“Finally, let's keep well in mind the most important lesson of the auto rescue: While government should stay away from the private sector as much as possible, markets do occasionally fail, and when they do government can play a constructive role, as it did in the case of the auto rescue.” ShouldMindWellsImportantPlayGovernmentRolesCasesFailingLessonsRescueConstructivePrivate SectorImportant Lessons Author:Steven Rattner
“Increased revenues, meaning higher taxes, will be a central element of any successful long-term budget plan, and President Obama is right to insist that the wealthy - the slice of America that has come through the recession in by far the best financial health - should provide those funds.” ShouldLongAmericaPresidentTermSuccessfulPlansHigherTaxesElementsFinancialBudgetsLong TermFundWealthyPresident ObamaRevenueRecessions Author:Steven Rattner
“Neither the George W. Bush nor the Obama administrations volunteered to bail out G.M., Chrysler and other parts of the auto sector. Both subscribed firmly to the longstanding American principle that government should resolutely avoid these kinds of interventions, particularly in the industrial sector.” ShouldKindGovernmentPrinciplesAdministrationInterventionBailChrysler Author:Steven Rattner
“To fix Social Security, we should first stop using the Consumer Price Index to adjust benefits for inflation. Using the C.P.I. overstates the impact of inflation and has also led to larger increases in benefits for Social Security recipients than the income gains of typical American workers.” ShouldFirstsSocialSecurityBenefitsGainsIncreaseImpactWorkersIncomeConsumersTypicalSocial SecurityInflationAmerican Workers Author:Steven Rattner
“Conservatives brayed that government should stay out of the private sector; liberals bleated for nationalizing the banks.” ShouldGovernmentPrivate Sector Author:Steven Rattner