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US Federal Government Shutdown | Shutdown Shutdown, Debt Ceiling Raised

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I love how the party that claims that government doesn't work is the party that broke the government to somehow prove that government is broken.

Their same approach to a lot of issues they don't like. Hamper a system to the point it makes their point.
 
Renminbi is getting a stronger backing every day. If the Chinese economy continues to grow strongly, it will be a viable alternative to the dollar, especially in Asia.

Too much risk. When the fake-city-bubble bursts, and the proletariat rise, China be worth avoiding.

Sort of makes more sense to just use water as your base currency. It's like the gold standard, but it's actually worth something and it's unlimited.

Or some guy was talking about using cows as currency. I hear they're a good investment.
 
Too much risk. When the fake-city-bubble bursts, and the proletariat rise, China be worth avoiding.

Sort of makes more sense to just use water as your base currency. It's like the gold standard, but it's actually worth something and it's unlimited.

Or some guy was talking about using cows as currency. I hear they're a good investment.

NO
 
Why is a currency pegged to various currencies not appropriate?
 
Of course they weren't acting in the best interest of the American people. Nor do they have to. It is up to the government to effective regulate the free market. Not over. Not under. Just right. It is in this sweet spot that resposible gains can be achieved.

You are going to have to prove to me that they can run a free market society. Right now, the government is shut down, we are 30 some odd hours from defaulting on the debt. You want this very organization to run your stock market?

Here is a list of socialist countries. Tell me which ones have been a wild success.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_countries
And before you say China, let me suggest you take a look at their human rights record before you say that is a runaway success.

China is the freest free market economy in the world right now and possibly entire human history. That country has absolutely no law or moral code to guide any business action. It is not socialist. It's a perfect example of autocratic capitalism.
 
Supposedly the current Republican plan is to pass a bill in the House and then have all the Reps LEAVE TOWN AND GO HOME.

They're hoping that the Senate will feel that it has no choice but to pass the House bill in that situation.
 
Doesn't matter. I've just heard this talking point a lot lately and it makes no sense.

Its a point to show the volitiiy of the American political process.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_shutdown_in_the_United_States In particularly, the 1990 shutdown is interesting.

I don't want any of them Democrat or Republican beholden to their constituents of bum-eff Mississippi or wherever actually in charge of running the stock market. I do however, recognize the importance and essential duty of congress to effectively regulate the unbridled free-market with smart regulation (if possible).
 
Let me clarify: They are irrelevant to the interest rate at which sovereign debt is sold as well as to any investor with any lick of sense whatsoever. My "fantasy world" is in fact a stark reality. Governments with currency sovereignty can only default by political choice and government bonds issued by currency-issuing governments are the safest financial asset in the world. That will remain true about US Treasuries even if Republicans choose to technically default on some payments.

Your "stark reality" is blindsided by your indoctrination in a hypothetical view of the world, where governments suddenly don't continue to borrow (at rates affected by the market demand for bonds) and print at their heart's content. No matter what fantastical mechanism of the Fed being the sole buyer of treasuries as you might propose, central banks throughout the world, and through history, know better not to do that. Fiat currency has been around since the times of Ancient China, and the lessons have been learned over and over again.

The financial reality of the world is that the government has to constantly renew debt through auctions that are subject to the market demand for bonds (except the Fed has been plugging the hole in demand with QE). Large pension funds and investment funds are under strict investment policy statements that often prohibit the ownership or allocation to bonds under certain ratings, and different ratings are assigned different risk parameters that will lead to portfolio reallocations.

We shouldn't worry YET that foreign governments will dump treasuries, but the facts are that China is actively calling for an alternate global currency. This will be the the end of both the dollar, and of low interest rates. Here is a chart of foreign holdings in treasuries by the way:

foreignUSTreasuries2.jpg


The dollar is not immortal, and the central banks don't follow koo koo MMT ideas because they know better.
 
Supposedly the current Republican plan is to pass a bill in the House and then have all the Reps LEAVE TOWN AND GO HOME.

They're hoping that the Senate will feel that it has no choice but to pass the House bill in that situation.

Yes, it well known now what they might try to do. If they do that they are truly insane. That won't work and they'll really get the ire of the country. I have to believe the "adults" in the GOP are not that stupid.
 
