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How low interest rates from the banks created 2009 financial crisis were squeezing Americans and most of all seniors
06/05/2024
In 2010 Charles Schwab pointed out that low interest rates were squeezing Americans, most of all seniors on fixed incomes and pensions. In 2024 first quarter the higher interest rates in one quarter alone created an additional $770 billion in interest and dividends for Americans, many of them seniors, according to US Federal Reserve. This is the damage done by the recklessness of the banks and financial sector and seniors have paid heavily for this and for the wars in the Middle East which reduced the growth potential of the US economy that were embraced by Reagan and Bush, Trump and Obama. The war money was not used to build new infrastructure to replace the old as it should have been leading to China having new infrastructure and America's being aging and worn out.
Linked Articles
Low Interest Rates Are Squeezing Seniors
Wall Street Journal 03/30/2010
Americans Have More Investment Income Than Ever BeforeWSJ 06/05/2024
Macron's role in setting up the nonrepayable $390 billion common funding for the European Recovery Fund
07/31/2020
Macron's effort to persuade Merkel and Germans of the need for common funding for European recovery and his persistence at negotiations with the Dutch and Swedes to secure 390 billion euros of funding aid has earned him increasing popularity in France. It also brings Spain, Italy, Greece and eastern European nations closer together with France and Germany as they fight the pandemic.
Linked Articles
Macron's popularity climbs after signing EU pandemic stimulus, reshuffling gov't
France 24 07/30/2020
Opinion: Extraordinary times call for extraordinary EU measures | DW | 21.07.2020DW.COM 07/21/2020
U.S. China trade tensions decline with Phase 1 Trade Agreement in 2020
01/15/2020
Linked Articles
U.S., China to Sign Deal Easing Trade Tensions
WSJ 01/15/2020
In a Year of Trade War, U.S. Deficit With China ShrankWSJ 01/14/2020
Emmanuel Macron and the challenge of reviving France's economy
05/08/2017
France's central bank chief Noyer points out that once the public sector crosses the line of 55% of the economy France loses ground. Jobs created are from an earlier period, and fewer new technology jobs of the future are created. The challenge for Macron is to rein in the public sector and revive French industry so new jobs are created for young people.
Linked Articles
Macron's presidency: It's the economy, stupid! | Business | DW.COM | 08.05.2017
DW.COM 05/08/2017
The Emperor Creates No JobsWall Street Journal 05/29/2013
Tensions between Germany and Russia in 2016-2017
12/11/2016
Linked Articles
Vladimir Putin: For Trump and Against Merkel | ZEIT ONLINE
ZEIT ONLINE 08/13/2016
Germany's Wolfgang Schäuble: Prepared to Raise Pressure on RussiaWall Street Journal 05/24/2014
"Collective self-defense" under Article 9 reinterpretation of Japan's Constitution in 2014, and the U.S. naval exercizes at Hawaii, Subic Bay in the Philippines
07/02/2014
The U.S. and Japan increase defense preparedness in the Pacific. The key is managing tensions with China in a constructive way with cooperation and dialogue.
Linked Articles
Exercises in Hope—and Fear—in the Pacific
Wall Street Journal 07/02/2014
Japan Policy Shift to Ease Restrictions on MilitaryWall Street Journal 07/02/2014
Tensions between China, Japan and S. Korea- DPJ Hatoyama's vision of East Asian Community in 2010 and LDP's Abe in 2014 (1)
05/10/2013
Linked Articles
A Dangerous Rift Between China and Japan
Wall Street Journal 05/10/2013
Tensions in Asia Stoke Rising Nationalism in JapanWall Street Journal 02/27/2014
New GASB, Moody's rules show a widening gap in the funding of public pensions in the U.S.
07/18/2012
The Volcker- Ravitch State Budget Crisis Task Force identified the problems facing U.S. states and cities which have poorly funded public pension funds. The problems are large and real as seen through the GASB rules, and the findings of the Volcker-Ravitch Task Force.
Linked Articles
New rules expose bigger funding gaps for public pensions - The Washington Post
Washington Post 08/17/2012
Report Details Threats to States' Fiscal HealthWall Street Journal 07/18/2012
The $436 million payment by Greece to holdout bondholder Dart Management and the $1.5 billion demanded by holdout bondholder Elliott Management leading to Argentine default in 2014
05/15/2012
Greece made the payment to Dart Management at a time of 20% unemployment and daily protests on Athens streets, a month before elections in June 2012. Greece only did this as a last resort for release of EU funds that were being held up to make pament of interest on debt. This exacerabated discontent inside Greece as pensions were being cut and layoffs taking place, including increase in electricity bills. The Syriza party made gains in that election and the two main parties lost ground to other parties, including a violent anti-immigrant party. Argentina's Christina Kirchner faces a difficult time with the unions and centrist parties in Buenos Aires province, with a shortage of cash and sovereign wealth fund down to $29 billion in May 2014. Stevenson points out the payment to Elliott Management could lead to a situation where Argentina owed $15-$27 billion to all holdout and exchange investors in its bonds.
