To mial byc zart...

[Gość: Bert]

Po angielsku, niestety, ale warte grzechu. Zreszta,
dzis wszyscy znaja ten jezyk.

United Press International has obtained an exclusive
recording of a conversation between U.S. Federal
Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and the Devil in the
small hours of the morning, prior to the release
Tuesday afternoon of a monetary policy statement by the
Fed. The Fed said it would keep the key short-term
interest rate, the Fed funds rate, at 1.75 percent.

Devil: No change, then, Alan?

AG: No, steady as she goes.

Devil: Or rather unsteady.

AG: That's not funny!

Devil: Sorry, Alan, just a joke. What shall I put in
the statement?

AG: The same as last time.

Devil: Risks balanced again?

AG: Yes, you know the story.

Devil: How about this, "The information that has become
available since the last meeting of the Committee
confirms that economic activity is continuing to increase."

AG: Perfect.

Devil: But some of the numbers on growth are a bit
mixed, aren't they?

AG: No, industrial production and orders are on the up,
doing quite well, but consumer confidence has dropped.
It's about time. I've been worried sick for two years.
God knows why consumers are so damn confident.

Devil: Don't bring God into this, Alan. We're talking
money. You and I know the business. Now, why don't you
raise rates? That would calm things down.

AG: Raise rates?! That's the last thing I want to do.
Then the stock market would crash and consumer spending
would fall and everyone would blame me.

Devil: Come on, Alan, it wouldn't be that bad. People
would know where they are.

AG: Yes, in a recession!

Devil: Precisely. But then they might stop spending
money like water, stop buying over-priced houses,
change their behavior. Then you would get rid of some
of the imbalances that have always worried you, Alan.
The lack of savings. The trade deficit.

AG: It's too late for that. We're in too much of a
mess. I'm just trying to stop things falling apart.

Devil: Alan, I see your rationale. You're right. Look,
I'm flexible. Why don't you cut rates?

AG: I'm tempted. I am. But I don't like the timing.

Devil: WorldCom?

AG: Yes.

Devil: I understand, Alan. I really do. There were some
good friends of mine at WorldCom. But you don't want to
be put off doing what's right by a few blessed
criminals, do you?

AG: No.

Devil: And you know, you helped them, Alan.

AG: No, I didn't.

Devil: Yes you did. All that money you've thrown around.

AG: I did not throw it around. Inflation was never high
on my watch.

Devil: Come on, Alan, you know. All that "irrational
exuberance." I love that phrase of yours. All those
stock options. All those companies making too much
money because of your loose behavior. You know, Alan.

AG: I never did anything to encourage it. It wasn't my
fault. I'm honest.

Devil: You are, Alan, and yet ... Your trouble, really,
is focus