They Aren't Really This Stupid, Are They?

[BR_Parkway]

http://market-ticker.denninger.net/archives/1673-They-Arent-Really-This-Stupid,-Are-They.html

They Aren't Really This Stupid, Are They?

I've been slack-jawed a couple of times during this debacle of an economic mess, but this has to take the cake:

Here is the real stunner. A senior person at Treasury said to a small group of us that it is now official Treasury policy to extend and pretend on real estate loans. In other words, the policy statement from last week says, if you can make an analysis that says even if the current value is less than the loan, if you can do a spreadsheet that shows if you extend for 3-5 years, and if the economy gets better, and if the loan can be amortized down to where the loan is no longer more than the value, then the lender does not have to take an impairment -write down. Loans are to be modified by rate reductions, deferral of reserves, deferral of amortization or what ever.

Did 'ya read all those "ifs" in there? What if one of the "ifs" doesn't?

It gets better:

Giant make believe. The free market seeking an equilibrium price is no longer economic policy. In short, the working of the free market is suspended. She went on to say it was administration policy that they will create new employment and by doing so they will boost the economy, and so then real estate values will return to old levels. There were 50 of the most senior and smartest real estate people in the room. They ripped her to pieces. It looked like one of the town hall meetings of August, except everyone there was a very senior, polished professional. At one point everyone was calling out or moaning at her. It was clear to all she had been given a few talking points and she was told to stick to them no matter how foolish she looked. The group told her in no uncertain terms this is terrible public policy. They said for jobs to be created you need to lower rents so the cost of occupancy was at a level to encourage more hiring. If the loan is kept at old levels and building values not reduced, then landlords can't reduce rents to where they need to be to make taking space by tenants economically viable. Retailers costs remain higher than they should be making it harder to lower prices to induce sales. So there is a massive make believe going on.

[phantom power]

1. It's pretty clear our fearless leaders don't have any plan except "hope it goes away"

[sui generis]

2. that's how I read it - procrastination

just the same, if you bought a property using a mortgage, as an investment, and expected it to increase in value rapidly enough to offset your ARM or balloon, then you deserve to take the loss as taxable income, period.

I don't give a shit - if you were stupid and greedy enough to be in this pickle, you don't deserve to keep your house, and if you do get to keep your house because of financial gymnastics, you SHOULD have to acquire the maneuvering on that asset as taxable income.

[BR_Parkway]

3. The same with all the puffing up to the DOW - it's over 10,000 everyone

can relax and go back to shopping. Even seen a few here on DU that think everything's just peachy now because their 401K is back up.