The Brilliant "Leave Town" Option:

1. Get reluctant House Republicans to vote for a debt limit/CR bill as part of the “leave town” strategy. Bill passes.

2. Head to airports.

3. Wait until the 30-60 or so crazy caucus boards planes.

4. Sneak back to Capitol, pass whatever the Senate sends over — with any luck, unanimously, now that voting that way won’t separate them from the not-present radicals.
 
Why is a currency pegged to various currencies not appropriate?

Because the peg can be set at whatever the country wishes it to be. That's why the US was on China's case for the longest time because the RMB was artificially low and distorting import/export markets.
 
Can someone clear something up for me:

The blame on passing the Senate's clean CR has, I assumed, always been on Boehner's shoulders because the House had the votes to pass it but no could vote on it unless Boehner put it up for a vote. But that rules change that the House GOP implemented on Sept. 30 indicate that no House member could vote on a bill unless Eric Cantor (or someone he appointed) brought it up.

So it Boehner's or Cantor's fault that the House has been unable to vote on the clean CR?
 
The financial reality of the world is that the government has to constantly renew debt through auctions that are subject to the market demand for bonds (except the Fed has been plugging the hole in demand with QE).

Nope. Central banks set interest rates exogenously. This is well understood and not controversial.

Large pension funds and investment funds are under strict investment policy statements that often prohibit the ownership or allocation to bonds under certain ratings, and different ratings are assigned different risk parameters that will lead to portfolio reallocations.

Those rules should probably be changed so they are no longer irrational. For example, those rules should quite obviously exclude the sovereign debt of a currency-issuing government like the US. And should credit ratings agencies change their stupid ratings for US sovereign debt so as to "disqualify" institutional investors from buying US Treasuries, I assure you those rules will change, because no sane person denies that US Treasuries are the safest financial asset in the world to own. And, yes, that holds even if Republicans elect to delay some interest payments.

We shouldn't worry YET that foreign governments will dump treasuries, but the facts are that China is actively calling for an alternate global currency. This will be the the end of both the dollar, and of low interest rates. Here is a chart of foreign holdings in treasuries by the way:

The dollar is not immortal, and the central banks don't follow koo koo MMT ideas because they know better.

Why should anybody be concerned about China "dumping Treasuries" (whatever that means)? Feel free to articulate the mechanics of how that happens and how it causes whatever results you fear.
 
Its a point to show the volitiiy of the American political process.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_shutdown_in_the_United_States In particularly, the 1990 shutdown is interesting.

I don't want any of them Democrat or Republican beholden to their constituents of bum-eff Mississippi or wherever actually in charge of running the stock market. I do however, recognize the importance and essential duty of congress to effectively regulate the unbridled free-market with smart regulation (if possible).

The last time we had a shutdown was over 16 years ago so it's not like this happens all the time. I'd be more in favor of finding a way to prevent future shutdowns than going for a super limited government.

I was more commenting on the general "look at how broke Washington is" line of arguing that I keep hearing from people who support these extreme tactics to get what they want. Specifically regarding the stock market I'm not sure if they would be the best at running it but a little more transparency wouldn't hurt.
 
We already know that MSNBC has a strong dislike for Republicans, though.
Even if it is completely warranted.

He also spoke about banks and lobbyists controlling Washington, and saying the President should call them out on it in front of the people (though not sure what good that will do). A statement so blunt and obvious is rare by the neutered corporate media.
 
Random raging screaming outrage aimed at "both sides" with no clear solution is applicable to anything bad that happens in politics.

Yep, just had my insane (like, Obama hates America and the troops, was born in Kenya, Hillary has a secret hit squad, and the Rapture is coming crazy) Tea Party aunt just post that same clip to defend the Republicans and attack the Democrats.
 
The last time we had a shutdown was over 16 years ago so it's not like this happens all the time. I'd be more in favor of finding a way to prevent future shutdowns than going for a super limited government.

I was more commenting on the general "look at how broke Washington is" line of arguing that I keep hearing from people who support these extreme tactics to get what they want. Specifically regarding the stock market I'm not sure if they would be the best at running it but a little more transparency wouldn't hurt.

