INSIDE JOB

HANDOUT - Activity 4 “It’s a Wall Street Government”Inside Job is critical of the major players in theadministration of President George W. Bush, includingHank Paulson, the former head of Goldman Sachs,who was Secretary of the Treasury as the financialcrisis unfolded in 2007 and 2008. But the film is bipartisan– it is just as critical of the major playersin the administration of President Barack Obama.Below is a list of seven of those players. For eachperson, write down what their previous position was,as well as their position under President Obama.Ben Bernanke _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________William C. Dudley _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Rahm Emanuel ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Timothy Geithner__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Gary Gensler _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mary Schapiro _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Larry Summers_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Why do you think President Obama appointedthese people to these positions?How would you balance the need for experienceand expertise against the benefits of having afresh perspective?Who would you have appointed?Are these appointments like hiring a head sportscoach? Would you rather have an experienced coachwith a losing record or an inexperienced coach withno record at all?“When the financial crisis struck just before the 2008 election, Barack Obama pointed to Wall Streetgreed and regulatory failures as examples of the need for change in America.”-From Inside Job11