ajmulkern

The other day while reading the Wall Street Journal in Starbucks after a quick lunch, my neighbor at the next table turned to me and said, “All bad news in there, I guess.” To his surprise, I responded that to the contrary there was a great deal of very positive news. After mutual introductions, I learned that he was a struggling entrepreneur, who had gone into business just as the recession was worsening. His pessimistic

It has been a long, nasty recession. Now that most economists agree that it is over, it will be some time before we feel that it truly is. Consumer spending is slightly improved but still down, unemployment may increase more before decreasing, credit remains tight, and uncertainty regarding taxes and regulations is suppressing investment. While some businesses have failed, others which have felt the pain of decreased revenues and staff cuts have managed to make

In whatever manner the current financial crisis on Wall Street is finally resolved and however many the causes that led to it, there is one cause that seems to lie at the root of all the rest—complacency. The Wall Street Journal and distinguished members of both major political parties have been warning for years about the dangers inherent in the practices and policies of FNMA and Freddie Mac, two institutions which supported and encouraged heavy