Apr 10 Why Doesn’t the Treasury Turn Over Banks to the FDIC for Inspection? Question: Why didn’t the U.S. Treasury turn over the banks to the FDIC and let the FDIC do an audit and dispose of the rotten assets? Paul Solman:… Continue reading
Apr 09 What Is the Rate of Hidden Unemployment? Question: What is the current rate of hidden unemployment in the United States, and is it trending upwards? Paul Solman: It’s not very hidden. Every month, the U.S. government reports a range of unemployment measures. The most inclusive is… Continue reading
Apr 09 Pirates Hold American Captain Hostage; Negotiations Continue for Release By PBS News Hour Pirates that captured a U.S.-flagged ship Wednesday are still holding Capt. Richard Phillips hostage on a lifeboat after the American crew regained control of the ship. Continue reading
Apr 08 Ship Hijacked off Somali Coast; U.S. Crew Believed to be Safe By Admin, PBS News Hour The U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, a Danish-owned ship carrying relief aid to Kenya, was seized in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia with 20 American crew members aboard. Continue reading
Apr 08 As the Amount of Money in Circulation Increases Rapidly, How Does the Fed Prevent Hyperinflation? By Business Desk Question: If the Fed and Treasury have increased the amount of money in circulation by $1.6 trillion in an effort to stave off deflation in the near term, how does the Fed take this money back out of circulation to… Continue reading
Apr 07 Watch Americans’ Attitude Toward Recession Shows Mix of Optimism, Despair A new poll reveals that many Americans are more optimistic and confident about the general economy's recovery than they are about their own personal financial situations. The Hotline's Amy Walter assesses the new data. Continue watching
Apr 07 Why Is Deflation Bad? Question: Why is deflation so bad? I have certainly benefited from the drop in gas prices, so I wonder what is wrong with things becoming cheaper in general? And wouldn’t that make up for previous inflation? Paul Solman: Another good… Continue reading
Apr 07 Why Does the United States Have to Borrow Money From Other Countries? Question: If the federal government (and/or Treasury) can just create money, why does it have to borrow it from other countries? Paul Solman: Great question. Because it’s so cheap to do so right now, the thinking goes, why… Continue reading
Apr 07 Winners and Losers in Proposed Pentagon Budget By Admin, PBS News Hour This week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveiled large proposed Pentagon budget cuts that would slash spending on missile defense and increase funding for new weapons systems designed to fight insurgencies. Continue reading
Apr 06 Weekly Poem: ‘Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down’ Bob Hicok is the author of five collections of poems, including "This Clumsy Living" (2007), which won the 2008 Bobbitt Prize from the Library of Congress. Continue reading