Hopefully this isn't too off-topic here. This thread is in my Subjectmarks and I respect the opinions of the participants and am too lazy to look for a macro-economic thread.
What's everyone's take on the governments involvement in private and public companies?
Personally (and I post this with the caveat that I'm not the sharpest tool in the economics toolchest), I really like this long-term. I think that, if done correctly (an admittedly tall order when talking about the government), we could actually see lower personal tax rates in 5-10 years as the governments investments become profit-producers rather than subsidies.
We've got John Koskinen, ACAS's director, now as Freddie Mac's chairman (that, to me, is HUGE -- a real businessman rather than an economist) and the government taking minority dividend-paying stakes in banks arguably/possibly at or near the bottom. A bottom they're in a position to somewhat force/enforce. Government not taking control of, but investing heavily in a seriously hammered sector with the possibility of good profits down the road, that possibly or even should give them the possibility of relying less on the IRS to provide their funding, resulting in a cascade effect when/if consumers can keep, invest, and spend more of their income.
I think it's going to be tough for a while still, but think that IF their current position is handled correctly, this could be a boon for all of us in the long-term.
Thoughts? Or a thread where this particular topic is being discussed? Not a politics-only thread, though, please. |
