Friday, November 23, 2012

Economists, Obama administration at odds over role of mortgage debt in recovery - The Washington Post

Economists, Obama administration at odds over role of mortgage debt in recovery - The Washington Post

“No one was in doubt that debt overhangs were an important problem,” Summers said recently at a conference. But despite exploring many proposals, the administration did not see a plan that did not have the potential to cause “effects worse than the cure,” he said, such as cratering the financial system by forcing banks to absorb huge losses.
At a more basic level, officials simply did not believe that a big program of debt forgiveness was a smart investment, costing hundreds of billions of dollars — money that it preferred to spend on a massive economic stimulus package that could much more quickly lift the economy. The administration also announced a more modest program designed to avert foreclosures by reducing mortgage payments but not the total debt balance.
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The underlying policy issue here is whether it's good policy and precedent to erase debt that fueled an asset bubble, in this case residential real estate. I don't believe it is.  People all too easily forget the beating the economy takes when debt driven asset bubbles pop.  The debt overhang is a harsh consequence but a necessary market object lesson for both lenders and borrowers. 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Decorated vet stands his ground in dispute over American flag

Decorated vet stands his ground in dispute over American flag: SEVIERVILLE (WATE) - The deadline has passed for a retired Army sergeant to remove the American flag and flag pole from his front yard at a Sevierville condominium community.

The sergeant, Homer Hampton, has refused to obey the association's order.

"Good Lord willing, it's going to stay up," said Hampton "As long as I'm living, I will fight this thing."

The deadline for Hampton to remove the flag pole and lights from in front of his condo unit has come and gone.
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HOA flag flap No. 436,860. And more bad press for Privatopia. Film at 10.