Another day, another bail out but this time they have thrown the play book out the window.

It feels like a 4th down with 80m to go and 10 seconds on the clock.

Game over.

Wrap up the toxic stuff (we’ve heard that before) and hopefully it will all go away. Strange that Goldmans have been spared the ignominy of going under as Paulson comes in to the rescue. Anyone wondering about the Goldmans cabal at the centre of a government that always yells out “we had no choice” will be muttering feverishly about the intervention on Friday.

Forget about whether the US should lose its AAA rating or the $ be heaved off the cliff, what concerns me is the idea that ex-market players are running the public finances. Why not let all the banks fail? If that’s the outcome of the “free market” then let it happen. As long as depositors money is safe the rest is a simple case of caveat emptor.

The taxpayer is picking up the bill so why not pay as little as possible.

And what then you ask? Well the banking system will be nationalised to a point, focused in the issuance of money as opposed to making loans. The point is that there are elements of our financial system that we could well do without.

They said the Titanic was unsinkable.

6 months ago I summarised the status of the US banking system finishing with the line “the financial system on the verge of complete collapse”.

I haven’t added much recently because there was no need. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion: you stand there with yoru mouth wide open unable to speak as you take in the enormity of the action in front of you.

What’s left to say? The banking system is effectively nationalised but we knew that with Northern Rock. The difference between Lehmans and Bear Stearns was simply timing. BS was first in the queue and so got some help. By the time Lehmans (who I once worked for) came around no one wanted to touch it and given that they didn’t have customer deposits they could be allowed to fail. Mind you I see Barclays already snapping up some units in the US.

Now we have AIG, a private company, but an insurer so therefore a pretty important spoke the the wheel of the economy. $80bln…..the Fed’s printing press must be running to breaking point. Anyone keeping count of all this?

Don’t bother.

The US debt position is in La-La Land.

This move on AIG is dangerous. Not only has the banking system been nationalised but the stock market is being underwritten. Why the S+P isn’t at 1000 is beyond me. This artificial support of the stock market is just as crazy.

The Fed worries about adding “to substantially higher borrowing costs, reduced household wealth and materially weaker economic performance”. Well that’s fair enough but that is the reality. The US has overextended itself over the last 8 years with cheap credit and massive leverage through financial intermediaries.

It’s over. The Fed should be over too.

The authorities need to take a cold hard look at the financial system and the disaster it has wreaked.

No clearer evidence of this has been the advancement into positions of political power by ex-investment bankers particularly from Goldmans. The leverage game must surely be over now.

We are watching the end of 20 years of US financial domination through global investment banking. The end of financial assets being marketed as investments and hopefully a complete reorganisation of the banking and financial system onto a sounder and more stable position, once which encourages productive endeavour and not constant speculation.

Elites have always ruled the world even in open democracies. Sure this was expected in dictatorships regardless of political persuasion but in democracies? What happened to “government of the people, by the people, for the people”?

In his new book, “Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They are Making“, David Rothkopf explores the globalisation of the new elites, naming some 6000 players who basically run the whole show. From media to banking he lays out how close these people are and how they are shaping and making the world in their own images. The link between politicians and business is crystal clear. In some countries its hard to tell the difference with the US a great example of this.

If anyone felt the US financial authorities were in collusion with the banking system look no further. The current US Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, is a former Goldman Sachs Chairman and Chief Executive. Rothkopf reveals the shennanigans that took place over the bail out of Bear Stearns. He tells how bank heads met over the weekend to hammer out a deal for Bear Stearns. Clearly the deal had to be done that weekend lest the market really fall apart on the Monday. This type of round table pow wow is becoming more and more common as the fragility of financial markets continues to be revealed.

On one hand this sounds good: we have capable people in government and business to take charge of managing a crisis. They all know each other and have worked with each other. They know the score.

But: are they not the same people who caused and are part of the crisis? Is there any chance we get to hear the truth of the matter? Do ordinary shareholders and citizens matter anymore?

Well there have always been plenty of stories about how the Fed operates and the murky manner in which its was founded.

But one thing is clear from this article and the activities of those in power. They run the show in a “we know best” style. The question all concerned people should have is whether power should be so concentrated and in the hands of so few.

I wonder what Lincoln would have made of it.

Following on from my piece on the AMRA, I’m posting a message from Stephen for all Washington D.C. locals who can attend his meeting below. Spread the word if you cannot.

Dear Friends of the American Monetary Institute

Please take a moment to concentrate on this message, and consider the very particular action it asks of you, to help our nation achieve meaningful change to assure that no “Wild West” banking system ever again despoils our people.

Place: Busboys and Poets Restaurant (Langston Room)
2021   14th St.   NW,    Washington DC  20009

 Date:  Thursday, April 10, 2008                  Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Late arrivals OK                 Dress: Informal; all are welcome

 

Reservations not necessary but really appreciated 

Call 224-805-2200  or email  ami@taconic.net

RETURN TO AMI HOME PAGE

This is in response to Dave’s post on a new wave of financial regulation. It’s a great 5 minute potted history of money to a stunning tune from Prince Charles and the City Beat Band. They rock!

Watch it here

With the financial system gutted and exposed like big swordfish from the Grand Banks, it’s time to have a look at a proposal for monetary reform. Stephen Zarlenga from the American Monetary Institute has put together a proposal that rests on the US constitution no less.

As many people are starting to learn, the 1913 Federal Reserve Act “effectively ceded the sovereign power to create money delegated to Congress by the Constitution to the private financial industry”. It was led by none other than JP Morgan himself. There is some interesting history of how the Act was actually passed during the small hours of the morning whilst no one was looking.

As Jim Rogers suggested yesterday, the Fed could be abolished or as Stephen proposes, be purely a bank of issue, supplying money as required by the government.

Now there are many ways to approach the issue of interest free money into an economy but for now I would just like people to read through the proposal and see what they think. Pass it to friends, schools and universities. People should be discussing this openly.

The AMI hold talks around the US all year round so get in touch and find out when they are coming your way.

Its your Congress and its your money.