DNight - Business

<< DNight

Topics

Opinions

The Federal Reserve is not unconstitutional.

I prefer to live in a suburban area.

I prefer beer to liquor and wine.

Ben Bernanke should be reappointed as Federal Reserve Chairman in 2010. I think he has done a remarkable job handling the current economic troubles, and it would be a shame if Obama didn't reappoint him. I think he is more qualified than Larry Summers, who is the most likely replacement.

Location is the most important accommodation factor when traveling as a tourist.

Bed & Breakfasts offer tourists the best opportunity to experience the local lifestyle.

The Obama Administration's handling of the auto bailout has been satisfactory.

The Segway PUMA will not achieve commercial success.

It is appropriate to market VitaminWater as a healthy alternative to soft drinks. I don't really know the major differences (calories, sugar, etc.), but I would think Vitamin Water is still a little better for you.

Microsoft retail stores will not effectively compete with Apple. Without the iPod and items like that, Microsoft is going to struggle to attract the same number of people.

Obese travelers should pay more for airline tickets. When someone's fat starts oozing into your seat, and you suddenly only have 2/3 of a seat, it really sucks.

Capitalism is the most effective economic system. I don't think there's much debate on this one.

The federal government should allow General Motors (GM) to file for bankruptcy. I have been pretty supportive of providing the auto companies with financial assistance, but I think Obama struck the right tone with his recent harsher stance with GM. If the company cannot come up with a more viable plan to stay afloat, I think it makes sense to let the company file for bankruptcy.

The U.S. unemployment rate will reach double digits in 2009. Based on the news from March, it seems very likely that unemployment will reach double digits by the end of the year.

It was appropriate for the Obama Administration to force GM's CEO Rick Wagoner to resign. I think it's a shrewd political move. I don't think Obama wants to let these auto industries fail, and this way it looks like he is taking pretty dramatic steps to address the auto industry.

The U.S. dollar should be the world's reserve currency. I definitely don't think there should be a world currency, and the dollar is most likely the currency that people are most confident in.

AIG should not be forced to reveal the names of executives that received bonuses.

Hedge funds should be subjected to greater regulatory scrutiny.

Corporations/Financial Institutions should have the highest priority for the remaining $350 billion spent in financial bailout funds.

Mark-to-market accounting should not be suspended.

Congress should increase the cap on federally insured bank deposits.

Congress should grant the Treasury Department authority to take over non-bank financial institutions that pose a systemic risk.

Congress should not tax AIG bonuses. I'm starting to worry less and less about these bonuses. I don't think AIG should have handed them out, but considering it's a relatively small sum in the grand scheme of things, I feel like we should probably just move on.

The $787 billion stimulus bill is satisfactory.

The New Deal shortened the Great Depression.

The U.S. government should try to recoup AIG bonuses. My understanding is that most of the $170 million in bonuses were contractual obligations, but I still think the government should do what it can to prevent these bonuses from being paid.

The Bush Administration is more responsible than the Obama Administration for the U.S. stock market decline in 2009.

Governors should not reject federal assistance allocated in the stimulus package. It's a purely political move by the governors choosing to reject part of the stimulus money. All of these states--South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, etc.--all need the money.

Southwest Airlines is the low-cost U.S. airline I prefer to fly with. Southwest is very cheap and convenient. Their ads are dead-on in that they don't make you pay for everything (checking bags, drinks, etc.).

The Dow will go below 6,000 in 2009. Yesterdays rally was nice to see. I still wouldn't be surprised if the DOW were to fall below 6,000.

Recessions are necessary for sustained economic growth. Everyone marvels at China's growth in the last three decades. Their shift to a market economy came only as a result of the country's enormous economic struggles in the preceding decades.

The U.S. government should have given AIG more money.

The Glass-Steagall Act should not be reinstated.

Congress should have passed the $787 billion stimulus bill. Obviously this package was not perfect, but I think it needed to be passed.

Free trade is necessary for economic development.

The Federal Reserve should have more authority to supervise financial institutions.

The economic stimulus plan should not include a 'Buy American' provision. Way too much of a protectionist policy. Though it isn't as extreme as the Import Substitution Industrialization policy of many South American countries during the Great Depression (and we know how much of a bust that was), it's way too close to that line

Pepsi's new logo is better.

The government should regulate salaries of companies who have received bailout funds.

Pepsi makes a better tasting cola than Coke. I feel like it's got a little more syrup in it.