The Federal Reserve is the central banking system of the US government. The main goal of the bank is to manage the US government’s money supply and stabilize the nation’s banks during panics and recessions. In 2015, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015 which would require the bank’s board of governors to conduct an audit and release it to Congress. An audit would determine if the accounting records the bank makes public are true and give Congress an insight into how the bank is run. Senator…
Read more78% Yes |
22% No |
67% Yes |
17% No |
8% Yes, we deserve to know who the bank gives money to |
5% No, in order to stabilize our financial system, it must remain independent of Congressional oversight |
3% Yes, but I would prefer to abolish it and return to the gold standard |
0% No, they are already audited by an independent agency |
See how support for each position on “Federal Reserve” has changed over time for 1.9m America voters.
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See how importance of “Federal Reserve” has changed over time for 1.9m America voters.
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Unique answers from America users whose views extended beyond the provided choices.
@3RVHJH43yrs3Y
The Federal Reserve shouldn't just be audited, they should be kicked out all together. They are unconstitutional.
@9DK79J38mos8MO
Yes, but I would prefer to abolish the Federal Reserve Bank and establish a economic system based on the labor of the American people.
@9C9RRLQ11mos11MO
Yes, but I would prefer to abolish it and establish an economic system based on the labor of the American people.
@9BVLJ4511mos11MO
Yes, but I would prefer to abolish it and establish a economic system based on the labor of the people.
@973HS981yr1Y
Yes, and nationalize all the banks
@972XDKH1yr1Y
Yes, and nationalize banks
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US investors are paying the biggest premiums since October to protect their portfolios against market gyrations as mounting tensions in the Middle East and reduced expectations of interest rate cuts fuel a surge in volatility.The Vix index, Wall Street’s so-called “fear gauge”, hit 19.6 this week, its highest level since October 20, two weeks after the Hamas attack that triggered Israel’s war in Gaza.The metric measures the price of options that enable investors to profit from swings in the S&P 500.As of Wednesday morning in the US, the index had receded slightly to about 18, still far higher than its late-March level of 12.6 per cent.Market turmoil has also affected US bonds, with the ICE BofA Move index, which tracks volatility in US Treasuries, hitting 121, its highest level since early January and up from 86 in March.US Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell also said on Tuesday it was likely to take “longer than expected” for inflation to fall to the central bank’s target level and make rate cuts appropriate.While the Fed has indicated that it intends to make three quarter point cuts this year to interest rates, investors now expect just one or two reductions. In January, they had anticipated six.The shift in rate expectations has hit bond markets, with yields, which move inversely to prices, rising sharply. That in turn has made equities less attractive to investors, since they can now earn a higher return than before from ultra-safe US Treasuries.
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Homeownership affordability fell to its lowest level since the 1980s last year as mortgage rates reached a 23-year high and home prices set new records. Borrowing costs have eased somewhat this year, with the average rate for a 30-year home loan down about a percentage point since October. But other prices related to homeownership keep rising and show little sign of abating. Property taxes and home-maintenance costs are climbing in much of the country. Non-mortgage costs including property taxes, maintenance, utilities and insurance make up more than half of homeowners’ overall costs, according to a 2022 analysis by Fannie Mae economists. Worst of all, home insurance premiums are soaring. Rates rose by more than 10% on average in 19 states in 2023 after a series of big payouts related to floods, storms, wildfires and other natural disasters across the U.S., according to an Insurance Information Institute analysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. More Americans also moved to disaster-prone areas in recent years, increasing the exposure to these events.Escalating costs on multiple fronts mean that many first-time buyers will continue to find homeownership a financial stretch. Consumer prices rose 3.5% in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Wednesday. The stronger-than-expected inflation data could prompt Federal Reserve officials to hold rates at their current level for longer, which could also keep mortgage rates from declining.The tens of millions of American homeowners who have locked in mortgage rates below 4% still have to contend with these other costs. And since insurance premiums, tax bills and maintenance costs can change each year, it’s hard for homeowners to budget how much more they will be paying even a few years from now. Plenty of homeowners are having to stretch financially to meet these home-related expenses. Nearly one in five said they couldn’t afford a $500 emergency repair without going into credit-card debt, according to a February online survey of 1,000 homeowners by tech company Clever Real Estate, while 42% said they’ve skipped home repairs or maintenance because of the cost.Almost 10% of homeowners surveyed by Fannie Mae last year were not confident they could afford their home insurance premiums at their next renewal.
