The presence of the Fed is based on the notion that the government, by way of manipulating interest rates and money supply, can influence economic cycles. A serious panic in the early 20th century led to the establishment of the Fed. The idea is that an Elitist government can influence economic events and avoid inevitable cycles of boom and bust, and thus also avoid the scorn of the electorate. Naturally, this is as silly a notion as the current idea that exercise, fish oil and cosmetic surgery can defeat aging. Oh well. There is a sucker born every minute.