So even though some of us didn't invest in other people's companies by buying their stocks...

[mtnsnake]

...we as taxpayers are still going to be expected to help bail out the fat cats and their stockholders because of THEIR mismanagement and stockholders' risks that took a nosedive?

Please tell me in a nutshell if this is the case.

(edit: changed "because" to "even though" for clarity sake)

[shadowknows69]

1. Can make one blow a gasket in the brain can't it?

[Winterblues]

2. Those CEOs absolutely NEED their multi-million dollar salaries.

Tax payers should be happy to donate to their cause because everyone knows it all trickles down to us po' folk.

[glinda]

7. CIVIL LAWSUIT NEEDED

to regroup monies from these people. Stockholders and others directly affected can sue like in the S & L to take them to court and take everything. This would also include Cox since he failed on enforcing oversight of regulations. This is the only way this can be attempted.

[mikelgb]

3. I don't get it either, but I just made an extimated tax payment on the 15th

and this shit really pisses me off

I have the right mind to just not pay them net time

[liberal N proud]

4. Pretty close

[napi21]

5. I see it a little differently. IF all these investment companies & banks

were allowed to fail, what do you think would happen to YOUR & MY 401K, or pension fund if your lucky enough to still have one of those? Even if you had your retirement invested in city bonds, or something completely removed from the financial sector, where do you think that city or other business had HTEIR $$ invested? I don't want to see any greedy or irresponsible people bailed out either, but most of the "little guys", who've already had company pensions plans taked from them and replaced by 401K accts, would be financially destroyed, and it's NOT THEIR FAULT!

I don't even know if this can be done, but I'd LIKE to see a provision in this bailout that forbids ANY executive from getting any bonus, golden paracuete, retention bonus, or anything similar.

[mtnsnake]

9. But I don't have a 401K. I've been self employed almost all my life

and all of the dollars I've earned I've invested into my own small business or into a few things such as small parcels of land. I guess I just don't believe in risking my hard earned dollars in other people's companies too much.

Having said that, I do feel for you and all the others who might be affected because of your 401K's or pensions taking a shot.

[napi21]

10. You would be affected TOO! Obviously I don't know you or your

business, but it's a RARE one that can survive without credit and at least some loans. If the banks all fail, you have NEITHER! I just heard a report yesterday on CNBC where even people with a FICA score in excess of 750 and 20%-30% to put down weren't able to get a loan to buy a house! Honestly, it would have severly harmed EVERYONE!

[mtnsnake]

11. I know that many wont agree w/me, but I've never believed in taking loans for anything but a house

and that's the way my wife and I have lived our lives. For example, when we first started out, if we couldn't afford to pay for a newer vehicle we waited until we had all the money FIRST and drove something lesser until we had enough to buy a new one. We've saved tons of money over the years by not paying a penny of interest on higher priced items. We are not wealthy by any means, but comfortable, and we started out with nothing. What I can't understand is how so many people only care about their monthly payments, never even realizing how much they're actually paying for something. If everyone WAITED and saved their money in ADVANCE of buying something, then they wouldn't be losing so much of their money to loans. For example, if you want a new car right now but it takes a 4 year loan to get it, why not buy a cheapo first, save the same money for 4 years (You're going to be paying it anyway PLUS interest if you buy now), and THEN pay cash for the new car without ever paying a cent of interest. Once you do it once, you'll always be ahead of the game. Same goes for furniture, appliances, etc. Save in advance and pay cash when you're ready.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Unfortunately, they are also part of our financial foundation -

it's kind of like how my tax money helps provide schooling and roads in, say, Alabama, even though I have no intention of ever living there.

By keeping the infrastructure sound, we keep everything sound - same with these financial institutions.

I don't mind the bailing out.

What I do mind is that the dumbasses and criminals who made it happen won't see any personal penalties. Oh, they might lose their jobs, but they still have all the money they made, and some of them will probably end up with a good "retirement" package, too.

[On the Road]

8. I Haven't Seen Any Bailout of the Stockholders

Fannie, Freddie, and AIG stockholders pretty much lost everything. Fannie and Freddie executives were denied golden parachutes.

The corporations are being kept in business and the bondholders, mostly other financial institutions and central banks, are being made whole.