Hanging Out With Henry
I hang out once or twice a week at a small “Ice House”, aka Texas Beer Joint. This is a neighborhood place, never any trouble. Everyone sits at picnic tables under a corrugated iron awning. The beer is so cold, the first swallow hurts your throat. The hurt is good.
The patrons are just good hard work’n folks. My friend Henry hangs out there. Henry cuts grass for a living. He says he’s not a landscaper, just a grass cutter. Henry has regular customers he’s had for decades.
Why am I writing about Henry? He’s you and me. He works hard, especially in this heat we’ve had in Houston this summer. Henry has a mortgage & bills just like you & I. Henry thinks I know a thing or two about our economy. I really don’t, no one does. It’s all supposition, no science like chemistry or physics. Henry just wants to know why the little money he has saved is only “drawing” less than 1% interest.
I could say the Fed’s Zero Interest Rate Policy or Quantative Easing to the power of 100. Henry, like most folks doesn't understand the monetary policy of the Fed. I’m not sure I do any longer.
Henry just wants to know when he can see some decent interest on his savings. He’s not alone, so do many millions of Americans on “fixed incomes”.
So Mr. Bernanke, what do you say to Henry & I? Come on and have a cold beer with us, you just might learn something they didn’t teach you at Harvard.
Comments (3)
Carlos & David, The chances of Mr. Bernanke having a beer with you or me is slim & none and slim just left town. David, good point. What could we talk about?
Mike Morrison, almost 15 years ago
He doesn't appear to be that personable watching him on TV. I'm not sure the conversation would be interesting enough.
David Wedemire, almost 15 years ago
I agree. Have a beer with the common folk. Spend some time with us. Get to know us. Because the us is the US!
Carlos Flores, almost 15 years ago