5/24/2009

Geithner says it is "ridiculous" to say that government ownership of companies borders on socialism

I guess that someone needs to explain to me what socialism is. This from the Washington Post.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner admits private investors are worried about investing in new government-backed commercial mortgage securities and dismisses as "ridiculous" a recent Republican National Committee resolution stating that Democratic policies bordered on socialism.

"There's still a bit of concern about whether, if you participated in these programs, you'll face in the future some change in the rules of the game, and that's causing a bit of -- a bit of concern," Geithner told The Post's Lois Romano for her continuing "Voices of Power" interview series. Private investors have expressed interest in the program, the government will work to limit their concern and he anticipates they will be "a good deal for the American taxpayer."

"That's the important thing to recognize," he said, "because you -- you have in this basic structure, investors putting skin into the game, taking risk, making judgments about what the price should be for these securities, and the taxpayer gets to participate in the upside in those judgments. So we think they're a good deal for the taxpayer."

Geithner also defended President Obama against this week's RNC resolution, stating that the administration "had to do exceptional things to help protect the American economy, help fix this crisis, fix this mess."

"Where we engage in these areas is with extreme reluctance and only because we think it's the necessary way to help reduce the risk of greater damage to businesses, to the basic fabric of the American economy," he said. "And I say where we do it, we'll do it only temporarily, try to make sure we get out as quickly as we can."

The government plans to divest itself of investments in the financial and automotive sectors, "As soon as we can," Geithner said. . . . .


"As soon as we can" would seem to be now.

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6 Comments:

Blogger The Right Guy said...

He also has to "lick the hand that feeds him".

5/24/2009 9:29 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

More like Fascism I would say.

5/24/2009 9:50 PM  
Blogger Raven Lunatic said...

No, he's right. Saying that gov't ownership of companies doesn't border on socialism. It Is socialism.

5/25/2009 12:41 AM  
Blogger Martin G. Schalz said...

Would someone be so kind as to inform 'Timmy' that it's 'puff, puff pass?'

This is just another power grab as was practiced by the administration of FDR.

What I fail to understand, is that there are those whom are mere citizens, voters if you will, let these type of actions occur, and actually defend them along party lines.

Heck, I can solve all of our energy needs simply by digging up our Founding Fathers, strapping magnets to their remains, and then surrounding said remains with a large coil of copper wire!

5/25/2009 1:02 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You don't think there's a difference between simply seizing companies and taking over control of companies that can't survive anymore without government money? Look at Ford - they seem to be keeping more independence by finding private sources of money to survive on.

And what would you do? I personally would like to see GMC sold off in bits to the highest bidder, but I recognize Obama's fear that the loss of so many jobs at this time might be catastrophic for the economy. I have no better answer than he does. Do you?

5/25/2009 2:15 PM  
Blogger TYF said...

Government ownership of companies isn't necessarily "socialism." As Lou Ann noted, it's more like the textbook definition of "fascism." Or possibly "corporatism."

Either way, it's certainly un-American.

5/26/2009 7:42 PM  

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