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Globalization ultimately will benefit America.

The SEC should strengthen regulations on short selling. Although I think the short sellers are being unfairly singled out, there is at least some room to argue that a heightened level of regulation is appropriate. But not draconian.

It was appropriate for the Obama Administration to force GM's CEO Rick Wagoner to resign. He can't just go around firing any CEO. But he can give conditions to granting federal bailout relief, and that's what he did.

TARP funds should not be restricted from reaching foreign institutions. For bailouts, the money should go quickly to where the bailed out companies think it needs to go to protect themselves. For more extended workouts, we can maybe take the time to micromanage; but even here, it's dangerous to try to limit the effects to American companies.

The Obama Administration's handling of the auto bailout has been satisfactory. In this case, what might otherwise be labeled as flip-flopping is actually responding in a nuanced way to the changing circumstances, trying to evolve an approach that works. Progress is best served by being flexible, firm, pragmatic. So far, he seems to me to be all of those, and I think that most Americans understand that.

The New Deal shortened the Great Depression.

Congress should not tax AIG bonuses.

Tobacco companies should be liable for smoke-related health problems. They should be held accountable, but not in individual lawsuits by injured smokers. Such suits end up over-rewarding some and under-rewarding others, and are very expensive. The appropriate remedy is through regulation or class action lawsuits that set up remedies to compensate the whole class at least modestly, and set up education and other programs to limit damage in the future.

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

The government should not allow large banks to fail. I guess it depends on what the meaning of "fail" is. No, the government should not just leave them to dangle in the wind - actually, they are exempt from bankruptcy and subject instead to regulatory unwinding, generally at the state level, which is not very effective. Instead, the government should intercede to protect the interests of depositors (which they do through F.D.I.C.) and other major parties. There's a danger, when they have to act fast, that they don't get everything 100% "correct," but it beats the alternatives, I think.

The U.S. government should not try to recoup AIG bonuses. I think there's something in the Constitution about the government generally not having the power to void contracts. It's one thing to condition a bailout on an agreement to forego benefits (a la the UAW and the car companies). It's another thing to unilaterally change the terms of employment after the fact. Of course, the lawyers can look at individual employees to see if any of them were involved in fraud, and, if so, and maybe if it's only the appearance of fraud, there are plenty of ways to coerce people to give up benefits. But let's stop the witchhunt against people who were not necessarily doing anything wrong.

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

There should be a national airline passenger bill of rights. Yes, defining basic principles in broad terms.

JetBlue is the low-cost U.S. airline I prefer to fly with.

The Dow will not go below 6,000 in 2009. Of course it might. But do I think so? No. I see a testing of the recent lows, and a better than 50% chance that the support will hold. (I'm talking about a closing below 6000.)

Governments should not nationalize insolvent banks in response to the financial crisis.

The federal government's financial bailout package will help stabilize the U.S. economy. It will help. It will take time.

The economic stimulus plan should not include a 'Buy American' provision.

The government should regulate salaries of companies who have received bailout funds. I'm usually for the free market. But if the companies go to the U.S. for bailout, then they've already failed in the free market, and we do need to attach some strings.

The U.S. federal government should provide financial support to its auto industry. Let them dangle a while, and then attach strings, strings, strings.

Congress should increase the cap on federally insured bank deposits.

The U.S. economy will go into recession in 2008. Blub, blub. We're already under.

Financial Institutions are most responsible for the current financial crisis. It's possible that we're in a mess because of our mutual greed - not necessarily for big bucks, but each of us who tried to squeeze that last half-a-percent out of our investments, and wouldn't buy any investment unless it bested the others. Ultimately, t

The federal government should pass the proposed $700 billion financial system bailout. Pity poor us who are too small to succeed! We need a package, but substantially modified for oversight, transparency, gradual increase in commitment, help for a few of us smaller folk. And priced to avoid rewarding those who got us into this mess, while

Bush Administration policies have had a negative impact on the economy. Well, now we see the results of a policy of deregulation and attempted minimization of government.

The U.S. is undergoing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. But we'll survive. (At least some of us.)

The government should provide financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure. Not all of them, and not unlimited. But some restructuring for debtors whose homes might be saved with a little bit of adjustment.

Supply and demand is having the greatest impact on rising oil prices.

The Bush Administration stimulus package will not prevent a recession. If the train's coming, I don't think that a few dollars in the pocket is going to stop it.

The government should not follow the principles of Keynesian economics during a recession. This is a flawed question. If you always advocate a tax cut, that doesn't make you a Keynesian. You're only a Keynesian if you advocate "paying back" when the economy is running well.

Executive compensation packages should require shareholder approval. Not for all of them. But there should be some trigger that bumps it into shareholder approval status.

The U.S. should pass the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Bankruptcy courts should have the power to adjust home mortgages. Only in limited circumstances, as in adjusting other secured credit.

The U.S. should not enact a balanced budget amendment.

The economic benefits of a weak U.S. dollar do not outweigh the costs.

Call centers should be required to disclose the physical location of their employees.

Government should regulate wages. Only to set a minimum wage.

The U.S. should end agricultural subsidies.

U.S. federal deficits do affect long-term interest rates.

Food should contain country-of-origin labeling.