• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Inflation vs. Deflation

Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
65
Reaction score
8
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
We are at an economic crossroads.

The Federal Reserve has pumped over one trillion dollars into the economy. Producer prices have been falling as of late.

Economists have been debating whether the threat to the economy is deflation or inflation.

Between inflation and deflation, what do you think is the greatest threat to our economy?
 
We are at an economic crossroads.

The Federal Reserve has pumped over one trillion dollars into the economy. Producer prices have been falling as of late.

Economists have been debating whether the threat to the economy is deflation or inflation.

Between inflation and deflation, what do you think is the greatest threat to our economy?

none, miss information, speculation, lack of political will and greed are a much bigger threat. So what if the US gets inflation or deflation.. big deal. We are not talking hyperinflation or deflation after all, no economist has been talking about that.
 
Long term, low deflation and long term low inflation are both fine. A short term burst of deflation though is often considered harmful. However, it might be nice simply to encourage greater savings and get the saving rate back up a bit so while causing some short-term pain, deflation could end up helping over the longer term. A bout of high inflation though could strangle a weak recovery and so that is what I'd worry about more.
 
We are at an economic crossroads.

The Federal Reserve has pumped over one trillion dollars into the economy. Producer prices have been falling as of late.

Economists have been debating whether the threat to the economy is deflation or inflation.

Between inflation and deflation, what do you think is the greatest threat to our economy?

I think deflation is the greatest threat. We've reached "Zero Hour" in which the likelihood of success in attempts to reflate the economy will be minimal at best. We've spent decades building up total credit market debt that now exceeds $54 trillion. Much of this debt was borrowed against assets that are now worth considerably less than the value of the outstanding loans. And since it's held principally by financial institutions such as commercial banks, lending will be constrained by ongoing deleveraging of bank balance sheets and liquidation of bad debts. Even during so-called good times, households were under pressure because their real incomes did not keep up with the cost of living. We've seen millions of relatively high-paying manufacturing and design jobs flee overseas. It's doubtful that these jobs will be replaced any time soon. And yet if one listens to CNBC he is left with the impression that consumers are chomping at the bit to lighten their wallets, and, even if the consumer shows restraint in spending, an export boom will bail us out. Newsflash: The American consumer is tapped out, Europe has its own debt problems, and China is constraining credit in an attempt to slow a real-estate bubble. Good luck on the recovery. I think stock markets around the world are signaling us to head for the exits while we still can.

http://www.hoisingtonmgt.com/pdf/HIM2010Q1NP.pdf

http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/docs/meltzer/fisdeb33.pdf
 
Last edited:
none, miss information, speculation, lack of political will and greed are a much bigger threat. So what if the US gets inflation or deflation.. big deal. We are not talking hyperinflation or deflation after all, no economist has been talking about that.

The realistic risks of deflation seriously outweigh the cost of long term risks of deflation.
 
To the OP:

Consider the expectations augmented Phillips Curve.
 
Deflation is absolutely our biggest enemy.

When we are in deflation, people hold onto their cash because it is becoming more and more valuable. Why buy a house now when it will be cheaper next year. Why replace that rusty refridgerator today when next month refridgerators will be less expensive. Why buy stocks when the price of stocks are falling. Modist deflation can result in a recession, rampant deflation could result in a depression.

Not only is deflation bad for the economy, it is bad for the debtor and banking system. Like if my house payment is $1,000 a month now, if we have 10% annual deflation my $1,000 a month house payment a year from now will essentially be costing me $1,100. Under deflation our debts, personal, business and governmental all become harder to pay. Thus more defaults on debts which is catistrophic for our banking system.

Deflation also discourages investment. Why spend a lot of money expanding production capability when the value of products are on the decline? Why purchase that new widget making machine now when you can get it next month cheaper? Why take the risk of investing in the stock market when your cash is becoming more valuable every month?

Inflation has exactly the opposite effect on all of this.

In theory, our gov has already expanded our money supply by a huge amount since this recession started. Thus, in theory we should be having crazy inflation. But here's the one thing - all of that money that our government has printed up, well, it never got in the hands of the consumer. It's litterally sitting in the vaults of banks and on their ledger books. Most that money was distributed to Wallstreet. Until that money somehow makes its way into the hands of the consumer, consumer demand will remain low and our economy will remain bad. Remember, even Ronald Reagan once said "money in the hands of the rich just TRICKLES DOWN to the poor" (no, he did not really say that, I made it up - but it's true).

As much as I hate wasteful spending by the government, one of the things that our government could to to end the recession would be to print up a bunch more money, and send every US citizen a big fat check. This will without a doubt increase consumption, thus stimulating hiring. It would also reduce debt defaults (thus helping out the banks). The trick is to figure out just how big those checks should be. Just common sense tells me that those checks have to be larger than a months average salary to really stimulate spending. Send a family of four $400 and they will probably just pay their utility bills on time instead of a month late. But send that same family $16,000 and they will do some serious spending. The worse case senerio is that government stimulous checks will force a little inflation into our system - which is a GOOD thing. The checks just need to be small enough that demand created by them does not exceed our full production capacity level. Think of these stimulous checks as a loan from the government which will be repaid by the taxpayer going back to work and once again generating a good income (and thus paying a good bit of income TAX).
 
As much as I hate wasteful spending by the government, one of the things that our government could to to end the recession would be to print up a bunch more money, and send every US citizen a big fat check. This will without a doubt increase consumption, thus stimulating hiring. It would also reduce debt defaults (thus helping out the banks). The trick is to figure out just how big those checks should be. Just common sense tells me that those checks have to be larger than a months average salary to really stimulate spending. Send a family of four $400 and they will probably just pay their utility bills on time instead of a month late. But send that same family $16,000 and they will do some serious spending. The worse case senerio is that government stimulous checks will force a little inflation into our system - which is a GOOD thing. The checks just need to be small enough that demand created by them does not exceed our full production capacity level. Think of these stimulous checks as a loan from the government which will be repaid by the taxpayer going back to work and once again generating a good income (and thus paying a good bit of income TAX).

The philosopher Herbert Spencer wrote, "‘The ultimate result of shielding man from the effects of folly is to people the world with fools." One problem with your "just send every US citizen a fat check" solution is it does nothing to address imbalances created by the bubble economy, and some of these imbalances are huge. The only way to temper the excessive risk-taking mentality that fuels these bubbles is to have what hedge fund manager Kyle Bass called a "Darwinian flush" in which the people who took on this risk are punished and brought back to reality. Besides, as the article I quoted mentioned, there comes a point at which more government "stimulus" actually becomes contractionary. Japan has been trying to spend its way to prosperity in the wake of a collapsed asset bubble by paying people to build bridges to nowhere and the deflation is still there, along with the big public debt bill. Also, the value of a fiat currency depends on confidence. If you kick the legs out from under savers by just "printing up a bunch of money" to save slugs who borrowed wheelbarrows of money to buy McMansions, the savers might just say, "Screw it. Next time I'm buying gold" and the value of the currency will plummet. Finding the right amount of stimulus without going beyond the tipping point is a tricky thing to pull off. It will be interesting to see how long confidence remains in the Japanese currency. We're seeing some hedge funds starting to make big bets against the yen, mainly because of Japan's deteriorating public finances.
 
