1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the reinvented two thousand twelve camera. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: It's ready. Are you welcome to Stuff you should know? 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: From how Stuff works dot com. This podcast is brought 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: to you by Audible dot com, the Internet's leading provider 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: of spoken word entertainment. Get a free audio book download 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: of your choice when you sign up today. Log on 7 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: to audible podcast dot com slash stuff today for details. Hey, 8 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. I'm Josh. This is Chuck Nothing. 9 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: I'm here, all right? Sorry? Keep it everyone into Spence 10 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: is Chuck here? Well, we need to wear the violence 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: of correct um. Chuck. You watch Criminal Minds? I don't. 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: Do you watch Private Practice? I don't Biggest Loser? No? 13 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: What about okay? This is the fourth and last network. 14 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: What about Until Death? I've never even heard of it. Okay, 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: I watch comedy, so cartoons. Until Death is a comedy. 16 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: But had you watched any of these shows, had you 17 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: been a big fan on Wednesday September, you would have 18 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: been very upset because they were all preempted. I bet 19 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: they were all pre empted already. You're well aware that 20 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: the the economy is in the toilet. All you do, 21 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: all you want to do, is sit back and watch 22 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: your favorite celebrities lose weight, or watch Brad Garrett, you know, 23 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: um tussle verbally with his wife, or you know whatever 24 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: private practice does. I'm not I'm not fully aware practicing 25 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: private things. Exactly. You want to you want to escape 26 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: through these And all of a sudden, here's George Bush 27 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: laying it out there. This is a president who's avoided 28 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: using the word recession in public, and all of a sudden, 29 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: he's basically white knuckling the podium with the presidential seal 30 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: in front, saying we're all gonna die. Maybe he just 31 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: wanted to skip straight to depression just for kicks. I guess, 32 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: you knowid recession go right to the oppression. I don't 33 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: know that he used the word depression now, but he might. 34 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: He may as well have. Right, it was bad. He 35 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: said our entire economy is in danger. Was one quote 36 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: from that very um, you know, great address. Unusual. He 37 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: doesn't usually do this kind of thing, right. I think 38 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: he should have followed that sentence up immediately with with 39 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: good luck to whoever's coming next exactly. Yeah, yeah, so 40 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: long and good luck or whatever? Right? Yeah, uh so 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: this is kind of a big deal. And I think 42 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 1: Bush addressing on a Thursday for no other reason than 43 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: to tell Americans that the economy is in danger, it 44 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: kind of really made it a bigger point. Um. And 45 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 1: the reason he went on was because he was trying 46 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: to garner public opinion for the Pulse and Plan, also 47 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: known as the seven hundred billion dollar bailout. Ak A, 48 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: just the bailout. I think people are calling it bailout. 49 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: It is and it's not hyphenated for our listeners, it's 50 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,519 Speaker 1: not two words, it's one word. This is this is 51 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: a p right here, Okay, not us um. So he's 52 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: on there, he's talking about the bailout. Why would he care? 53 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: Why would he care what Americans think? I'll tell you why, Chuck, 54 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,839 Speaker 1: You didn't even let me answer, But he's uh, he 55 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: has um. Earlier that week, it looked like Congress was 56 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: going to pass it. Everybody was patting one another on 57 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 1: the back bipartisan ship. You know, you remember Senate Democrat Republican. 58 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: The leaders are saying, we're passing this right and uh, 59 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: it starts to go into the House and they bring 60 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: it to a vote, and all of a sudden, these 61 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: rank and file Republicans stay just revolt and they're like, hey, 62 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: how about this. We've got another plan and it's nothing 63 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: like yours. So ultimately the House defeats the bill something 64 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: like that. I think it was good exactly that you're 65 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: really good. It's right in front of me, a memory 66 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: like a bear trap there should um okay, So the 67 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: House defeats the bill. It looks like it's sunk. There's people, 68 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: you know, screaming in teror dogs and cats living together 69 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: mass hysteria. Right um, and Bush has already played his 70 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: one ace in the hole by addressing the the nation. 