Comments on: The negative-sum new reality

By: TFF

TFF — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:58:48 +0000

In my opinion, the greatest economic failure of the last few years is the framing of issues as “us vs. them” rather than looking for win-win solutions to problems that affect us all. Too many carrots and sticks, too little bread and butter.

Economics works best when it isn’t coerced.

By: jobon1

jobon1 — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:49:54 +0000

Biggest failure of the current administration – financial reform. I wouldn’t be at all dissappointed to see these wealth destroyers regulated out of business, but I guess it’s too late for that…

By: FormerUSAF

FormerUSAF — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:31:03 +0000

Mega global competitors, fewer competitors, governmental/public bail-outs of financial institutions, the government picking winners & losers, and deferring to international laws/tribunals rather than national laws & institutions always has and always will serve the American public poorly and our country less.

By: Mydaisydew

Mydaisydew — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:38:30 +0000

In looking for leadership how about we look at any country’s main resource, it’s people, and make their health and financial well-being the cornerstone that stabilizes all governments and holds politicians and banks responsible to it’s people. People are beginning to rebel because they are sick and tired of politicians, governments and financial institutions playing ‘a shell game’ with their money and future.

By: netvet

netvet — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:09:31 +0000

Hey, Hank Paulson. Do you feel any responsibility for playing a key role in increasing the leverage ratio for the big five from 12 to 40 to 1? Do you have any remorse for the extreme damage you created to the global economy by packaging up and exporting hoards of toxic mortgages all in the name of your fat cat bonuses? Do you sleep well at night? If so, you are a clinical sociopath. Plain and simple. I hope your day in court comes, along with all of the others who helped you.

By: lambertstrether

lambertstrether — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:33:57 +0000

Bankster CEOs in orange jumpsuits doing the perp walk.

“Confidence” will never be restored until the public sees that. Until it happens, we can be quite sure that the entire economy and the government is run by looters and thieves who rig the game to steal whatever we work for.

By: netvet

netvet — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:29:53 +0000

So-called investment banks do little to create real value, but they certainly have destroyed trillions of dollars of it. At a time when millions of homeowners are being driven out of their homes, due to the irresponsible and greedy actions of these scoundrels, these execs of these IB’s have amongst the highest standards of living in the world.

Their incomes should be capped and their profits heavily taxed. Furthermore, there should be an appropriate insurance system established and enforced to protect others from their machinations.

By: netvet

netvet — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:05:59 +0000

Banks will not be contrite, until there are regulations with teeth in them and a few of the people who played the largest roles in tanking the economy are held accountable, preferably behind bars. Of course, this will not happen, and the same vigilantes will keep doing what they have always been doing – lining their pockets at the expense of others.

Roubini is correct. There is no leadership to make this happen. Obama was scorned by Wall Street when he alluded to their avarice and lack of moral compass, and he retreated. As a result, the big banks will continue to lead the economy to ruin. They use their insider position to the advantage of their executives first, their biggest clients second, and the rest be damned.

I applaud your efforts to call the scoundrels out, Felix. I wish you would be more aggressive.