Paul Krugman, one of my gurus, remains very unhappy with the administration's initiatives regarding the banks. Likewise, Joseph Stiglitz, Simon Johnson, and other economic gurus. I am concerned that the inability to deal with the banks forthrightly will only dramatically complicate a need to do later what should have been done a long time ago.
However, Neural Roubini's perception that that the economic collapse has not reached anywhere near the bottom really scares me! If we (we represents the world and not exclusively the US) have to travel many more miles before reaching the bottom, I surely am concerned about the ramifications such a decline will have on the global community as well as the nation.
Surely, I foresee waiting for 5-10 years before retirement investments will ever approach their past value. I cannot imagine how our economy will support employment at the 5% unemployment rate. I just cannot imagine what that many people will do to be gainfully employed. The demand in all sectors, except health, education and energy, will never bounce back due to a change in consumer habits. Malls will decrease, auto dealers will decrease, and the demand for autos will decrease, relative to the population, since people will only own what they need, not want.
I don't have a problem will an economy based on need, including needs to address global warming, universal health care, and higher standards for education, but such an economy will not generate sufficient jobs to reach a 5% unemployment level.
Admittedly, people my age have to deal only with survival. The total impact of a changed economy will affect younger people, but nevertheless, I share their angst.
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