of the past 20 years. We believe the chart below proves otherwise. The Oil
shock in the 1st half of the 1970s gave way to inflation shock of the 2nd half.
>
10 year Treasury 1974-2006, Constant Maturity
Source: RCP, Economagic
>
When Volcker was appointed Fed Chair, inflation was in the
double digits and growth was stagnant. He forced unpleasant medicine down the
gullet of the American economy, limiting the growth of the money supply and
abandoning interest rate targeting. Inflation, which had peaked at 13.5% in
1981, was down to 3.2 percent by 1983.
>
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>
Quote of the Day:
“A wise observer of the economic scene once commented that
‘what can be left to later, usually is – and then, alas, it’s too late.’”
–Paul Volcker, Federal Reserve Chairman, 1979-87
Volcker is the last of the true He-men Woman Hater’s Club. Ain’t no sissified Fed quasi-politicians capable of such actions today. That’s why we’ll likely do a Mama Cass and choke on our gluttony.
Anyone follow the derivatives markets? Today was an odd day. Extremely odd day. Makes me wonder if we are getting ready to give Bernanke a welcome-to-the-party present. Last time I saw this type of behavior was late December back in 63. Oh what a night. Actually late September of 2005 days before our mini sell off.
Ok, three references to music in there. One is obvious. Care to crack the codes?
Cool post B! Greenie ain’t no Volcker, that’s for sure… somehow I doubt he’d waffle about how bad a federal surplus would be for the economy :)
REO Speedwagon
Mamas and the Papas
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
What’s the prize?
You are too good for me! You win 5% of the net if I win the lottery and it is more than $30 million. lol. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll buy you lunch.
Paul Volcker is a personal hero of mine. Seriously.
>Anyone follow the derivatives markets? Today was an >odd day.
Could you elaborate on this?
I don’t have too many heros…………except my mom and grandfather………but I have to agree. Volcker was a great Fed Chairman. One who would never, ever have let the current dislocations get to this point without using his bully pulpit.
He wrote an article in the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38725-2005Apr8.html
Based on his outspoken comments in this article, it’s likely he would have shamed the Congress or President into dealing with some of our excesses before they got to this point. While it’s easier to be outspoken when you are the former Fed Chairman, so as not to have spooked markets, he would have likely made more of an impact.
I’m hard on Greenie at times but the reality is he has to keep the economy going not do what all of the Greenie bears want him to do. Which is mostly crush the economy. Twisted psychology. The big beef I have with Greenspan is he is too tied into political dogma. He has never spoken clearly and forcefully before Congress in a public forum that would have put pressure on the politicians to quit playing with our future and deal with the problems.
OK, good points, but what about the derivative????