It's been a topsy-turvy year on Wall Street with drama fueled by the credit crunch, foreclosure crisis and resulting implosion of Merrill Lynch. Michael Santoli, associate editor at Barron's Weekly argues this is bigger than usual Wall Street fluctuations. This time the financial sector needs to reinvent itself.
Comments [4]
First that Internet boom "postponed" what felt like an impending crash (1998) then the bubble and internet trading (2000/01) -- then -- just when it seemed like real estate prices would drop -- Greenspan decided to make borrowing money for free. Even the brightest couldn't have imagined, in 2000, that that year or the next wasn't the ceiling. Of course the war is making many rich.
The point is that, just when it appears that the market will at last, finally become "transparent" and reflect reality, another phenomenon comes along that "distorts" "reality."
I guess that's why they call it the wildest ride.
I can't believe how few comments this topic engendered! That is pathetic!!
Hillary
THe only thing I really disagree with you on Hillary, is you assumption that cutting taxes is a bad thing. The mistake is always not cutting spending to go along with those cuts. People should keep as much of what they earn as possible. The government does not spend our resources wisely, and should be kept on a minimal budget. Unfortunately, politicians love to throw our money around for votes and useless programs.
1 - Shareholders and companies have to reduce expectations of profits. Profits have risen at the expense of value and greed remains the top motivation for all business and investment. This is also what got us into the housing crisis!
It is unsavory that each time layoffs are announced, a stock goes up since this may lead to profit gains.
2 - A new New Deal is essential. We need huge infrastructure, mass transit and skills building projects immediately. We are falling so far behind other countries in so many areas and we are crumbling rapidly.
All the layoffs could potentially lead to massive unemployment, yet more foreclosures, homeless and public unrest, and crime. Neighborhoods are breaking apart quickly with the dual housing/credit crises.
3 - The Bush/Cheney years will finally have erased ALL of the gains of the Clinton years.
How can this administration dare to continue to tout the tax cuts as having produced anything positive.
(The only positive in the falling dollar has been increased exports.)
4 - AS Scott McClellan has said, nothing gets done cleanly beause politics is always underlying any issue. The fact that the foreclosure bill was delayed by one senaotr who played the system is unspeakably disgraceful
We all need to get out and protest as forcefully as we did to end the Vietnam War..... Unfortunately, I'm afraid we're all too involved in our own campaigns for profit and greed.
Sadly,
Hillary
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