Capital Commerce

Peter Schiff: How He Would Fix America

By James Pethokoukis

Posted: February 21, 2009

Apparently there is a movement to get doomsayer investor/libertarian Peter Schiff to run for the U.S.. Senate in Connecticut. And a website has gone up to draft him. Here is the Schiff agenda as the website outlines it:

1. Increase savings and production. People need to start saving and paying down credit card debt, and the US needs to become a net producer and manufacturer of goods once again.

2. Vote no on all bailouts. Instead, the government should begin eradicating grotesque budget deficits and national debt by reigning in profligate spending.

3. Allow the recession to run its course and rebuild quickly from a fresh start. “Let it collapse today so it can prosper tomorrow.” To use a crude analogy, wildfires are devastating in the short term, but they are extremely beneficial in the long run for the entire ecology. Currently, the trillions of dollars of new government spending is akin to pouring gasoline on the fire. It will only serve to exacerbate the problem and delay meaningful recovery.

4. Let the free market operate without inefficient, ineffective, and cumbersome government involvement. The government should enforce the integrity of free markets, not manipulate them.

5. Drastically cut federal spending. It’s time to quit over spending and over borrowing and start living within our means.

6. Cut corporate and personal income taxes to spur savings, job growth, and real industrial production.

7. Minimize corporate regulation. If you allow the free market to operate, businesses and banks which accrue massive debt will fail. More efficient and fiscally responsible banks and institutions will prevail and restore prosperity to the economy.

8. Restore the value of the US dollar. Since 2002, the US dollar has been devalued by nearly 30%. Put a stop to the Federal Reserve setting artificial interest rates and printing trillions of dollars out of thin air. Instead, get the Fed out of the markets and bring back balanced budgets, low taxes, and robust production.

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Luhcncvp of CA @ Jul 15, 2009 19:57:42 PM

What is going on

Nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Paulson played a game of global russian roulette; and it appears to be winning. Schiff knows it.

I am stupid and it took awhile before it surfaced in my brain. We get a few more years to put the house in order.

Butternut of OH @ Apr 27, 2009 22:12:22 PM

The Shock Doctrine....read it

I can not argue the fact that he made this call as far as the economic down turn is concerned...but the damage is done and the cost is heavy for most Americans. Although his claims to fix things do make sense...you have to take a real world look at these problems from the ground up...as it is this free market trickle down BS that got us hear in the first place. From a human aspect America is not a third world country, so letting this thing deepen and drag on is going to spew consequences...in the form of chaos and revolt...simply put "the trapped rat theory" at some point people are going to fight back and possibly not via a ballot box...How do you think Hitler came to power? This whole economic situation needs a total revamping which includes socialism and free-market principles working in tandem.

Brian S of PA @ Apr 24, 2009 16:19:46 PM

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Capital Commerce

Capital Commerce

U.S. News business reporter Matthew Bandyk examines the issues, people, and debates that shape the nexus of political and economic life in the nation's capital.

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