Linked Articles
Argentina Finds Relentless Foe in Paul Singer's Hedge Fund
New York Times 07/30/2014
Bet on Greek Bonds Paid Off for a Vulture FundNew York Times 05/15/2012
The U.S. Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation and American Airlines effort to cut pension benefits during bankruptcy restructuring
01/13/2012
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 04/22/2012
New Tensions Over AMR's Pension Plan: Company Says Retiree Benefits Could Be CutWall Street Journal 01/13/2012
Greece's referendum and the 3 year bailout of July 12, 2015- military spending, shipowners taxes, and cuts to pensions
07/10/2010
Greece's left Syriza government almost pulled the country out of the eurozone over pension cuts, even as military spending in Greece remained at 2.4% of GNP compared to close 1.4% for the EU average. Greece did not propose further cuts to military spending to bring the Greece ratio closer to that of Germany and other countries in Europe, raising questions about prudent spending. Which is why Greece sometimes has aspects of the surreal to people not just in Germany and Holland, but other parts of Europe, and outsiders. Under the reform proposal and bailout of July 12, 2015 following the "no" referendum, Greece's parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the similiar cuts in pensions from an earlier EU proposal, with cuts of $300 million to the military spending by 2016. Greek shipowners will also pay taxes under the new bailout, negotiated by Greece with France's help when the referendum had damaged relations with the rest of the EU, particularly Germany with only 10% in polls willing to support any further concessions.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 07/11/2015
The Submarine Deals That Helped Sink GreeceWall Street Journal 07/10/2010
Bogle at Vanguard Group says we live in an agency society where agents like pension fund managers and mutual fund managers make decisions for us.
04/12/2009
Its this agency society and not an ownership society that we have syas Bogle. Ownership society was 50 years ago. And what did these agents do, they did not ask the questions and exercize their civic obligations in the business sense, which means scrutiny for things like selection of board members, corporate governance, executive compensation and conflicts of interest, and dilution of responsibility where it has to be exercized. Here private equity firm Carlyle Group is shown to have given millions of dollars to get access to New York State pension fund investments in Carlyle Group. In the process pension fund managers made millions of dollars, and Bogle's agents have sold their obligations to fiduciary responsibility.
Linked Articles
He Doesn’t Let Money Managers Off the Hook
New York Times 04/12/2009
N.Y. Pension Deals Seen as Focus of Wide InquiryNew York Times 04/14/2009
India and Pakistan negotiations and rising tension in Kashmir.
08/12/2008
The Kashmir issue complicates India-Pakistan peaceful relations, as does the situation in Afghanistan with Taliban opposing Indian reconstruction efforts.
Linked Articles
India Frustrated by a Rudderless Pakistan
New York Times 08/12/2008
Deadly Force Used to Halt March in KashmirNew York Times 08/12/2008
A second Macron vs. Le Pen presidential debate in France in 2022
04/21/2022
Cost of living and Le Pen's ties to Russia emerge as key issues in the debate. Macron appears to be the more convincing in his grasp of facts and claity of thinking, with a Elabe snap poll showing 59% think Macron more convincing to 39% Le Pen. France's welfare state in a way that the US and Britain are less so, means that other solutions are needed for cost of living and the decaying small towns and rural areas. A next generation industrial revolution is needed to bring jobs home and closer to home to revive both France and Europe after decades of shifting jobs and industry to China. Needed only is the will and aspiration to do so.
Linked Articles
Macron and Le Pen clash on Russia in feisty debate ahead of presidential run-off
France 24 04/21/2022
France’s Macron and Le Pen Clash During Presidential DebateWSJ 04/20/2022
U.S. China trade tensions decline with Phase 1 Trade Agreement in 2020
01/15/2020
Linked Articles
U.S., China to Sign Deal Easing Trade Tensions
WSJ 01/15/2020
In a Year of Trade War, U.S. Deficit With China ShrankWSJ 01/14/2020
The relationship of French president Macron with president Trump and the task of "bringing the U.S. president back into the circle."
07/13/2017
Linked Articles
Emmanuel Macron to Welcome Trump, an Unlikely Partner, to France
The New York Times 07/12/2017
Trump accepts Macron’s invitation to visit France for Bastille Day on July 14Washington Post 06/28/2017
Emmanuel Macron and the project to revive the French economy and the European Union
05/08/2017
Linked Articles
Macron's presidency: It's the economy, stupid! | Business | DW.COM | 08.05.2017
DW.COM 05/08/2017
Five reasons why Macron won the French election - BBC NewsBBC News 05/08/2017
What Greece won in the negotiations and what Greece lost in the failure of talks with the EU, capital controls, closing of banks and the referendum on July 5, 2015
02/27/2015
Major concessions were won by Greece on the most important issues of the surplus, and the size of the public sector with high unemployment. Compromise was being reached on the value added taxes and age for getting pensions, next down the list. Next on the list were pension cuts which undoubtedly would hurt pensioners but in the larger picture of the economy would come after the size of the surplus and dateline, and the size of public sector. The size of these cuts is small compared to the cost of 60 billion euros from the damage done to the economy, and the alternatives for pensioners and the rest of the country. under bank closure. For the EU this was seen as part of pension reforms and for left leaning Syriza compromising on behalf of pensioners.
