wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] NWP from Greenwich December 02, 2008 - 10:26AM

  Last week a guest expert on the economy said that the country needs everyone to go out and start spending again. When asked what HE was going to do said that he was going to save his money until sure that the plan was working.

  This highlights the social aspect of getting things going. If we ALL started spending again things will start up again. The problem seems to be no one wants to be the FOOL that spends now when it will be better to save now.

  
  
• [2] Kevin Mac from nyc December 02, 2008 - 11:36AM

  FNMA and Freddie were not flawed concepts, they were run irresponsibly. "Social obligations" took them down (along with greed). Prior to the days of creative financing and poor lending practices FNMA and Freddie Mac were responsible entities. What a government sponsored institution was doing buying lethal paper is beyond me.

  
  
• [3] Peter Joseph from New York City December 02, 2008 - 11:37AM

  Mr. Kinsley is speaking of Fannie May and Freddie Mac. What about Morgan Stanley, who started the securitized mortgages, Lehman, AIG, Bear Stearns and CitiCorp.? McCain focused on Freddie and Fannie. You shouldn't.

  
  
• [4] robert from park slope December 02, 2008 - 11:37AM

  The problem with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is that they became publicly traded companies. Once a company becomes listed, it is involved in the never-ending requirement to exceed quarterly profit expectations. Add to that, the never-ending temptation by CEO's capable of meeting these expectations to demand higher and higher salaries. These two organizations should have remained in the public sector, funded solely through bonds.

  
  
• [5] John Otterness from San Pedro, CA December 02, 2008 - 11:40AM

  I wonder about his comment that Bill Gates being the model - to me, it's rather anti-democratic. When Gates speaks the country jumps! When one person has the where with all to make the conversation instead of we the public, democracy gives way to capitalism.

  
  
• [6] Gene December 02, 2008 - 11:47AM

  What a dingbat Kinsley is, repeating tobacco ads (See the exhibity at NYPL) about smoking relieving stress, when research has shown that smoking _increases_ stress, mental instability, etc. Let alone the long-term effects on vascular health, leading to Alzheimer's, dementia, etc.

  There's a whole raft of streess-related, "nerves of steel" ads at the NYPL exhibit, "Not a Cough in a Carload."

  http://www.nypl.org/press/releases/?article_id=190

  
  
• [7] Pam, MD from NY December 02, 2008 - 12:09PM

  Prominent people are role-models whether or not they want to be. Obama should make public his view that his cigarette-use is a stupidity and dedicate with great publicity programs to extinguish the weed.

  
  
• [8] hjs from 11211 December 02, 2008 - 12:16PM

  if BHO is still smoking that shows poor judgement!