided. But even if it can be "localized", it is still praying to the state - the monopoly of legalized violence.
What is the private solution? I have some thoughts, but the reality is - I don't know. Thank God, like almost everything around me, human action has brought forth solutions to many problems I knew I had, and human action has created conveniences I never dreamed of. I don't have to have "the" answer for how a market might protect IP, just like I didn't have to come up with the answer for almost everything I enjoy in modern life. However, I am certain the answer does not lie in the state.
Philosophy does matter. Not "whatever works" or "expediency of the moment." Granting some people a monopoly of legalized violence is agreeing to your own death wish. People who are drawn to such positions in government are never agreeable to limiting the applications of force. We see this around us every day, and even those who see it most clearly can become blind to it if the subject is too close to home.
So there it is. Thank you feedbackers - not so much the ones who supported the DB's view (although you were quite wonderful in your comments) - but to those who so aggressively attacked the DB's position while advocating state force as the only/best solution. It was this attitude that reminded me that even the most seemingly rational people with monopoly power cannot be trusted to lord over the rest of us.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Ambrose, you are getting warmer!
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard is getting warmer. In June, he wrote a commentary with the provocative title: "Time to shut down the US Federal Reserve?" I thought he finally got it, the FED is the problem and not the solution. It turns out he was only upset because some employee at the FED wrote that economics should only be discussed by those who have trained at an acceptable school. I wrote about it here:
http://bionicmosquito.blogspot.com/2010/06/ambrose-you-almost-fooled-me.html
Well, he is getting closer to the truth now. "Shut Down the Fed (Part II)" he calls it. His commentary is here:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ambroseevans-pritchard/100007777/shut-down-the-fed-part-ii/
"I apologise to readers around the world for having defended the emergency stimulus policies of the US Federal Reserve, and for arguing like an imbecile naif that the Fed would not succumb to drug addiction, political abuse, and mad intoxicated debauchery, once it began taking its first shots of quantitative easing."
He doesn't cut himself any slack after this opening paragraph, for example:
"So all those hillsmen in Idaho, with their Colt 45s and boxes of krugerrands, who sent furious emails to the Telegraph accusing me of defending a hyperinflating establishment cabal were right all along. The Fed is indeed out of control."
Ambrose is now getting much closer. He sees that the FED can only inflate, it can do nothing else. A simple look at the track record since 1913 makes this quite clear. In this time the dollar has lost over 95% of its value. For the 100 years prior to that, there was virtually no net change in the purchasing power of the dollar.
He is not yet all the way there however. Ambrose is still trying to makes sense of this madness within a worldview that believes the FED is there to keep inflation low and to maintain employment and economic growth. Yes, that is the stated mission. However it certainly is not the real mission.
The confusion clears up quite easily when one considers that the real purpose of the FED is to protect the big banks. Full stop. Keep them liquid. To the extent possible, keep them solvent. The FED does this by trading treasuries for junk, providing a backstop for every and any investment, keeping interest rates low, etc. Mostly it does it by inflating the currency. The FED is the backbone of a cartel.
With this understanding, the actions are quite consistent. The banks like inflation, they want inflation, they need inflation. Since 1913, they have received plenty of it. They need it in 2010 more than ever. Monetary control in a fiat environment is the greatest wealth transfer scheme ever invented, and the mothership of this scam is the FED.
The FED wants you to keep your eye on the CPI, while the scam is ongoing in the assets -- as assets are where the wealth is transferred. This is part of the game. As long as CPI is benign, the theft through asset inflation can go on uninhibited. Thus, all the productivity improvements over the last 100 years have been offset 20-fold by the devaluation of the dollar. This productivity has gone to the banks and those who collect interest on the fictitious money created by the FED and the fractional reserve banking the FED makes possible. What a tremendous transfer of wealth.