The philosopher Herbert Spencer wrote, "‘The ultimate result of shielding man from the effects of folly is to people the world with fools." One problem with your "just send every US citizen a fat check" solution is it does nothing to address imbalances created by the bubble economy, and some of these imbalances are huge. The only way to temper the excessive risk-taking mentality that fuels these bubbles is to have what hedge fund manager Kyle Bass called a "Darwinian flush" in which the people who took on this risk are punished and brought back to reality. Besides, as the article I quoted mentioned, there comes a point at which more government "stimulus" actually becomes contractionary. Japan has been trying to spend its way to prosperity in the wake of a collapsed asset bubble by paying people to build bridges to nowhere and the deflation is still there, along with the big public debt bill. Also, the value of a fiat currency depends on confidence. If you kick the legs out from under savers by just "printing up a bunch of money" to save slugs who borrowed wheelbarrows of money to buy McMansions, the savers might just say, "Screw it. Next time I'm buying gold" and the value of the currency will plummet. Finding the right amount of stimulus without going beyond the tipping point is a tricky thing to pull off. It will be interesting to see how long confidence remains in the Japanese currency. We're seeing some hedge funds starting to make big bets against the yen, mainly because of Japan's deteriorating public finances.

Japan's biggest issue regarding a decade of flirting with deflation is the fact that savings remains high despite low interest rates and fiscal expansion. Their "postal savings system" is the largest in the world. Combined with both stagnant population growth and an aging population, fiscal stimulus will be hard pushed to spur the demand necessary to raise prices. On top of all that, Japan's trade balance induces currency valuation, meaning Keynesian policies will be unable to spur economic growth in the tune of a "normal" recovery.

Which leads me to China, and the (IMHO) false belief that the central bank of China has any short term capabilities of controlling monetary policy. By implementing a banded valuation, China essentially relieves itself of its ability to "heat or cool" their economy from a monetary perspective. The level of which their foreign reserves have accumulated (estimates as high as $2 trillion) says a floating RYB is at least twice as valuable. They cannot become the worlds largest economy until the buying power of its people is somewhat in tune with market sentiment; until internal consumption is the focal point of their economy.

Export machines (Japan, China, and Germany) do not have the power to shift external demand. Therefore it is erroneous to compare our situation to that of Japan as current US policy is designed to boost internal demand.
 
Japan's biggest issue regarding a decade of flirting with deflation is the fact that savings remains high despite low interest rates and fiscal expansion.

First of all, before Japan's asset bubble popped, its "biggest issue regarding a decade of flirting with deflation"--the nation's high level of savings--didn't have a problem fueling an economy that experienced tremendous growth and was supposed to own America by now. Since Japan's public capital spending was targeted to domestic consumption, I can't really understand your reasoning as to why it hasn't been effective. Presumably, the people building bridges and roads to nowhere exist and are physically able to do the work. I think a more likely explanation for the relative ineffectiveness of the spending is government is less efficient at allocating resources than the private economy. Also, even though Japan has a large pool of savings, it has a huge government debt that, at about 200% of GDP, will still need to be repaid from those savings and which is siphoning money from the private economy.

The United States will confront some of the same headwinds the Japanese faced in the unwinding of their credit/asset bubble except that we have less savings and more total debt, with a public debt that's expanding at a frenetic pace. Since this debt ultimately has to be repaid in the face of massive deflationary credit destruction, I think this will be a drag on our economy for years to come and will overwhelm any Keynesian attempt to prime the pump with government "stimulus" that would tend to support the bubble economy. We'd be better off just leaving matters to the private economy to have its "Darwinian flush" so these assets can be redeployed to more productive use.
 
First of all, before Japan's asset bubble popped, its "biggest issue regarding a decade of flirting with deflation"--the nation's high level of savings--didn't have a problem fueling an economy that experienced tremendous growth and was supposed to own America by now. Since Japan's public capital spending was targeted to domestic consumption, I can't really understand your reasoning as to why it hasn't been effective

You really do not understand Keynesianism and to a lesser extent tidbits of monetarism. Fiscal stimulus depends entirely on inducing consumption, of which is an obsticle given increased rates of savings and an aging population.

Presumably, the people building bridges and roads to nowhere exist and are physically able to do the work.

But are they physically ready to save less of their wages? That is the central theme of which you have neglected to consider (which shows you know little about Keynes).

I think a more likely explanation for the relative ineffectiveness of the spending is government is less efficient at allocating resources than the private economy.

Ceteris paribus, you would be correct. There are times in which capitalism manifests itself against what makes "bull runs" sustainable. During periods such as these, short term resource allocation preforms in a sub-optimal basis.

Also, even though Japan has a large pool of savings, it has a huge government debt that, at about 200% of GDP, will still need to be repaid from those savings and which is siphoning money from the private economy.

In order to make your point relevant, provide a solid source that depicts the breakdown of Japanese debt. If a large proportion is held internally (as i am sure it is), savings is not being siphoned off. You only export savings or GDP when debt is held externally.

The United States will confront some of the same headwinds the Japanese faced in the unwinding of their credit/asset bubble except that we have less savings and more total debt, with a public debt that's expanding at a frenetic pace.

The market sentiment on US and/or Japanese debt is still at all time highs, signified by historically low long term interest rates. Whats the going interest rate on the US or Japanese 10 year?


Since this debt ultimately has to be repaid in the face of massive deflationary credit destruction, I think this will be a drag on our economy for years to come and will overwhelm any Keynesian attempt to prime the pump with government "stimulus" that would tend to support the bubble economy.

Perhaps it will "drag" as you say, but we will not experience a lost two decades as experienced in the GD. Keynesian multipliers depend on both induced and high consumption patterns. As explained before (and you had little desire to comment), Japan failed to consume and instead increased their savings rates (which is more structural than cyclical given the lack of a SS system and an aging population)

We'd be better off just leaving matters to the private economy to have its "Darwinian flush" so these assets can be redeployed to more productive use.

Right.... Because it would not spillover and flush out the productive aspects of the economy :roll:
 
You really do not understand Keynesianism and to a lesser extent tidbits of monetarism. Fiscal stimulus depends entirely on inducing consumption, of which is an obsticle given increased rates of savings and an aging population.

Apparently, the Japanese didn't understand Keynes, either, because they've spent the last twenty years running massive deficits in an attempt the reflate their economy. I don't think anyone can claim its been a success:

(Japan's) government debt soared from 52% of GDP in 1989 to 184% today (Chart 2). The economic results: GDP in that country is no higher than it was 18 years ago; its employment is no higher than it was 19 years ago, and there is no inflation since consumer prices are at 1993 levels.

http://www.hoisingtonmgt.com/pdf/HIM2010Q1NP.pdf

But are they physically ready to save less of their wages? That is the central theme of which you have neglected to consider (which shows you know little about Keynes).

Well, I know the Japanese were enamored of Keynes, but you don't have to convince me that Japan's version of Keynesian-style deficit spending was a failure. But let me ask you something. We've seen Americans increase their rate of savings recently (or at least jettison some of their debts). We also have millions of Baby Boomers who are beginning to retire and/or are attempting to increase their nest eggs, which haven't gone anywhere in ten years. Why would Keynesian-style deficit spending work in the U.S. when we have some of the same issues that Japan faces, except that we have households in hock up to their eyeballs?

In order to make your point relevant, provide a solid source that depicts the breakdown of Japanese debt. If a large proportion is held internally (as i am sure it is), savings is not being siphoned off. You only export savings or GDP when debt is held externally.

I didn't say savings were being exported. I said the government debt would have to be repaid, which would siphon off savings from the private economy:

Economists from David Ricardo (1772-1823) to John Maynard Keynes (1883 to 1946) to present day scholars have theorized about what this massive transfer of resources from the private to public sector does to overall economic conditions. Our read of history, economic theory, and mathematics leads us to one clear conclusion. The “taking” of funds by central governments to be redistributed to other priorities is, in the end, contractionary.

Viscerally, the normal reaction to a massive increase in government spending is to assume it is
an inflationary event, particularly in the U.S. where amounts have been so large over the past ten years (Chart 1). Has this huge spending shift from 18.4% of GDP in 2000 to 24.7% today made the U.S. more prosperous? The results are unequivocal. Inflation today is 1.3% versus 1.7% ten years ago (core PCE deflator.) The percent of the population working today is 58.6% while prior to the large budget deficit spending of the last ten years it was 64.6%. Our GDP was growing at 4.8% ten years ago, and today we are staggering out of recession.

http://www.hoisingtonmgt.com/pdf/HIM2010Q1NP.pdf
 
Last edited:
Apparently, the Japanese didn't understand Keynes, either, because they've spent the last twenty years running massive deficits in an attempt the reflate their economy. I don't think anyone can claim its been a success

Care to address my points or spout out the same rhetoric from your previous post.

Well, I know the Japanese were enamored of Keynes, but you don't have to convince me that Japan's version of Keynesian-style deficit spending was a failure. But let me ask you something. We've seen Americans increase their rate of savings recently (or at least jettison some of their debts). We also have millions of Baby Boomers who are beginning to retire and/or are attempting to increase their nest eggs, which haven't gone anywhere in ten years. Why would Keynesian-style deficit spending work in the U.S. when we have some of the same issues that Japan faces, except that we have households in hock up to their eyeballs?

The US is the worlds largest consumer market, and we have a historical precedence for induced consumption. On top of that, we do not have a negative population growth rate. Which begs the question; why on earth are you attempting to compare the economy of an export machine with that of the US, and then use it as a means to boldly state, "fiscal stimulus will always fail"?

I didn't say savings were being exported. I said the government debt would have to be repaid, which would siphon off savings from the private economy:

Really? And when this debt is repaid...... To "whom" is it paid to? Government officials? Foreign nations? Or... to institutions and investors within the Japanese economy? :lamo
 
Care to address my points or spout out the same rhetoric from your previous post.

Well, I thought I did. You said Keynesian policies won't work in Japan because the country is populated with old people and savers. I said you're right, but it's too bad the Japanese didn't figure that out before they saddled the country with a huge debt. Then you seem to think that spending money we don't have and transferring resources from private to public balance sheets, thereby increasing government's share of GDP, will help our economy. I already pointed out that as we've piled on more debt and government spending has consumed a greater share of our GDP, especially over the last ten years, our economy has stagnated. So I'm not exactly sure what points you want me to respond to. Tell me why the next ten years, at a time when we've experienced the collapse of asset bubbles around the world, will be different. Maybe BObama and Congress will do a better job of setting spending priorities and allocating resources than the free market? :confused:

The US is the worlds largest consumer market, and we have a historical precedence for induced consumption.

We didn't have historical precedence for consumption the last time our country had a huge debt to pay, i.e. during the 1930s. We only had a propensity to consume as long as we had money to spend. In the aftermath of The Great Depression and WWII, we had a unionized work force that actually had discretionary income to spend and large pent-up demand from years of deprivation and rationing. Then consumer credit became widely available. Then we had women enter the work force in large numbers for the first time. Then we had asset bubbles in stocks and real estate that fueled consumption, since people treated their brokerage accounts and home equity as piggy banks to spend and/or borrow against. Then the balloons popped and the party ended, except that we were left with a huge debt hangover. Now, perhaps we don't have a shrinking population like Japan does, but we do have tens of millions of aging boomers set to retire over the next two decades, along with a "Shop 'till you drop" mentality that's left us stretched. So, I ask you, Sir, where are these consumers going to get the money to support all of the shopping centers and malls we built during the boom times when we thought 1950s ranch houses in gang-infested cities were worth $400, 000? :confused:

I thought PIMCO's Bill Gross had some interesting comments on the subject of debt in his latest Investment Outlook commentary:

Several months ago I rhetorically asked whether it was possible to get out of debt crisis by increasing debt. Yes – was the answer, but it was a qualified yes. Given that initial conditions were favorable – relative low debt as a % of GDP, with the ability to produce low/negative short-term policy rates and constructively direct fiscal deficit spending towards growth positive investments – a country could escape a debt deflation by creating more debt. But those countries are few – the U.S. among perhaps a handful that have that privilege, and investors, including PIMCO, have strong doubts about U.S. fiscal deficits leading to strong future growth rates.

PIMCO - Bill Gross June 2010 Investment Outlook

(W)hy on earth are you attempting to compare the economy of an export machine with that of the US, and then use it as a means to boldly state, "fiscal stimulus will always fail"?

Where did I "boldly state" that? I think what I'm saying is we're in serious danger of falling into a period of significant deflation, and solving this problem by issuing more debt is not the solution. We're at the point at which we've built up huge inefficiencies in our economy with enterprises that can't seem to stand on their own without government support. And then, at the end of the day, we still have the bill.

And when this debt is repaid...... To "whom" is it paid to?

Let's ask these guys:

Some hedge funds are starting to wager on painful times ahead for Japan, the world's second-largest economy.

These investors, including some who made successful bets against risky mortgages and financial companies in recent years, anticipate trouble for Japan's financial system. Their concern: Government borrowing continues to climb while demand for the nation's debt could taper off.
A collapse of the Japanese government-bond market "is going to happen; it's a question of when," said Kyle Bass, head of Hayman Advisors LP, a Dallas hedge fund, who has placed wagers on that outcome. He and others, such as David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital Inc. and a fund run by Daniel Arbess of Perella Weinberg Partners LP, have been buying a variety of investments that could pay off if the Japanese bond market crumbles....

(B)ears maintain there are reasons to bet against Japan. They note that government debt as a percentage of gross domestic product is expected to hit 219% in 2009, up from 120% in 1998, according to the International Monetary Fund. By way of comparison, debt will total 85% of the U.S.'s GDP, and 69% of the U.K.'s, the IMF said. Even net government debt, which subtracts government assets, is high in Japan; the IMF puts it at 105% of GDP in 2009, compared with 58% for the U.S.

Some predict that as Japan ages, more people retire and savings rates dip, some purchasers will start pulling back on buying or even turn into sellers. Japan's public pension fund, the world's largest, has said it could become a net seller of holdings in 2010. About three-quarters of the fund's holdings have been in Japanese bonds.

"The biggest buyer is now a seller. That's the biggest difference today," said Mr. Bass of Hayman Advisors. To attract buyers, particularly from overseas, yields will have to rise significantly, the bears assert, making it painful for Japan to service its debt.

Hedge Funds Bet on Deep Trouble for Japan - WSJ.com
 
Last edited:
Well, I thought I did. You said Keynesian policies won't work in Japan because the country is populated with old people and savers. I said you're right, but it's too bad the Japanese didn't figure that out before they saddled the country with a huge debt.

Ok....

Then you seem to think that spending money we don't have and transferring resources from private to public balance sheets, thereby increasing government's share of GDP, will help our economy.

During economic contractions where aggregate demand takes a serious negative shift, government spending can have a very positive impact (as you are seeing today).

I already pointed out that as we've piled on more debt and government spending has consumed a greater share of our GDP, especially over the last ten years, our economy has stagnated.

Just so we are clear; it is a recipe for disaster for deficits to emerge during periods of full employment GDP. When we reach a disequilibrium in labor markets such as the recent scat, demand boosting policies are far more optimal than "letting it bottom out" from the standpoint of static, or long run productivity. Idle resources deteriorate, which heavily increases the likelihood of a severe generational gap regarding said productivity.

So I'm not exactly sure what points you want me to respond to. Tell me why the next ten years, at a time when we've experienced the collapse of asset bubbles around the world, will be different.

You want me to assume the bold. Sorry, but such question loading will not work.

Maybe BObama and Congress will do a better job of setting spending priorities and allocating resources than the free market? :confused:

There was a time, not too long ago, that the "free market" was not allocating all of it resources and instead went into survival mode. ;)

We didn't have historical precedence for consumption the last time our country had a huge debt to pay, i.e. during the 1930s.

Correction; we had a huge debt to pay following WWII.

We only had a propensity to consume as long as we had money to spend. In the aftermath of The Great Depression and WWII, we had a unionized work force that actually had discretionary income to spend and large pent-up demand from years of deprivation and rationing. Then consumer credit became widely available. Then we had women enter the work force in large numbers for the first time. Then we had asset bubbles in stocks and real estate that fueled consumption, since people treated their brokerage accounts and home equity as piggy banks to spend and/or borrow against. Then the balloons popped and the party ended, except that we were left with a huge debt hangover. Now, perhaps we don't have a shrinking population like Japan does, but we do have tens of millions of aging boomers set to retire over the next two decades, along with a "Shop 'till you drop" mentality that's left us stretched. So, I ask you, Sir, where are these consumers going to get the money to support all of the shopping centers and malls we built during the boom times when we thought 1950s ranch houses in gang-infested cities were worth $400, 000? :confused:

Consumers will have money to spend as long as labor markets approach full employment. Economic convergence is well under way; there in itself allowing for a more balanced set of competition. Worker productivity will continue to increase, and with it gains in the form of both profitability and opportunity.

I thought PIMCO's Bill Gross had some interesting comments on the subject of debt in his latest Investment Outlook commentary

I am quite familiar with Bill Gross. Given current information, it is "risk adverse" to project the US to experience slower than normal economic growth in the near term.

Where did I "boldly state" that? I think what I'm saying is we're in serious danger of falling into a period of significant deflation, and solving this problem by issuing more debt is not the solution. We're at the point at which we've built up huge inefficiencies in our economy with enterprises that can't seem to stand on their own without government support. And then, at the end of the day, we still have the bill.

No, what you stated is that it would be more beneficial to allow industry and enterprise succumb to a significant downturn in the tune of the 1930s; all the while ignoring the people who will become ready to enter the workforce, start a business, start a family, etc... with the hope that an entire generation will not be lost for that long. I am not however shocked to hear the laissez faire crowd cry for anti growth policy when their political opposition is in power.

Let's ask these guys:

If you are falling on opinion pieces to make your point, maybe you should not say anything at all:shrug:
 
During economic contractions where aggregate demand takes a serious negative shift, government spending can have a very positive impact (as you are seeing today).

Only to the extent that the money makes it's way into the hands of the consumer class, who then use that money to increase demand for production. When the money is just horded by the wealthy, it does absolutely nothing for our economy.

I suspect that the reason that the money that our gov pumped into our economy has not helped anymore than it has is because it was a top down distribution of money, not a bottom up distribution. Remember, money on "trickles" down. Our spendulous bill money was given to those at the top, who in turn basically just kept most of the money. Much of they money that was sent to the banks was either almost instantly repaid by the banks and never served it's purpose of being lent. The banks didn't want to make loans because with such a shakey economy every credit worthy customer was highly likely to become a non-credit worthy customer the next day. Companies didn't need to borrow the money to expand because with a lack on demand for their products they had no need to expand. Individuals didn't need to borrow the money because they didnt know if they would be able to pay it back.

The guys at the top hired very few consumer class type individuals and spent almost nothing on materials and services with that money. Companies that got money to develope althernate energy horded that money because they knew that their was no demand for alternate energy sources. Local and state governments that got spendulous money just used the money to fund projects that were already on the list to be funded. Demand continued to decline and thus, very few private sector jobs were created which is why we still have nearly 10% unemployment, 17% total unemployment or underemployment, and a 25% average reduction in work hours for those of us who are unemployed. I have not seen any specific figures on this, but based on the figures that I have seen, it is highly likely that well over 50% of families have experianced a reduction of income during the past two years. Go stand in front of the post office and ask the next 100 people who walk in if they are stuggling to pay their bills, I will bet that 80% or more would respond "yes". Then ask them if they have recieved any additional income or work opportunities due to the spendulous bill, I would bet that the vast majority would answer "no".

Now if we would have taken the same amount of money that was allocated to the spendulous bill, and distributed it equally to each individual each individual would have recieved a check for about $2,600. That's over $10k for a family of 4. It is also excluding all of the TARP money, individual corporate bail out funding, and all of the increases in misc government programs, etc. When you include all of that stuff the gov could have sent us all a check in excess of $5k - or over $20k for a family of 4. If each individual and family unit was allowed to directly spend our economic stimulous/bailout money in the manner that best suited them, we would have seen many more jobs created and in the same processess the banks and auto companies would not have needed a bailout. A family that was in foreclosure could have caught up their morgage. A family that was not yet in foreclosure could have paid off the credit cards and auto loan so that they would have the free income to pay their morgage. A family that needed a new car to get to work could have bought one. A family that needed a new washer and dryier could have bought one. A family that needed some cash to survive a few months out of work would have had that cash, without significantly decreasing consumption. A family that desired to purchase an electric car our a more fuel efficient HVAC system could have purchased one. Then we would have had more demand for All in all, a direct distribution of cash to the working consumer class would have done much more towards ending the banking crises, the auto manufacturing crises, and unemployment than the government distributing funds to big companies.

The sum of financial decisions made by individuals is much more important to the agregate of our economy that the sum of financial decisions made by a few large corporations and our government. Thus we would have had a much better result from the spendulous and bail outs if that money would have been distributed to individuals.

