Tag Archives: we’re from the government

“Cash for Clunkers” suspended

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Les Jones

This post has been updated with additional information. The government has suspended the Cash for Clunkers program. Officially, the program had run through 20% of its four month budget in just one week, but car dealers expressed concern that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care, Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

CALPERS plans riskier bets to recoup losses on previous risky bets

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Les Jones

New York Times – California Pension Fund Hopes Riskier Bets Will Restore Its Health: Mr. Dear wants to embrace some potentially high-risk investments in hopes of higher returns. He aims to pour billions more into beaten-down private equity and hedge … Continue reading →

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Please tell me the U.S. Mint isn’t this stupid

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Les Jones

Need a cash advance? Don’t want to pay cash advance fees? Go to the U.S. Mint Web site and use your credit card to buy some money and have it shipped to your house free. You can order thousands of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Tagged | 4 Comments

GM bailout a lousy deal for taxpayers

Posted on June 3, 2009 by Les Jones

The (Scary) Math Behind the GM Taxpayer Bailout The government effectively will get 60% of General Motors in exchange for $50 Billion in aid. This, using standard investor math, means that GM has an implied value of: 50 Billion/.60 = … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation lost its shirt in stocks

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Les Jones

Boston Globe – Pension insurer shifted to stocks: Just months before the start of last year’s stock market collapse, the federal agency that insures the retirement funds of 44 million Americans departed from its conservative investment strategy and decided to … Continue reading →

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How’s government planning going in China?

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Les Jones

Mish – 14-year Commercial Real Estate Supply In China: “The scale of development was unprecedented anywhere in the world,” said Rodman, a Los Angeles native who lives in Beijing, running a firm called Global Distressed Solutions. “It defied logic. It … Continue reading →

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