Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain (AZ) outlines his plans to reform the financial markets in the United States during a speech to the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Discussion Questions

1. Explain why the current financial situation in the United States is considered a crisis.
2. What would Sen. McCain like to create in response to the immediate financial crisis? How does he believe this would help alleviate the crisis and serve as an early intervention program?
3. What does Sen. McCain mean by a “lack of financial transparency” and how would he reform this?
4. Sen. McCain mentions the, SEC, FDIC, CFTC, SIPC, OCC, and the FED. What role does each of these regulatory agencies play? Why does Sen. McCain state they did not “safeguard the public interest”?
5. Click here to view Democratic presidential nominee, Senator Barack Obama's (IL) six principles for regulatory reform of the U.S. financial markets. Compare and contrast the two presidential nominees' views on how to address the U.S. financial crisis.