Commentary
Feds Scheme to Nationalize Citigroup
It’s round three in the federal government’s fight to save Citigroup. Last weekend, officials from the Obama administration and Citigroup discussed the possibility of expanding the government’s ownership stake in the troubled banking giant by converting existing preferred shares into common stock. This development makes the question of nationalizing large, troubled commercial banks a matter [...]
Stop Digging! – A Criticism of Economic Stimulus
Over the past two decades, the U.S. has shifted from a nation of producers and savers to one of shoppers and spendthrifts. Now, our collective recklessness is plunging our economy into its darkest period since the Great Depression. It’s time for politicians to create policies that promote fiscal responsibility as opposed to ones that encourage [...]
Credit is Tight, but its NOT the Bankers’ Fault
I came across a fantastic article earlier this week in the Washington Times – who would have guessed? Like everyone else, I’m quite distressed by the current global financial disaster. I’m also confused as to how it all started, and what solutions the government and private sector should seek in order to halt the economy’s [...]
Gathering Clouds Set to Deluge Soggy Economy
The clouds forming over the McMansion-filled American landscape are getting darker by the moment. I’m not even talking about the dismal consumer confidence readings, plummeting retail sales and mounting job loses – these clouds have been with us for a while now. The new, darker vapor formations are emanating from Washington D.C. and the international [...]
Ronald Reagan must be doing Cartwheels in His Grave
Ronald Reagan must be doing cartwheels in his grave! I read an article in The Economist this week called “Greed – and Fear,” which is the first in a 14 page special report on the future of finance. I was struck by the opening statement, which described both the aftermath of the Soviet [...]
Plaxico Burress Wins Award for Retarded Behavior
NY Giants wide receiver, Plaxico Burress, is the winner of the brand new W.A.R. award, which will become a weekly addition to Splendid Marbles. First, let me discuss the award itself. W.A.R. stands for “What A Retard.” Now, I will establish the parameters used to define retarded behavior, because there seems to be a lot [...]
Citigroup is back from the Dead – for now
It was another Sunday night rescue for the folks at the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the newest addition to the cast of the Wall Street crisis and financial bailout drama, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). This time the dynamic trio swooped in to arrange a bailout of Citigroup, the struggling U.S. banking [...]
Drama Highlights Auto Execs Testimony
It was the House version of “Car Talk” yesterday, according to the Washington Post, as members, both Republican and Democrat, swapped stories about their GM and Ford vehicles. This was disclosed in a article entitled “Auto Execs Fly Corporate Jets to D.C., Tin Cups in Hand.” The camera-loving representatives also had a field day with [...]
Beware Clowns Bearing Financial Advice
A friend of mine sent me a link to a YouTube video (after jump) featuring Peter Schiff, president of Euro Pacific Capital, and longtime critic of the debt-fueled U.S. economy. The video is comprised of interviews on financial news channels in 2006 and 2007 – before the subprime meltdown morphed into a full-blown Wall Street [...]
The NY Times Stinks at News Analysis
Should General Motors file receive a financial bailout from the U.S. government, or should it be left to deteriorating market conditions that will lead to a bankruptcy filing? This is the question put forth by a NY Times “News Analysis” piece entitled “G.M.’s Troubles Stir Question of Bankruptcy vs. a Bailout .” Unfortunately, this article [...]
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