Central to the federal government’s creation of the sub-prime mortgage bubble and the subsequent economic collapse and recession, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (“government-sponsored enterprises” or GSEs) are now the target of a massive new bailout by the Obama administration of $153 billion and counting, all in the name of winding these agencies down….
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According to CBS News, on the last day of 2010 the U.S. National Debt hit a record level of more than $14 trillion or $14,025,215,218,708.52, up from $9 trillion just over three years ago and a whopping 55% increase since just before 2008. As the report states: It took just 7 months for the…
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In an article in the Wall Street Journal, “The Right Way to Balance the Budget,” Andrew Biggs, Kevin Hassett and Matt Jensen report that new research of 21 countries over the past 37 years shows that to reduce government debt, a major reduction of spending must be adopted instead of higher taxes. On average,…
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In an article from Reuters, David Lawder reports that a new U.S. Treasury report of cash holdings, “The Financial Report of the United States,” shows that the U.S. government went into greater debt in fiscal year 2010 to the tune of additional $2 trillion. Unfortunately, the report does not include the massive land, minerals,…
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In the Wall Street Journal, Jeff Bater reports in “U.S. Posts $150.4 Billion November Budget Deficit,” that federal red ink is reaching an all-time record: The U.S. government ran its 26th straight monthly budget deficit in November amid wrangling over a package that would extend big tax cuts to Americans trying to recover from…
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The Federal Times reports in “Federal pay freeze plan wouldn’t stop raises” that President Obama’s claimed, 2-year “pay freeze” does nothing of the sort, but instead will result in 1.1 million employees receiving from 2.6 to 3.3 percent increases in wages or more than $2.5 billion in pay raises. (Military and legislative branch personnel…
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In a new article in the Wall Street Journal, “Why the Spending Stimulus Failed: New economic research shows why lower tax rates do far more to spur growth,” Stanford University economist Michael Boskin examines how and why the U.S.’s $814 billion economic stimulus has failed. For many years now, Independent Institute Senior Fellow Robert…
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The Government Cost Calculator has been recommended by Lee Doren at OpenMarket.org in “How Much Does Government Spending Cost.” With never-ending increases in government spending, citizens are often curious how much government actually costs them. In response to this question, The Independent Institute has launched MyGovCost.org, that features the personal government cost calculator to…
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The Associated Press reports that the Social Security Administration’s Inspector General has determined that: “More than 89,000 stimulus payments of $250 each went to people who were either dead or in prison, a government investigator says in a new report. “The payments, which were part of last year’s massive economic recovery package, were meant…
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In a new article in the Washington Examiner, “For a frugal Gal, I have got a lot of debt,” Tina Korbe discusses the merits of the Government Cost Calculator at MyGovCost.org: “Among my friends, I’m known for my frugality. I budget scrupulously, log every purchase I make in a ledger and often forego even…
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