This letter is associated with the following article:
Letters
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:00 AM

Salon Radio: Digby on the bailout

What are the dangers for Democrats in supporting a bailout? And why are they about to do it?

Read other letters about this article

  • Wednesday, September 24, 2008 03:32 PM

    I'm confused

    Dems are caving in on equity stake? Am I missing something?

    From Obama's 9/21 remarks on the Paulson Plan:

    http://www.barackobama.com/2008/09/21/a_statement_of_principles_for.php

    Taxpayers should be protected. This should not be a handout to Wall Street. It should be structured in a way that maximizes the ability of taxpayers to recoup their investment. Going forward, we need to make sure that the institutions that benefit from financial insurance also bear the cost of that insurance.

    Not very specific, but it sounds like he wants a taxpayer equity stake in the bailed-out firms.

    And from TMP, a copy of the current Dem counter proposal:

    http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/working-draft-house-bailout-plan/

    Maximizing Taxpayer Benefits. Makes clear that (1) Treasury must obtain warrants (or similar assets) if they engage in a direct purchase from a company; (2) must remit profits back to the general fund; and (3) the Secretary consider the institution's heath before making the plan so not to artificially prop-up companies that will fail anyway.

    They have abandoned the above?

Most Active Letters Threads

494

Everybody hates mommy

We're "stroller Nazis." We're whiny "breeders." Why is there so much contempt for mothers these days?
454

The Washington establishment suffers a serious defeat

Approval of the Paul/Grayson bill to audit the Fed is both rare and important in several ways
374

Rule-of-law extremism engulfs primitive Eastern Europe

Why would the new President of Lithuania demand investigations of CIA black sites in her country?
288

The extreme secrecy of the federal courts

Judges are not only permitted, but required, to conceal anything the government declares to be secret.
176

Climate-gate!

Climate skeptics claim hacked e-mails prove, once and for all, that global warming is a hoax

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon