patrick.net

Honest Abe says

I’ll repeat - the Fed is a fraud. It’s allowed to “price fix” interest rates.

The fed sets the fed funds rate and the discount rate. Other short term rates are "discovered" in a market and depend on what investors will pay for T-Bills. Yes these rates are very correlated and fed can impact them, but not control them.

Then there are medium term and long term interest rates which are (usually) less dependent on fed action and more dependent on the market for these securities ( see the "yield curve") That is the market sets the price and therefore the interest rates. Mortgage rates are then tied to these interest rates. You may recall a time under Fed chairman Volker when short term interest rates were being raised in an effort to get the market to lower long term rates (that is the market's perception of future inflation).

I say usually, because only during this crisis has the Fed actually become involved in the mortgage market, and that is part of the intervention that I assume we were debating above.

If only I was able to see the forest more clearly than all the trees, then I could have the kind of "I feel it in my gut" intelligence that you and GW Bush had.

I still say it's very complicated. But maybe you're right. Since I can't (or won't) understand it, I should just believe what I want to believe. That would definitely be easier, and maybe more emotionally pleasing. (no that wouldn't work, because I know when I am lying to myself).

Honest Abe says

Artifically low rates (price fixing) cause production to be based on a level of demand that doesn’t exist.

What about all the money being generated by expanding economies, especially China, and their demand for dollar denominated securities ? Do you think that might have effected interest rates ? Yes when real interest rates (the difference between inflation and interest rates) get too low, it can if we're not careful cause "malinvestment." Maybe the fed was in error for not spotting the situation, or of (a guess) being too concerned about a "buy the rumor sell the fact" crash in the new millennium. I'm not defending the Fed to the point of saying they are perfect or that they don't make mistakes. But you oversimplify things and put to much blame on them. And the fed doesn't control interest rates as much as you think.

Here's an excellent article written about the money supply debate during the 20s, if you care to read it. Marcus--I liked the article post from the Mises Institute. Solid.

http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/money-and-gold-in-the-1920s-and-1930s-an-austrian-view/#

And for nomo-homo...nice picture of Forest Gump...you must share his IQ.

Inflation is the increase in the supply of money. This definition was widely accepted up through the early parts of the 20th century...the British Currency School was a large proponent of this definition, as well as of course the early Austrians (Carl Menger, Bohm Bawerk) and later Mises and Hayek (who is also a Nobel Prize winner I might add, before they started de-basing this award). It wasn't until central banking began to predominate the political landscape in the 1920s that you began to see a shift away from this definition to the focus on the symptoms (prices)...to the point that we now have such a massaged and manipulated indicator for inflation in the CPI.

scottporter1212 says

Marcus–I liked the article post from the Mises Institute. Solid

I had major problems with it. Just wanted you to know that I do consider the austrian point of view, before rejecting it.

Have you learned anything today about how interest rates are determined ? Or what causes inflation ?

How the rate of interest is determined? The natural rate of interest is determined by consumer time-preferences...individual valuations of future goods over present. See my earlier posts about inflation. A higher time-preference places more emphasis on present goods...and vice-versa. Future media of exchange always commands a premium. Interference...or as Honest Abe points out..."price-fixing" causes the chaotic fall out we so often see. Even without the Fed price-fixing, any inflation in the supply of money, via fiduiciary media--unbacked by voluntary savings--causes rates of interest to appear lower than what it actually is. This help?

Abe and Scott, not only do you two not know what you don't know, you don't read my comments. But Scott at least you are aware of your ignorance enough to cut and paste your answers. Abe would do the same, but only if there was an extreme right wing source. Maybe the extreme right wing should come up with it's own special version of Wikipedia for you guys.

By the way....in regards to the drug comment...the Austrian school offers good analysis on the failures of the so-called drug war and prohibition...hardly "right wing".

And from most of the comments on here against: It doesn't look like too many of the nays have a broad background throughout these aformentioned economic works...

marcus says

I often wonder whether the fundamentalist branch of the republican party actually think that if Jesus was here today that he would be a republican ?

They probably do. Just like Moslems believe that God is on their side. But when it comes to Jesus, if he were here today I would expect he would be hated by both the religious leaders and the government because he routinely broke man's rules to follow God's. The people who would hate him the most though would be the pastors and other religious types who think they are the moral authorities.

marcus says

Maybe most people start with what they want to believe, and come up with their best arguments to support those beliefs.

Sounds like climate "science."

What is your answer Scott, the Fed ?

I agree about the lack of regulation. I thought this was one of the most interesting looks at the financial crisis, probably it was a link that Patrick shared.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2009/09/a-grand-unified-theory-of-the-financial-crash/26939/

read this Scott , if you want a peek at the "shadow banking system." The question is, how did sub-prime junk get transformed in to securities that could somehow be sold to conservative investors ?

And what is the benefit to society of fiscal irresponsibility?

I can't help but notice all you progressive, liberal, moderate, socialist leaning, leftie's continue to duck and dodge this question. What are you waiting for?

I don't know Abe, why can't you tell me what the benefit to society is of Fascism ? Get it ? I'm implying you want fascism sort of like you are implying liberals want fiscal irresponsibility.

See what I did there ?

bob2356 says

Yes, that was my point exactly. Banks didn’t care what they wrote since it was passed on to the unregulated market.

That's mostly true--but remember banks lost a LOT of money too. They were more than just middlemen.

Oh darn, I keep forgetting, I'm debating people with psychopathological "issues". That explains a lot about the abusrdity of your responses. Now I understand.

Is that what they call irony ?

Marcus, with all due respect, did you read the insane post by Nomo, above @ 5:27pm? If you don't agree that his post is psychopathlogical, then you may be suffering from the same affliction.

Abe, I even walked you through it.

marcus says

I don’t know Abe, why can’t you tell me what the benefit to society is of Fascism ? Get it ? I’m implying you want fascism sort of like you are implying liberals want fiscal irresponsibility.

See what I did there ?

Nomo was just doing a more extreme version, and my guess is good chance he didn't see that I did the same thing earlier. The fact that he had the same impulse, might tell you something. I think we are trying to teach you something as much as anything. You don't get to just make up what it is we think, based on some 30 year old exaggerated notion of "tax and spend liberals" as opposed to "borrow and spend" republicans.

And besides, it's a relatively undisputed fact that the most fiscally responsible president of the last 20 years was Bill Clinton.

Abe, why can't you just say, hey, I'm selfish, I want lower taxes and I don't want my government spending a lot of my hard earned tax dollars helping people who aren't me !

Instead you have to come up with all of these convoluted arguments against "liberal policies." Liberals have a mental problems,....liberals want to spend irresponsibly, liberals want to spoil our culture, ..., liberals are for totalitarianism, ...liberals live in a fantasy world,...etc., etc.,....

New motto for Nomo:
Nomograph: progressive, liberal, moderate, socialist leaning, leftie who's been psychopathologically insane since 2009.

AdHominem says

marcus says

I often wonder whether the fundamentalist branch of the republican party actually think that if Jesus was here today that he would be a republican ?

They probably do. Just like Moslems believe that God is on their side. But when it comes to Jesus, if he were here today I would expect he would be hated by both the religious leaders and the government because he routinely broke man’s rules to follow God’s. The people who would hate him the most though would be the pastors and other religious types who think they are the moral authorities.
marcus says

Maybe most people start with what they want to believe, and come up with their best arguments to support those beliefs.

Sounds like climate “science.”

excellant post

Honest Abe says

You’re so happy attempting to provide everything to everybody, trying to create an imaginary Utopia, that you and your kind “feel good” about spending money you don’t have. That concept is so basic and simple, yet it sailed 20 miles BELOW your uneducated head’s.

Abe--who feels this way? I know you didn't understand Marcus and Nomo, so let's spell it out. I don't know anyone who thinks this. It's definitely not in the liberal playbook...

Nomograph says

Honest Abe says
And what is the benefit to society of fiscal irresponsibility?
I can’t help but notice all you progressive, liberal, moderate, socialist leaning, leftie’s continue to duck and dodge this question. What are you waiting for?

Nomograph says

And what is the benefit to society of child molestation?
I can’t help but notice all you conservative, fascist, racist nazis continue to duck and dodge this question. What are you waiting for?

Regarding psychological well being and mental health:

Nomograph didn't mean that he thinks Abe is any of the above. (nor did I in a similar post) The only point was the "straw man" idea. Okay, so Abe refuses to understand that. But I think he knows that people don't really think he is any of the above.

and yet Abe does means it (wants to believe) when he uses these descriptions:

retarded . . . fiscal irresponsibility . . . drownding . . .You’re all to stupid . . . you’re in denial . . . an imaginary Utopia . . . “feel good” . . . spending money . . . uneducated head’s . . . pity-party . . . pathetic. . . CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH, . . . emotions . . . control and manipulate . . . lack of comprehension . . . the most retarted . . . ignorant group . . . liberals . . . mental defects . . . Madness

Hmmmm. Emotions ?

