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Just yesterday Alan Greenspan sharply warned the Bush administration about
the dangers of "protectionism". He cut right to the pith and reminded us/them
that we are dependent on foreigners for the financing of our huge trade deficit.
Another stern warning was emitted within the last few weeks about the mammoth,
and apparently growing, budget deficit. During this same time period, and forcefully
again by three fed speakers during the last forty-eight hours, we are clearly
told that any hike in domestic interest rates, even if economic growth surges,
is something to bet against. The Federal Reserve will be accommodative. The
Fed will keep rates low and it is reminding consumers and businesses of this
weekly, if not daily. That is quite an inoculation job against the two most
likely criticisms - that the Fed /is not loose enough *or* that the community
was confused about their intentions - should the dollar and the economy collapse.
Here is my point and where, I believe, the evidence points: Alan Greenspan
sees deep economic trouble ahead and is positioning himself and the Federal
Reserve for a survival fight. He knows full well the history of booms and busts
since the creation of the Federal Reserve, the exact economic spasms it was
designed to avoid. He knows full well that Central Banking itself, and even
the fiat money system, will come into question should a megabust be upon us.
And he knows that there are many who will de-marginalize critics. In his heart
he fears Ron Paul because in his mind he used to think like him.
And maybe he still does.
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