New Rise of Executive Pay at Banks Exposes the Folly of Bush & Obama Handling of Financial Crisis
Yesterday the New York Times ran a story reporting that executive pay at the nation’s largest banks is again approaching pre-financial crisis levels. This is simply a signal that management teams in New York, Charlotte and elsewhere in banking headquarters are pursuing a business as usual approach to what many believe is the beginning of the end to the recession.
Krugman’s column today further adds to the case he’s been making all along during this financial crisis – Wall Street’s emperors have no clothes and taxpayers are footing the bill to rebuild their wardrobe.
So why did some bankers suddenly begin making vast fortunes? It was, we were told, a reward for their creativity — for financial innovation. At this point, however, it’s hard to think of any major recent financial innovations that actually aided society, as opposed to being new, improved ways to blow bubbles, evade regulations and implement de facto Ponzi schemes.
Consider a recent speech by Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, in which he tried to defend financial innovation. His examples of “good” financial innovations were (1) credit cards — not exactly a new idea; (2) overdraft protection; and (3) subprime mortgages. (I am not making this up.) These were the things for which bankers got paid the big bucks?
Here’s what I think is most disturbing about recent financial history and the Bush and Obama Administrations’ policies:
Full Text: President Barack Obama Statement on GM & Chrysler Bailout Status – Auto Task Force – March 30
(Source: White House Press Office)
Good morning, everybody.
One of the challenges we’ve confronted from the beginning of this administration is what to do with the state of the struggling auto industry. In recent months, my Auto Task Force has been reviewing requests by General Motors and Chrysler for additional government assistance, as well as plans developed by each of these companies to restructure, to modernize, and to make themselves more competitive. Our evaluation is now complete. But before I lay out what needs to be done going forward, I want to say a few words about where we are and what led us to this point.
The Daily Graphic: The Big Three’s Dashboard Indicators in the Red
Great graphic from the New York Times. Go read the story, U.S. Moves to Overhaul Ailing Automakers.
Obama Fires GM’s Wagoner – When Do We Start Firing Bank and Brokerage CEOs?
I guess we’ll get more of the story tomorrow, but tonight from Politico:
The Obama administration asked Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, to step down and he agreed, a White House official said.
On Monday, President Barack Obama is to unveil his plans for the auto industry, including a response to a request for additional funds by GM and Chrysler. The plan is based on recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, headed by the Treasury Department.
The White House confirmed Wagoner was leaving at the government’s behest after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason.
More Government Cash on Way to GM, Chrysler
The New York Times is reporting that on Monday the Obama Administration will announce more aid to two of the Big Three, GM & Chrysler. Apparently strings will be attached in that the automakers are being told to press the gas with bondholders and unions to come to agreements which will forestall sending either one of the two companies into bankruptcy. If either company goes into bankruptcy protection, pensioners healthcare gone and bondholders once AAA-rated investments will be worth nothing.