71 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: The only thing next he could do would be like 72 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: to kneecap somebody, maybe a figure skater on public television 73 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: to get our attention. Who would do that, though? I 74 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: don't know. Terrible, terrible. So it looks like the bill 75 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: is defeated, and all of a sudden, here comes the 76 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,799 Speaker 1: Senate on the white Horse exactly. You know, the House 77 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: is usually kind of the the the congressional body that's 78 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: known for shouting down things and you know, trying things 79 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: on the sly, and the Senate is supposed to be 80 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: wise and sedate and calm, and all of a sudden 81 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: they're taking up a failed House bill basically sweetening it, 82 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: like they attached a very popular mental health bill. Did 83 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: you know that now U healthcare providers have to treat 84 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: mental health like they treat physical maladies. Well, that's good. Yeah, 85 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: it is good, which is one of the reasons why 86 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: they put it in this bill. So they passed. There's 87 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: also a lot of pork in there, though. There are 88 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:15,239 Speaker 1: manufacturers of wooden arrows that I think boy Scouts favor 89 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: get some subsidies out of that. Yeah. Um. And then 90 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: there's the extension of expiring tax breaks for the wealthy, 91 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: although there's also some tax relief for the middle class, 92 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: new tax relief in their right, and I know they 93 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: One important thing that did was raised the fd I 94 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: S S insurance coverage for people's banks accounts. Yeah, which 95 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: is huge because banks like Wacovia and Washington Mutual are 96 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: going under. And I mean these are neighborhood branch commercial 97 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: banks where you keep your money and all of a sudden, 98 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: oh wait, the bank's front door is locked, and you 99 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: know two pm on a Tuesday was one of them. Really, 100 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: not one of the banks, but one of those institutions. 101 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: I'm not going to divulge too much, but Yeah, that's good. Well, 102 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: I'm not going to name my bank either, but I'm 103 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: very confident in it. Recently purchased countrywide um, among other things. 104 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: So I'm feeling pretty good about my bank, which is 105 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: your under your mattress. Knock on wood there. I don't 106 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: want to attempt the gods. Uh So, Okay, the Senate 107 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: takes up the bill and they add the sweeteners, and 108 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: they cough up Senate Amendment fifty five, which is the 109 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: pulse and Plan with the mental Health Bill, the f 110 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: d i C Increase Plan Plus is what I like 111 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: to call it. It's a great name for it. You 112 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: should have called it that. This is the same day 113 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: they passed it, the same day that they took this up, right, 114 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: but the Congress never acts this fast. Even more amazing, 115 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: two days later the House gets it. That day they 116 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: pass it. I think they passed it at like twelve 117 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: thirty and they started deliberating on it at ten in 118 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: the morning. They passed it two and a half hours later. Yeah, 119 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: I wondered when it happened. If no one really knows this, probably, 120 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: but if it was the sweeteners actually, or if the 121 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: House kind of ended up with some egg on their 122 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: face with the first vote and realize said everyone was 123 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: really freaked out by the fact that they defeated it. Well, 124 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: I think number one. I think Bush's address actually did 125 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: have a real impact. I watched a lot of CNN. 126 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: I actually watched CNN live as the House was voting 127 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: on this UM, this amendment and UM. There were a 128 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: lot of congressmen who are congress people who said that 129 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: they switched their vote because the calls that they were 130 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: getting from their office changed from you know, I don't 131 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: like this bailout package to you've got to vote for 132 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: this bailout package. And that actually changed votes. And you 133 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: can probably directly link that to Bush, you know, looking 134 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: very tired and haggard and scared on you know, Wednesday, 135 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: September four. So I think that's one of the reasons 136 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: why the House actually passed. You know, my uncle's a 137 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: former congressman. I should give him a call and see 138 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: what he thinks about the whole thing. Where is he from. Yeah, 139 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: he's a congressman in Tennessee to two or three terms. 