Not a good analogy, but maybe the comparison will help me to think about one of the parallels.
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The solid side of the parallel:
ZIRP was an extreme outlier, totally unprecedented when Bugsy Bernanke ordered it in 2008. Previously the expected interest had pulled down to 2% at some points but never close to zero. The default historical norm, the constant balance point, is around 4% for savings and 7% for mortgages. We’re there now, and Wall Street HATES IT.
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The weak side:
Censorship is normal. Censorship is the heart of civilization. Specifically, US government control of the press is extremely normal. “Freedom” was always a Machiavellian trick to gain easier compliance with NYC sweatshop slavery. You’re “free” to say what you want, and NYC is free to ruin you. The web was a straightforward trick, a plagiaristic copy of Mao’s Hundred Flowers. NSA wanted a way to surveil everybody WITH OUR CONSENT. It works beautifully for NSA, and for NSA’s contractors like Amazon and Apple and Elon.
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In both cases we have sellers who want us to believe that Zero Interest and Zero Censorship are normal.
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The ZIRP sellers occupy all financial media, constantly hammering at Powell, trying to wear him down. Their motive is obvious, no guessing needed. They were accustomed to totally free money, accustomed to ruining the world without paying for anything. Now they can’t ruin the world quite as easily. They want the previous heavenly situation back, and they want it NOW!
The Zero Censorship sellers are less dominant, and their motive is less unified. Sellers like Taibbi and Kirn want us to “protest” and “rise up” and “hold accountable”. Every protest and uprising is a data point and a control point for NSA. Some sellers (eg Snowden) are clearly working for NSA, some seem to be sincere and deluded.
Polistra's Mill 