Linked Articles
IMF Raises Referendum Stakes With Call for More Aid for Greece and Debt Relief
Wall Street Journal 07/03/2015
What Greece WonNew York Times 02/27/2015
Tensions between China, Japan and S. Korea- the younger generation in Japan (2)
02/27/2014
Linked Articles
Tensions in Asia Stoke Rising Nationalism in Japan
Wall Street Journal 02/27/2014
Japan Tires of Saying Sorry for Its PastWall Street Journal 02/27/2014
Ari Shavit of Haaretz and Ami Ayalon of Israel Security Agency see a new way forward for peace in the Middle East and reduction of tensions
03/12/2013
The opportunities presented by a rapidly changing Middle East are being observed by perceptive Israeli observers after decades of conflict. By defusing tensions and involving public opinion in the Middle East it provides a more lasting agreement han can be reached with individual leaders in the Middle East. It also returns to the focus to widely shared benefits of economic development of the people in the region and improvements in education, infrastructure and economic opportunity. Old ideas of secuirty are supplemented by new ideas of security.
Linked Articles
New York Times 01/01/2014
The Old Peace Is Dead, but a New Peace Is PossibleNew York Times 03/12/2013
Alexei Kudrin and other experts see the potential for a deep economic and political crisis in Russia as the situation in the eurozone worsens
05/23/2012
The Center for Strategic Studies in Moscow was prescient in predicitng political dissatisfaction before parliamentary elections. The former finance minister, Alexei Kudrin, anticipated the 2008 global financial crisis and set aside reserves in the sovereign wealth fund to cope with the crisis. Both now see the potential for a worsening economic and political situation in Russia as Greece nears exit from the eurozone and the banking crisis in Europe leads to reduced loans to Russia. At the same time the political polarization in Russia between pro and anti Putin factions creates other tensions.
Linked Articles
Report Says Support for Putin Is Dropping
Wall Street Journal 05/23/2012
Russian Recession Could Prompt Political Woes, Report SaysNew York Times 05/24/2012
U.S. automaker GM's efforts to reduce risk levels from pension obligations in 2012-2013
02/16/2012
WIth lower margins than competitors General Motors (GM) is increasing the margin of safety by reducing risk levels from its underfunded pension plan.
Linked Articles
GM Acts to Pare Pension Liability
Wall Street Journal 06/02/2012
GM Cuts Benefits for Salaried StaffWall Street Journal 02/16/2012
The importance of long term bond buyers to restoring confdence in Italian and Spanish government bonds in 2012-2013
12/02/2011
Large institutional buyers such as insurance companies and pension funds have exited the market for Italian and Spanish government bonds creating a great deal of instability in the market and pushing up yields as aresult fo the fear factor. The need for the ECB to take up large scale purchase of bonds to induce these longterm buyers to return to the market and restore a measure of confidence. The June 28 summit authorized the rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM or EFSF) to make these purchases, but experts say it has only 248 billion euros and needs to go back to markets for additional funding.
Linked Articles
Return of Long-Term Bond Buyers Seen as Crucial to Europe
New York Times 06/29/2012
A Euro Crisis Deal EmergesWall Street Journal 12/02/2011
Germany's rescue plan for Greece.
05/03/2010
Germany finally cleared a plan to aid Greece after weeks of delay that created tension in global financial markets with Greece being shut out of capital markets.
Linked Articles
Germany Clears Rescue for Greece
New York Times 05/03/2010
The Greek Economy ExplainedWall Street Journal 05/07/2010
An Alternate View of U.S., and EU relations with Russia from Gates and German public opinion
01/05/2009
A look back at former Defense Secretary Gates views about Russia in the larger context of the postwar years and what it is today, including Georgia (and Crimea) and other issues. A similiar perspective fom the German side as seen by former chancellor Kohl, Merkel, Schroeder, and Ischinger, going back to the days of Wily Brandt. Brandt was Mayor of West Berlin in the period of enormous tensions between the Soviets and the Federal Republic during the sixties and later initiated the policy of constructive engagement.
Linked Articles
Pentagon Chief Sees Opportunities In Russia and the War on Terrorism
Washington Post 01/05/2009
Germany's Angela Merkel Treads Softly With Russia's Putin On UkraineWall Street Journal 04/08/2014
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