That kind of sounds like redistrubtion of wealth, a term that all conservitives have been taught to loath. And it is a redistrubtion of wealth. But direct redistrution to individuals would have been a better investment choice that redustribution to the wealthy - if the purpose of all that redistribution to improve our economy. Historically, wealth has always migrated to the powerful, and eventually it has always been redistributed through social uprising (typically violent) or a total breakdown of economic trade, and then it migrates again to the powerful. It is a never ending cycle. It may be a much better choice to redistribute a little at a time than to allow the situation to get to the point where it is redistibuted by violence and/or decline of aggregate wealth.

We are all hearing on the news how much money our gov has created, how much our money supply has increased in the last few years. I have to assume that the number are true. But the average person on the street will tell you that he is broke or struggling financially. So where is all of this money? If the poor and middle class don't have it, then obviously it is in the hands of the rich. If the rich are spending it, then all of that money is essentialy out of circulation, regardless of if it is in the stock market, or if it has been used to purchase gold, it is still out of circulation for the purpose of the trade of consumer goods and services. A zillion dollars sitting in a bank acount that is paying basically 0 interest is doing absolutley nothing for our economy.

In theory, the cause of inflation is too much money chasing too few goods. So theoritically, with all of that additional money that the government has created, and especially with the production of goods and services at such a low amount, we should have double digit inflation. But we dont. Over the past could of years we have had virtually no inflation. Until all that money that the government printed up gets out of the hands of the rich and into the hands of the consumer, and so far I have seen no great movement in congress or by our president to make that happen, thus we are not at risk of much inflation at all.

Until we start seeing some inflation, banks really don't have a lot of motivation to lend all that money that the gov has printed and distributed to the wealthy who put it in the bank. And until we start seeing more jobs being created, consumers dont really want to borrow. And unless consumers get some money into their pockets they are not going to purchase more goods. And without consumers purchasing goods jobs will not be created. And if jobs arn't being created, and if banks arent lending, and if consumers dont want to borrow, then there will be no increase in demand. With no increase in demand, then businesses dont want to borrow either.

It's a never ending cycle that can not be broken without our gov distributing money directly to the consumer class. Most conservatives will say that if the government started printing money and distributing it to the consumer class to encourage demand that we would then have too much money chasing too few goods and would have a high rate of inflation. What most conservatives ignore is that we have lots of unused capacity to make additional goods, thus we are not really at risk of inflation until our factories are operating at near 100% and until our unemployment rate drops down to it's historical normal.
 
Last edited:
Only to the extent that the money makes it's way into the hands of the consumer class, who then use that money to increase demand for production. When the money is just horded by the wealthy, it does absolutely nothing for our economy.

I suspect that the reason that the money that our gov pumped into our economy has not helped anymore than it has is because it was a top down distribution of money, not a bottom up distribution. Remember, money on "trickles" down. Our spendulous bill money was given to those at the top, who in turn basically just kept most of the money. Much of they money that was sent to the banks was either almost instantly repaid by the banks and never served it's purpose of being lent. The banks didn't want to make loans because with such a shakey economy every credit worthy customer was highly likely to become a non-credit worthy customer the next day. Companies didn't need to borrow the money to expand because with a lack on demand for their products they had no need to expand. Individuals didn't need to borrow the money because they didnt know if they would be able to pay it back.

The guys at the top hired very few consumer class type individuals and spent almost nothing on materials and services with that money. Companies that got money to develope althernate energy horded that money because they knew that their was no demand for alternate energy sources. Local and state governments that got spendulous money just used the money to fund projects that were already on the list to be funded. Demand continued to decline and thus, very few private sector jobs were created which is why we still have nearly 10% unemployment, 17% total unemployment or underemployment, and a 25% average reduction in work hours for those of us who are unemployed. I have not seen any specific figures on this, but based on the figures that I have seen, it is highly likely that well over 50% of families have experianced a reduction of income during the past two years. Go stand in front of the post office and ask the next 100 people who walk in if they are stuggling to pay their bills, I will bet that 80% or more would respond "yes". Then ask them if they have recieved any additional income or work opportunities due to the spendulous bill, I would bet that the vast majority would answer "no".

Now if we would have taken the same amount of money that was allocated to the spendulous bill, and distributed it equally to each individual each individual would have recieved a check for about $2,600. That's over $10k for a family of 4. It is also excluding all of the TARP money, individual corporate bail out funding, and all of the increases in misc government programs, etc. When you include all of that stuff the gov could have sent us all a check in excess of $5k - or over $20k for a family of 4. If each individual and family unit was allowed to directly spend our economic stimulous/bailout money in the manner that best suited them, we would have seen many more jobs created and in the same processess the banks and auto companies would not have needed a bailout. A family that was in foreclosure could have caught up their morgage. A family that was not yet in foreclosure could have paid off the credit cards and auto loan so that they would have the free income to pay their morgage. A family that needed a new car to get to work could have bought one. A family that needed a new washer and dryier could have bought one. A family that needed some cash to survive a few months out of work would have had that cash, without significantly decreasing consumption. A family that desired to purchase an electric car our a more fuel efficient HVAC system could have purchased one. Then we would have had more demand for All in all, a direct distribution of cash to the working consumer class would have done much more towards ending the banking crises, the auto manufacturing crises, and unemployment than the government distributing funds to big companies.

The sum of financial decisions made by individuals is much more important to the agregate of our economy that the sum of financial decisions made by a few large corporations and our government. Thus we would have had a much better result from the spendulous and bail outs if that money would have been distributed to individuals.

That kind of sounds like redistrubtion of wealth, a term that all conservitives have been taught to loath. And it is a redistrubtion of wealth. But direct redistrution to individuals would have been a better investment choice that redustribution to the wealthy - if the purpose of all that redistribution to improve our economy. Historically, wealth has always migrated to the powerful, and eventually it has always been redistributed through social uprising (typically violent) or a total breakdown of economic trade, and then it migrates again to the powerful. It is a never ending cycle. It may be a much better choice to redistribute a little at a time than to allow the situation to get to the point where it is redistibuted by violence and/or decline of aggregate wealth.

We are all hearing on the news how much money our gov has created, how much our money supply has increased in the last few years. I have to assume that the number are true. But the average person on the street will tell you that he is broke or struggling financially. So where is all of this money? If the poor and middle class don't have it, then obviously it is in the hands of the rich. If the rich are spending it, then all of that money is essentialy out of circulation, regardless of if it is in the stock market, or if it has been used to purchase gold, it is still out of circulation for the purpose of the trade of consumer goods and services. A zillion dollars sitting in a bank acount that is paying basically 0 interest is doing absolutley nothing for our economy.

In theory, the cause of inflation is too much money chasing too few goods. So theoritically, with all of that additional money that the government has created, and especially with the production of goods and services at such a low amount, we should have double digit inflation. But we dont. Over the past could of years we have had virtually no inflation. Until all that money that the government printed up gets out of the hands of the rich and into the hands of the consumer, and so far I have seen no great movement in congress or by our president to make that happen, thus we are not at risk of much inflation at all.