Ambrose, this is the next step you must take - the final step in the journey. The FED's purpose is not the one stated; the purpose is to protect the banks. It is a cartel. It inflates because this is good for the banks, it protects the banks, and it transfers wealth to the banks. It allows capital to be multiplied 10- 20- or 30-fold, with interest collected on multiples of the actual savings. All of this interest is taken from the masses, where real wealth is actually produced. Yet the masses get to enjoy only a fraction of the beneft, and over the last 40 years, maybe none of the benefit.
You are too smart not too see this and not to understand it. I suspect in a couple of months, you will write "Shut Down the FED (Part III), The Final Act". In this, you will state with no hesitation that the power over money cannot be trusted to a handful of men meeting in secret. The market can and must determine "money" as it is quite capable of doing - after all, the market resolves far more complex needs than a means to transfer and store wealth.
Historically the market has entrusted gold and silver to do this job. You will finally say it.
Then, I can finally say, welcome - you now get it.
http://bionicmosquito.blogspot.com/2010/06/ambrose-you-almost-fooled-me.html
Well, he is getting closer to the truth now. "Shut Down the Fed (Part II)" he calls it. His commentary is here:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ambroseevans-pritchard/100007777/shut-down-the-fed-part-ii/
"I apologise to readers around the world for having defended the emergency stimulus policies of the US Federal Reserve, and for arguing like an imbecile naif that the Fed would not succumb to drug addiction, political abuse, and mad intoxicated debauchery, once it began taking its first shots of quantitative easing."
He doesn't cut himself any slack after this opening paragraph, for example:
"So all those hillsmen in Idaho, with their Colt 45s and boxes of krugerrands, who sent furious emails to the Telegraph accusing me of defending a hyperinflating establishment cabal were right all along. The Fed is indeed out of control."
Ambrose is now getting much closer. He sees that the FED can only inflate, it can do nothing else. A simple look at the track record since 1913 makes this quite clear. In this time the dollar has lost over 95% of its value. For the 100 years prior to that, there was virtually no net change in the purchasing power of the dollar.
He is not yet all the way there however. Ambrose is still trying to makes sense of this madness within a worldview that believes the FED is there to keep inflation low and to maintain employment and economic growth. Yes, that is the stated mission. However it certainly is not the real mission.
The confusion clears up quite easily when one considers that the real purpose of the FED is to protect the big banks. Full stop. Keep them liquid. To the extent possible, keep them solvent. The FED does this by trading treasuries for junk, providing a backstop for every and any investment, keeping interest rates low, etc. Mostly it does it by inflating the currency. The FED is the backbone of a cartel.
With this understanding, the actions are quite consistent. The banks like inflation, they want inflation, they need inflation. Since 1913, they have received plenty of it. They need it in 2010 more than ever. Monetary control in a fiat environment is the greatest wealth transfer scheme ever invented, and the mothership of this scam is the FED.
The FED wants you to keep your eye on the CPI, while the scam is ongoing in the assets -- as assets are where the wealth is transferred. This is part of the game. As long as CPI is benign, the theft through asset inflation can go on uninhibited. Thus, all the productivity improvements over the last 100 years have been offset 20-fold by the devaluation of the dollar. This productivity has gone to the banks and those who collect interest on the fictitious money created by the FED and the fractional reserve banking the FED makes possible. What a tremendous transfer of wealth.
Ambrose, this is the next step you must take - the final step in the journey. The FED's purpose is not the one stated; the purpose is to protect the banks. It is a cartel. It inflates because this is good for the banks, it protects the banks, and it transfers wealth to the banks. It allows capital to be multiplied 10- 20- or 30-fold, with interest collected on multiples of the actual savings. All of this interest is taken from the masses, where real wealth is actually produced. Yet the masses get to enjoy only a fraction of the beneft, and over the last 40 years, maybe none of the benefit.
You are too smart not too see this and not to understand it. I suspect in a couple of months, you will write "Shut Down the FED (Part III), The Final Act". In this, you will state with no hesitation that the power over money cannot be trusted to a handful of men meeting in secret. The market can and must determine "money" as it is quite capable of doing - after all, the market resolves far more complex needs than a means to transfer and store wealth.
