speculation & federal policy - Galbraith

[philb]

James K. Galbraith | How to Burn the Speculators

James K. Galbraith, Mother Jones: "Whenever economies sour, politicians
blame speculators. But on occasion, they are right to do so. Speculators did wreak havoc in 1630s Holland, 1720s France, and in the American stock market in 1929. That crash led to the Great Depression and 60 years of tight controls on speculation. Now, thanks to our 30-year infatuation with free markets, the controls are off, and the mad gamblers are at it again. Yesterday's burst bubble was housing;
today's expanding ones are energy and food. True, we have major long-term
energy problems that cannot be laid at the feet of speculators.... But do supply and demand explain oil prices at $140 per barrel, with voices from Goldman Sachs projecting $200 for next year (a figure that would push gas prices above $5 per gallon) and Russia's Gazprom saying $250, despite a likely US recession? Do they explain the historic price hikes in rice, corn, and wheat, leading to hunger in the developing world? Do they explain the absolutely stratospheric price of copper? No they do not."

http://www.truthout.org/article/how-to-burn-speculators

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

1. Thanks for sharing this. Excellent piece. JK Galbraith always delivers. n/t

[mikita]

2. Thanks for posting this n/t