{"product_id":"book-eg14","title":"Inflated","description":" Americans as a whole view themselves as reasonably prudent and  sober people when it comes to matters of money, even though the  choices we make at the ballot box and in Washington seem at odds  with that self image. Yet Americans as a community also seem  to believe that we are entitled to a lifestyle that is well-beyond  our current income, a tendency that goes back to the earliest days  of the United States. Inflated examines this apparent  conflict and makes the argument that such a way of life is so  instilled in us that to expect the US to live in a \"deflated\" world  is simply unrealistic.   The fact of the dollars role as the means of exchange for  the entire world since the middle of the 20th Century  and the short-term benefits for our trading partners of deficit  spending in the US have encouraged Americas tendency to  demand immediate gratification of national wants and needs. No  program is too large, no need too great to go unfulfilled by  Americas political class and funded by the global investor  community, even as the competitive position of the US in many  industries has waned. The gradual result of poor decisions taken  today by our national leaders must inevitably be inflation, loss of  economic opportunity, and a decline in the value of the  dollar.   This book seeks to tell the story of inflation and public debt  as enduring (and perhaps endearing) features of the American story,  rather than something we can one day overcome. If our answer  throughout history, from taming the frontier in the 1800s  to fighting poverty in the 1970s, has been to print more money  and go deeper into debt, why on earth would we think now is any  different? Or that we could consider alternatives - going back to  the gold standard - as real options? Featuring interviews with  todays top leaders, like Paul Volcker and Ben Bernanke  insiders, this book will offer a glimpse into the future of the FED  and the role it will play in the coming years, as well as what the  future holds for the value of the US dollar.  ","brand":"Ascent Audio","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49428579221808,"sku":"BDeg14","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49428579254576,"sku":"ZEeg14","price":55.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio MP3-CD","offer_id":49428579320112,"sku":"ZMeg14","price":45.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/eg14-Square-cover.jpg?v=1778671323","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-eg14","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}