Historically the market has entrusted gold and silver to do this job. You will finally say it.
Then, I can finally say, welcome - you now get it.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Why the Wars?
It is interesting to consider what it is the PE are after via these wars. The other day in the comments at the Daily Bell, Bill Ross suggested that the objective of the PE might be a thinning of the population in order to conserve resources. I consider Bill Ross to be well-thought out in his posts, and I do not dismiss his views lightly – I don’t dismiss them at all, and consider them carefully. I have also considered this view as possible, but am swayed toward another possibility – drawing upon comments from both The Daily Bell and Dr. Gary North. No one can ever accuse me of having an original thought!
The Daily Bell has consistently stated the purpose is control. Control via establishment of a western style regulatory democracy. Dr. North has written many articles recently on the general theme of the power elite. In one, he made a stunningly simple yet powerful point – the power elite want wealth. Wealth is represented by the owning of productive assets – and these are only productive to the extent that there are customers willing and able to pay for the goods and services that are produced via these assets.
So, for the PE to want a drastic reduction in population, they must willingly want to reduce their wealth – fewer customers to sell to and fewer hosts to leach from equals less wealth. There may be valid reasons for the PE to purposely want to become poorer (relatively). It certainly could be true if a) the world’s natural resources are limited (may or may not be true), and b) if true, there would be no wealth to be generated by developing alternatives to the diminishing resources. I believe this second possibility is on its face not true (especially for those who have their hands on the levers of the regulatory mechanisms. If alternatives to today’s resources are one day required, there are untold trillions to be made by those who develop the alternatives…but only if there are customers! Killing half the population also reduces half the wealth earning opportunity for the elite.
So, I am further swayed to the view that the purpose of the wars is control – to bring more customers into the fold and to bring more hosts for the leaches. The purpose is to bring more people under the tent in order to become victims of central banking, taxation, and other control tools that stealthily or not so stealthily transfer wealth from the masses to the few. Western style regulatory democracy is a system that allows for many ways for the cream to be skimmed off the top by those on the top.
Via money printing / inflation – a few pennies per year out of every dollar is skimmed. Via taxation – at least 40% or more of every dollar earned is transferred. Through just these two tools, trillions are transferred annually from the producers to the elite and the minions that knowingly or unknowingly do the elite’s dirty work of propaganda and indoctrination.
I don’t think the purpose is to drastically cut the population. This would result in wealth destruction of the elite. Wealth destruction is completely counter to the purpose of being “elite”. The purpose is to add to the size and number of hosts, therefore adding to the wealth of the leaches.
At least this is as far as I have progressed on this at the moment. I am certainly open to alternatives.
The Daily Bell has consistently stated the purpose is control. Control via establishment of a western style regulatory democracy. Dr. North has written many articles recently on the general theme of the power elite. In one, he made a stunningly simple yet powerful point – the power elite want wealth. Wealth is represented by the owning of productive assets – and these are only productive to the extent that there are customers willing and able to pay for the goods and services that are produced via these assets.
So, for the PE to want a drastic reduction in population, they must willingly want to reduce their wealth – fewer customers to sell to and fewer hosts to leach from equals less wealth. There may be valid reasons for the PE to purposely want to become poorer (relatively). It certainly could be true if a) the world’s natural resources are limited (may or may not be true), and b) if true, there would be no wealth to be generated by developing alternatives to the diminishing resources. I believe this second possibility is on its face not true (especially for those who have their hands on the levers of the regulatory mechanisms. If alternatives to today’s resources are one day required, there are untold trillions to be made by those who develop the alternatives…but only if there are customers! Killing half the population also reduces half the wealth earning opportunity for the elite.