As for the second part, you can see the government shut down alot more from 1976 through the mid-90's. It wasn't all the time, but it wasnt seldom. Since 1976, 16 years is the longest we went without a shutdown!

As for the second paragraph of your post, Im pretty much with you. Its ridiculous for Republicans to use that argument right now. I fervently disagree with the socialization of the stock market or any other facet of the economy, but Im with you that transparency is in order. And further, tough regulation on the banks is in order. (IMO, this was the biggest failure of Obama...to not really take it to the banks and stop that "too big too fail" crap.)
 
Nope. Central banks set interest rates exogenously. This is well understood and not controversial.

They can only set the fed funds rate (and operations in the discount window) that affects banks. Even then, the fed funds rate usually follows the Taylor rule, which is dependent on levels of expected inflation and GDP. The Fed has limited power to set inflation expectations (therefore the nominal rates accross the yield curve), which we know falls apart based on what investors overwhelmingly expect that to be. If you need evidence, see what bond rates did the minute the rumor of tapering happened. The Fed did NOT intend for that to happen.

Those rules should probably be changed so they are no longer irrational. For example, those rules should quite obviously exclude the sovereign debt of a currency-issuing government like the US. And should credit ratings agencies change their stupid ratings for US sovereign debt so as to "disqualify" institutional investors from buying US Treasuries, I assure you those rules will change, because no sane person denies that US Treasuries are the safest financial asset in the world to own. And, yes, that holds even if Republicans elect to delay some interest payments.

Considering rating agencies have been used by the money managers of the world, to assess sovereign risk... perhaps YOUR views are the "irrational" views here? P.S. if you want to measure T-bills as "safe" under the main tenets of investment management (volatility), things are quickly changing for T-bills.

20131012_tbill1_0.jpg


P.S. volatility also is factored into portfolio allocation.

Why should anybody be concerned about China "dumping Treasuries" (whatever that means)? Feel free to articulate the mechanics of how that happens and how it causes whatever results you fear.

China is holding a TRILLION and change in US treasuries as reserve assets they buy to suppress the renminbi against the dollar. They can sell those treasuries for an alternative (which they have been pushing for since 2009). It's quite simple actually.
 
As for the second part, you can see the government shut down alot more from 1976 through the mid-90's. It wasn't all the time, but it wasnt seldom. Since 1976, 16 years is the longest we went without a shutdown!

As for the second paragraph of your post, Im pretty much with you. Its ridiculous for Republicans to use that argument right now. I fervently disagree with the socialization of the stock market or any other facet of the economy, but Im with you that transparency is in order. And further, tough regulation on the banks is in order. (IMO, this was the biggest failure of Obama...to not really take it to the banks and stop that "too big too fail" crap.)

Some people forget that the government shut down three years in a row in the late 70's.
 
Some people forget that the government shut down three years in a row in the late 70's.

And all throughout the 80's. Most of the time the Democrats held the House.

Not blaming one party of the other on this point...just is what it is.

Might be the closest we have gotten to defaulting on the debt celing...thats a different animal IMO.
 
Reposting my question from last page since it was stuck at the bottom:

Can someone clear something up for me:

The blame on passing the Senate's clean CR has, I assumed, always been on Boehner's shoulders because the House had the votes to pass it but no could vote on it unless Boehner put it up for a vote. But that rules change that the House GOP implemented on Sept. 30 indicate that no House member could vote on a bill unless Eric Cantor (or someone he appointed) brought it up.

So it Boehner's or Cantor's fault that the House has been unable to vote on the clean CR?
 
And all throughout the 80's. Most of the time the Democrats held the House.

Not blaming one party of the other on this point...just is what it is.

Might be the closest we have gotten to defaulting on the debt celing...thats a different animal IMO.

Most of the time the shutdown in the 80's were for a few days at most (half the time it was over a weekend which meant that almost nobody noticed), were over impasses over actual budgetary matters, and neither side thought it was a _good_ thing the government was shutdown.
 
Reposting my question from last page since it was stuck at the bottom:

At this point, Boehner ain't doing anything without Cantor's OK and vice versa. So, it is both of theirs fault, but the moment that Boehner says we're putting x to a vote, Cantor is going to agree to it.
 
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