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Washington diary: A year of crisis Washington diary: A year of crisis
(3 days later)
By Matt Frei BBC News, WashingtonBy Matt Frei BBC News, Washington
Amid the seizure-inducing neon on Times Square in New York and the King Kong-sized supermodels pouting at the shuffling armies of commuters and tourists, there is a poster paying homage to the latest addition of the vampire genre on cable TV.Amid the seizure-inducing neon on Times Square in New York and the King Kong-sized supermodels pouting at the shuffling armies of commuters and tourists, there is a poster paying homage to the latest addition of the vampire genre on cable TV.
The Lehman crash plunged Wall Street into panic and despairThe Lehman crash plunged Wall Street into panic and despair
"Love Sucks," it declares. A red eyed teenage girl with a trickle of blood oozing out of the corner of her mouth leers Lolita-like at the surroundings. Creepy stuff."Love Sucks," it declares. A red eyed teenage girl with a trickle of blood oozing out of the corner of her mouth leers Lolita-like at the surroundings. Creepy stuff.
Today they need posters to scare people. A year ago, Times Square provided its own real life horror show.Today they need posters to scare people. A year ago, Times Square provided its own real life horror show.
Standing square-jawed in its north-eastern corner is what once was the headquarters of Lehman Brothers, the 158-year-old firm that survived the American Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War and 9/11 but not the sub-prime mortgage bubble which it helped to inflate.Standing square-jawed in its north-eastern corner is what once was the headquarters of Lehman Brothers, the 158-year-old firm that survived the American Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War and 9/11 but not the sub-prime mortgage bubble which it helped to inflate.
Gambling the houseGambling the house
Looking up from the pavement, you have to squint into the flinty September sky to see the 31st floor where in spring 2008 Lehman's bosses, led by Richard Fuld, peddled billions of dollars worth of bundled sub-prime mortgages every month and made a mint from fees and commissions.Looking up from the pavement, you have to squint into the flinty September sky to see the 31st floor where in spring 2008 Lehman's bosses, led by Richard Fuld, peddled billions of dollars worth of bundled sub-prime mortgages every month and made a mint from fees and commissions.
Apparently, the floor was an Aladdin's Cave of fine dining, Impressionist masterpieces and colossal greed, where the Masters of the Universe insulated themselves from the reality that was to bring them, their bank and the global financial system crashing down.Apparently, the floor was an Aladdin's Cave of fine dining, Impressionist masterpieces and colossal greed, where the Masters of the Universe insulated themselves from the reality that was to bring them, their bank and the global financial system crashing down.
Lehman had gambled the house on the assumption, backed up by historical precedent, that in America property markets had never ever declined by more than 5%.Lehman had gambled the house on the assumption, backed up by historical precedent, that in America property markets had never ever declined by more than 5%.
Until last year.Until last year.
But then they had also never ever risen by 100% over just a few years, and they had never before thrived on the curious notion that all you needed to qualify for a mortgage was a pulse.But then they had also never ever risen by 100% over just a few years, and they had never before thrived on the curious notion that all you needed to qualify for a mortgage was a pulse.
The memories are raw. Shut your eyes and they flood back. But back on Times Square, the veneer of normality seems to have returnedThe memories are raw. Shut your eyes and they flood back. But back on Times Square, the veneer of normality seems to have returned
We all know now how foolish that was. And although there was a small coterie of economists, pin-striped Cassandras and whistle-blowers, no one was really listening to the sound of a few feeble whistles when the profits roared like waterfalls and the going was oh-so-good.We all know now how foolish that was. And although there was a small coterie of economists, pin-striped Cassandras and whistle-blowers, no one was really listening to the sound of a few feeble whistles when the profits roared like waterfalls and the going was oh-so-good.
The institutions that were meant to keep an eye on the children let loose in the toy shop of high finance failed. Self regulation was not working when most people were raking it in.The institutions that were meant to keep an eye on the children let loose in the toy shop of high finance failed. Self regulation was not working when most people were raking it in.
And even Alan Greenspan, the man who had warned about irrational exuberance, did precious little to rein it in.And even Alan Greenspan, the man who had warned about irrational exuberance, did precious little to rein it in.
The day after Lehman collapsed, I rang my bank in the UK to hear a recorded message reassuring me that all deposits were safe. When they have to resort to a digital voice to calm depositors down, you know that you are in trouble.The day after Lehman collapsed, I rang my bank in the UK to hear a recorded message reassuring me that all deposits were safe. When they have to resort to a digital voice to calm depositors down, you know that you are in trouble.
Global virusGlobal virus
In the ensuing months, the world economy crashed. The sub-prime crisis lit a fuse that went from California or Southern Florida via New York to Iceland, Hungary and Japan.In the ensuing months, the world economy crashed. The sub-prime crisis lit a fuse that went from California or Southern Florida via New York to Iceland, Hungary and Japan.
