This is the best summation of the fiscal doom facing us that I have read.
The economy is now beyond the control of national governments, and therefore outside the remit of democratic politics. It has become truly global, and thus a law unto itself; nation states have gone broke in their attempt to feed its gargantuan appetites for consumption and debt. The remedies for this began in panic and are now ending in delusion: first the banks went bust and were bailed out by governments; then the governments went bust and needed to be bailed out by – whom? International funding agencies which get their cash from – where? From central banks which will have to print gigantic amounts of money to replace all the money that simply disappeared in the bad debt that bankrupted the banks in the first place. And if we all agree to accept the illusion that this newly printed cash has actual value – if we all clap really hard and say that we believe in fairies – then the whole show can get back on the road and we will be rich again.
But what will be required is a world-wide agreement to participate in the illusion. It will rely on every country, and every government, and every electorate, being prepared to say: “Wealth can come from thin air. It doesn’t need any basis in real income or assets to make it viable.” If the population or the political leadership of one country (Germany) insists that money must be earned before it is spent, then the game is up and Tinker Bell dies.
See ya, Tink.
June 17, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Belief in fairies? Maybe not, but belief in God and in Divine Providence is the bottom line, the absolute necessity for success and prosperity. If God can create the universe from nothing, God can bring peace and prosperity to an undeserving people, if the people ask.
Somebody better knock on the Whitehouse door and remind Obama that freedom of religion is inscribed in our First Amendment, not only to petition government but especially to petition God for divine favor.
June 17, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Obama needs to accept that each and every person needs to petition God for Divine Providence, not only the Catholic Church, priests and religious but every one of us. "WE the people and our constitutional posterity, to secure the blessing of Liberty" Does Obama and Sebelius even read?
June 17, 2012 at 3:16 pm
The Supreme Court invents penumbras, emanations and rights read wrongly. Maybe the Supreme Court can invent some real cash to bail America and the world out of bankruptcy.
June 17, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Beware of anything that can will income or believes that same will can produce stability in markets
June 17, 2012 at 4:25 pm
It isn't only Tinkerbell who is going to die, though.
Karl
June 17, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Neverland is more sustainable than a wide-open democracy.
June 17, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Jhynds said…
"Beware of anything that can will income or believes that same will can produce stability in markets"
IN GOD WE TRUST
June 18, 2012 at 1:47 am
It is precisely because the governments of States and Federations have tried to control the economies of their peoples for so long, flouting the principle of subsidiarity in every possible arena of economic activity that there is this global international crisis today. Man's economic nature and natural economic units have been undermined by States and international bureaucracies that manipulate and interfere with economies for political ends.