Facts Vs. Fed-Speak: A Comical History With Tragic Consequences https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/facts-vs-fed-speak-comical-history-tragic-consequences
Discussion
The article titled "Facts Vs. Fed-Speak: A Comical History With Tragic Consequences" authored by Matthew Piepenburg on Zerohedge discusses the current economic situation and its relation to the policies and practices of the Federal Reserve (Fed)【5†source】. Here are the main points:
1. **Keep It Simple, Stupid:** The article starts by emphasizing the need to focus on simple facts, despite the complex nature of markets and Wall Street jargon. The author insists on maintaining simplicity while understanding the intricacies of financial markets【6†source】.
2. **The Simple and the Stupid:** The author discusses the US debt, which is greater than 120% of its GDP, and how the Federal Reserve has become the largest marginal financiers of US deficits for the last 8 years. The author also argues that the Fed's rate hikes are gutting bonds, banks, and small businesses in an attempt to fight inflation, despite inflation remaining persistent【7†source】.
3. **The Inflation Narrative: Form Over Substance:** The author suggests that the Fed's war on inflation is more of a headline than a policy fact, and that the Fed secretly wants inflation to outpace rates to inflate away some of the debt. The author also states that inflation, initially supposed to be transitory, is proving to be sticky, causing concern among experts【8†source】.
4. **The War on Inflation is a Policy that Actually Adds to Inflation:** The article suggests that greater deficits are adding to the inflation problem instead of combating it. These deficits will ultimately be paid for with more fiat money created out of thin air, a policy which the author describes as inherently inflationary. The author asserts that the Fed's "anti-inflationary" rate hike policies are actually making inflation worse【9†source】.
5. **The Real Solution to Inflation? Scorched Earth:** The author posits that the only way to truly combat the inflation problem is to raise rates high enough to destroy the bond market and the economy. The author compares the current Fed's approach to combatting inflation to placing dynamite in the sink to solve a rodent problem【10†source】.
6. **Meanwhile, the Rate Hikes Keep Blowing Things Up:** The author paints a bleak picture of US small businesses which rely on loans to stay afloat. The loan rates for these businesses have reached double-digit levels, which not only hurts but also destroys small enterprises. The credit crunch is only just beginning as small businesses borrow less in the face of rising rates【11†source】.
This article reflects the author's critical perspective on the current economic situation and the Federal Reserve's policies. It is important to note that the author's views may not reflect those of all economists or financial analysts. Economic matters are complex and involve various factors that can lead to different interpretations and forecasts.