Monday, December 22, 2008

Now Just Who Is Answering to Whom?

Can you believe it? $350B in TARP to banks, and when questioned, they are responding with outrageous answers, like we're not going to discuss that information, we can't really talk about that, or my favorite, we haven't really tracked that information. Now, these are banks that already have made money twice off of bad investments, once by extracting interest that left the entire principle still to be paid, then upon foreclosure, the government basically handed them a blank check at the taxpayers expense. Oh, I know, there were amounts written on the checks, a limit, but with no requirements as to what they did with the money, how it would be spent, or obviously no reason to give an account. I find this just price less after what the Big Three got put through, but then this is America, we don't actually make anything anymore, except rich bankers, and unaccountable politicians. Now, there we have an abundance of product! So top bankers have been given enormous paychecks and bonuses after having done such a poor job, the banks were begging for loans from the Middle Class . . . and got it! I can tell you right now, why the banks were failing if they don't track the money that they are entrusted to manage. It's going to be just like water through their fingers, and it apparently was. Will they get the remaining $350B, since this is already gone, what in less than two months? I think bankers must be interesting individuals. While they are crying poor mouth, they are living large, and obviously willing to take anything they can, from those with fewer options! Could any of us have gotten a bank loan without answering a banker's questions? We went to withdraw a tidy sum of money from one of our money market accounts and the bank officer wanted to know what we were going to do with it . . . and it was OUR money!!!
I've had some personal dealings with the banking folk. They do expect to be in everybody else's business and they will get pretty demanding if they do not get the answers and action they expect, but they can turn around and be completely unaccountable, give information known to be false and just blankly stare at anyone listening, without batting an eye. The bankers make the car dealers look pretty scrupulous!
So, now that we understand the conscience of those in the banking industry, I'm more than a little sad that the government has given our money to them and the bankers answer to no one. Our government is providing for the banks, using our money, and the banks are unaccountable. How long should that particular attitude of non-accountability and method of business be financed? The banks are now more powerful than the government and a bank employee once told me, banks don't make mistakes. Well, maybe banks calculate very well and don't make mistakes, maybe this was their goal all along, but it would appear those choosing to deal with some of these banks and bankers have made a huge mistake!
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

No comments:

Blog Archive