140 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: I think that's great. Yeah, good for him. Okay, so 141 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: it passes right, right, and it's actually no longer a 142 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: seven billion dollar bailout, the bailout seven hundred billion, but 143 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: this bill actually hiked it up to an eight hundred 144 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: and ten billion dollar bill. Did you know that? You know, 145 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: I didn't know that all that all that, like it matters. 146 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: And the weird thing is, as taxes these days, you 147 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: you don't you don't really feel a pinch like you 148 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: think about the government showing out seven hundred billion dollars? 149 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,679 Speaker 1: How how how are we going to feel that pinch? 150 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: And you know, actually for every American that's I think 151 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: twenty three hundred dollars a person, every American taxpayer. Non, 152 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: so we're gonna feel a pinch somewhere, or are we. 153 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: Let's get into this bill, Chuck, Let's get into the 154 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: meat up. Let's do it. So you want to you 155 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: want to lead off with what are some of the 156 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: things that are inside? I see by you burying your teeth, 157 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: are you? Are you cool? Well? No, I know that 158 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: it's that one of the things they signed off one 159 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: was an immediate three hundred and fifty billion. They kind 160 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 1: of did it in stages, which I'm not a I'm 161 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: no economists, but seems to be kind of the smarter 162 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: way to go. Three D fifty billion upfront and taxpayer money, 163 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,959 Speaker 1: and then the new newly created Office of Financial Stability, 164 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: which we hope it ends up living up to its name. 165 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: Another three hundred and fifty I'm sorry, another hundred billion 166 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: after that, and then another two fifty after that. But 167 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: both of those need approval by Congress. Yeah, and I 168 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,679 Speaker 1: think the first one, the hundred billion, has to get 169 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: approval from the House, and the second two fifty billion, 170 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: uh is is contingent upon some approval I think. But 171 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: either way, yeah, Congress has to approve these, and they 172 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: have to. They'll approve them if this whole thing is working. 173 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: I don't see them saying no though. No, I don't either. 174 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I think in for three billion right plus, 175 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: it would be it would kind of be a sign that, hey, 176 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: we did the wrong thing by allowing this first three 177 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty billions. I don't think they would do 178 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: that yet. Yeah, I agree, I agree. So um, like 179 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: he said, this, this bill establishes a brand new office. 180 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: We're gonna have a brand new office, right, like you said, 181 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: the Office of Financial Stability. And this is led by 182 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: the Treasury Secretary, not necessarily Henry Paulson, but whoever is. Well, 183 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: they just named actually yesterday the new bailout chief. Oh 184 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: really who Yeah, you don't even know this? No, yeah, 185 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: his name is Neil kash kash Karai. And this guy 186 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: is thirty five years old, Holy cow. Yeah, and he's 187 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: going to be in charge of doling out the cast. 188 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: He's overseeing the Office of Financial Stability. He was previously 189 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 1: a vice president of Goldman Sachs and before his career 190 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: in finance, he developed technology for NASA space missions. So 191 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: this guy was clearly doing things in college that I 192 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: wasn't doing. Yeah, thirty five, that's not a very long 193 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: existence that he seems to be sharp guy. Okay, so 194 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: we have a brand new TSAR of Economic Stability. I 195 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: guess fresh fresh meat. And what with this Oh I'll 196 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: bet you he ages twenty years over the next months. Um. So, basically, 197 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,239 Speaker 1: what this guy is going to be in charge of, essentially, 198 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: UH is buying up terrible investments that that you know, 199 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: banks and investment banks and and other kinds of firms 200 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 1: have on their hands. What a weird job. It is 201 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: a weird job. It's never been done before as far 202 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: as I know. Basically, there's certain types of investments that 203 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: can be bought, and all of them are related to mortgages. 204 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: You've got like mortgage backed securities. UM. I think collateral 205 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: debt obligations would be purchased under this and mortgages themselves, 206 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: which I thought was kind of cool. Yeah, because this 207 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: is actually one way that it could directly benefit a homeowner. 