The Real State of the Union: A Rescue Plan for the U.S. Economy

If Money Morning's Keith Fitz-Gerald were granted an audience with U.S. President Barack Obama and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, the one message he'd deliver is this: It's time to stop the gravy train and reform the U.S. financial system once and for all.

In fact, this may be our last chance.

"If I had the chance to sit down with President Obama and Fed Chairman Bernanke, I would offer [them an] eight-point plan that's designed to increase growth, provide jobs and increase America's international competitiveness," says Fitz-Gerald, a well-known commentator and bestselling author who is Money Morning's chief investment strategist.

In this second installment of a two-part interview with Money Morning Executive Editor William Patalon III, Fitz-Gerald took the time to outline that eight-point rescue plan for the U.S. economy. In that plan, the changes Fitz-Gerald calls for include:

• Cuts in federal spending.
• Pension reforms at all levels.
• A halt to weak-dollar policies.
• And a realization by Washington that it's time to take China much more seriously.

In Part I of this interview, which appeared yesterday (Thursday), Fitz-Gerald assessed the health of the U.S. and global economies, provided his outlook for the U.S. stock market and for commodity prices, and even offered an investment strategy for 2011.
The highlights of Part II follow below. And if you missed Part I, you can access yesterday's story by clicking here.

[mm-toolbar]Money Morning (Q): In Part I of this interview, we covered a lot of ground, talking about the outlook for stocks, commodities and even the U.S. economy. Speaking of the economy, it's clear that we've reached a critical point with regard to debt - and by a critical point, I mean that it seems to be now or never if we're going to actually do something about U.S. government debt levels. I know from our many talks that you agree. If you could sit down with U.S. President Barack Obama, and U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, what advice would you give them? What kind of a game plan would you sketch out?

Keith Fitz-Gerald: I've actually been waiting for a question just like this for awhile now, Bill. Thanks for asking. If I had the chance to sit down with President Obama and Fed Chairman Bernanke, I would offer the following eight-point plan that's designed to increase growth, provide jobs and increase America's international competitiveness:

1. Stop the weak-U.S. dollar policies that have drawn the ire of nations around the world - and for which China is openly deriding us. These policies are encouraging rampant-interest-rate speculation, increasing oil prices (which are priced in dollars) and undermining our currency - none of which are conducive to a vibrant economy. Raise the benchmark Fed Funds rate immediately, then peg it to something like oil or gold or some combination of currencies plus natural resources. This will remove uncertainty and immediately show governments and investors around the world that the dollar does, indeed, matter and that their faith in our debt is not misplaced. Weak money is the enemy and it craters the very middle class our government says that it's trying to protect.
2. Speaking of which, by focusing on preserving capital instead of putting it to work, the government has created a punitive atmosphere for the small businesses in this country, which make up a huge percentage of our economy. They've also punished those who have been prudent with their money, while involuntarily redistributing wealth to those who haven't. This has got to stop: A country that erodes economic initiative erodes its own wealth. That's been very well documented through history, and is beyond dispute.
3. Outlaw non-deliverable credit default swaps (CDS) and force Wall Street to act in the best interests of the customer, instead of in its own. Thanks to huge conflicts of interest - as well as a toothless regulatory structure - Wall Street is actually depriving Main Street of huge amounts of money and opportunity, while enriching itself.
4. Quit bailing out companies that should fail. History is littered with the bones of failed companies. Whenever I hear the term "too big to fail," I want to ask our leaders why they didn't use the anti-monopoly statutes already on the books to keep companies from reaching the point where their failure could actually damage the economy - meaning that they have to be rescued. The sad result of this is that the risks are more concentrated now than they ever have been. And bonuses are bigger than ever for a very select few of Wall Street's modern-day buccaneers.
5. Simplify our tax code. At 8 million lines, it's totally out of control and impenetrable to businesses and individuals alike - not to mention cumbersome and expensive to deal with. A simpler tax code would encourage more investment, would lead to higher profits ... and would result in greater job creation.
6. Privatize Social Security. Where is it written that the government is the risk-taker of last resort? And for all those Americans who are worried that Social Security might go bankrupt ... well, I've got news for you - it's already there.
7. Slash federal spending. There's a longtime axiom among professional traders: Big Government = Small Wallets. Pure and simple. There is no such thing as a multiplier effect and every government dollar spent actually replaces a dollar from the private sector. The very notion that the government can spend money more efficiently than private enterprise is badly flawed and robs this country of wealth at all levels. If the government's "investment multiplier" actually worked, our economy would be screaming along at 5% to 8% or more.
8. Stop the freeloading and engage in immediate pension reform. We cannot live on free money forever, which is why we've got to push federal, state and local pensions into 401(k)-like systems. The very notion of a lifetime pension is not only preposterous, but robs the system of badly needed wealth in the process - perhaps Congress is nervous about this because it's another case of what's good for the goose is not good for the gander. Congressional members have a really fat pension as it is.On that note, I want to offer one final observation. The president and various members of the political establishment have often said that like American families who have had to sacrifice, the government must also. Then, President Obama announces a spending freeze at current levels, which are up 25% over the last two years and congressional aides announce that the 2011 budget deficit may hit $1.5 trillion, up from $1.3 trillion. To politicians, not increasing their spending of your money, that is apparently the real sacrifice.

News and Related Story Links:

• Money Morning Interview With CIO Keith Fitz-Gerald (Part I of II):
  Commodities, "BEE" Markets and Multinational Stocks Are Best Investments For 2011.
• Money Morning Special Report:
  State of the Union: Why You Should Fear America's "Sputnik Moment."
• The Geiger Index:
  Official Website.
• Wikipedia:
  Social Security.
• WhiteHouse.gov:
  U.S. President Barack Obama.
• Social Security Online:
  Cost of Living Adjustments.
• Wikipedia:
  Peak Oil.
• Money Morning "Outlook 2011" Economic Forecast Series:
  Gold Price Forecast: Four Reasons the "Yellow Metal" Will Hit $1,900 an Ounce in 2011.
• Money Morning "Outlook 2001" Economic Forecast Series:
  Outlook 2008: How to Profit When Oil Bubbles Up Above the $100 Level.
• Money Morning Special Report:
  Credit Default Swaps: A $50 Trillion Problem.
• SeekingAlpha.com:
  Forget BRICs, Try Killer BEEs: The Next Group of Big Emerging Economies.
• CNNMoney.com:
  Congress' Pensions: Nice and Secure.