So, I am further swayed to the view that the purpose of the wars is control – to bring more customers into the fold and to bring more hosts for the leaches. The purpose is to bring more people under the tent in order to become victims of central banking, taxation, and other control tools that stealthily or not so stealthily transfer wealth from the masses to the few. Western style regulatory democracy is a system that allows for many ways for the cream to be skimmed off the top by those on the top.
Via money printing / inflation – a few pennies per year out of every dollar is skimmed. Via taxation – at least 40% or more of every dollar earned is transferred. Through just these two tools, trillions are transferred annually from the producers to the elite and the minions that knowingly or unknowingly do the elite’s dirty work of propaganda and indoctrination.
I don’t think the purpose is to drastically cut the population. This would result in wealth destruction of the elite. Wealth destruction is completely counter to the purpose of being “elite”. The purpose is to add to the size and number of hosts, therefore adding to the wealth of the leaches.
At least this is as far as I have progressed on this at the moment. I am certainly open to alternatives.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Scott Brown and the Tea Party
This is in response to today's commentary at The Daily Bell
http://www.thedailybell.com/1219/Senator-Scott-Browns-Disturbing-Story.html
"While the perspective of American punditry is that the Tea Party movement has been co-opted by the Republican party, we would humbly submit that this is not a true reading of the situation. The inchoate Tea Party movement may have been formalized and reconfigured to make it palatable, but the underlying frustrations remain the same and cannot be palliated by political formulations and rhetoric."
The Tea Party as a structure, an entity, is being co-opted -- to the extent that an entity that is yet to take any significant unifying form can be co-opted. I agree that the underlying frustrations have not (and cannot) be co-opted, but the political outlet for these is at risk.
Also, I do not yet accept the idea that the frustrations of the Tea Party are focused around smaller government and less intrusion. I think there is a segment of that -- those that came to the movement from the Ron Paul 2008 candidacy -- but many seem to be of the view that the new programs are putting at risk the old program...so stop the new programs and don't mess with my old program.
"Government, keep your hands off my medicare."
When students agree to give up subsidized schools, and seniors agree to give up medicare and social security, we may be on to something. When the Tea Party as a smaller / shrinking government movement lasts for at least ten years and effects local and national elections with better candidates than Scott Brown, we might have something.
The best we have going for us is that the promises will be broken. Then people will look to local solutions vs. national (or international) ones. That the promises will be broken is certain.
http://www.thedailybell.com/1219/Senator-Scott-Browns-Disturbing-Story.html
"While the perspective of American punditry is that the Tea Party movement has been co-opted by the Republican party, we would humbly submit that this is not a true reading of the situation. The inchoate Tea Party movement may have been formalized and reconfigured to make it palatable, but the underlying frustrations remain the same and cannot be palliated by political formulations and rhetoric."
The Tea Party as a structure, an entity, is being co-opted -- to the extent that an entity that is yet to take any significant unifying form can be co-opted. I agree that the underlying frustrations have not (and cannot) be co-opted, but the political outlet for these is at risk.
Also, I do not yet accept the idea that the frustrations of the Tea Party are focused around smaller government and less intrusion. I think there is a segment of that -- those that came to the movement from the Ron Paul 2008 candidacy -- but many seem to be of the view that the new programs are putting at risk the old program...so stop the new programs and don't mess with my old program.
"Government, keep your hands off my medicare."
When students agree to give up subsidized schools, and seniors agree to give up medicare and social security, we may be on to something. When the Tea Party as a smaller / shrinking government movement lasts for at least ten years and effects local and national elections with better candidates than Scott Brown, we might have something.
The best we have going for us is that the promises will be broken. Then people will look to local solutions vs. national (or international) ones. That the promises will be broken is certain.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
China on the Brink? at the Daily Bell
In reply to the Daily Bell article:
http://www.thedailybell.com/1194/China-on-the-Brink.html
The validity of the Austrian Theory of the Business Cycle (do we really have to call it a "theory" anymore?) does not only apply to the west. China will bust because it has to.
