The source of our economic malaise.

To be sure, we have trade agreements that destroy jobs at home and allow China to cheat. That is not all though. At one time, the FED (and European Central Banks) could stimulate their economies by lowering interest rates, But those days are gone. Now with ZIRP (zero Interest Rates) and NIRP (negative Interest Rates) Western and Japanese banks are driving their economies into deflation. Interest is no longer earned on capital depriving millions of secure retirement. ZIRP reduces the value of bonds. So, both ZIRP and NIRP are a way for governments to confiscate money from its citizens.

Due to the fractional credit  system a bank is said to be leveraged. This means that the banks have only 5-10% of the reserves needed to pay their depositors. In order to stop bank runs, banks now restrict the amount of money a depositor can withdraw; it is limited to E2,000-E4,000/month. This means that your money loses 2-4 percent/year while you get no interest or might even have to .have money on deposit.

Unfortunately, that is not the end of the ways the govts can rob you. If a bank fails, the govt can require depositors to"bail in" which means rescue the bank by buying government bonds. As the money loses value, the government bonds decrease in value. That fuels deflation. Banks then print money.