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Nassim Taleb Protests Bernanke Reappointment By Going Into Self-Appointed Exile

Tyler Durden's picture




And so economists begin their protest against the perpetuation of the farce that is US economics, and the madman in charge of the USS Titanic - Ben Bernanke. Nassim Taleb has decided to go into exile courtesy of the imminent reappointment of the man who not only caused the near destruction of the financial system, but with his actions has sealed the fate of America's middle class. In a post titled "Good Bye! The reappointment of Bernanke is too much to bear" Taleb bids farewell and shares his disgust with the bullshit that the Wall Street - D.C. cabal has become, and the certain destruction that it is leading this once great country to. While we may or may not agree with Taleb's expression of disappointment, it, together with ever more vocal demonstrations of anger at Bernanke's second term by more and more prominent politicians, presents an increasing social problem for Obama, who has now bet the farm as well as taken out a CIT-funded 3rd lien on the success of Bernanke's policies, as well as sacrificed the future of the US middle class so that Wall Street can enjoy another record bonus year.

From the HuffPo:

What I am seeing and hearing on the news -- the reappointment of
Bernanke -- is too hard for me to bear. I cannot believe that we, in
the 21st century, can accept living in such a society.
I am not blaming
Bernanke (he doesn't even know he doesn't understand how things work or
that the tools he uses are not empirical); it is the Senators
appointing him who are totally irresponsible
-- as if we promoted every
doctor who caused malpractice. The world has never, never been as
fragile. Economics make homeopath and alternative healers look
empirical and scientific.

No news, no press, no Davos, no suit-and-tie fraudsters, no fools. I
need to withdraw as immediately as possible into the Platonic quiet of
my library, work on my next book, find solace in science and
philosophy, and mull the next step. I will also structure trades with
my Universa friends to bet on the next mistake by Bernanke, Summers,
and Geithner. I will only (briefly) emerge from my hiatus when the
publishers force me to do so upon the publication of the paperback
edition of The Black Swan




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Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:24 | Link to Comment RockyR
RockyR's picture

NNT,

i love ya, man!  but, this sounds a bit unhinged.  bernanke's reappointment should reinforce your hyperinflation thesis, not nullify it.  now is the time to stand in and fight, not retreat.

 

good luck with the book.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:23 | Link to Comment spekulatn
spekulatn's picture

Now that's a black swan event. No? 

Booo fOOkin hooo NNT. The world anxiously awaits your next brain fart.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:23 | Link to Comment LoneStarHog
LoneStarHog's picture

Taleb, PLEASE take Bernanke, Summers & Geithner (The New Three Stooges) with you...PLEASE!

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:24 | Link to Comment bugs_
bugs_'s picture

and stare into the maw of the Grand Supercycle Collapse.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:04 | Link to Comment AN0NYM0US
AN0NYM0US's picture

and more good/bad news depending on your perspective  (there is hope/despair)

Turnbull Ousted in Australia, Imperiling Climate Bill

Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Australia’s opposition Liberal Party ousted its leader, Malcolm Turnbull, throwing the government’s climate-change bill into jeopardy and raising the prospect of an early general election.

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aRTd4dwe3OVs

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:50 | Link to Comment LongMarch
LongMarch's picture

Damn good news;he was chairman of Goldman Sachs Australia.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:24 | Link to Comment Herd Redirectio...
Herd Redirection Committee's picture

So it has come to this!

I can imagine how he feels.  He is like:  "Has anyone even been listening?"

Basically, he has waged war against US economic policy, which Bernanke is the physical embodiment of.

And now he has found out that there is no public outcry, and the mainstream media is all over Bernanke, as if

Taleb never existed!"

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 09:44 | Link to Comment Dadoomsayer
Dadoomsayer's picture

Everyone wants the game to go on...

