Learning Curve

The Deflation/Inflation/Stagnation Debate

Thank you all. This is a discussion we urgently need. One qualification on the article... Wolff states that, "The public neither heard about, nor seemed interested in this from 2001-2007." Perhaps the public was ignoring the "impending doom". But many many others, including the writers here, did hear about this and & hear & hear.
We saw the statistics about the American personal savings allocation going down. We witnessed that the Japanese personal savings rate was high and that no matter the stimulus, they still would not spend.
We saw the underemployment, the growing disparity of wealth. We heard about the 'new economy' and supply side.
Meanwhile, we voted against our own self interest and that of our children.
It was painful to watch the lack of response by these "wizards of wall street" and certain Administrations back to 1980.
While it may be true that the wealthy feel none of this, who, exactly is going to recharge the stock values in their portfolios once the buying public is completely tapped out and Disney Land, medications, electronic devices, education, Chinese toys for the kiddies, food from south of the equator and shiny new automotive transportation are no longer in the consumer’s budget? Politicians and magnates can’t continually hurt the citizenry with bad policy and expect the US to remain a world power.

The U.S. Economic Metronome Keeps Dangerous Rhythms

iThinkBig & nukldrager, don't the refineries choose what proportion of diesel vs gasoline they are going to produce? That is, don't they choose to produce less deisel? The cost of this shortened diesel supply hits the hapless truckers, of course, rather than the regular auto consumer.

Is Oil a Bubble? Part One

Thank you, clicked and read!

Play UltimateMay 23 06:31 PMRead this article:

web.mit.edu/ceepr/www/...

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And thank you,

PanskepticMay 23 07:56 AMT

"And BTW, no farmer gets executive compensation like the heads of oil companies. So discussion of a windfall-profits tax for the ag sector is not in the cards. But a wpt for Big Oil does not offend my theology."

Nor mine!!

Is Oil a Bubble? Part One

ZMaNFaRLee: AGREE

U.S. Dollar Signaling a Changing Tide?

And, Kunst, a real energy policy would be based on an honest analysis of our situation and would be in keeping with an oath of office to be responsible to American citizens. Instead, a secret meeting (the secret kept safe by the Supreme Court) attended by people thinking only of their immediate self interest is a big part of our ensuing problems. We, as voting Americans, were not allowed any input or insight into the decision process. It takes very little thinking to understand why the oil men (and woman) continue in their depredations on the world.

The Commodity Conundrum: Securitization and Systemic Concerns (Part III)

Thank you for this excellent series. It represents a lot of thoughtful effort and I appreciate it.