The Chinese leadership is faced with a few options, all bad. They can certainly continue to do what they are doing (no, I don't believe there is such a thing as a soft landing when you have pumped as much as they have pumped).
They also aren't sitting around waiting for the G8 or G20 or any other "helpful" organization of the west to solve the world's (China's) problems.
They are locking up resources around the world. These contracts are likely priced in dollars -- something the Chinese have plenty of and don't want to hold. At some point, China can declare the Yuan partially backed by gold -- even 15% - 25% would be sufficient. This strengthens the Yuan and makes it easier to buy those resources now priced in cheaper dollars. Yes a) their reserves lose value (this will happen no matter what), however if these reserves still buy resources, do they care? and b) this will send China into a recession/depression (this will also happen no matter what).
What comes out the other side is a stable internal economy with a strong currency that allows the Chinese to buy commodities at favourable prices...helping to keep internal price inflation down and keeping the masses somewhat settled.
They could do this in conjunction with Russia (though not mandatory) as Russia brings additional muscle and significant natural resources. The US won't go to war over this (the DB has done a good job of pointing out the minimal chances of nuclear war in our future by nation-states).
Not a great solution, not even a good solution, but maybe the best of many bad solutions and a solution that gives the Chinese a chance post the trauma.
Yesterday the DB asked if the Chinese elite are married to the west. I think not. I think when the Chinese elite were courted, they did the "winkie-winkie," but didn't make any promises. The west, having no alternative, decided they would take the chance and hope the flirting would lead to marriage. The Chinese feel no obligation to this johnny-come-lately anglo elite -- they have been around 6000 years compared to a few hundred. They will be around long after, they figure.
My guess is China has figured out they have gained everything they are going to gain from the US, it is time to move on. No need to buy the cow, so to speak. Yes, the flirtation came at some cost -- but none long term -- and oh by the way brought a few benefits.
http://www.thedailybell.com/1194/China-on-the-Brink.html
The validity of the Austrian Theory of the Business Cycle (do we really have to call it a "theory" anymore?) does not only apply to the west. China will bust because it has to.
The Chinese leadership is faced with a few options, all bad. They can certainly continue to do what they are doing (no, I don't believe there is such a thing as a soft landing when you have pumped as much as they have pumped).
They also aren't sitting around waiting for the G8 or G20 or any other "helpful" organization of the west to solve the world's (China's) problems.
They are locking up resources around the world. These contracts are likely priced in dollars -- something the Chinese have plenty of and don't want to hold. At some point, China can declare the Yuan partially backed by gold -- even 15% - 25% would be sufficient. This strengthens the Yuan and makes it easier to buy those resources now priced in cheaper dollars. Yes a) their reserves lose value (this will happen no matter what), however if these reserves still buy resources, do they care? and b) this will send China into a recession/depression (this will also happen no matter what).
What comes out the other side is a stable internal economy with a strong currency that allows the Chinese to buy commodities at favourable prices...helping to keep internal price inflation down and keeping the masses somewhat settled.
They could do this in conjunction with Russia (though not mandatory) as Russia brings additional muscle and significant natural resources. The US won't go to war over this (the DB has done a good job of pointing out the minimal chances of nuclear war in our future by nation-states).
Not a great solution, not even a good solution, but maybe the best of many bad solutions and a solution that gives the Chinese a chance post the trauma.
Yesterday the DB asked if the Chinese elite are married to the west. I think not. I think when the Chinese elite were courted, they did the "winkie-winkie," but didn't make any promises. The west, having no alternative, decided they would take the chance and hope the flirting would lead to marriage. The Chinese feel no obligation to this johnny-come-lately anglo elite -- they have been around 6000 years compared to a few hundred. They will be around long after, they figure.
My guess is China has figured out they have gained everything they are going to gain from the US, it is time to move on. No need to buy the cow, so to speak. Yes, the flirtation came at some cost -- but none long term -- and oh by the way brought a few benefits.
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