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:29 | Link to Comment Miles Kendig
Miles Kendig's picture

It would appear as though Nassim has grown weary of yelling at the passing clouds from his front lawn.  I wonder if John Kay is going to join him for a toast of bitters.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:44 | Link to Comment Unscarred
Unscarred's picture

Soooo...  The Black Swan is flying south for the winter?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Swan_(Taleb_book)

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:41 | Link to Comment lynnybee
lynnybee's picture

WOW !  DOUBLE WOW!   Where do we find more people like this !   Someone with real fortitude !     I want to shake his hand ....... what can we "little people" do to support this person and get the word out ?

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:44 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:53 | Link to Comment Willzyx
Willzyx's picture

Reminds me of Yoda's self imposed exile on Dagobah.

"Into exile I must go.  Failed, I have.  Hope, we can.  Done, it is.  Until the time is right, disappear we will."  

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:55 | Link to Comment RockyR
RockyR's picture

"Into exile I must go.  Failed, I have.  Hope, we can.  Done, it is.  Until the time is right, disappear we will." 

Yoda was John Galt?

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:00 | Link to Comment Willzyx
Willzyx's picture

Good point.  I haven't read the book.  Any other parallels between Atlas and Star Wars?

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:02 | Link to Comment RockyR
RockyR's picture

none that i could see.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:13 | Link to Comment yy
yy's picture

Atlas shrugged anyone?

While I have criticism of aspects of Atlas Shrugged- the original, and some of Nissim Taleb's fuzziness, I am completely on the side that the world is going up-side down, and while inertia may keep it going a bit longer the gap between reality and fantasy can only stretch so much.

The insane brainwashing in the system is simply too much to correct itself, and standing aside if at all possible is the best choice.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:36 | Link to Comment Rollerball
Rollerball's picture

It's not the gap between reality and fantasy that's so troubling - it's the gap between truth and untruth, along with it's propagandized inconsequences, embracing the mind f*ckng strategy of Coward-Piven.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloward–Piven_strategy

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:20 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 01:35 | Link to Comment mberry8870
mberry8870's picture

Agreed

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:04 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:11 | Link to Comment Gubbmint Cheese
Gubbmint Cheese's picture

Yup.. the "Who is John Galt" irony is thick.

Hope we hear from NNT again soon..

as Todd said earlier today, "true education lies in the friction of opinions"

without NNT.. there is a little less friction.. and therefore a little less education.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:17 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 01:02 | Link to Comment faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

Ron Paul says BB was just being an arrogant prick to Friedman, because Bernanke was implying that in '29 the Fed didn't do enough, that it should have immediately and massively inflated the dollar.

 

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 09:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 12:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 09:40 | Link to Comment tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

+1 on the 5 Families Fractal Faction Theory
maybe some of us should rewatch the godfather
(fun trivia: it's our fair leader's favorite movie)

Wed, 12/02/2009 - 14:17 | Link to Comment Unscarred
Unscarred's picture

"You better get out of here, Enzo, there's gonna be trouble..."

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 09:30 | Link to Comment tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

thank you kindly for sharing your intel & observations.  this and the BIS article shared by someone elsewhere adds some useful color to the connect-the-dots picture in me head.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:18 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:26 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture

How many campuses has Taleb visited?  How many chambers of commerce?  Has he ever heard of "takin' it to the streets."  Just because you write a book, doesn't mean the people you need to reach will be reached.  Not everybody has a Bloomberg terminal, checks a financial news website or researches the web for tidbits of truth.  Taleb thinks he needs a break?  He certainly hasn't been working hard or smart enough.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 01:27 | Link to Comment ED
ED's picture

It's trying to convince people today of a catastrophe comin tomorrow. People dont give a toss whilst they perceive the going's alright. You try and tell them.

The irony is, if you suceed, and we avert catastrophe because of your great efforts, you'll look like a twat because the world didnt end afterall :)

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:37 | Link to Comment putbuyer
putbuyer's picture

Taleb has been an active pair of boots on the battlefield. The MSM does not listen. I understand why he would want to take a break. I need a break too.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 06:27 | Link to Comment ToNYC
ToNYC's picture

Indeed. I wish him a quiet place to watch the fool's parade. He said plenty. Life is more than getting your soul-sucked out by the media hounds with ink to drown your words.Let the birds poop on an empty pedestal. I know, I stole myself away as long as I can; the light bothers my eyes.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:53 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:58 | Link to Comment ghostfaceinvestah
ghostfaceinvestah's picture

I've been "protesting" since March - when I got rid of as many USD as practical and turned them into commodities and PMs.

