Goldman Giveaway Grossly Inflated

Goldman Sachs garnered some great publicity this week with the announcement of its “10,000 Small Businesses” program, a $500 million deal with Warren Buffett to help small businesses. It turns out that, in true financier style, the giveaway is laden with tax-deductable donations as well as loans to be paid back with interest, putting the heralded $500 million price tag somewhere between $136 million and $150 million, about a 70 percent markdown. The news about the program some called “an apology with a half-billion-dollar gift card” was met with a resounding “no comment” from Buffett and Goldman spokespeople. Regardless of the actual numbers, small business owners seem unlikely to turn down the offer.