Distracted Congress Loses Focus on Credit Freeze: John M. Berry Members of Congress have lost sight of the point of all the efforts to end the nation’s financial crisis. Hint: It’s not to punish executives at financial institutions whose behavior led to the turmoil.

Mark-to-Market Rule Gives More Clarity, Not Less: John M. Berry Mark-to-market accounting rules are being brought a little closer to economic reality -- accompanied by misplaced howls of outrage.

Obama’s Loophole Quest Skips Gaping Tax Break: John M. Berry In offhanded fashion, President Barack Obama created a task force to review the U.S. tax code and gave it only a fuzzy mandate. It may not accomplish much.

Treasury’s $1 Trillion Quells Bank Takeover Talk: John M. Berry Some politicians and prominent economists and analysts want the government to stop fooling around with schemes to prop up ailing banks and just take them over. Then what?

China Toys With Biting Hand Feeding Its Surplus: John M. Berry If Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is so worried about the safety of China’s investment in U.S. Treasury securities, he can order the money be moved elsewhere.

If Tax-Cut Lapsing Is Class Warfare, Let’s Fight: John M. Berry If letting top income-tax rates go back to where they were in 2000 is class warfare against the rich, I’m ready to snap to attention with my old M1 rifle on my shoulder.

‘No Deal’ Republicans Map Disaster of Own Making: John M. Berry Republicans are headed for a political disaster of their own making. As bad news about the economy gets ever worse, the party of growth, markets and business is opposing every effort by President Barack Obama to shorten the recession and put people back to work.

Geithner Fails First Test, Managing Expectations: John M. Berry Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner got in trouble this week not because details of his financial stability plan weren’t ready. It was because he and other Obama administration officials had led everyone to believe they were.

Kill Debt Ceiling, Embrace Deficit, Watch Yields: John M. Berry Stop fretting about the deficit.

Big Job Cutbacks Might Cushion Profit Declines: John M. Berry Early in recessions, doubts about how bad things will get usually cause companies to be slow in firing workers. Not this time.