Playing Bernanke's game isn't so hard as long as you understand his goal is the complete and utter destruction of the USD.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:58 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:18 | Link to Comment DavosSherman
DavosSherman's picture

God bless him. I should do that. Bernanke, Summers, Geithner, Romer - all utter and absolute morons along with the 530 idiots (Paul, Grayson and a few others excluded) in Congress.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 00:20 | Link to Comment cocoablini
cocoablini's picture


<economist name here> Protests Bernanke Reappointment By Going Into Self-Appointed Exile

Please add:

a)Nouriel Roubini

b) Robert Prechter

c) Any Elliot Wave proponent

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 00:57 | Link to Comment Oracle of Kypseli
Oracle of Kypseli's picture

Dear Mr. Taleb, your departure sounds good (prima facie).

But... is it also because Bernanke burnt your derriere while you were sorting stocks?

Be brave, stay put and time it. Soon enough your black swan will fly over Bernanke's carcass. Suicide? Apnea? Lack of sleep? Or a templar aperture by a Glock 40? No matter.

Redemption is on the way. You must lead, not retreat.

   

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 01:59 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 02:46 | Link to Comment faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

So, where's he going to go?

Is he going underground, as well as in exile? I wonder if he's becoming a Perpetual Traveler?

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 03:04 | Link to Comment FischerBlack
FischerBlack's picture

This is a guy who wrote several books, at least two of which were on the border of actual philosophy, erudite and literary. So what's with this dumb proclamation of his? Was he drunk? Or is this really how his writing looks without an editor? Take garbled sentences like "we promoted every doctor who caused malpractice" and "Economics make homeopath and alternative healers look empirical and scientific" and then there's "No news, no press, no Davos, no suit-and-tie fraudsters, no fools." which isn't even a sentence as I understand the definition, and of course "I need to withdraw as immediately as possible..."

 

Just weird.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 03:08 | Link to Comment -273
-273's picture

I havent met him, so couldnt say for sure, but it seems Bernanke sees himself more as a wizard than a Skeptical empiricist, the trouble is we dont live in a Disney movie.

Talebs way of thinking is much more grounded in reality, which is what Bernanke wants to avoid at all costs. Can see why Bernanke would make him despair, he stands for almost everything he  despises.

Still, if Taleb emerges from exile with a new book, it will have achieved something.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 03:13 | Link to Comment faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

Maybe I'll finish reading the Black Swan by the time he comes back from his vacation, i mean self-imposed exile.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 03:14 | Link to Comment faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

would've been funnier if the strikethrough had worked.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 03:41 | Link to Comment CombustibleAssets
CombustibleAssets's picture

 Nobody in Washinton is listening. They're all on a mission.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 05:21 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 05:42 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 05:57 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 07:52 | Link to Comment emsolý
emsolý's picture

Taleb's having his Mugatu moment: "doesn't anyone notice this? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"

Will equities rally another 3.5% once BB gets reappointed? (much as I'd prefer a different outcome)

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 08:26 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

Equities rally 3.5% on BB's contract getting reupped?  You betcha.  I have to dig around to figure out the day when the Senate votes him back in.  That'll do it.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 08:55 | Link to Comment HEHEHE
HEHEHE's picture

Bergabe will end this economy and he'll be praised by the beltway bozo's in Congress and the Mainstream Media until the country makes its final swirl down the sh*tter!

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 09:47 | Link to Comment Dadoomsayer
Dadoomsayer's picture

the toothless tigers in the senate merely meow and beg for scraps from the fed, we all know who is running the show.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 10:27 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 10:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 10:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
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