DesideriScuri
Posts: 12225
Joined: 1/18/2012 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Musicmystery Of course it wouldn't prevent a problem -- it would make sure the problem was visible, not hidden under a scaffold of derivate bundles, along with more regular scrutiny and tighter reserves (which inherently restrict banking activity, yes). The sudden break down in 2007 was the dam breaking that should have been leaking over the previous decade, letting the economy adjust to the actual problem all along the way. Then investors would know what they're buying, including the risks, and depositors wouldn't have to wonder just how sound their banks investments are. Did the bad-unethical policies help contribution to issuing low cost mortgages? Of course -- that was the point, to take on riskier investments but to hide that risk and sell the bundle. Obviously, you didn't read the first link. Maybe you just didn't get far enough in to read:quote:
"I will tell you that this crisis we went through, financial crisis, did not have to happen," Bill Isaac, former FDIC chair, said in an interview. The regulators had every power needed to deal with institutions that were getting out of line and taking excessive risks, he said. "The only issue is, do you have the political will to take action?" Richard Kovacevich, former CEO of Wells Fargo, agrees. “There were five safety valves that usually keep things under control that all failed,” he said, pointing the finger at the credit ratings agencies, Fannie and Freddie Mac, the Securities and Exchange Commission, bank regulators and state regulators. “How could credit rating agencies in any set of circumstances rate some of this stuff triple-A?,” he asked, referring to the tranches of mortgage-backed securitiescreated by the investment banks and then sold off to investors. “It is inconceivable if you know anything about the mortgage business.” Fannie and Freddie guaranteed many of the subprime mortgages, while the SEC was the regulator of the credit agencies and the investment banks, Kovacevich noted. State regulators had oversight of the mortgage brokers. Kovacevich said there was “absolute fraud” by the mortgage brokers who originated many subprime mortgages without documentation. Echoing Kovacevich’s assessment, Isaac, said “The SEC is at fault. They made a number of egregious mistakes.” Isaac also put the blame on the Federal Reserve, the Basel capital accords, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. And, the article ends (so I don't get accused of simply cherry picking):quote:
“We need to sensible reform and it begins with the regulators,” Isaac said. “We do need to have a much stronger, simpler regulatory system.”
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What I support: - A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
- Personal Responsibility
- Help for the truly needy
- Limited Government
- Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)
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