208 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: One of the provisions in this act is that when 209 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: this guy what's his name again, uh Neil kash Karai 210 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: or Kashkari, I'm not sure you pronounce it, let's call 211 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: him Kashkari, Okay, when Kashkari is negotiating with these investment 212 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: banks and other people to purchase their bad securities. UM, 213 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: he's going to try to force down their throat restructuring 214 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: of of the mortgages the hope for a Homeowners Act. Yeah. Now, 215 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: the big problem with that and what it is is, 216 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: it's it's it's basically congressional support for restructuring loans, knocking 217 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: down the principle, which is pretty radical. You borrow four 218 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: hundred thousand for a house you can't afford it, and 219 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, we're just gonna pretend like you 220 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: only borrow two hundred thousands. That's huge. The thing is 221 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: is it's it's a it's a voluntary program. I think 222 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: you probably get, like you know, tax rebates or right 223 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: off if you're a company or a lender that engages 224 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 1: in this um, but you can't force anybody to do it. 225 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: If the US government actually owns your mortgage, chances are 226 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: they're going to be very hesitant about foreclosing on you. 227 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,719 Speaker 1: Number one, that's just a huge pain. But number two, um, 228 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: they actually have a vested interest then to keep you 229 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: in your house, right, Okay, the reason being the if 230 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: they can stem the tide of foreclosures, then the market 231 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: starts to come back up, and these mortgage backed securities 232 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: and mortgages themselves increase in value all of a sudden 233 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: They're worth more and the plan works. Right, So if 234 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 1: if the government buys your mortgage, you should probably thank 235 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,599 Speaker 1: your lucky stars. Right then this is all This is 236 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 1: all theoretical. None of it's been put into practice yet, right, 237 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: which is I think why a lot of people are 238 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: kind of nervous about this bail All right, Right, I know, 239 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: I am, I do know that that foreclosures Actually nobody 240 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: wins in foreclosure. It's not like because I did some reason. 241 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: Actually I wrote an article on it last year. And 242 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: it's not like banks foreclosed on people and they're just 243 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: we kick you out of the house. Banks lose money too. 244 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: But you know, like we've mentioned before, the mortgage back 245 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: mortgage backed securities. Sometimes the banks don't even own that house. 246 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: They turn around and sell it to securities and it 247 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: gets fractured off. And so maybe that's kind of where 248 00:13:58,200 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: the problem is starting. Well, you know who does win 249 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: in a foreclosure. Someone who's renting right now. If you 250 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: are a renter and you don't buy in this in 251 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: this climate, you're you're a total sucker. Yeah, it's probably 252 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: good time to buy. Oh, it's an excellent time to buy. 253 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: It's like a fire sale out there. I've said it before, 254 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: I'll say it again. Get your act together, buddy, get 255 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: in a house. Yeah. Thanks. Okay, So that's not the 256 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: only thing that this this cash car he's going to 257 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: be doing. This guy's got a lot of responsibility. I'm 258 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: not sure he's he knows what he's getting into. And frankly, 259 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: I have to say I find a little fishy that 260 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: Henry Paulson is one of the former high level executive 261 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: at Goldman Sacks and he taps this guy from Goldman Sacks. Yeah, 262 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: and you could say, well, he knows him, he's worked 263 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: with them, he had, he respects him. But I believe 264 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: he already know that. I like one investment bank being 265 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: so entrenched in this bail act. Actually I think he 266 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: actually worked in the office in the Treasury office. Uh, 267 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: he was previously with Goldman Sacks. But you know, I 268 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: know what you mean. I got you his influence. Is 269 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: he like Paulson's protege or something? I don't know. Yeah, Okay, 270 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: So there's other things that cash Car is going to 271 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: be in charge of, like, um, when when the government 272 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: purchases three million dollars or more of bad investments from 273 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: a lender whoever, Um, they're automatically, they automatically take a 274 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: warrant in your company. This is a non voting block 275 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: of shares, just common stock shares, right, And this is 276 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: actually really ingenious, Chuck. You want to tell everybody why, 277 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: Well I don't know why. Let me tell you why. 278 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: All right, You're you're the econ mask. This is straight 279 