Re the interest rates, seniors have been bombed by this for almost 10 years now as their savings are being eroded by inflation while their interest rates are near zero. It is a big contributor in the drop in family incomes. In effect, as the low interest rates force individuals to seek higher ROIs, it has resulted in a false support for equities and home prices IMO.
Trump said the other day the FED cannot allow interest rates to climb much (until he is elected of course) because the result will be monumental deficits and a steep drop in the markets along with home prices. IOW, the financial side of what has been a glossed over industrial recession. Once the spiral begins, it may be unstoppable, again IMO.
The Pols have the Fed by the shorthairs with this huge national debt. The Fed knows it will trigger a death spiral by trying to raise rates. Hence they won’t. This was a deliberate strategy employed by Clinton when he shifted the national debt out of long-term and into short-term instruments in the 90’s. Everyone else in the world who gets by selling us crap knows that if we go down, they all go down harder. So they are going to wink and nod, and urge the Fed to keep on printing.
Everyone has skin in the game and too much to lose. I think they can all keep this game of three card monte going for a LOOOOOOOOONG time.