-
pehoges commented on the blog post WaPo Story Claiming Deficit Increase From Obamacare Not As Advertised
So now CBO is right?
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Ex-CBO Staffer’s Warnings About Foreclosures Ignored
David, I am disappointed with your one-sided reporting here. Do you have any proof these allegations are true other than the letter? Did you ask CBO for any comment? Did you go back and read their economic and budget reports issued at the time to see what assumptions they were using about the housing market? Or ask the CBO analysts responsible for housing to explain how the aftermath of the bubble is figuring into their forecasts? There is no evidence that you did. Instead you swallow her accusations whole and seem willing to impugn the reputation of an important agency based solely on the word of a disgruntled former employee with such a short tenure there.
BTW, I am not a CBO troll. I am often frustrated with their middle-of-the-road positions, but this is truly not fair.
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Additional Resources for Financial Fraud Panel Look Light
In economic terms clearly the securitization fraud is larger than the systemic effort to cheat people out of their homes. Matt seems to think that is more important just because it involves a bigger penalty. But isn’t investigating and prosecuting this part of the crime just another bailout of the 1%? What about all of the people who have, and continue, to lose their homes? Is it fair that the most only some of them will get in compensation $1,800?
Why not do both with equal vigor?
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Koch U: Florida State University Hands Over Economics Department to Billionaire Libertarians
My apologies if my comment sounded like a nit pick. I just wasn’t sure if David was making a distinction between GMU and the Mercatus Center as public institutions and mainly wanted to point out that GMU is public in case he didn’t know.
Regardless, this is a terrible development. Depressingly predictable. It is one thing to reduce government to get it off your back. It’s another to do it so that said broke govt. then comes hat in hand for your money so that you have even more control. Don’t know if that’s a bug, or a feature.
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Koch U: Florida State University Hands Over Economics Department to Billionaire Libertarians
Actually, George Mason University is part of the Virginia state university system. Even if the who Mercatus Center is funded by the Koch’s, it is perceived to be part of the University. In fact, it’s economists are always identified as with the University and I don’t remember hearing any of them described as employees of the Mercatus Center.
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Farm-State Senators Resign Themselves to Lower Ethanol Subsidies
Oregon just raised the ethanol requirement to 15% – so I guess the end of the subsidies means our gas prices will go up even more.
LizinOregon
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Protesters Interrupt Wells Fargo Shareholders Meeting
New motto – “One millimeter at a time!”
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Pay Freeze Could Cripple Dodd-Frank
Actions speak louder than words (to quote a prophet).
-
pehoges commented on the blog post Portrait of HAMP Failure: These Aren’t Deadbeats
Calculated Risk states later in that piece that many of those who received a modification will default later. This is not simply another case of kicking the can down the road. Those subsequent defaults will be used to argue that HAMP failed because all government programs must fail, not because the banks gamed the system and Treasury failed to stop them.
-
pehoges commented on the blog post The Republican Long Game Against the Federal Reserve
I don’t see how it matters. The Fed clearly does not care about unemployment. Never has, and never will. As you said, QE2 is being done because they are also missing their inflation target, which is all they care about. So why not deal with reality and end the charade. Maybe if fiscal policy is the only tool available, there is a better chance it will be used.
