Dear Messrs. McConnell, Boehner, Kyl and Cantor
The Market Ticker ® - Commentary on The Capital Markets
Posted 2011-09-21 10:08
by Karl Denninger
in Editorial
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Dear Messrs. McConnell, Boehner, Kyl and Cantor
 

I must respond to the letter as published in the WSJ today:

Dear Chairman Bernanke,

It is our understanding that the Board Members of the Federal Reserve will meet later this week to consider additional monetary stimulus proposals. We write to express our reservations about any such measures. Respectfully, we submit that the board should resist further extraordinary intervention in the U.S. economy, particularly without a clear articulation of the goals of such a policy, direction for success, ample data proving a case for economic action and quantifiable benefits to the American people.

Oh there's been plenty of evidence.  Most-specifically, Bernanke's actions allowed you, Congress, to deficit spend to the level of 12% of GDP over the last three years.  QE 1 and 2 made that possible without a reaction in the bond market, and therefore enabled your profligacy.

It is not clear that the recent round of quantitative easing undertaken by the Federal Reserve has facilitated economic growth or reduced the unemployment rate. To the contrary, there has been significant concern expressed by Federal Reserve Board Members, academics, business leaders, Members of Congress and the public. Although the goal of quantitative easing was, in part, to stabilize the price level against deflationary fears, the Federal Reserve’s actions have likely led to more fluctuations and uncertainty in our already weak economy.

It did not "facilitate" economic growth nor did it reduce unemployment.  As I noted, it did one and only one thing - it allowed Congress to spend at an unsustainable level by making federal credit cheaper than it should have been, exactly as the 2003 "easing" produced the housing bubble.

The goal was not to stabilize price levels against "deflationary fears." One cannot have "deflation" when one has had massive inflation in asset prices over the last 30 years, which we have.  We have had it due to too much "easy money", exactly as a drunk has little reason to stop drinking so long as there's a full case of whiskey at his feet.  The result was this:

Reverting that to the mean will bring massive asset price decreases, but this is not deflation.  It is the removal of an asset price bubble that pervades the entire economy, and the recognition of bad loans made to people who cannot pay them back.  The common word for the sort of economic system that punishes people organically for being stupid, incidentally, is capitalism.

This bubble does not have primary "blame" on either Republican or Democrat - one cannot point fingers except, of course, at yourself.  Both parties and the American people share the blame for these policies equally.  The American people deserve blame for being gullible and allowing themselves to go through government "schools" that do not teach the fundamentals of exponents in their math class (despite claiming they do) and both major political parties deserve equal blame for intentionally lying to the people about the ability to provide services that the people are not and will not finance with current tax receipts.

We have serious concerns that further intervention by the Federal Reserve could exacerbate current problems or further harm the U.S. economy. Such steps may erode the already weakened U.S. dollar or promote more borrowing by overleveraged consumers. To date, we have seen no evidence that further monetary stimulus will create jobs or provide a sustainable path towards economic recovery.

The goal was never to do any such thing.  It was intended to allow you to deficit spend at an unsustainable rate.  That is, it was intended to give you, 535 drug addicts, more heroin. 

You should all be in Federal prison or even better, we should re-enact the original Coinage Act that mandated the death penalty for conspiracies to debase the currency -- which you have all been complicit in over the last three years.

Ultimately, the American economy is driven by the confidence of consumers and investors and the innovations of its workers. The American people have reason to be skeptical of the Federal Reserve vastly increasing its role in the economy if measurable outcomes cannot be demonstrated.

The only measurable outcome was the enabling of further descent into economic Hell committed by The House under both Democrats and Republicans.

I will remind you that all revenue (and thus spending) bills must originate in The House.  Without the consent of the House no federal spending takes place.

We respectfully request that a copy of this letter be shared with each Member of the Board.

Sincerely,

Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. John Boehner, Sen. Jon Kyl, Rep. Eric Cantor

Here is the reality this nation must face:

We must have an open and public conversation in this nation on exactly what services we all wish our government to provide.  For each of those services we must fund them with current taxes - not borrowing.  For any such service that the American people collectively refuse to fund with current taxes, the government must withdraw the desired service.

Since both political parties assert that we must also honor our actual debts we must first dedicate the interest and a modest amount of principal paydown from the Federal Budget that "comes first."  I suggest all interest plus $200 billion in principal per year.  Given current tax receipts this leaves us with approximately $1.7 trillion to spend on all functions of Government, or about half of what the Federal government does now.

This is a difficult set of choices, but it must be undertaken and it must happen now.  Not in three years, not in five, not in ten.  Right here, right now, today.  You blew it with the "debt ceiling" debate and your proposals thus far, given these facts, are a joke, but this is no laughing matter.

Quit ****ing around, gentlemen, lest we wind up like Greece.

