America's Economic Myths "The Olympian gods" Nicolas-André Monsiau (1754–1837) Mainstream economists and so-called experts have filled the minds of most Americans with many economic myths that are constantly reinforced by the media and repeated on the streets. These myths are erroneous at best, sometimes based on half truths. Inflation and Energy Myths Inflation — or, rather, the general rise in prices[1] —and the increase in energy prices are issues that have always created numerous economic myths.The following are some of the most common ones. Myth # 1: "Dependence on Foreign Oil" This myth basically suggests that the problem with oil prices is due to America's "dependence" on foreign oil. The high price of oil has nothing to do with its origin; the price of oil is determined in international markets. Importing a product does not mean you "depend" on it. Most, if not all, of the higher price of oil can be explained by the expansion of the money supply or the debasement of the dollar. False. Consumption Myths Note
Country briefings: news and analysis by country The Case Against the Fed Money and Politics By far the most secret and least accountable operation of the federal government is not, as one might expect, the CIA, DIA, or some other super-secret intelligence agency. The CIA and other intelligence operations are under control of the Congress. They are accountable: a Congressional committee supervises these operations, controls their budgets, and is informed of their covert activities. It is true that the committee hearings and activities are closed to the public; but at least the people's representatives in Congress insure some accountability for these secret agencies. It is little known, however, that there is a federal agency that tops the others in secrecy by a country mile. Thus, when the first Democratic president in over a decade was inaugurated in 1993, the maverick and venerable Democratic Chairman of the House Banking Committee, Texan Henry B. It was to be expected that Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan would strongly resist any such proposals. 1.
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