Treasure Secretary Henry Paulsen Looks Very Worried ... and well he should.

My position has shifted from being angry about the $700 billion financial rescue program to downright scared.  Every day Treasurey Secretary Henry Paulsen (former CEO of Goldman Sachs) comes out with some new screwball plan to use the remaining dollars, but like Chicken Little, his whining reasoning is becoming less and less believable.  Today, for example, he’s suggesting to relieve pressures on consumer debt, including credit cards, car loans, and student loans, which he believes are “creating a heavy burden on the American people and reducing the number of jobs in our economy.”

Somehow I don’t believe that my student loans, credit card bills, or car payments are creating any undue burden on the American people, and I’m not sure how reducing or changing the terms of my agreements will significantly impact or benefit anyone.  For people that it will impact, I’m not sure that I agree this will be of any help to the long-term improvement of our economy.  Quite the opposite, actually, because the money will be spent and spooked consumers will be unlikely to jump right back into school, a new car, or even additional credit card payments.

Most anyone that hasn’t been living under a financial rock probably already knows that we’re having a tough time in the American economy right now, and most of you probably also know that Circuit City is having a tougher time than most.  If you’ve shopped at their stores in recent months you already know why, but their poor quality service is becoming legendary in the industry.  But, all that aside, they’re making an effort to “return to profitability,” which I translate into “get some money back for our investors before we close our doors forever.”  They’re doing this by cutting back and closing some stores.  Here in my area they’re closing most of their retail presence and I’m thinking good riddance, btu that’s where my rant begins.