This morning Bloomberg announced "JPMorgan to Buy Non-U.S. Parts of RBS Sempra for $1.7 Billion" and went on to comment:
"The purchase, led by JPMorgan global commodities chief Blythe Masters, expands the bank's commodities division just as U.S. President Barack Obama tries to curb banks' trading of securities for their own account. JPMorgan held talks to buy RBS Sempra's North American gas and power trading units as well, two people with knowledge of the talks said this month."
(Also please see "Did The Huffington Post...")
In proceeding with the Sempra purchase, it reveals the patent emptiness of the government's influence over the banking sector. This is highlighted in this instance by the Administration's inability to to enforce either by law or persuasion its much heralded "Volcker Rule." Named for the former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, the plan would bar commercial banks from owning hedge funds and limit their proprietary trading; that is, trading as principals for their own account. So much for banking reform, so much for the salutary influence of Paul Volcker on a Wall Street-riddled administration that has already helped enrich the likes of JPMorgan, Goldman (perhaps better said 'Godman' as in "We are doing God's work") Sachs with access to near free money, FDIC guaranteed deposits, TARP programs,munificent counterparty paydowns, implicit guarantees of being too big to fail, access to the Fed window and programs, all at government expense.
A week ago President Obama was quoted, referring to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein, as saying, "I know both these guys; they are very savvy businessman," and then added (sadly or misguidedly), "I, like most of the American people, don't begrudge people success or wealth. That is part of the free-market system." He thereby conveyed onto the crony capitalism of Dimon and Blankfein the same meaning to American 'success' as that of a Bill Gates, whose great wealth was derived through personal vision and whose achievements enriched us all, becoming a singular example to the American meritocracy in which we all once had great pride.
Actually the issue should be turned on its head. It is not a matter of how well President Obama "knows both these guys." Rather, it has become a matter of how well they know him. Clearly well enough to conclude in the present situation, and certainly in too many others, when it comes to Wall Street his bark is worse than his bite.
So now we have a situation where, in essence, government protected/guaranteed funds will be used as chips to play bigtime casino at the commodity roulette table. But don't despair. We should all be raising a glass of bubbly because in a sense we have all become part owners, along with JPMorgan, of Sempra's trading operations. You see, if the trades go bad and it all blows up for JPMorgan, guess who will given the opportunity to round up the cattle!?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/business/17volcker.html
A voter revolt could make it happen the President, Democrates and Republicans have failed.
November will test if unlimited money can continue to purchase Washington or if angry voters can clean house.
Voters have a chance to vote for enough canidates in November who will agree to change Washington by enacting prepackaged legislation which every voter could see before voting, which will fix financial regulations to benefit citizens and taxpayers instead of the pirates and intrenched legislators who have come to belive that they have been invested with devine rights to exploit the dimwits beneath them.
Legislation should include an Elizabeth Warren version of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency for protecting consumers, reinstating Glass-Steagle which successfully protected banks and their customers for fifty years before its repeal in 1999 would break up banks, repealing Grahm-Leach-Bliley to eliminate the unbridled use of financial schemes of mass destruction, repealing the unlimited Christmas guarantees given to Fannie and Freddie, enacting the pending legislation to audit the Fed, and make AIG’s records available for public review.
Eliot Spitzer should be put in charge of a federal squad of Untouchables to perform hard nosed audits and investigations of Wall Street and Washington which will ascertain what roll criminal activity has had in the destructive behavior which has decimated individual wealth, political fairness, and the United States Treasury.
"It's like a French Revolution in reverse in which the workers come pouring down the street screaming more power to the aristocracy."
So far, President Obama has said the 'right things', but the banks seem to think he is bluffing and have in essence called him on it. The banks have thrown down the gauntlet and this president needs to step up and take concrete action against them. He needs to show everyone he is not just an articulate speaker who can connect with Americans with words but also a man of action who can lead them through deeds.
Americans still have faith in President Obama, but talk won't cut it anymore. He has to make a stand, choose sides and fight for what is right as true leaders often do or continue with his failing efforts to try and be everything to everyone.
Wasn't it Honore de Balzac who said, "Behind every great fortune lies a great crime"?
And is it not as true today as it was in the 1800's?
Yes, pjwrites, yes, it is.
the golden egg, like the banksters are.
That's was the only real solution...
Even James Baker agrees with me...!
Volcker's plan is a soft way to try and deal with this...as he can't call for Nationalization...
So we'll see another massive collapse because Obama outsourced his fiduciary responsibilities to Goldman Sachs and their related swindlers and hacks...!
Otherwise good article.
Unless, of course, big money has corrupted matters to the point where there no longer is any effective opposition.