Thirty years ago credit cards were exceedingly simple. They charged high annual fees just to own them (often $40-$50), high fixed interest rates (approaching 20%), and offered no cash rebates.
Today credit cards are more complex, but they are also better. They offer no annual fees for no-frills cards, flexible interest rates, and more benefits. Competition is fierce and consumers have a wide range of choices.
--Todd Zywicki, "Let's Treat Borrowers Like Adults"; The Wall Street Journal (7/08/09)
What I find interesting about Zywicki's op-ed piece is not his (rather lame) case against creating a consumer financial products safety commission, the goal of which would be to curb predatory lending practices.
Rather, it's his pitch-perfect channeling of Wall Street's strongest argument -- being revved up and honed as we speak -- for fending off tighter financial regulation.
Namely, that it would stifle "innovation."
Let's see . . .
On one side of the ledger, we have: almost $10 trillion in financial damage (and counting); the worst recession since the Great Depression; and the spectre of runaway inflation caused by huge Federal deficits ostensibly incurred to mitigate -- if not repair -- said financial damage.
On the other side of the ledger, we have -- exactly what?
No-annual fee credit cards with frequent flier miles??
Are you kidding me? Are they?
Bring on the regulations!
P.S.: let's hear it for simple credit cards that charge only 20%.
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