An economics, investment, trading and policy blog with a focus on Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). We seek the truth, avoid the mainstream and are virulently anti-neoliberalism.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Third World America. Idiots in Congress "looking for money" to fund the highway trust fund. Wait 'til you see what they've come up with.
Once again inaction by the idiots in Congress threatens to derail a major spending priority. This time it's the highway trust fund. As if our crumbling roads and bridges were not in bad enough shape already. These morons are avoiding funding this because of political maneuvering, lack of leadership and yes, once again, a belief that we are out of money.
More than likely the funding will be authorized so these imbeciles can take their August vacation (while the rest of us work for meager wages or, are left with no jobs), however, check out where they're likely to "get the money" from.
Check it out:
-TSA fees (so they'll be hitting us up for that, indirectly, through higher airline ticket prices)
-SELLING 100 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (through 2025, however.) We're Russia now?
-And, get this, taking the dividend paid to banks for holding shares in the Fed, down to 1.5% from 6.0%.
The last one really cracks me up. I bet the bankers are fuming. What, you're cutting some of our free money??? Jamie Dimon must be livid.
For once, we the taxpayers are getting a break and the banks are getting hosed (sort of). Can you believe they're been paid a 6% dividend for a "investment" that is completely unnecessary? Holding shares in the Fed? The Fed doesn't need anyone to hold its shares, thank you very much and certainly not private banks.
But that's how the whole stupid system was set up and this is where some of that idiotic, "Fed is a private corporation" shit comes from. On a positive note at least we'll have another piece of evidence to throw at all the wacko conspiracy nuts who keep saying the Fed is a private corporation. NOT! What private corporation is required to turn over all its profits to the Treasury every year? Now they get their dividend cut by 75%. Ouch!
By the way...how did Eisenhower build the whole fucking highway system in the United States? By selling petroleum or taxing airline tickets? He deficit spent.
Funny you posted about this Mike because in my office we are working on opposing another one of the stupid "funding" sources, the "G-fees" from Fannie and Freddie. Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's credit risk guarantee fees (g-fees) are supposed to be used to protect against losses from faulty loans--they have nothing whatsoever to do with infrastructure! So dumb. Its amazing the complex and cludgy ideas people will come up with instead of embracing the tougher, but simpler solution....
ReplyDeleteReturn to gravel roads. Works for the third world...
ReplyDeleteAnother one to add to the list of stupid "funding" sources: dollars earmarked for urban blight aid.
ReplyDelete