Modern Monetary Theory


Joseph M. Firestone's picture

Brinksmanship On the Debt Ceiling

As the United States Government approaches “running of money” to pay its bills, news articles and pronouncements by politicians about the debt ceiling dispute focus on several things. First, they talk about the dire consequences of defaulting on our obligations. more »

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Joseph M. Firestone's picture

Tell President Obama and Everyone Else: There's No Deficit Problem

Over the past year, in an attempt to head off the austerity program gaining steam in Washington, DC, I've blogged the truth about the deficit/debt problem on many occasions. That truth is that there is no deficit/debt problem, and that deficits and debts, no matter how large they may be, don't affect th more »

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Joseph M. Firestone's picture

It's All In the Framing and That's Terrible

While some progressives are happy with the President's speech on the budget; others are suspicious, recognizing the President's repeated pattern of offering words that are reassuring to progressives while later acting to work against the general principles he asserts in a major speech. As Bernie Sanders is saying: “the devil is in the details.”

It surely is. more »

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Joseph M. Firestone's picture

Why Do “They” Want To Limit Our Sovereignty In Our Own Currency?

One of the most emotional issues in American politics is the sovereignty of the United States itself, and its independence from foreign powers, interests, other nations and their ruling elites, and emerging globalizing elites who place their own interests against the nation interest of America and its people. more »

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Joseph M. Firestone's picture

Worrying About Demand-Pull Inflation Is A Distraction

One commenter at FireDogLake says:

”. . . we should be exceptionally careful not to jeopardize the hard-fought for benefits (like S.S.) by risking devaluation of the dollar. more »

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Joseph M. Firestone's picture

Use Coin Seigniorage Now!

(Author's Note: Most of this diary was previously published back in January; but I've revised it slightly for these reasons. First, a Government shutdown is now upon us, even though the debt ceiling issue isn't quite at the forefront yet. more »

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Joseph M. Firestone's picture

The Fake Social Security Solvency Crisis Is Congress's Fault!

Ah.... my fellow Americans, be very, very, afraid of the terrible Social Security crisis that will sink us as a nation. According to Government projections, we won't be able to pay full Social Security benefits, in 2037 and beyond, unless we cut benefits now, because the Social Security “Trust Fund” will be short of money. more »

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Joseph M. Firestone's picture

Neo-Liberalism Can't Beat the Tea Party: But MMT Can

In the big budget fight going on right now in Congress, the Tea Party conservatives rightly point out that $61 Billion in spending cuts is just a drop in the bucket compared to the $1.6 Trillion predicted deficit, and they react with a great deal of moral fervor to the suggestion that they ought to compromise on $33 Billion in cuts in order to avoid shutting down the Government. more »

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Paul Krugman – The Conscience of a Neo--Liberal

dailykos.com — In a reply to Paul Krugman, Scott Fullwiler illuminates a lot of the deep thinking and knowledge developed by those following the Modern Monetary Theory approach to economics. If you read this, you can see just how much work PK has to do to really understand it, and how far from the truth his characterization of it is. Heavy, but worth the time.

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Wall Of Shame

moslereconomics.com — Critical commentary by Warren Mosler on the recent statement by 11 former Chairpersons of the Council of Economic Advisers on the need for austerity policies such as those recommended in the Bowles - Simpson Report.

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