Subscribe: RSS Feed | Twitter | Facebook | Email
Home | Contact Us

Posts Tagged ‘GAAP’

The Height of Hypocrisy or Why America Should Be So Outraged

Posted by Larry Doyle on October 27th, 2010 8:26 AM |

Not that we needed any more reason to castigate those who have driven our economy and our nation into a ditch but the story I bring you this morning provides us just that.

I am well past the point of surprise in finding shock value in stories exposing financial charades. That said, I hope I never lose the feeling of complete and total indignation in shedding light on those involved in the charades and others who would provide cover for it. To wit, count me as extremely pissed off this Wednesday morning. CFO Magazine highlights the hypocrisy embedded in our political and financial system with its report, West Wing Accounting:

On Monday, conference attendees in New York were spectators to a simulated White House war room exercise. The object of the exercise wasn’t Iraq or Afghanistan, however, but the economy: specifically, a scenario in which presidential advisers had to consider the bailout of a U.S. state that was just two days away from defaulting on a $1.5 billion bond. (more…)

Two Sets of Books Require Two Sets of Accounting Standards

Posted by Larry Doyle on December 8th, 2009 2:43 PM |

What was at the core of the current economic crisis?

The financial transactions embedded in the SIVs (structured investment vehicles) located off-balance sheet within our major financial institutions brought our country to its knees. As the securities housed in these SIVs plunged in value, Uncle Sam was forced to ride to the rescue and bail out Wall Street.

Uncle Sam’s bailing required not only billions in dollars but also the coordination and complicity of the accounting industry. The Federal Accounting Standards Board (FASB) knows that Congress, supported by Wall Street, jammed revised accounting standards in place in order to facilitate Uncle Sam’s bailout.

The FASB, in an attempt to save face and a degree of integrity, has pushed back on Wall Street by passing FAS 166 and 167 which would require investments in off-balance sheet vehicles to be brought on-balance sheet. The implementation of FAS 166 and 167 is imminent and would require financial institutions to set aside increased capital against selected assets.
(more…)






Recent Posts


ECONOMIC ALL-STARS


Archives