Until we start seeing some inflation, banks really don't have a lot of motivation to lend all that money that the gov has printed and distributed to the wealthy who put it in the bank. And until we start seeing more jobs being created, consumers dont really want to borrow. And unless consumers get some money into their pockets they are not going to purchase more goods. And without consumers purchasing goods jobs will not be created. And if jobs arn't being created, and if banks arent lending, and if consumers dont want to borrow, then there will be no increase in demand. With no increase in demand, then businesses dont want to borrow either.

It's a never ending cycle that can not be broken without our gov distributing money directly to the consumer class. Most conservatives will say that if the government started printing money and distributing it to the consumer class to encourage demand that we would then have too much money chasing too few goods and would have a high rate of inflation. What most conservatives ignore is that we have lots of unused capacity to make additional goods, thus we are not really at risk of inflation until our factories are operating at near 100% and until our unemployment rate drops down to it's historical normal.

Long rant, but based on faulty assumptions. Did you know that the government, both under Bush then Obama Did send out checks to most Americans?? If so then most of the above is pretty meaningless.

The bailout of the big banks have been paid back with interest and profit, except for AIG. The big loser in TARP will prove to be GM/GMAC, which was a payback to rodinary folks ( unions).

Inflation is not up because the velocity of money has not increased, so the increase in money supply has not hit us. The increase in the Fed's balance sheet are mainly mortgages that GSEs are on the hook for. So nto a real increase until the Fed asks for it's money back and we have to print dollars to pay them.

This site is taking on more of a blame the rich forum than one of thoughtful debate, sad.
 
Wow.... Where do i begin?:lol:

Only to the extent that the money makes it's way into the hands of the consumer class, who then use that money to increase demand for production. When the money is just horded by the wealthy, it does absolutely nothing for our economy.

Are you stating that all, or a large portion of the stimulus money is being horded by the wealthy? If so, what is your reasoning/argument for such a development?

I suspect that the reason that the money that our gov pumped into our economy has not helped anymore than it has is because it was a top down distribution of money, not a bottom up distribution. Remember, money on "trickles" down. Our spendulous bill money was given to those at the top, who in turn basically just kept most of the money.

Care to name a few names? Who specifically kept this money?

Much of they money that was sent to the banks was either almost instantly repaid by the banks and never served it's purpose of being lent.

Wait what: stimulus money that was sent to the banks was supposed to be lent?

The banks didn't want to make loans because with such a shakey economy every credit worthy customer was highly likely to become a non-credit worthy customer the next day.

While i partially agree with this comment (except for the bold), it is a little bit of a "so what" comment. Fiscal stimulus is initially not about getting banks to lend; it is about getting people and enterprise to spend.

Companies didn't need to borrow the money to expand because with a lack on demand for their products they had no need to expand. Individuals didn't need to borrow the money because they didnt know if they would be able to pay it back.

Again, still toeing the line of "so what". This is hardly a new development.

[quoteThe guys at the top hired very few consumer class type individuals and spent almost nothing on materials and services with that money. Companies that got money to develope alternate energy horded that money because they knew that their was no demand for alternate energy sources.[/quote]

Who are these companies that horded money?

Local and state governments that got spendulous money just used the money to fund projects that were already on the list to be funded. Demand continued to decline and thus, very few private sector jobs were created which is why we still have nearly 10% unemployment, 17% total unemployment or underemployment, and a 25% average reduction in work hours for those of us who are unemployed.

Another list of claims (some being factual in regards to labor markets).

I have not seen any specific figures on this, but based on the figures that I have seen, it is highly likely that well over 50% of families have experianced a reduction of income during the past two years. Go stand in front of the post office and ask the next 100 people who walk in if they are stuggling to pay their bills, I will bet that 80% or more would respond "yes". Then ask them if they have recieved any additional income or work opportunities due to the spendulous bill, I would bet that the vast majority would answer "no".

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center

Now if we would have taken the same amount of money that was allocated to the spendulous bill, and distributed it equally to each individual each individual would have recieved a check for about $2,600. That's over $10k for a family of 4. It is also excluding all of the TARP money, individual corporate bail out funding, and all of the increases in misc government programs, etc. When you include all of that stuff the gov could have sent us all a check in excess of $5k - or over $20k for a family of 4. If each individual and family unit was allowed to directly spend our economic stimulous/bailout money in the manner that best suited them, we would have seen many more jobs created and in the same processess the banks and auto companies would not have needed a bailout. A family that was in foreclosure could have caught up their morgage. A family that was not yet in foreclosure could have paid off the credit cards and auto loan so that they would have the free income to pay their morgage. A family that needed a new car to get to work could have bought one. A family that needed a new washer and dryier could have bought one. A family that needed some cash to survive a few months out of work would have had that cash, without significantly decreasing consumption. A family that desired to purchase an electric car our a more fuel efficient HVAC system could have purchased one. Then we would have had more demand for All in all, a direct distribution of cash to the working consumer class would have done much more towards ending the banking crises, the auto manufacturing crises, and unemployment than the government distributing funds to big companies.

Except for the amount that would have been saved/used to pay down debt. As evidence from the Bush tax rebate stimulus, such a policy failed to stimulate demand and increased budget deficits.

The sum of financial decisions made by individuals is much more important to the agregate of our economy that the sum of financial decisions made by a few large corporations and our government. Thus we would have had a much better result from the spendulous and bail outs if that money would have been distributed to individuals.

Already addressed this: A heavy indebted society will pay down debt and not increase consumption relative to the income gains from said distribution.

That kind of sounds like redistrubtion of wealth, a term that all conservitives have been taught to loath. And it is a redistrubtion of wealth. But direct redistrution to individuals would have been a better investment choice that redustribution to the wealthy - if the purpose of all that redistribution to improve our economy. Historically, wealth has always migrated to the powerful, and eventually it has always been redistributed through social uprising (typically violent) or a total breakdown of economic trade, and then it migrates again to the powerful. It is a never ending cycle. It may be a much better choice to redistribute a little at a time than to allow the situation to get to the point where it is redistibuted by violence and/or decline of aggregate wealth.

Populist rant noted.

We are all hearing on the news how much money our gov has created, how much our money supply has increased in the last few years. I have to assume that the number are true. But the average person on the street will tell you that he is broke or struggling financially.

As the majority of your rant; mere speculation.

So where is all of this money? If the poor and middle class don't have it, then obviously it is in the hands of the rich. If the rich are spending it, then all of that money is essentialy out of circulation, regardless of if it is in the stock market, or if it has been used to purchase gold, it is still out of circulation for the purpose of the trade of consumer goods and services. A zillion dollars sitting in a bank acount that is paying basically 0 interest is doing absolutley nothing for our economy.

I highlighted the same old populist rhetoric that appears frequently in this post.

In theory, the cause of inflation is too much money chasing too few goods. So theoritically, with all of that additional money that the government has created, and especially with the production of goods and services at such a low amount, we should have double digit inflation.

Bouts of inflation (short term) are commonly associated with a decrease in monetary velocity.

But we dont. Over the past could of years we have had virtually no inflation. Until all that money that the government printed up gets out of the hands of the rich and into the hands of the consumer, and so far I have seen no great movement in congress or by our president to make that happen, thus we are not at risk of much inflation at all.

