I have seen the future
An oracle more powerful than economic shamanism of the U.S. Federal Reserve
We’ve been led to believe in the expertise of people appointed to senior positions within society’s most revered institutions. We reason that these institutions are important therefore the people within them must be superior - the best - within their field. We place our faith in both the institutions and the people appointed to run them. We don’t know what they do, but we believe that they know what they are doing - they must, mustn’t they? Maybe we’re conditioned or maybe it’s simply our human tendency toward belief?
The high priests and priestesses with oversight of our financial institutions know the language of esoteric incantations that give the appearance of knowledge. This secret language further adds to our need to believe, because we simply don’t understand what they are saying.
We are told of offerings to the gods (monetary policy settings) that will bring about a good harvest. They tell of how enquiring of entrails (economic analysis) foretells of better times ahead. In addition to this soothsaying, burnt sacrifices are made (quantitative easing) because apparently the smell of barbequed money creates something they call the “wealth effect” and, just like Pavlov’s dogs, it’s supposed to get saliva trickling down the chin in a manner that encourages people to borrow and spend in anticipation of tomorrow’s profits.
All these rituals, both performed and described via arcane mantras, bewilder the uninitiated, so the priesthood continue unhindered. The problem is, those who head up our society’s financial institutions are highly trained in performing rituals, but have never questioned the underlying doctrine of the faith they espouse. Quite obvious really. You don’t get to be head of the church if you challenge the faith.
As such, the offerings these people make are of the wrong sort, if not to the wrong gods. The guidance they seek from animal entrails can be gleaned by observing the animal’s behavior while it’s still alive. And the whole BBQ thing is, quite frankly, pointless.
In reality, this shit is quite simple to understand. But if you start off down the road thinking that these things are complex (as we do), then you get sucked into believing you need years of indoctrination before you can begin to glimpse beyond the veil and encounter enlightenment. Fuck that!
So, here’s the quick and dirty:
1. Sex has a big impact. If you make babies the economy grows - once they grow up.
2. Markets have cycles. What happened in the past will affect the future, it just takes time to flow through (certainly longer than the priesthood is prepared to consider). Nobody recovers from yesterday’s setback instantly, but give it a few years.
3. The price you pay has an impact on the return you get.
In summary, while the financial mystics who sit atop the pyramid may offer words of faith and channel positive energy to the congregation of the faithful, the coming decade is going to be a clusterfuck. No matter where you look, there are significant headwinds for the economy and markets. It’s a pity they can’t see it coming.
Namaste