Paul Volcker

Volcker Resigns and Goldman Sachs Moves In

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The Obama administration is having a shake up. Former Federal Reseve Chief Paul Volcker is quitting. His final act? Trying to get real financial reform, known as the Volcker Rule and was beaten down at every turn.

Now here comes Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, straight into the White House.

Gene Sperling, a former Goldman Sachs consultant and more infamous, architect for many of the current consequences our economy is suffering, laid down in the Clinton administration, is slated to replace the equally corporate driven Larry Summers for the top economic adviser spot.

Even Time Magazine calls Sperling Obama's corporate Ambassador and Dean Baker suspects Sperling thinks asset bubbles are cool:

The primary issue is not that Sperling got $900,000 from Goldman Sachs for part-time work, although that does look bad. The primary issue is that Sperling thought, and may still think, that the policies that laid the basis for the economic collapse were just fine.

Paul Volcker Said What?

The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing today, Experts’ Perspectives on Systemic Risk and Resolution Issues. Paul Volcker testified. Here is his written testimony.

Volcker calls for the separation of banking from commerce and also calls for reforms in executive pay. He also calls for regulation of hedge funds and private equity firms. Volcker also implies that by saving the Zombie banks, the U.S. in fact has encouraged even worse risk taking and highlights these very questions so often written about on this site:

Tales From the Financial Crisis Conference - Psychokillers, Bad Math & Burn Baby Burn

On Friday there was a conference on the financial crisis. It was held at Columbia University. Some very good interviews came from Economists Stiglitz, Volcker, Phelps and Bhide.

Below is an interview with Economist Joseph Stiglitz clearly stating the United States is putting good money after bad money. This is a fact we, those insignificant regular folk, have been saying for some time. Stiglitz also reviews what should be done with insolvent banks, discussion of Treas. Sec. Geithner's stress test and why a stress test based on a bad model or wrong assumptions is a problem.