From the Daily Reckoning:
There are really only two ways out of this mess – up or down. People owe too much money...and they’ve invested in too many things that aren’t worth what they paid for them. There’s no easy way out. Mistakes are mistakes; somebody’s got to pay for them. Either the people who made the mistakes...or people who didn’t.
The feds can just butt out...and let the market take care of itself. That will mean HIGHER real returns on capital. Real money will be scarce. People will pay for their own mistakes – dearly. Savers will be rewarded with higher yields. They will save more. Prices will fall. The economy will go through a tough, but relatively quick, reorganization. Debts will be written off or paid off...or worked off. Investors will lose money...business and consumers too. It will be long and hard, but gradually balance sheets will be strengthened...and the economy will be re-capitalized with savings. Still, many people will go broke. And riots will break out ...as the lumpen malcontents take to the streets demanding that their government ‘do something.’
Of course, there is nothing the government can do...but cause more mischief. That’s the low road – the road the feds have taken...by cutting interest rates to zero and spending trillions of dollars they don’t have. It’s the low road they’ve been on for many years...it’s where they feel most comfortable...and where they can do most damage. Instead of recapitalizing the economy by favoring savers, the feds are continuing the process of de-capitalizing it. Yields go down, not up. Savers get discouraged...and ripped off. Money becomes cheaper and cheaper...eventually reducing the debt load via inflation. Reckless spenders’ debts are erased. Mortgages are wiped away. Speculators make money on wild bets. Debtors come out way ahead – including the biggest debtor of all – the US federal government,
Meanwhile innocent savers, ordinary householders, taxpayers, foreign creditors, unborn children – all pay the price...