If we're gunna spend three quarters of a trillion dollars, we ought to get something in return.

[Stinky The Clown]

Okay, so let's just say that the cost is 700 billion .... or a trillion ... who's counting?

How about we get those IOUs in the form of equity in the bailed out entities? You know ..... we own a piece of them roughly equal to what we "invested" in them.

That would be called stock.

The Repubics can sell it as 'privatizing our retirements'. They've been jonseing for that for a long time.

And the government ought not keep that stock in trust for us. Give it to us. Outright. We bought it, we get to control it. "The Government", after all, IS us.

Imagine our new power ..... over companies. Maybe some control of who becomes a director, or what the CEO gets paid ..... or maybe a limit on CEO pay.

[shadowknows69]

1. I want to live in your world

[bighart]

2. From Blomberg:

"Pelosi, in her most recent financial disclosure form, reported that her husband owned between $250,000 and $500,000 of stock in AIG, which ceded majority control to the U.S. government this week in exchange for $85 billion of loans.

Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, disclosed that his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, had more than $2 million of AIG stock at the end of 2007, when shares were worth $58.30. AIG has fallen 85 percent this week to close yesterday at $2.69. The lawmakers' aides didn't respond to calls seeking comment"

Does this constitute a conflict of interest?

[dkf]

Just have the new entity buy shares instead of bad debt.

[liberalmuse]

3. Reich said as much, but...

I like the way you come out and suggest we would be stockholders. :toast:

[Naturalist]

4. Your kidding right?

Look if this is truly about Businesses and Future Homeowners being able to get loans then Start a new agency that will loan the money to those who need it if they qualify instead of giving it to Businesses that have managed poorly. Since we now own Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac why not make Fannie Mae for homes and Freddie Mac for businesses and those two use the TRILLION DOLLARS for loans. No BAILOUTS for Businesses. Loans Yes Bailouts NO if they qualify!!!!!!!. BAILOUT HOMEOWNERS that need the help if they qualify ONLY. You got to think faster than these crooks people!!!!

[Ikonoklast]

5. We *are* getting something in return.

We're getting fucked.

[AngryAmish]

6. We are getting bonds worth 700 billion

Have you even bothered to look at the plan?

This government entity is going to buy the bonds out there that are unnegociable right now. They are worth something and actually have cash flow. But there is no market in them right now so the assets are worth zero under federal regulations.




I swear, I have no idea why I am doing this. Trying to discuss economics on DU is like trying to explain Proust to a dog.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Good .... take your superior self .....

...... and go fuck it.

"Proust to a dog"

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Hey, have YOU been paying attention ...... ?

Lots of countervailing voices asking what I asked for. Krugman among them.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/thinking-the-bailout-through/

Message ..... you ain't all that.

:eyes:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. What we ARE getting requires K-Y Jelly and a strong stomach.

[alsame]

9. Maybe we'll get shirts that say

'My government took all my money and all I got was this lousy t-shirt'.