Originally Posted By: jsharp
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Well, getting back to the point, which was the video. I think it was good. Haven't seen any BANKS do this...and they were BAILED OUT not given a loan.
Are you talking about TARP money? You need to look a little harder.
http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/st_TARP_20100930.html
It is all a matter of perspective, but whether the money is a "gift" or a "loan" -- when you're about to go under if not for the funds -- it is all considered "bailing out" to me.
Keep in mind that the majority, if not the vast majority, of financial institutions were not surely going to go belly up if they didn't get funds from the CPP program. The government made the funds available, if they met the necessary requirements set forth, and from there on it was a business transaction to many, if not most.
When you cannot get a loan period, you'd be surprised how many will take out one where available for a premium -- as a hedge against future unknown circumstances.
That being said, this is, in my opinion, where the Bush administration got it right. They intertwined a nice rate of return for the taxpayers -- although the government has NO reason to be partaking in business transactions -- but this stopped it from being a "give away". And in fact, it was designed to likely turn into the opposite.
Doesn't make it easier to swallow, but it is a deep subject when you get all the way into it.