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Why Detroit’s Bankruptcy Could Detonate a $3.7-Trillion Muni Bond Bomb
Wall Street Daily web ^ | July 24, 2013 | Louis Basebese

Posted on 07/24/2013 10:26:53 AM PDT by publius911

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To: Gabrial

dang cell phone...either my fingers are getting bigger or the buttons are getting smaller


21 posted on 07/24/2013 11:36:56 AM PDT by Gabrial (The nightmare will continue as long as the nightmare is in the Whitehouse.)
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To: Gabrial

Then to, there is mind fog, lapse of concentration induced by age


22 posted on 07/24/2013 11:39:26 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Travon... Felony assault and battery hate crime)
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To: publius911

Why not have a sheriff’s sale of every city owned asset to pay off bond holders? I would start with city hall and empty it of desks, computers etc. leaving just enough stuff to maintain essential services. Let city bureaucrats use cardboard boxes for desks or sit on the floor.


23 posted on 07/24/2013 11:46:55 AM PDT by The Great RJ (construction)
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To: publius911

It may happen faster than we think. Just the threat of possible muni haircuts may well dry up the market for munis, and then the cities have nowhere to go for the funds they need to keep up the huge pensions they owe.


24 posted on 07/24/2013 11:57:25 AM PDT by expat2
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To: The Great RJ
Why not have a sheriff’s sale of every city owned asset to pay off bond holders? I would start with city hall and empty it of desks, computers etc. leaving just enough stuff to maintain essential services. Let city bureaucrats use cardboard boxes for desks or sit on the floor.

In a sane world what you have suggested would happen.

25 posted on 07/24/2013 12:05:39 PM PDT by jdsteel (Give me freedom, not more government.)
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To: expat2

I don’t see a complete muni-bond melt down due to the Detroit situation, let alone a full bond market collapse. Insurers and lenders, many of them foreign, took big risks on Detroit to get better returns. Looks like they lost, but most US cities and towns are not in the same desperate straits as Detroit. There will be losses, and a restructuring of the bond market - but that’s a good thing if it brings discipline and restraint. Lenders and insurers will start looking at political subdivisions with a more critical eye, charging premiums for the profligate, and, one would hope, reigning in the unending desire to spend other people’s money. (Cue Monty Python)Always look on the bright side of life ....


26 posted on 07/24/2013 12:23:31 PM PDT by Old North State
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To: publius911

I guess this means that Whitney gal wasn’t so looney after all!!

Wonder if CNBC would let her back on? Lots of folks on there made several snide remarks about her.


27 posted on 07/24/2013 12:30:43 PM PDT by biff (WAS)
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To: bert

“If there is to be a new city”

So would that be “New Detroit”? You know, like in RoboCop? Who knew at the time how prescient that movie really was!


28 posted on 07/24/2013 12:40:03 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: taildragger

“Watch for “Obamabonds” similar to Savings Bonds backed by the “Full faith and Credit of the United States””

Subsequently followed by forced conversion of all assets in all 401K and 403B accounts to ObamaBonds.


29 posted on 07/24/2013 12:41:33 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Old North State
The problem is that a couple of years ago, Detroit was listed as only the 9th most likely to default. More likely were:
Philadelphia,
Chicago,
Boston,
Cincinnati,
St. Paul,
Jackonsville,
New York City,
Baltimore.

Detroit was supposed to be able to hang on until about 2023 but......

The fact that it will now be harder for cities to sell bonds is going to make them more likely to have to default. You are right about discipline and restraint, but that is not politically possible without declaring bankruptcy first.

30 posted on 07/24/2013 2:26:48 PM PDT by expat2
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