How Quickly Banks Want Us To Forget

nalini — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:00:00 +0100

I just got off the phone with a man who is desperately trying to figure out how to make it until his retirement kicks in. He just got laid off and has some physical challenges that makes employment in his field at best challenging, and at worst, impossible.

He's out scouring for a decent job so he can put food on his table and afford a much needed surgery.

And, Goldman Sachs just reported record profits. This just pisses me off. And many other banks, such as Citibank have the [...]

Thoughts On The Government's Financial Reform Proposal

nalini — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:00:00 +0100

We are a long way from benefiting from any real reform. Though there are elements of the Administration's proposal that I believe could ultimately benefit business and individuals, the reforms appear as little more than political window dressing. Moreover, these initiatives still have to pass into law - and much can happen as well as die on the vine - before legislation gets passed and signed into law by President Obama.

You can download the Treasury's Proposal here:

Choice Between Doing Too Little Too Late or Too Much To Save The Economy?

nalini — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Simon Johnson and Peter Boone, both notable economists with common sense (don't laugh!) have written a thoughtful piece on what the US should be doing to salvage the financial system (published by the New York Times).

The net net. The US Government should stop being so cautious and unwilling to restructure America's banks and should instead force the restructuring now while the public's appetite is up for it. We have so much more to lose by cautious partial interventions tha [...]

Intelligent Debate About The Treasury Plan to Deal With Toxic Assets

nalini — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0100

I encourage you to follow thought leaders on what could happen vis a vis the Treasury Department's (aka the Geithner) Plan to shed banks' toxic assets off their balance sheets, free up capital for lending and restore our confidence in the financial system.

The New York Times has published the perspectives of 4 highly regarded economists: Paul Krugman, Simon Johnson, Bard Delong and Mark Thoma.

Read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/d6y8bf

Stay tuned for my analys [...]

Excellent Source of Information About Treasury Programs

nalini — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0100

Here's a website for you that contains documents and links about what the US government is doing to help stablize the financial system.

http://financialstability.gov/

You can read the latest offerings from Treasury on the Public Private Investment Program, unlocking credit for small businesses, and making your home more affordable.

Do Bonuses Really Provide The Right Incentives?

nalini — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0100

I agree with the public outcry about the bonuses paid to AIG executives who failed not only their company but created an enormous problem that we taxpayers are digging out of now.

Like most things, though, let's not confuse the proper and effective use of bonuses and other incentives with the mess promulgated by the so-called "brainiacs" at AIG.

I encourage you to study what happened at AIG. You'll definitely understand what not to do in terms of structuri [...]

There Should Be Strings Attached to Those Bailed Out

nalini — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0100

I'm rather enjoying seeing the arrows flying back and forth since the Obama administration unleashed, I mean released, its budget package last Thursday.

I, for one, am happy to see green energy and healthcare as priorities that might actually receive adequate funding and serve our society much more effectively than past initiatives have.

And, I'm equally disturbed and dismayed at the notionof rewarding bad judgement and bad behavior. Where do we draw the line between what& [...]

Stimulating The Wrong Things

nalini — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Clearly I wasn't done ranting about the misguided stimulus plan.

If it weren't bad enough that the US Treasury and Congress are mucking around for new fangled ways to save banks...now relying on private investors to help bail out the banks...now I'm digging into the Senate and House versions of the stimulus package and what a disappointment.

Instead of providing relief to state governments who are really strapped now and people who have recently joined the unemp [...]

Saving The Economy - We Need Much Better Focus