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User Info Dear Messrs. McConnell, Boehner, Kyl and Cantor in forum [Market-Ticker]
Aztrader
Posts: 6648
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Scottsdale, AZ
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Sent a number of letters to Kyle in regards to the fed. A lot of retirees here in Arizona going broke thanks to Bernanke. I was hoping he would get some sort of message.............
Vitchilo
Posts: 4595
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Name me ONE country in HISTORY that EVER asked themselves the real questions and did what was necessary? Never happened, never will.

It is too hard. Societies have to collapse before making the real though choices.

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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." -- H.L. Mencken
Tdray
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"I will remind you that all revenue (and thus spending) bills must originate in The House. Without the consent of the House no federal spending takes place."

Uh Mitch, does this mean that any legislation brought up by the super commitee will be considered null and void by you and the rest of Congress? You douche!
Trades50
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Land of Tax and Spend
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Quote:
Quit ****ing around, gentlemen, lest we wind up like Greece.


The chart, General Government Gross Debt % of GDP, compares the countries. Indicates the US is like Ireland now.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/guest-post....

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When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
Bensmit123
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Tdray ... spot on

"We must have an open and public conversation in this nation on exactly what services we all wish our government to provide. For each of those services we must fund them with current taxes - not borrowing. For any such service that the American people collectively refuse to fund with current taxes, the government must withdraw the desired service."

I would also add to this, "if any of the services demanded are not authorized in the Constitution, they will not be provided unless said document is amended"
Richv
Posts: 28
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"Quit ****ing around, gentlemen, lest we wind up like Greece."

We are Greece, we just have a printing press and reserve currency status. (for now...)
Joejohns
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Wait just a minute, is not the whole reason behind the FED according to the asswipes that hide behind it that the FED be free of the current political whims?

Do I not hear that over and over from the FED defenders?

Well, how is making this letter public that lays out the limits of the FOMC not political?

What a shame that the criminal pols can't even abide by their own nut house rules of the road.

J0nx
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All military, federal and state government worker pensions become ineligible for payout until the person is 63. The days of 43 year old retired military personnel collecting benefits for the next 40 years until they die are over. The excuse of we should take care of our soldiers is tired as well. There is no draft and nobody forced them into service. Sorry but I am firm on this one regardless of anyone else's opinion here. Same for police and firemen at the local and state level. That would be the first line item that I would start cutting.

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The fraud and lies are only allowed to continue because the people allow it. Either through apathy or ignorance, they still allow it.
Vicious_cycle
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But...but...but, can't we just scale back our growing crack habit over the next ten years, starting next year?
Rebbepete
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Owings Mills, MD
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Yeah, Bernanke and congress definitely have had a relationship of codependence in this debt addiction. Anyone hear anything about the continuing resolution that's going to have to be passed to fund the federal government past September 30th? The blogs have been strangely silent about it, considering it could turn into a rough and tumble:

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/2011....

smiley

Frat
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We ARE Greece.


****, someone already said that. Where else have I heard that before?

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We're ****ed. Where's Henry Bowman when you need him?
Hogman
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Not sure but did you mean Mr?
Patentleathershoes
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Gold A True American Patriot!
On the Daisy Chain
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Messrs.

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Dashingdwl
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These people - these politicians - are simply not serious men.

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When you are hard and disciplined, you can be principled. People fear you because they have no leverage against you. It's the truest form of Liberty.
Mo
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Republicans are completely useless.

They've been out there encouraging offshoring and/or importing more H1Bs for at least 15 years.

The ONLY thing that gets them upset is the suggestion of higher taxes for the wealthy.

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Welcome to Pottersville
Hogman
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yes thnx
Jpg
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Quote:
... I suggest all interest plus $200 billion in principal per year.
Alternatively, payments on a $15 trillion loan at 3% annual interest, amortized over 50 years works out to (as best I can tell) a little under $600 billion a year.
Widgeon
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As usual, I'm w/ JOnx.

Vitchilo
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Well according to here :
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/new....

There's 474 billion set aside to pay the interest on the national debt in 2012.

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"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." -- H.L. Mencken
Aztrader
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The simple fact is that Bernanke and the rest of his court don't give a **** what Congress says because he knows that they will never pull his backing because the market will **** a brick.

If these Aholes wanted to send a message, how about blowing out the Federal Reserve act and letting these criminals know that the taxpayers will no longer back their criminal enterprises.

No one in Congress is willing to do what is right.
Dashingdwl
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Including One Mr. Ron Paul.

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When you are hard and disciplined, you can be principled. People fear you because they have no leverage against you. It's the truest form of Liberty.
Victorberry
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"Reverting that to the mean will bring massive asset price decreases, but this is not deflation."

Okay, what about typical bubble bursting in which the asset overshoots the mean to the downside? Would that be deflation?

By the way, don't underestimate the power of Bernanke and the Fed to provide free money to well-connected investors via non-recourse loans. They did it before, so they certainly can do it again if another financial emergency pops up.
Genesis
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Goodbye Victor

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I don't care if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me
Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.
What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?
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