Fannie Mae Takeover, Stimulus Scams and Censoring TV Ads
The federal government assumes direct control over troubled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Democrats in Congress seek a second round of federal spending to act as a “stimulus” to the economy.
European regulators move to ban any TV ads that government officials deem to reinforce “gender stereotypes.”
More headlines: listen to the CEI Weekly Podcast.
1. BUSINESS
The federal government assumes direct control over troubled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Center for Entrepreneurship Director John Berlau on why this move is not a fundamental change:
“Whatever the problems of this scheme, and there are many that we will be dissecting, nationalization isn’t among them. The state is simply being more explicit in backing entities that CEI has always characterized as creatures of big government. Fannie and Freddie can’t really be nationalized, because they were never really private in the first place.”
2. CONGRESS
Democrats in Congress seek a second round of federal spending to act as a “stimulus” to the economy.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Special Projects Counsel Hans Bader on why stimulus proposals are a scam:
“Congressional leaders want yet more budget-busting, deficit-expanding ‘stimulus’ packages, using the slow economy as an excuse for proposals to bail out state governments that now face deficits as a result of spending binges over the last decade. Bush opposes the proposals, but they may pass in the next administration. The stimulus plan passed earlier this year punished hard work and contained pork for special interest groups, while increasing the size of the federal deficit by over $160 billion.”
3. TELEVISION
European regulators move to ban any TV ads that government officials deem to reinforce “gender stereotypes.”
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Fellow Doug Bandow on the advance of the Nanny State:
“People have a lot to say about advertising, much of it bad. Many ads are stupid, insulting, silly, nonsensical, counterproductive, etc., etc. Some are even offensive. But who is to say which ads are right and good and which are not? Now a member of the European Parliament to take on this responsibility. Just let the nanny state take care of everything, banning any sexist ads. … Some, maybe most of the targeted ads, are obnoxious. But even worse is the attitude that government must micro-manage the lives of 500 million Europeans. What is truly frightening is that the U.S. doesn’t seem to be that far behind Europe in this regard.”
Listen to the CEI Weekly Podcast here.