[DoughtyOne]

I agree with your take here. Logically, you can’t talk all these funds out of the stock market. It would take a massive hit.

In 2011, the total 401k savings in the U. S. was $11.6 trillion. The total retirement market assetts were $17.9 trillion.

They’d have to do this over a period of time if they were going to do it, and there would be holy hell to pay.

Start screwing around with people’s savings, and watch what happens. It won’t be pretty.

See page 2.

http://www.ici.org/pdf/2012_factbook.pdf

[sickoflibs]

RE :”I agree with your take here. Logically, you can’t talk all these funds out of the stock market. It would take a massive hit.
In 2011, the total 401k savings in the U. S. was $11.6 trillion. The total retirement market assetts were $17.9 trillion.
They’d have to do this over a period of time if they were going to do it, and there would be holy hell to pay.”

The whole idea is silly.

If the government were even thinking about this they would have eliminated the tax deferment for these private investment savings for new contributions unless it was the Fed debt.

If they are scared to do that or don't want to then how can they be just taking it all? AS if that would be legal anyway.

[wastoute]

But by monetizing the debt they ARE “doing it” and they are doing it RIGHT NOW!

[piasa]

I think Hungary and Argentina did just that, nationalized people’s retirement savings.