MetaFilter posts tagged with Economy and bailout

What the FEC couldn't figure out

shii — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:16:04 -0800

Matt Taibbifilter: Among other things, the GAO report noted that the entire OTS had only one insurance specialist on staff — and this despite the fact that it was the primary regulator for the world's largest insurer! This week's MeFi stories have generally failed to explain the reasoning that caused the recession, even though Jon Stewart was basically on the mark. Now, Rolling Stone's only reporter lays it all out The Big Takeover, a typical combination of zealous snark and the overlooked, damning facts needed to clear up a ridiculously complicated story.

The Follies of TARP

ornate insect — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:41:54 -0800

We may never know whether the bailout worked from the FPP link: according to a new report from congressional auditors...it will be impossible to sort out which of the recent rule changes and spending programs have made a difference... Meanwhile Geithner, Bernanke work on $700B bailout overhaul. Also meanwhile, the SEC charges adviser with fraud linked to bailout. Maybe it's time to let the GAO see TARP recipients' books in order to figure out where the funds are actually going--considering that the total cost could top $4 trillion.

“They didn’t tell me I had to do anything particular with it”

plexi — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:06:02 -0800

At the Palm Beach Ritz-Carlton last November, John C. Hope III, the chairman of Whitney National Bank in New Orleans, stood before a ballroom full of Wall Street analysts and explained how his bank intended to use its $300 million in federal bailout money.

“Make more loans?” Mr. Hope said. “We’re not going to change our business model or our credit policies to accommodate the needs of the public sector as they see it to have us make more loans.”

Personal stories from the front lines of the American bailout.

Another one bites the dust...

ThePinkSuperhero — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:27:49 -0800

No Bailout for the Arts? Many organizations could use the help.

Special Bail Out Offer, No Payments Until January 20th

Xurando — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:21:25 -0800

Have we jumped over all the hurdles in our ongoing economic fiasco? Probably not, the next hurdle is Credit Cards. "More is coming, I’m sorry to say. Layoffs are being announced nationwide in the tens of thousands. As people begin to lose their jobs, they will not be able to pay their credit card bills either. And the banks will be back for more handouts."

AAA?

Gyan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:47:35 -0800

Anatomy of a Meltdown - Ben Bernanke and the financial crisis (in one page)

Can I pay my taxes with a student loan?

jckll — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:31:56 -0800

After an historic near-collapse (p), a federal bailout to the tune of $85,000,000,000, a second federal bailout to the tune of $37,800,000,000 and one hell of a party (p), the news on A.I.G. just keeps getting better. Now: Fed arbitrage! Paying down a 9% taxpayer loan with a 2% taxpayer loan? Genius!

"Putting your money where our mouth is."

infini — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:37:03 -0800

Strategery is a unique hedge fund.

US Bailout bill, TARP, and economists' and journalists' reactions

cortex — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:00:14 -0800

Following the recent preciptious downturn in the US banking sector, a compromise draft bill is going to a vote in Congress today. The text of the bill [110-page pdf]; The Wall Street Journal's summary of the bill; an open-for-comments public analysis of the bill at publicmarkup.org. Some questions answered and unhappy acceptance from economist and NYT columnist Paul Krugman; a strenuous rejection from Nouriel Roubini; via same, an IMF study of 42 banking crises from 1970 through 2007; further criticism from Nomi Prins for Mother Jones.

The Fed "hopes" A.I.G.

aheckler — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:16:01 -0800

The Fed has decided to bail out A.I.G. with an $85 billion dollar loan deal, which will result in 80% of the company being owned by the government.