Elizabeth Warren: Middle Class Lacks Security

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I am having a hell ofa time seeing your site in IE 9.9, I just thought I would tell you baout it.

seo lace of AL 12:39PM May 02, 2010

This is the main reason I love www.usenws.com. Amazing post.

Roseann of AL 3:48PM March 10, 2010

The solution is quite simple; divide the stimulus among the tax payers in the middle class. That's about $106k-$130k per household. The economy would turn around within a week after the checks begin arriving. They could space the checks over the year. The stock market would instantly rebound. Most people will blow the money, but isn't that what the government wants? The remaining 25-30% would pay off debt and provide liquidity to the economy. Do we really trust the government to figure this out? Reagan once said the scariest thing a businessman will ever here is "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you" I say the scariest thing the middle class can ever hear is I from the government and I'm here to help. This is a class struggle. Both major parties have vested interests that are at odds with the middle class. No matter how you define it, the current program is a massive wealth redistribution from the upper middle class to lower economic class; all done by Chicago style politicos elevated to the national level. Wake up America.

Greg of CA 5:27PM February 20, 2009

WHAT about using the remaining TARP money in following way. Instead of directly funding banks, take all the sub-primes (I read that there have been 2.2 million "sub-prime" loans made since 2006) or for that matter all loans processed for less than say 400k, since 2006 and pay off somewhere around 15-20% or three years of "bubble" on each of these mortgages, and force accepting banks and owners to refinance mortgages at 4.5% maybe even reduce the amortization term to help increase equity and thus savings. I think that this calculates out to only 88 billion (40k x 2.2 mil...check my math). This would have some obvious effects:

Help owners erase some of the "bubble" or false inflationary effect on the value of these homes/mortgages.

Help only "troubled" banks by providing capital on loans that they've made for "troubled assets".

Add long term stimulus to the economy by reducing monthly mortgage payments for working americans.

Slow or stop the downward spiral of home prices, by stabilizing the "supply side" of the equation.

Help the net worth of those owners and maybe decrease their likelyhood of bankruptcy.

Restore the confidence in the mortgage system by keeping promises to both lenders and borrowers.

I think this idea is extremely simple and would help more than "one" party in these failed transactions.

Paul of TN 7:15PM February 15, 2009

There is intention in destroying the middle class. Remember when we were told the only way to a safe retirement was to invest in the STOCK MARKET???? Well, we all did that and lost alot of our money. Then most recently again, struggling middle class trying to secure a safe retirement in their 401k's lost over 40% of their money , some of these people are disabled and cannot regain that money. The Trust has been violated and we will never trust the financial market again. For young healthy people there is time to recoup, for those of us in retirement, disabled or near retirement it seems too late. The Government does not provide help to the average poor and middle class citizen, look at Hurricane Katrina. My elderly mother lost everything and then was refused continued housing assistance , do they really want a homeless woman in her 90's on the street?? Well, it seems they do because all of the pleading and all of the appeals have resulted in the same denials of housing benefits that she should have. No, this country does not care about the poor, the middle class, the disabled nor the elderly, it shows that it does not care about healthcare for all. I am ashamed of my own country now. This is a country of by and for the Wealthy only. It is disgraceful.

Kate of LA 10:51AM February 11, 2009

excellent advice ms. warren, lets just make sure some money goes to the usa families who need it. some families have three dollars in their pocket today, and have to decide whether to put it in the car for gas to take the kids to school, or to buy a gallon of milk for when the kids want cereal for breakfast the next day. MS. WARREN, : Be ROBIN HOOD, TAKE FROM THE RICH AND GIVE TO THE POOR, THE MEEK WILL INHERIT THE EARTH IN THE FUTURE.

dana of CA 12:28PM February 09, 2009

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Alpha Consumer

Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, is the author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back. Send her your personal finance questions.


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