Comments on: My Visit to the US Treasury, Part 3 http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/ Helping Institutions and Ordinary People Invest Better by Focusing on Risk Control Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:53:26 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David Merkel http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23674 David Merkel Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:26:48 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23674 TPI -- understood, sir. If you ever do get here, look me up. TPI — understood, sir. If you ever do get here, look me up.

]]> By: The Prudent Investor http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23671 The Prudent Investor Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:24:54 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23671 As I live in Austria it would have been a bit costly to attend the Treasury invitation. Additionally I will not travel to a country where immigration/DHS locks up people on arrival without giving a reason. As my blog is rather anti-US-government I am not going to take the risk to travel to the US only to get my first cavity search and be threatened with weapons. Friends of mine have been throuh this. One did not travel to Germany in 1939. One does not travel to the USA since 9/11. As I live in Austria it would have been a bit costly to attend the Treasury invitation. Additionally I will not travel to a country where immigration/DHS locks up people on arrival without giving a reason. As my blog is rather anti-US-government I am not going to take the risk to travel to the US only to get my first cavity search and be threatened with weapons. Friends of mine have been throuh this. One did not travel to Germany in 1939. One does not travel to the USA since 9/11.

]]> By: David Merkel http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23655 David Merkel Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:41:52 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23655 Barry was out of town -- I think he would have come. CR lives a long distance away, I think. Simon Johnson has access any time he wants. Mish, I don't know. Don't be so sure of the motives of those who did or did not go. Aside from trivial friendly comments, what have any of us said that is a substantial change of view? Barry was out of town — I think he would have come. CR lives a long distance away, I think. Simon Johnson has access any time he wants. Mish, I don’t know.

Don’t be so sure of the motives of those who did or did not go. Aside from trivial friendly comments, what have any of us said that is a substantial change of view?

]]> By: JKH http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23652 JKH Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:51:20 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23652 Warren Mosler Warren Mosler

]]> By: But What do I Know? http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23651 But What do I Know? Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:32:44 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23651 Your points are as usual well thought out and lucidly expressed. It is a shame that the Treasury guys weren't listening at the meeting--I have gathered the impression by reading most of the commentary that the Treasury guys wanted to say that they had had a meeting with some critical bloggers and exchanged dialogue with them (maybe at the behest of some higher ups?). I've been at meetings like that--your counterparts were sauve, friendly, and polite and used those tricks that Steve Waldman detailed to try to make you feel like they cared about what you thought and would truly consider your opinions and advice. You leave the room feeling pretty good, but nothing was accomplished, other than the other side being able to say they held a meeting and putting whatever spin they want to on that. Of course, I wasn't there, but that's what it sounds like to me. Please don't take this as criticism of your attendance at the meeting--I would have gone too if I had been in your place. I just think you need to be able to remember that the charming people across the table can and will do the wrong things. Your points are as usual well thought out and lucidly expressed. It is a shame that the Treasury guys weren’t listening at the meeting–I have gathered the impression by reading most of the commentary that the Treasury guys wanted to say that they had had a meeting with some critical bloggers and exchanged dialogue with them (maybe at the behest of some higher ups?).

I’ve been at meetings like that–your counterparts were sauve, friendly, and polite and used those tricks that Steve Waldman detailed to try to make you feel like they cared about what you thought and would truly consider your opinions and advice. You leave the room feeling pretty good, but nothing was accomplished, other than the other side being able to say they held a meeting and putting whatever spin they want to on that. Of course, I wasn’t there, but that’s what it sounds like to me.

Please don’t take this as criticism of your attendance at the meeting–I would have gone too if I had been in your place. I just think you need to be able to remember that the charming people across the table can and will do the wrong things.

]]> By: LesterB http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23650 LesterB Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:52:53 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23650 Zero Hedge. Zero Hedge.

]]> By: Kid Dynamite http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23649 Kid Dynamite Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:47:42 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23649 @benedict - they asked for SS#'s and DOB's before the visit. @NDK - so are you suggesting that by attending the meeting, David and I somehow lost our independence? I cannot agree. At the very least, we gained insight and had access that others did not - it's really hard to turn that into a negative. You are probably picturing a meeting where they wined and dined us, carried our bags, and got us to come around to their viewpoint. Reality was almost the exact opposite - if the Treasury was expecting to convert a roomfull of bloggers, they failed in that effort, in my opinion @benedict – they asked for SS#’s and DOB’s before the visit.

@NDK – so are you suggesting that by attending the meeting, David and I somehow lost our independence? I cannot agree. At the very least, we gained insight and had access that others did not – it’s really hard to turn that into a negative.

You are probably picturing a meeting where they wined and dined us, carried our bags, and got us to come around to their viewpoint. Reality was almost the exact opposite – if the Treasury was expecting to convert a roomfull of bloggers, they failed in that effort, in my opinion

]]> By: Lord http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23648 Lord Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:28:47 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23648 Krugman would have been obvious though I am sure he would be too busy. Krugman would have been obvious though I am sure he would be too busy.

]]> By: ndk http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23646 ndk Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:09:12 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23646 I'm very impressed by and proud of the bloggers who chose not to attend this meeting. I think it's far more impressive to be able to turn down such an opportunity in the name of intellectual honesty than it is to have been at the event. Kudos, particularly to CR, Mish, Barry, and Simon Johnson, for their independence. Thanks guys. I’m very impressed by and proud of the bloggers who chose not to attend this meeting. I think it’s far more impressive to be able to turn down such an opportunity in the name of intellectual honesty than it is to have been at the event.

Kudos, particularly to CR, Mish, Barry, and Simon Johnson, for their independence. Thanks guys.

]]> By: Chris of Stumptown http://alephblog.com/2009/11/05/my-visit-to-the-us-treasury-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-23645 Chris of Stumptown Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:02:33 +0000 http://alephblog.com/?p=2133#comment-23645 Bruce Krasting (who sometimes posts at Zero Hedge) would have been a good invite. I really like his ongoing articles on Fannie, Freddie, and the FHA. Bruce Krasting (who sometimes posts at Zero Hedge) would have been a good invite. I really like his ongoing articles on Fannie, Freddie, and the FHA.

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