Maybe they'll create a drug for us to combat our particular form of insanity. I could suggest some names for both sides of the aisle:

Liberals:
Delibertol
Unleftique

Conservatives:
Exconservitol
Unrightussin

The more emotion you put behind your political beliefs, the more correct they are. Glenn Beck sheds tears on TV over how he feels about America's direction. Some teabaggers bring guns to Senator's town hall meetings or yell over them, when they try to explain policy.

Do you really think that people would feel this strongly if it wasn't because they care or if they weren't right (correct that is) ?

abeabe says

so retarded . . . fiscal irresponsibility . . . drownding . . .You’re all to stupid . . . you’re in denial . . . an imaginary Utopia . . . “feel good” . . . spending money . . . uneducated head’s . . . pity-party . . . pathetic. . . CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH, . . . emotions . . . control and manipulate . . . lack of comprehension . . . the most retarted . . . ignorant group . . . liberals . . . mental defects . . . Madness

Well, perhaps we're some of those things, but we can spell, formulate a cohesive argument, and know a pun when we see one.

Still waiting for the pun of which you speak in your title. I'm wondering if you meant "More on price stabilization buy the Fed," which would have been a pun, rather than what you actually wrote. Instead of a pun, you gave us a window into your soul.

It needs washing, btw. Your window, that is.

Wrong guy. Abe didn't post this, it was AdHominem.

marcus says

Wrong guy. Abe didn’t post this, it was AdHominem.

it was a quote from nomo - by the time I went to quote, it was gone. But I do believe that it was Abe. My apologies if I was wrong, but I don't believe that I was.

Not that it matters,...

elliemae says

But I do believe that it was Abe.

It was this that is not from Abe:

elliemae says

Still waiting for the pun of which you speak in your title. I’m wondering if you meant “More on price stabilization buy the Fed,”

But then maybe you were addressing Adhominem in that paragraph, in which case my bad.

Fiscal conservatives do not support political "leaders" who are a dimwitted, sleazy, pandering, corrupt group of deficit spenders. Liberal politicians are an arrogant, self serving, self righteous group of income redistributers. They exploit others under the guise of "helping" them - except you group of idiots are too smart to understand whats going on. Haha.

You people who support this political nightmare are needy and envious of others. You suffer form spoiled child syndrome and chronic resentment. You display an entitlement, collectivist, "its not fair" mentality. You suffer from distortions in the present due to trauma in the past. You have a mistrust in the goodness of people and of life itself. This results in the use of force or manipulation by government to "make things right" or to "level the playing field".

You and your kind have an overriding neediness to "Obtain a sense of power, control and superiority over others that the Nanny State can provide. The power of the state can do to others which would be morally wrong or illegal to do on your own. To coerce them, take wealth from them and to regulate them". Dr. Lyle Rossiter

Are you people out of your minds? Short answer: YES !

My opinion is that our military budget should be no more than 10% more than the next biggest spender, which I think is China. I don't think it should be multiple times that of France, Germany, Russia, China, etc, combined, as you stated.

PS - I read our military budget was larger than the next 16 largest military budgets combined, not "as much as the world combined"...although I'm not positive if you are right - or if what I read was right. Either way, its way too large (IMHO).

He can't even understand the question.

Taxes were so much higher back then. Eisenhower was a communist redistributionist, beyond any modern day liberal's wildest dreams.

hypocritical...Corporatist Oligarchy...mandatory...institutions...discretionary spending...redistribution...technologies...subsidies...entitlement mentality...manipulated tool of the aristocracy...Military Industrial Complex lobbyist...Fiscal Conservatives...

Guys - if he can't spell and formulate a sentence, do you really think he understands these words?

Seriously, abe - attacking us because we don't share your views makes you look like an idiot.

elliemae says

Seriously, abe - attacking us because we don’t share your views makes you look like an idiot.

irony from the queen of the flame

Abe, you might as well ignore the people who libel you because you tell the truth, a major sport and pastime on this site. Take away the flames and the number of posts would probably drop in half. Of course, you don't help any by flaming back.

liberalism isn't a disease but pride, arrogance and self-righteous superiority is. live and let live. That is what we need more of.

AdHominem says

live and let live. That is what we need more of.

I'd like to build the world a home
and furnish it with love...

Kumbayah.

elliemae says

Seriously, abe - attacking us because we don’t share your views makes you look like an idiot.

Remember, abe, she's being "serioius." That should cause you to take her comments to heart and reflect on yourself. LOL !!!

AdHominem says

liberalism isn’t a disease but pride, arrogance and self-righteous superiority is. live and let live. That is what we need more of.

I agree. Then we could actually have conversations, and find compromises (or the government could), just like back in the day.

I could be wrong, but I think this part:

AdHominem says

but pride, arrogance and self-righteous superiority is

will be lost on Abe.