Mike Folkerth - King of Simple

Western Colorado’s own Humorist / Economist

Fannie and Freddie; A Pair to Draw To:

Good Morning Middle America, your King of Simple News is on the air.

As the self described “hardest working ever” and consequently the “lowest rated ever” Congress, has passed the Fannie (Federal National Mortgage Assn.) and Freddie (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.) bailout, we need to take a closer look at just exactly what that little piece of hurried legislation has accomplished.

First, it is important to understand that Freddie and Fannie hold the mortgages for about half of all homes in America. Second, they are both private corporations that are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, not government entities; but none the less, are tools of our mathematically challenged government leadership.

Freddie and Fannie take loans off the banks hands in order to pass on the risk and to enable the banks to constantly make more loans and collect more fees without the bothersome issue of collection, which has become a problem of some magnitude.

So why would the public buy stocks in companies such as Freddie and Fannie who I have pointed out for some years to be extremely risky? The answer to that question was always evident; should there ever be a failure, the federal government would reach deep into the taxpayers’ pockets and bail out the stockholders. The proof is in the pudding.

Exactly how bad is our banking and economic system when the feds bailout private corporations to the tune of billions and begin to seize banks on a regular basis? I think that answer is self evident….it’s horrific.

To better understand just how horrific, in that piece of bailout legislation was another provision that raised the ceiling on the National Debt some $800 BILLION!

Let’s also put that last figure into perspective. For the first 204 years of this nation’s existence, until 1980, our total accumulated National Debt was approximately $850 Billion. Last week our Congress raised the ceiling by nearly the total accumulation of the first 204 years.

Make no mistake that Congress is well aware of the coming costs of bailing out our ill conceived failing economy and has simply authorized the funds ahead of time to do so.

As reader and commenter Billy B. has stated many times, “This is a Cinderella year.” Our government on both sides of the aisle is throwing everything including the kitchen sink at this economy to avoid total collapse. After all, we have a Democratic Congress and a Republican President and that makes for strange bedfellows, both being culpable and all.

As we observe our National and private sector debt rise to levels never before seen (in real numbers, but we don’t deal with real numbers we deal with government numbers) it becomes evident that our monetary managers believe that a little hair from the dog that bit us is exactly the remedy needed. Therefore, Doctor Bernanke has prescribed more credit as the answer to too much credit. There are people who have been institutionalized that aren’t that crazy.

On another front, our government has also had a change of heart on the legality of coercion and money laundering. The U.S. Treasury by virtue of our newly passed legislation will heavily suggest that banks discount their bad loans for nice clean money from the taxpayers’ pockets.

The seriousness of our current situation escapes most Americans who believe that things will get better after the election. However, if Billy B. is correct, instead of the Prince showing up, Cinderella will do the pumpkin routine.

Turn her into the wind, drop the mainsail, and batten down the hatches, it’s gonna be a big blow.

 
Comments
1.
On July 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am, Billyb said:

I would really like to see a massive turn around in our nations awareness of issues and our flawed economic policy, but it would be best that I don’t hold my breath for this to happen. It will unfortunately require a lot more pain for this to happen (and it will). Freddie andFanny are just symptoms of those failed economic policies. The 2008 election cinderella year; this year, is the best year we will see for some time to come.

But Dr. Paul is leading the way toward a more informed and truthfull government, by his actions, as a mentor of sorts these days. He did not do well in the presidential race in 2007 and early 2008 due to an uninformed, out of touch public. He however did not retreat to hiding place and morn the results. He has intensified his efforts to help us to become informed on all of the important issues that confront us and is still battling his positions in congress for the benefit of us all. More people everyday are beginning to understand that to do nothing and allow the status quo (liberal/conservative, democrat/republican) to continue our race to the bottom has got to stop. Educating ourselves on the issues (not basing our very existence on TV sound bites) is a very important first step. Not many are involved in this process yet. And as I indicated in the first paragraph, odds are against the masses completing this process prior to November.

I still maintain that, unless something else extraordinary takes place over the next three months I have no choice but to write in Ron Paul for president. There comes a time when doing the right thing means more than voting for a candidate who has the best chance of winning. We are not at the end of the rope yet. But you can sure see the knot from here. Obviously, if Dr. Paul were to be elected, it would be a much smoother transition to the over due sustainable economy we have needed for oh so many years. It will be tougher if one of the two front runners are elected (and this is likely considering our mind set today). But like the good Dr. Paul, that does not mean we need to hang give up our efforts of educating our friends and neighbors. We can still in hopefully ever increasing numbers, begin and continue our letters to our govenors, mayors, representatives and congress. We are not doomed if we begin to act and participate in an educated manner. I believe we can repair this mess get us on the road we have to follow over the next few years. We have a lot of work in fornt of us however. We have a lot of personal changes we need to adjust too also. Fortunately the coming pain will intensify efforts along these lines. -bb

2.
On July 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am, WmA said:

Did you say “that little piece of hurried legislation” ?? Wasn’t it nearly 700 pages ?? When a bill is that large you know there are some nasty bits hidden in there.. Debt ceiling was just one, I’d guess… There shud be much more to this.. WmA..

3.
On July 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm, Mike Folkerth said:

At this hour the Dow Jones is down by 227 points as the White House announced that the budget deficit would be near half a Trillion Dollars.

The economic growth forecast was also lowered for the rest of 2008 and 2009. Looks like the Whitehous is stealing Billy Bs thunder by saying, “This is about as good as it’s gonna get.” This should also clear up any question as to why the debt ceiling was raised by $800 Billion. Of course all of this news was reported weeks and months ago on King of Simple News Network, but it is news to most Americans.

Tomorrow we need to talk about GDP and how this trumped up figure is holding up the house of cards…temporarily.

4.
On July 28th, 2008 at 4:02 pm, Billyb said:

Here is the “How To” for contacting our representatives. The tide cannot turn on apathy unless we one by one choose to participate. http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Now it only takes a few minutes on a regular basis, for a few million educated citizens to take our country back. Apathy and denial are winning this battle by a huge margin at this time however. Suit up, you’re in the game. -bb

Mentions on other sites...
  1. Credit Crunch » Fannie and Freddie; A Pair to Draw To: on July 28th, 2008 at 8:38 am
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