Cactus:
You have fallen into the same misconception as virtually everybody in the nation who lacking an understanding of money, capital, what the bailout entailed, and who the beneficiaries were, equate the Obama Stimulus (and possibly TARP) as the full extent of the bailout. It's like the $100 billion dollar per day discount window didn't even exist
One illustration: let's assume I am a Wall Street entity, and borrow a billion dollars at 1/2% interest from the Fed, and am also provided a billion dollar guarantee that if I invest the money in U.S. equities and lose, the Fed will pick up the tab. Also assume that I am a Wall Street insider with great connections within the street and also within the administration. Alternately, I can borrow the billion at 1/2% and invest the money in government securities at say 2, 3, 4 or 5%.
I'll let you fill in the rest...
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