Obama 'Dithering' on Bank Rescue: Krugman

Toxic asset plans just aren't going to work
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 6, 2009 9:23 AM CST
Obama 'Dithering' on Bank Rescue: Krugman
President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner walk to the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, before speaking about executive compensation.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Barack Obama has repeatedly said that bold action is needed to save the financial system, and he’s probably right, writes Paul Krugman in the New York Times. So it’s a shame he isn’t taking any. “The reality is that when it comes to dealing with the banks, the Obama administration is dithering,” constantly floating out new versions of the same unworkable plan, the Nobel-laureate writes.

These plans are invariably panned, because they all have the same flawed goal: to pump up the price of toxic assets and hope for the best. That’s an unrealistic plan that would cost trillions without saving the system. “I fear that officials still aren’t willing to face the facts,” Krugman says. “It’s very hard to rescue an essentially insolvent bank without, at least temporarily, taking it over.” That would be bold action—too bold, apparently, for Obama. (More Barack Obama stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X