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Job creation in March easily topped expectations in a sign of continued acceleration for what has been a bustling and resilient labor market.Nonfarm payrolls increased 303,000 for the month, well above the Dow Jones estimate for an increase of 200,000 and higher than the downwardly revised 270,000 gain in February, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.The unemployment rate edged lower to 3.8%, as expected, even though the labor force participation rate moved higher to 62.7%, a gain of 0.2 percentage point from February.In the key average hourly earnings measure, wages rose 0.3% for the month and 4.1% from a year ago, both in line with Wall Street estimates.Job growth came from many of the usual sectors that have powered gains in recent months. Health care led with 72,000, followed by government (71,000), leisure and hospitality (49,000) and construction (39,000). Retail trade contributed 18,000 while the “other services” category added 16,000.Markets have been keeping close watch over the employment data particularly as the Federal Reserve weighs its next moves on monetary policy. Stocks have tumbled this week amid concerns that a strong labor market and resilient economy could keep the central bank on hold for longer than expected.Stock market futures were around the flatline following the report while Treasury yields posted gains.
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In a series of developments that have stirred the political landscape, former President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed the presidential bid of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., describing it as 'great for MAGA.' Trump's remarks came after Kennedy announced his vice-presidential pick, further intensifying the political discourse. Trump, in his characteristic style, took to social media to express his views, labeling Kennedy as the 'most radical left' candidate in the race and highlighting the liberal credentials of Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan. Despite his criticism of their political stance, Trump views Kennedy's candidacy as beneficial for his MAGA movement, suggesting it could potentially divide the Democratic vote.Kennedy, a figure who has long been associated with controversial views, particularly on the rule of law and established science, has drawn criticism and concern from various quarters. His decision to run for president and the subsequent endorsement by Trump has sparked a flurry of reactions, with some seeing it as a strategic move that could impact the Democratic Party's chances in the upcoming elections. Allies of President Joe Biden have expressed alarm over Kennedy's bid, fearing it could siphon off crucial votes from the left, thereby posing a significant threat to Biden's reelection efforts.The political dynamics surrounding Kennedy's candidacy and Trump's endorsement underscore the complex and often unpredictable nature of American politics. As the race for the presidency heats up, the strategies employed by candidates and their supporters are coming under increased scrutiny. The potential impact of Kennedy's run on the Democratic vote is a topic of much speculation, with analysts and political observers closely monitoring the situation.Trump's support for Kennedy, despite their ideological differences, highlights the former president's tactical approach to politics. By endorsing a candidate who could potentially weaken his opponents, Trump is playing a strategic game, aiming to maximize his own chances of success. This move has not only added a new dimension to the political landscape but has also raised questions about the future direction of both the Republican and Democratic parties.As the United States gears up for another presidential election, the emergence of candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the reactions they provoke from figures like Donald Trump are indicative of the shifting sands of American politics. With the electorate increasingly polarized, the outcome of the election remains uncertain, and the strategies adopted by candidates will be crucial in determining the path forward.
@ISIDEWITH3mos3MO
The two-state solution is a proposed diplomatic solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The proposal envisions an independent State of Palestine that borders Israel. Palestinian leadership has supported the concept since the 1982 Arab Summit in Fez. In 2017 the Hamas (a Palestinian Resistance…
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Countries that have mandatory retirements for politicians include Argentina (age 75), Brazil (75 for judges and prosecutors), Mexico (70 for judges and prosecutors) and Singapore (75 for members of parliament.)