Again:The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center

Until we start seeing some inflation, banks really don't have a lot of motivation to lend all that money that the gov has printed and distributed to the wealthy who put it in the bank. And until we start seeing more jobs being created, consumers dont really want to borrow. And unless consumers get some money into their pockets they are not going to purchase more goods. And without consumers purchasing goods jobs will not be created. And if jobs arn't being created, and if banks arent lending, and if consumers dont want to borrow, then there will be no increase in demand. With no increase in demand, then businesses dont want to borrow either.

It's a never ending cycle that can not be broken without our gov distributing money directly to the consumer class. Most conservatives will say that if the government started printing money and distributing it to the consumer class to encourage demand that we would then have too much money chasing too few goods and would have a high rate of inflation. What most conservatives ignore is that we have lots of unused capacity to make additional goods, thus we are not really at risk of inflation until our factories are operating at near 100% and until our unemployment rate drops down to it's historical normal.

Just look at the outside evaluations of the stimulus. Perhaps the best-known economic research firms are IHS Global Insight, Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody’s Economy.com. They all estimate that the bill has added 1.6 million to 1.8 million jobs so far and that its ultimate impact will be roughly 2.5 million jobs. The Congressional Budget Office, an independent agency, considers these estimates to be conservative.

NY Times Advertisement

The package is likely to have the greatest impact this year, according to CBO. It is expected to boost GDP by between 1.4 percent and 4 percent and bring down the unemployment rate by between 0.7 percent and 1.8 percent in 2010, higher figures than last year when many of its programs were being set up. The impact is expected to trail off over the next two years.

UPDATE 2-US stimulus added up to 2.1 mln jobs in Q4 2009-CBO | Reuters
 
Goldenboy, sounds like we agree on most of this. I agree with you that some jobs were created by the stimulous, my arguement is that the stimulous bill did far less for our economy than if the same amount of $$$ had been directly distributed to individuals.

Even if that 2.1 million jobs is correct (which I doubt it is anything close to that much), then the stimulous still cost the tax payer hundreds of thousands of dollars per temporary job that it "created or saved." I thought that the stimulous bill was not about creating temporary jobs, but about doing something to get our economy going again. If the gov just wanted to create some temporary jobs, it could have created many more jobs by simply hiring unemployed people to pick up trash from our roadsides, or it could have created "new deal" type jobs programs at a much lower cost per job.

My reasoning for suggesting that much of the stimulous money is being horded is the fact that the cost per job far exceeds the average salary of those jobs created. Somewhere in the system someone got a big cut of the money (like most of it) and kept it without using it to create more jobs. Name them? I cant, I dont know the names of the people who got the money. A day or two after the spendulous bill passed, Obama had a news conference and had some dude who was the CEO of some type of solar energy company to praise the bill. I would assume that this guy got a big fat contract out of the spendulous bill. I have no idea how much he got, but lets just say it was $100 million. He could have easily created 2,000 decent paying jobs with that money, maybe he did, I dont know, but if people like him did use that money to create jobs, then why did the spendulous bill only create 2.2 million jobs and not 5 times that amount? Somewhere, hired just a few people out of the millions that they got and kept the rest for profit. Granted, I have nothing against a company making a profit, or nothing against people becoming rich, but when they take the profit and park it in the bank, or hid it in their mattress, on invest in in gold, they really arnt creating jobs or stimulating any thing other than their own personal interest.

I never suggested that the government shouldn't have spent billions trying to stimulate the economy, I am only suggesting that we should be willing to trust individual Americans to individually make our spending decisions rather than to trust the government to make our spending decisions for us and hope that eventually some of that money trickles down.

I know that Bush mailed out checks. I also am quite aware that a lot of people used that money to pay down debt. But Bush didn't mail out any $5,000/person checks. What he did was way to little to make a difference. If an average family of 4 was to get a $20,000 check, you had better believe that they would increase consumption (even if not by the full $20,000). Even if initially they used all of that money to reduce debt, the monthly income that they would have freed up by no longer having that debt would have likely still lead to an increase in consumption.

When you say that many of my statements are "populist" I realize that you are suggesting that my ideas are not very worthy because they are the ideas of the "general population". I have a couple of objections to this, my first objection is that the general population really has no ideas at all. They simply repeat what they hear others say, with no thought or consideration or research to the matter. My ideas have been put together very carefully with thought and consideration and research. My second objection is that even if my ideas are "populists", if they are correct, then is that no better than incorrect retoric spewed fourth by elitests?

As far as the velocity of money, that very much goes to my allegation that much of the spendulous bill money is being "horded". If the money was immediately spent it would have created demand, which in turn would have created jobs which would have resulted in fewer unemployed people and higher consumer confidence which would have created additional consumer spending creating additional jobs... When the velocity of money is very slow, that is an indication that money is being horded, which proves my point.
 
Last edited:
Inflation is not up because the velocity of money has not increased, so the increase in money supply has not hit us. The increase in the Fed's balance sheet are mainly mortgages that GSEs are on the hook for. So nto a real increase until the Fed asks for it's money back and we have to print dollars to pay them.

This site is taking on more of a blame the rich forum than one of thoughtful debate, sad.

Sorry, I think I partially responded to your comments when I responded to the comments of another poster. I perfectly understand what you are saying about velocity of money, and I actually agree. As money migrates to the hands of the rich, the velocity of money slows. The rich don't spend all their money because they have excess money, thats why they are rich. I am not saying that it is evil to live beneith your means, and I am not saying that it is evil to be rich. But as money accumulates in the hands of the rich, its velocity slow. As that money slowly trickles back down to the consumer class the velocity accelerates. For a rich man to keep ten grand stuffed in a jar in his bedroom for years is not big deal to him, but a poor guy has little choice but to dip into that jar frequently.

Have you every considered the possibility that one of the many contributors to our recession may just be that so much money has been aquired by the rich that they have basically sucked it all from the consumer class (who now have little money to consume with)? What you are suggesting about us not having any significant inflation lends to such a conclusion.

Yea yea yea, rich people are rich because they are so smart or so hard working or because they produce more than they consumer. I agree with all of that. But with factories operating at far below capacity, and with businesses no longer having the need to expand (aquire capital), you have to wonder if being a capital provider (rich) has much value at all to our current economy. Ever consider the possibility that our need for consumption is now greater than our need for capital?

I am in no way blaiming the rich, I am blaiming our society which has accepted the premise that our economy would not function without rich people. Thanks for leading me to that conclusion.
 
Last edited:
Sorry, I think I partially responded to your comments when I responded to the comments of another poster. I perfectly understand what you are saying about velocity of money, and I actually agree. As money migrates to the hands of the rich, the velocity of money slows. The rich don't spend all their money because they have excess money, thats why they are rich. I am not saying that it is evil to live beneith your means, and I am not saying that it is evil to be rich. But as money accumulates in the hands of the rich, its velocity slow. As that money slowly trickles back down to the consumer class the velocity accelerates. For a rich man to keep ten grand stuffed in a jar in his bedroom for years is not big deal to him, but a poor guy has little choice but to dip into that jar frequently.

