While we wait for tomorrow's employment report, there was another big story today --- the Fed treatment of savers.
Fed Chair Bernanke testified before the House Budget Committee, responding to some illuminating questions from Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R. WI). Joe Weisenthal, who is usually on the track of the biggest story, anticipated this one yesterday:
DEAR SAVERS AND RETIREES: Stop Whining About Those Lousy Rates You're Getting From The Bank
Here is Joe's conclusion:
And while we sympathize with people not getting returns on their money, the fact of the matter is that the big problem we have right now is that people have too much debt, not an abundance of cash that's just sitting there not returning anything.
The bottom line is this: Yes, it sucks that pensioners and garden-variety savers aren't getting returns, but it also sucks for everyone in the U.S. right now, because the economic outlook seems to be so mediocre. Welcome to the club!
Until growth and inflation return to anything that looks robust, savers will have to be stuck with the same garbage returns boat the rest of us are in.
The confirmation came in Congressional testimony by Fed Chair Ben Bernanke and the ensuing questions.
There is a lot of buzz about the role of the Fed and also the leadership of Bernanke. The leading Republican candidates all want to fire Bernanke, and some of them even want to abolish the Fed. Some of the GOP House Budget Committee members have joined the criticism.
Here at "A Dash" I focus on investments, not politics. Years ago some readers called me a "Bush apologist" and a blatant "supply sider." I have tried to explain that I do not have a partisan perspective, but an investment perspective. I want to find the best investments no matter who is in power. My perspective changes with the evidence.
With that in mind, let me suggest a few propositions for your consideration. If these are not obvious, I recommend more research.