Geithner: Welcome to Reality
Claims that “we are on a path back to growth” by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in an op-ed in the New York Times entitled “Welcome to Recovery” appeared to...
About: Bob Adelmann
Posts by Bob Adelmann
Ryans Roadmap II
The first time Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) offered his “Roadmap for America’s Future” to the House of Representatives, it failed by 137-293, with 38 Republicans voting against, including Rep....
Temporary Unemployment Benefits — Permanent Welfare?
The White House on July 21 extolled the extension of unemployment insurance by the Senate, claiming it was “not only the decent thing to do but one of the...
TARP Criticism Misses the Point
When TARP Inspector General Neil Barofsky criticized the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) as being ineffective, he blamed the Treasury Department for not setting clearer goals for that part...
Maine Eyes Social Security for Pension Bailout
Instead of asking for a federal bailout, Maine is considering shifting part of its underfunded pension plan liabilities to Social Security. Without the proposed fix, the pension liability the...
Great Depression: Here We Go Again?
The unremitting flow of negative news about the economy has finally caught the attention of the mainstream media, causing an increasing number of economists to make comparisons between today’s...
Railroads, Robber Barons, and Unbridled Capitalism
When Matthew Josephson wrote The Robber Barons in 1934, he tipped his hand as to his personal prejudice against the capitalists of the late 19th century: ...
Still Waiting for the Recovery
The economy has gained either 2.5 million jobs or 3.6 million jobs since the Recovery Act was signed into law in January, 2009, depending upon which statistical “model” is...
Social Security Benefits Only for Needy?
One way to fix Social Security would be to limit payments only to those who need them, according to House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH). In an interview with...
Fixing State Budgets Will Be Painful
Pew Research recently polled Americans about ways to bring state budgets into balance and found that respondents did not like any of the options. In its Congressional Connection poll...
The Millennial Generation, Jobs, and Reality
In a microcosm, Scott Nicholson, at age 24, represents his Millennial Generation well: He graduated from college two years ago and is still looking for work. ...
From China, With Love
Addison Wiggin asked his readers to imagine an older happily married couple, having their usual morning breakfast together: They work well together, though maybe the lady of the house...
The Invisible Recovery
On Friday Reuters reported that non-government payrolls rose only slightly in June and overall employment fell “for the first time this year … indicating the economic recovery is failing...
Fannie and Freddie De-listed From NYSE: Now What?
When ABC News announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be de-listed by the New York Stock Exchange on July 8, writer Rich Blake said that “these once...
Financial Reform: Expanding Hubris, Limiting Freedom
When the House passed the 2,319-page Dodd-Frank financial reform bill by a vote of 237-192, all it did was confirm for many the extraordinary hubris of legislators believing they...