The virus spread through the intricate arteries of the world's financial bloodstream. Trust broke down between banks, as no one knew just how much money they owed.The virus spread through the intricate arteries of the world's financial bloodstream. Trust broke down between banks, as no one knew just how much money they owed.
In this crisis we were all in it together - and much of the developing world ended up suffering the most. A semi-employed truck driver in Tampa could default on a $500,000 mortgage (on a dream house he should never have been able to afford) and a textile worker in Cambodia would lose her job as a result.In this crisis we were all in it together - and much of the developing world ended up suffering the most. A semi-employed truck driver in Tampa could default on a $500,000 mortgage (on a dream house he should never have been able to afford) and a textile worker in Cambodia would lose her job as a result.
The only country that seemed to soldier on obliviously was Stalinist, hermetically-sealed North Korea.The only country that seemed to soldier on obliviously was Stalinist, hermetically-sealed North Korea.
The memories are raw. Shut your eyes and they flood back. But back on Times Square, the veneer of normality seems to have returned.The memories are raw. Shut your eyes and they flood back. But back on Times Square, the veneer of normality seems to have returned.
The ripples from the crash were felt around the worldThe ripples from the crash were felt around the world
Lehman and its gleaming corporate castle are now owned by the British bank Barclays. The beefy security guards wear a turquoise tie now.Lehman and its gleaming corporate castle are now owned by the British bank Barclays. The beefy security guards wear a turquoise tie now.
And the much-maligned bonuses are creeping back into fashion. Goldman Sachs made $3.4bn in the second quarter of 2009. The executive jets are coming out of mothball storage and capitalism is inclined to strut down Wall Street declaring that reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.And the much-maligned bonuses are creeping back into fashion. Goldman Sachs made $3.4bn in the second quarter of 2009. The executive jets are coming out of mothball storage and capitalism is inclined to strut down Wall Street declaring that reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated.
But some things have changed. The pulse may have returned to high finance, but the real economy is still shaky.But some things have changed. The pulse may have returned to high finance, but the real economy is still shaky.
Unemployment in America is nudging 10%. And experts believe millions of people have not even been counted because they have stopped looking for jobs altogether.Unemployment in America is nudging 10%. And experts believe millions of people have not even been counted because they have stopped looking for jobs altogether.
Obama's crisisObama's crisis
It is President Obama who now has to clean up a mess created on his predecessor's watch. After more than seven months in office, this is now his crisis and his solution.It is President Obama who now has to clean up a mess created on his predecessor's watch. After more than seven months in office, this is now his crisis and his solution.
The fact that the injection of some of the $787bn of stimulus money has not yet delivered as many jobs as many had hoped is damaging him.The fact that the injection of some of the $787bn of stimulus money has not yet delivered as many jobs as many had hoped is damaging him.
He has taken his impassioned mission to reform healthcare back to the barricades, with this week's speech to Congress.He has taken his impassioned mission to reform healthcare back to the barricades, with this week's speech to Congress.
BBC AFTERSHOCK SEASON The BBC reports on the first anniversary of the credit crunch across radio, TV, and online. See how China's domestic migrants are returning to the city as a result of the crisisSee how the crisis has affected the finances of central governments around the world Listen to WS radio on the crisis Full coverage of Aftershock onlineBBC AFTERSHOCK SEASON The BBC reports on the first anniversary of the credit crunch across radio, TV, and online. See how China's domestic migrants are returning to the city as a result of the crisisSee how the crisis has affected the finances of central governments around the world Listen to WS radio on the crisis Full coverage of Aftershock online
But if it drags on much longer, many Americans will see the healthcare debate as a futile distraction when the economy continues to stagger.But if it drags on much longer, many Americans will see the healthcare debate as a futile distraction when the economy continues to stagger.
And on the other side of the world, China is steaming back with 8% growth. Millions of Chinese are being rehired in jobs created by government money designed to build bridges, motorways and green technologies.And on the other side of the world, China is steaming back with 8% growth. Millions of Chinese are being rehired in jobs created by government money designed to build bridges, motorways and green technologies.
China has lunged at the future, while America is still grappling with the past.China has lunged at the future, while America is still grappling with the past.
Beijing's autocrats have the luxury of decreeing change while the man who promised it in America is watching change get strangled at birth by a viciously divided Congress.Beijing's autocrats have the luxury of decreeing change while the man who promised it in America is watching change get strangled at birth by a viciously divided Congress.
The collapse of Lehman helped Barack Obama to get elected, because he kept his cool while his opponent flustered.The collapse of Lehman helped Barack Obama to get elected, because he kept his cool while his opponent flustered.
But the financial crisis continues to deliver unintended consequences.But the financial crisis continues to deliver unintended consequences.
Matt Frei is the presenter of BBC World News America which airs every weekday on BBC News, BBC World News and BBC America (for viewers outside the UK only).Matt Frei is the presenter of BBC World News America which airs every weekday on BBC News, BBC World News and BBC America (for viewers outside the UK only).
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