Friday, October 21, 2005
Greider Sets the Record Straight on Greenspan
William Greider, who broke onto the national scene with his book 'The Education of David Stockman', recently joined the swelling ranks of those assessing Fed Head Alan Greenspan’s career. He has been a consistent, albeit often a lonely voice, crying out about the injustices being served up by the Fed and its chief puppet master Greenspan. His book 'Secrets of the Temple'
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067147989X/104-9524666-0672721?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
published in 1987 is a classic that today is still worth a read by anyone that is interested in learning how the Federal Reserve operates. Bill currently writes for The Nation, he was previously with the Washington Post.
The following are the first couple of paragraphs of ‘The One-Eyed King’ and a link to click on to read the rest.
The One-Eyed King
by WILLIAM GREIDER
[from the September 19, 2005 issue]
When Alan Greenspan retires as Federal Reserve chairman early next year, we can expect waves of adulation for his extraordinary eighteen-year reign over the American economy. The financial press is already offering nostalgic retrospectives on the highlights: the crash of '87 and rapid rebound, the chairman's total victory over price inflation, his swift interventions to avoid financial panics and to reverse the stock market's massive meltdown of 2000-01. In tempestuous times, this Fed chairman acquired a godlike aura--the inscrutable wizard with a nerdish charisma, his wisdom cloaked in financial doubletalk. How will the nation get along without him?
A different assessment was expressed last winter by the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid. "I'm not a big Greenspan fan," the Nevada Democrat allowed. "I think he's one of the biggest political hacks we have in Washington." His harsh comment was poltely overlooked in governing circles, like an off-color joke told at a Washington dinner party.
When the adulation fades and people begin to understand the full weight of Greenspan's legacy, however, they should be able to see that Reid had it right. Indeed, the Senator's critique did not go far enough. The central banker is a hack, yes, but also a man of conviction.
Alan Greenspan is the most ideological Fed chairman since the 1930s. Without ever acknowledging his intentions, he enlisted himself and the awesome governing powers of the central bank in advancing the "reform" agenda of the Republican right. The chairman thus became an important actor in achieving the profound transformations that occurred during the last generation: the retreat of government, the rise of market ideology and the financialization of American economic life. The "money guys" gained hegemony over the "real economy" of production and work--the people and businesses who make things. The consequences imposed on society are often described as "the tyranny of the bottom line." In numerous ways, the Greenspan Fed helped make it happen. However, the chairman did not produce what conservative doctrine promises--stable and secure prosperity.
Greenspan crossed a line previous Fed chairmen had always gingerly honored: the appearance of political neutrality....
http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20050919&s=greider
Click to continue reading.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067147989X/104-9524666-0672721?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
published in 1987 is a classic that today is still worth a read by anyone that is interested in learning how the Federal Reserve operates. Bill currently writes for The Nation, he was previously with the Washington Post.
The following are the first couple of paragraphs of ‘The One-Eyed King’ and a link to click on to read the rest.
The One-Eyed King
by WILLIAM GREIDER
[from the September 19, 2005 issue]
When Alan Greenspan retires as Federal Reserve chairman early next year, we can expect waves of adulation for his extraordinary eighteen-year reign over the American economy. The financial press is already offering nostalgic retrospectives on the highlights: the crash of '87 and rapid rebound, the chairman's total victory over price inflation, his swift interventions to avoid financial panics and to reverse the stock market's massive meltdown of 2000-01. In tempestuous times, this Fed chairman acquired a godlike aura--the inscrutable wizard with a nerdish charisma, his wisdom cloaked in financial doubletalk. How will the nation get along without him?
A different assessment was expressed last winter by the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid. "I'm not a big Greenspan fan," the Nevada Democrat allowed. "I think he's one of the biggest political hacks we have in Washington." His harsh comment was poltely overlooked in governing circles, like an off-color joke told at a Washington dinner party.
When the adulation fades and people begin to understand the full weight of Greenspan's legacy, however, they should be able to see that Reid had it right. Indeed, the Senator's critique did not go far enough. The central banker is a hack, yes, but also a man of conviction.
Alan Greenspan is the most ideological Fed chairman since the 1930s. Without ever acknowledging his intentions, he enlisted himself and the awesome governing powers of the central bank in advancing the "reform" agenda of the Republican right. The chairman thus became an important actor in achieving the profound transformations that occurred during the last generation: the retreat of government, the rise of market ideology and the financialization of American economic life. The "money guys" gained hegemony over the "real economy" of production and work--the people and businesses who make things. The consequences imposed on society are often described as "the tyranny of the bottom line." In numerous ways, the Greenspan Fed helped make it happen. However, the chairman did not produce what conservative doctrine promises--stable and secure prosperity.
Greenspan crossed a line previous Fed chairmen had always gingerly honored: the appearance of political neutrality....
http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20050919&s=greider
Click to continue reading.