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: from Coshkari to me to you. Okay, Uh, actually that's 280 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: not true at always should probably cut that part out. 281 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: The reason why it's such an ingenious UH provision is 282 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: because no one has any idea how how to value 283 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: these mortgage backed securities. I read an article with the 284 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: guy who who is like this expert at valuing a 285 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: stock that you found in like your grandfather's closet from 286 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: nineteen twenty three or something. This guy could value. This 287 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: guy and everyone else is totally lost at at properly 288 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: valuing mortgage backed securities and c D e O s 289 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: and and just all these other bad investments. Right, So 290 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: whatever the government, whatever price the government sets to buy 291 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: these at, it could be way too low. So if 292 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: you are a company selling this to the government and 293 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: you end up experiencing a windfall profit from the sale, 294 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: which you're not supposed to be, the government's covered on 295 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: the back side because they own shares in your company. Now, 296 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: so if you experience a profit, your your price per 297 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: share rises, and the government gets something out of it 298 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: because they own those shapes, and in theory, ultimately the taxpayer, 299 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: it would come back to us. I'm not holding their breath, 300 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: but what we want is for this bailout to work. Yeah, 301 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: and and technically it could work. I mean, if you 302 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: think about it, right, If the government meant buys up 303 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 1: seven hundred billion dollars worth worth of mortgage backed securities 304 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: or mortgages or whatever, and all of a sudden the 305 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: market stabilizes because of it, and maybe over the course 306 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 1: of a couple of years, maybe a decade, who knows, 307 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: the market comes back into full swing. These things don't 308 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: just disappear. They don't just vanish. The government is not 309 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: going to take these these securities and throw them in 310 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 1: a furnace. They're gonna sit on them. Basically, I think 311 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: it's Bush put it there. The the U. S. Government's 312 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: the only institution large enough to buy these and sit 313 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: on them for a while. Um And then once the 314 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: marketiz it's these things increase in value when the government 315 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: sells them. And and if they sell them well and 316 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: not flood the market with these things, then we should 317 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: as taxpayers see a windfall from that. I mean, even 318 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: if if the combined value of all these things double, 319 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: then not all of them are worthless. There are some 320 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: good mortgage backed securities out there still, but they just 321 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: have a bad name and no one wants them when 322 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: they increase in value. I mean, even if they double, 323 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 1: that's one point four trillion dollars from from the sale. Uh, 324 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: and half of that being pure profit. That would be 325 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: pretty good. It was whether that happens or not, it 326 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 1: remains to be seen. You know, what I think would 327 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: be interesting as if all of a sudden they put 328 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: out this big plan. Buch says, we're the only people 329 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 1: institution big enough to do this, and all of a sudden, 330 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:21,880 Speaker 1: like Bill Gates and Warren Buffetts stroll up behind him 331 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: and say, not so fast, We've got our own plan, 332 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: and they just bought up, you know, eight hundred billion 333 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: dollars worth of bad investments. Well, Warren Buffett has been 334 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: on a buying spree right now. Of course, it's not 335 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: just it's not just a good time to buy a 336 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: house or for closed house. It's a good time to 337 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: buy stocks. Yeah. So again, it's like fire sale out there. 338 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: It's crazy. But yeah, apparently from what I understand from 339 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:50,360 Speaker 1: watching the recent second presidential debate is that Obama may 340 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 1: tap Warren Buffett for Treasury secretary. You know, I would 341 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: be all for it. It makes a lot of sense. Yeah. So, uh, 342 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: anything else in this provision, maybe of the Golden parachute. Yeah, 343 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: that's the one thing that I know probably made a 344 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: lot of people feel a little bit better. Is the 345 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: gold the famous golden parachute. A lot of times when 346 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: companies go under, like the big end run thing, you remember, 347 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: the executives are the ones that come out on top 348 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: and the investors lose all their money. These executives get 349 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: these huge payouts at the end and just kind of 350 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: sneak out the back door and buy their island and 351 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 1: you know in the in Bermuda and uh, I know 352 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: this calls for no golden parachutes. Um, these big multimillion 353 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: dollar severance packages are not gonna happen. No, and specifically 354 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:39,640 Speaker 1: your top five executives. Any any salary over five grand 355 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 1: can't be deducted as an expense um. So that in 356 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: theory should limit companies from doing it. There's some problems 357 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 1: with that, though, what's that that's just your top five executives. 