Frontline (TV Series) Age of Easy Money (2023) User Reviews

Good but repetitive

[JurijFedorov · 7/10 · 22 March 2023]

Pretty fine theory, but way too repetitive. It should have been an hour shorter. They just cut like 10 interviews into small pieces and then present part of a greater argument over time. So you listen to a point then see a few news clips of politicians claiming the Federal Reserve Bank is glorious and helps people then the critic will get a few more seconds - and repeat. They really tried to stretch out everything here.

The point about the Federal Reserve Bank not being fully needed is a great one. This is the first time I've seen a left-wing media company make this claim. Of course they don't attack it for being undemocratic like libertarians do. Rather the point is that the state is basically a too big to fail safety system. So billionaires, giant companies, and stock traders make billions. Meanwhile the small guys are not too big to fail and won't be bailed out. This makes sure the money concentrates on a few hands that are ready to gamble at all times. Billionaires are making billions from each bail out. They are basically told by the state to gamble on the market as nothing can go wrong. They cannot lose their money. Finally regular people started trading crypto and stock to get into this market subsidized by the state. You can get huge easy loans and many companies you invest in will not be allowed to go bankrupt. So finally the Federal Reserve Bank can make the little guy richer - in principle. Yet this is not quite a safe bet for such guys as they don't understand how to abuse this system and make sure the state will always bail you out. If 1 million people lose all their savings there is no clear system in place to save them as there is with billionaires and huge companies who understand the system.

It's a great introspection. But maybe a bit hazy and hurriedly made. Unfortunately for the pro big state Democrats in the doc they just look foolish here defending the Federal Reserve Bank. They don't have clear theories or ideas and often shout their points. The other side doesn't look smart either. All their points are vague and silly. There is very little to no science here.

Recommended watch

[mosquitocyn · 8/10 · 23 March 2023]

Stumbled upon this video on YouTube. Must say this is a pretty good production - think the narrator said in the video that it was prepared over 2 years and I can see that the release of it is timing perfect as they included recent news on the Silicon Valley Bank. It is a well thought out, well-paced, information condensed video. There weren't too much political inclinations - mainly facts though delivered in a scary speed and somewhat leading outcome. There's predictions in the video and they left it open-minded as to how the viewer should conclude the future. But overall it's scary enough to realise that everyone contributed to this churning machine that had been patched and band-aided too many times. Sone took advantage of it more so than others. Who can we trust?

Brilliant overview, with striking specific detail & insight

[jeffdstockton · 9/10 · 17 March 2023]

This is a great example of the brilliance of Frontline, and why it and PBS are so important and valuable to the country.

Since the financial/ economic crisis of 2008-2010 (and beyond, especially in Europe), Frontline has stayed in front of the complexities of our financial and economic systems, producing many programs focused on specific aspects how things work (or don't), who makes decisions, and the effects of a shockingly small number of people who have disproportionate impact on our lives.

It's great to see and hear several experts, here, being honest and straightforward with their analyses of the actions of the US Federal Reserve Bank, policy makers, and industry leaders. Fed banker in Minneapolis, Kashkari, is exposed, in my opinion, as the arrogant political aspirant he is, and I think his interviews here may contribute to the crumbling of his fantasies of what he thought he'd be doing after the Fed.

The economy IS a scary monster for most people; politicians, Finance and Banking industry leaders, and Fed Bankers rely on that. Mainstream media personalities don't have a clue, they have agenda - to sell their books, blogs, newsletters and brand (advertising time for their programs and websites). This program, and other Frontline programs offer a GREAT counter to the hucksters on MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, FOX Business, et al.

One conclusion that becomes obvious by the end of the program is that many of the assertions and predictions presented here are speculation - of course; that's all they can be. Other than the political participants (I include Fed Bankers in this group), experts interviewed offer very sound analyses, based on deep experience and education. Most of the people interviewed have no hidden or political agenda, and no incentives that color their opinions and forecasts for the future of the economy. There is a sense of sad reality about them.

Just remember that the program shows just how fragile the predictions can be, because of unknowns that always arise. That being said, it's always safer to heed the advice (or implications) to be worried, and to adjust your decisions accordingly.

Utterly amazing piece in a much needed time

[adam_henrie · 10/10 · 16 March 2023]

At first glance this is truly impressive that this came out in such a pivotal period in history. Quickly you learn that the film makers had been working on this piece for over two years. The recent events in the financial market are simply coincidental. If anything it goes on to prove that much more so how the topics discussed in this documentary are exactly on point. Very well structured, hopefully a significant portion of the population is able to watch this show and understand just how corrupt the system has becomes. We've created a beast in our financial markets that if not constantly fed, it will turn around and eat us instead.

Beats around the bush too much

[diogorossi-51899 · 2/10 · 4 March 2024]

Documentary tries to still the sense of drama and crime, and fails miserably to do so. The Director takes an hour and 45 minutes to deliver a message that could be easily delivered in less than 20 minutes. Actually, I can summarize it for you in a few lines:

The easy money policy of keeping interest rates low has exacerbated financial inequalities. The Fed is making decisions away from the democratic process. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting squeezed.

Now that the Fed is increasing rates, some unforeseeable consequences might take place. The Director argues of the problem of easy money, but then questions the strategy of increasing rates.