Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Inflation Robs Us All
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Old 04-01-2022, 06:38 PM
Stu from NYC Stu from NYC is offline
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Originally Posted by tophcfa View Post
Remember the days when our country and its residents weren’t hopelessly dependent on unsustainable debt levels. Back then the Federal Reserve would use it’s available tools to guide interest rates to a level where responsible savers could earn a real rate of return owning US Treasury notes and bonds. A real rate of return was a yield above and beyond inflation. Both our country and its residents were typically fiscally responsible. Spending was limited to what could be afforded without taking on crazy levels of debt.

It makes me shake my head when I hear the Federal Reserve is now becoming hawkish on inflation. Since inflation has begun to run out of control, they have raised the Fed Funds rate by a minuscule 25 basis points, or one quarter of 1%. If the Fed really wanted to make a bold statement, and demonstrate seriousness about containing inflation, several rate increases of 1 - 2% each are necessary, but it can’t happen because it would effectively bankrupt both our country and many debt laden citizens. Last time inflation was this bad was in 1981. Paul Volcker was the chairman of the Fed back then and short term interest rates were jacked up to 20%, which quickly nipped inflation in the bud. We desperately need someone like Volcker overseeing our country’s monetary and fiscal policies now.
They are planning on numerous increases of 0.25% thru the rest of the year. Do believe they should increase rates faster.

I would say more but do not want to get into trouble.