Viewpoint: Economist Dean Baker on the Bailout Panic

[xbyiu97]

everyone read his book, "the conservative nanny state." it's an amazing read, really insightful and well worth it if you have any interest in what's going on with economy

[pondman27]

The elites know exactly what they are doing

They know that creating levels of fictional debt is the best means of destroying the nations of the world.

Thus every single mortgage that innocent and vulnerable people have made their mark on is entirely fraudulent and ALL PEOPLE should STOP PAYING!

I doubt they will though, until it is too late.

This is a travesty and demonstrates what happens when you let these usurers into the house.

[MsMihailescu]

It's the jews stupid,the Synagogue of satan on earth,(Revelation 2:9,,3:9)they don't miss anything,it was created by them on purpose to destroy America.Federal is a private institution and is control by Ashkenazi Khazars,realzionistnews is the beast site on internet.

[Snordelhans]

Excellent vid.... thanks.

[lushfauna]

Ron Paul 2012!

NO TO: RUDYMcROMNEYPALINPERRY 2012!

[xcit]

This maggot just said the opposite on bloomberg news. Listen to this snake oil salesman and your wealth will indeed evaporate like your brain cells. He wants more bailouts and see's nothing wring with the debt. Remember that in another year or two.

[mickeykozzi]

101% correct

[stealth260785]

Great vid

[urdu034]

the bailout was the last in a series of activities which amounts to a looting of the public treasure chest by the elites. and the looting goes far into our future; those of us in our 40's and younger are doomed to paying for it, as well as paying for entitlements like medicare and social security which we ourselves will never have.

[adeadlysniper]

Why "Dr. Dean Baker, Ph. D"

Isn't that a little redundant?

[henrythesteinberg]

Dr Doctor Dean Baker

[henrythesteinberg]

He's Chomsky for economics.

[zamkam]

In this video (at 0:15) he says: "running around talking about the great depression is not serious, it's just silly scare tactics". But on another video (watch?v=w-7xlT_cu7c at 1:05) he says (talking about the threat of inflation): "this is really bad news, really bad times, probably the worst financial period for most families since the great depression".

A bit inconsistent, wouldn't you say?

[D0g63rt]

Context.

[oceanbound222]

Dr. Baker is BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!

[stevemcgee99]

I just watched this guy on Booktv - this guy is off!

He is so pro-Obama bailout it doesn't make sense!

House prices stayed even with inflation??? WTF? Inflation was the main driver of house price incresas, with tax codes a close second!

Lots of economists think you are an idiot, Dean!

By the way, did you predict the crash? My economics class in Japan did, in August 2007.

I can't believe some of the comments I read here... Guys, read the fundamentals - this stuff here is politics.

[shiprecords]

Inflation wasn't the main driver of house price increases. What would make you think that?

[stevemcgee99]

The proper definition for inflation is an increase in the money supply.

How is it increased? First, the Federal Reserve Bank can change its policy to lower interest rates, meaning it buys US Treasuries in large amounts to lower the rate. To buy them, the Fed 'prints' money (actually they don't print notes), inflating money supply.

Another way to inflate - is fractional reserve banking. Each mortgage increases the money supply. Cheap money for houses results in increased prices.

[shiprecords]

They didn't lower the rates until after August 2007, when everyone realized there were problems with subprime mortgages. That was at the peak of housing prices. Increasing house prices co-incided with increases of the Federal Funds rate, not decreases. They decreased the rate after the debacle of 2007 to deflate housing prices slowly.

[stevemcgee99]

In 1998, 30-year mortgages were 15%. When did they drop to 4%? When the dot-com bubble burst, thanks to Greenspan. 

Fiat currencies are terrible for most of the people. Free-market currencies are an equalizer - no inflation means anyone can save and build wealth.

[UtterObliteration]

You've missed the difference between the bank bailout and Obama's stimulus package. They are two completely different things.

"By the way, did you predict the crash?"

Yes, he did, back in September 2002. Your ignorance is appalling.

[lushfauna]

@UtterObliteration Bush sucked just as much as Obama though

[CNTloyalist]

house prices stayed with inflation for 100 years, that's his point. then it exploded and it was obviously a bubble. listen idiot. he did predict the bubble unlike most economists. man, some people don't even watch the video, or read the guy's work, than start talking. shut up!

[Mwalton17]

This isn't Dean Baker at his best.

If you like what he's saying, catch his interview on Fresh Air with Terri Gross (01/13/09).

[WadeBlazingame34]

Mwalton17: Thanks! (Love it when Dean brings the logic with attitude!)

[einbischen]

It's a rigged system that's no news.

Most people are idiots who don't think for themselves, they just watch tv and let corporation Tv tell them what to buy and think.

[browbill]

President Bush could have stopped the housing crisis a couple of years ago by creating a 6 month to 1 year moratorium on home foreclosures. He could have forced the banks to re-negotiate the loans into fixed intrest loans. Then reset the loans, and cap the intrest as low as needed to keep people in thier homes. Instead the government has so far has sent us 7.8 trillion dollars in debt, and the economy is still a wreck. He refused to help the american people, but lent trillions to the elite.

[TomaNistor]

Good

[stevemeltzer1]

The banks helping themselves (sans bailout) is feasible until any form of lending needs to take place. Here's in agreement to financial darwinism and I have no qualms with bank failure whatsoever but it will mean with 100% certainty that qualified borrowers of any dollars for any purpose can't do so.  True the $700b gift is from the taxpayers received by the banks but its intended effect is on any lending that takes place anywhere--not solely to prevent banks from failing.

[DisturbedRocks111]

well said

[ZullGostnu]

Send the $3000 to each taxpayer, not to the banks. Or just pay off the Government debt. Stop printing money, it only causes inflation...the hidden tax. But if they did give $3000 to each taxpayer from printing money, the $3000 would be worthless. All the prices will jump up from inflationary pressure of printing money. Abolish the Fed.

[BlueEagle8]

Abolish the Fed!

[greenback001]

@BlueEagle8 yes, abolish the FED, then send them to jail.

[mconn2112]

Good stuff.