358 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: Another problem with it is that the cap there's already 359 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: a cap that exists, but it's a one million. You 360 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: can't you can't deduct any salary over one million. So really, 361 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: for a major company, all it's gonna be is two 362 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: point five million and lost deductions, which is nothing. A 363 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: second problem The other problem, this is the biggest problem. 364 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: There is no provision in the Golden Parachute clause of 365 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: this law, the bailout bill UM that says anything about 366 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: stock options. So think about it. You let a you 367 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: let an outgoing ceo go, You're like you, you did 368 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: a terrible job managing. But here, take all these stock options, right, 369 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: We're going to value them at today's terrible market price. 370 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: Just hold off a couple of years. The market is 371 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: gonna come back and you you cash in your options 372 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 1: and you're you're just richer than an astronaut. Right that 373 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: that's I'm glad you said that, because I didn't even 374 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: know that. But that's what I was just about to say, 375 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 1: is the way these guys operate, I had a feeling 376 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: there's there's always some back door where they get there's yeah, 377 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: and and they will There's not gonna be any way 378 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: of going around it. The the only thing I think, uh, 379 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 1: that that we can hope for is that there should 380 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: be widespread investigation and probably you know, criminal lawsuits against 381 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: a lot of the people who are running the show. Yeah, 382 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: I think this will be under the microscope more than 383 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: other little quieter bills that go through so I think 384 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: so too. So if you want to know anything more 385 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 1: about this, I would strongly recommend you exercise your civic 386 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: duty and read how will the government spend the seven 387 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: hundred billion dollar bailout funds? On how stuff works dot 388 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: com and stick around to find out one more reason 389 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: why you shouldn't wear a bluetooth headset. But first chuck 390 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 1: a message from our sponsor, Josh. What's the first reason 391 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: that you shouldn't wear a bluetooth headset? I know you 392 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: don't like the way awkward fashioned. Look, I'm just gonna 393 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 1: say it. It's my personal opinion. I know a lot 394 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: of people like your style right out of the Preppy Handbook, 395 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: if I may say so, I do my best, which 396 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: is good. This is a good book. My sister used 397 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: to have that when I was growing too. Yeah, I 398 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: did you really? Yeah? I used to read it on 399 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: the john. It's very cool. It's a cool book, if 400 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: I remember correctly. She also had how to speak like 401 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: a valley girl. I think, yeah, let's skip that one 402 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: for sure. Yeah, that's probably for the best. Uh So. Yeah. 403 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: The name of the article is how Bluetooth surveillance works, 404 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: and apparently, if you wear these things, people know where 405 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: you are, So how Chuck, Well, Uh, if if you 406 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,160 Speaker 1: have a Bluetooth headset and you have it turned on 407 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: UM for my understanding, you can get blue jacked. Is 408 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: that right? Blue jacking? Yeah, blue jacking is the term. 409 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: And uh, it admits a signal and people other people 410 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: of Bluetooth can actually tell where you are. So you're 411 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: you're into privacy. And if you're into privacy, make sure 412 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: you read how Bluetooth surveillance works on how stuff works 413 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: dot com for more on this and thousands of other topics. 414 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: Is that how stuff works dot com. Let us know 415 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: what you think. Send an email to podcast at how 416 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:51,199 Speaker 1: stuff works dot com. Brought to you by the reinvented 417 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: two thousand twelve camera. It's ready, are you