Have you every considered the possibility that one of the many contributors to our recession may just be that so much money has been aquired by the rich that they have basically sucked it all from the consumer class (who now have little money to consume with)? What you are suggesting about us not having any significant inflation lends to such a conclusion.

Yea yea yea, rich people are rich because they are so smart or so hard working or because they produce more than they consumer. I agree with all of that. But with factories operating at far below capacity, and with businesses no longer having the need to expand (aquire capital), you have to wonder if being a capital provider (rich) has much value at all to our current economy. Ever consider the possibility that our need for consumption is now greater than our need for capital?

I am in no way blaiming the rich, I am blaiming our society which has accepted the premise that our economy would not function without rich people. Thanks for leading me to that conclusion.

Let me try and lead you to a different conclusion. First, where is the money reallt sitting right now. Corporations are hoarding cash and with low demand there is little need to invest in capital expenditures. Next banks are sitting on a ton of cash that they are investing in treasuries. Some think it is because they do not want to lend others say it is because there is not great demand from companies.

I would be interested in how you define "Rich". Is it someone with a million dollars saved, a hundred million, billion? I heard a statistic that in the U.S. there are 4.7 million millionaires. It is true that there are people who have done very well in the U.S. Many point to that as a reason so many people want to work here. Go to silicon valley and see how many folks from other countries work at our greatest high tech companies.

If as you say there is a need for consumption, then why is congress in the process of passing a financial regulation bill which will tighten credit. Guess who that hurts, not rich folks who do not need to lend. So this congress will make sure that people have consumer protection, what they won't have is a credit line like they used to and many will lose their credit cards.
 
During economic contractions where aggregate demand takes a serious negative shift, government spending can have a very positive impact (as you are seeing today).

Depends on how you define a positive impact, I guess:

(P)rivate sector job creation fell by 190,000 between April and May of this year, jolted markets worldwide including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which fell 3.2% Friday to its lowest level since early February. In total the U.S. economy has now lost a net of 2.2 million jobs since President Barack Obama signed his stimulus bill, and his administration is now 7.2 million jobs short of what he promised his $862 billion stimulus would help create by 2010. This morning on MSNBC, former Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL) pressed prominent Keynesian economist and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University Jeffrey Sachs on whether it was too early to declare President Obama’s stimulus a failure. Scarborough had to ask the question twice, but Sachs finally relented: “It did fail.”

Morning Bell: Why Obama’s Stimulus Failed

Correction; we had a huge debt to pay following WWII.

We actually had more total credit market debt as a percentage of GDP in the early 1930s than we did in the aftermath of WWII.

Untitled2.gif


(Source: PIMCO - Bill Gross June 2010 Investment Outlook)​

Note that debt peaked in 1932 as the economy contracted, and then slowly declined until it trended up again during the war years. The problem now is we don't have a whole lot of room to borrow more money. We now have more debt than at any time in our history. $54 trillion is a lot of bread. We're tapped out. Broke.

f you are falling on opinion pieces to make your point, maybe you should not say anything at all:shrug:

It's more than an opinion piece. It's a description of what people who control billions of dollars and who move financial markets are actually doing with their money instead of what some post-Kenesian academic tells me they're expected to do with their money.
 
washunut,

Certainly someone who is just barely a millionaire is not rich by any means. I could easily claim to be a millionaire based on the potential value of my business, yet since the recession has started I struggle to meet my debt obligations every month. I have been told that the most current definition of rich is a net worth in excess of $5 million, but even those people arn't really the ones that I rant against. It's much more an issue with the uber-rich. Someone with a net worth of $5 million is a joke compared to the heirs of the super rich, compared to large corporate executives who make millions each year, compared to hedge fund CEO's who are paid as much as a half a billion dollars a year, compared to movie stars and recording artists who can make $5 million on a single album or movie, or compared to a sports start who just signed a 5 year $50 million dollar contract.

Really, I'm not ranting against the typical "Millionaire Next Door" type person who has worked all of his life, lived benieth his means and saved and scrimped and invested his way to a net worth of a few million. I'm not talking about the typical doctor or lawyer or small business person or plant manager or school district superintendant - those people are generally not overpaid or rich at all.

I have no idea why congress would be in the process of passing a bill which would tighten credit, unless it is to outlaw the practices done by the banks which lead to a near banking system failure. Of course I have no idea why congress does half of the stuff they do, but I do know that during the last hundred years ago congress has passed a lot of laws that have been contrary to good economic policy - so nothing surprises me.

One thing about that bill, if it does tighten credit for people who are already not trying to get credit or for banks that are not interested in loaning, it really won't make a lot of difference anyway - will it? Thats part of the reason that I have suggested that direct stimulous checks would have been a better answer that the spendulous bill. If the consumer doesnt have money because he is already in debt, if the consumer doesnt have money because he has no job, if the consumer doesnt have money because his wages are stagnet or have been cut, and if the consumer cant borrow money because he is not credit worthy, they how the heck is consumption and demand ever supposed to increase?

You act as if we don't need consumption and demand. I really don't understand that. Don't you agree that without an increase in the demand for products and services that we will never have an end to the recession?
 
Last edited:
The problem now is we don't have a whole lot of room to borrow more money. We now have more debt than at any time in our history. $54 trillion is a lot of bread. We're tapped out. Broke.

Just wondering, but why you are saying "we", I assume that you are refering to the American public.
If "we" owe so much money, they who is it that "we" owe it to? Could it possibly that the middle class owes it to the super-rich?

If this is the case, then where did all of the middle classes money go? could it be possible that somehow the super-rich have aquired it all?

Has the middle class just suddenly gotton a lot "stupider"? Have the rich suddenly gotton a lot "more smarter"? Or is this just the natural migration of money upwards on the economic ladder where over a period of time, without a force that tends to redistribute wealth, the wealthy become wealthier because they control the means of production and the poor become poorer because they are paying rent to the wealthy to rent access to capital?
 
Just wondering, but why you are saying "we", I assume that you are refering to the American public.
If "we" owe so much money, they who is it that "we" owe it to? Could it possibly that the middle class owes it to the super-rich?

Yes, I'm referring to the American public. We owe it to everybody. Some of it we owe to ourselves. Some we owe to our neighbors. Some we owe to old folks and their pension funds. Some we owe to foreigners. And, yes, some we owe to rich people.

If this is the case, then where did all of the middle classes money go? could it be possible that somehow the super-rich have aquired it all?

A lot of it they spent--on cars, computers, flat-screen TVs and home theater systems, boats, RVs, homes in the burbs, cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean....

Has the middle class just suddenly gotton a lot "stupider"? Have the rich suddenly gotton a lot "more smarter"? Or is this just the natural migration of money upwards on the economic ladder where over a period of time, without a force that tends to redistribute wealth, the wealthy become wealthier because they control the means of production and the poor become poorer because they are paying rent to the wealthy to rent access to capital?

You're probably right. It's a case of the golden rule: He who has the gold rules. But it depends on what you mean by a "force that tends to redistribute wealth." A progressive income tax system is such a force. So is Hugo Chavez. The former I can live with. The latter? No thanks.
 
Back
Top Bottom