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What $700 billion bailout? It’s just $3,324 a head!
Seeking Alpha ^ | Sept. 26, 2008 | by Mark McQueen

Posted on 09/26/2008 2:30:19 AM PDT by library user

Let’s do a reality check on the spending spree the U.S. Treasury is currently on:

Congress is putting the Fed Chairman and the Treasury Secretary through their paces, but at the end of the day, the politicians know that this proposal needs to be passed in some way, shape or form. There may be warrants or CEO salary caps, but it is going to happen. U.S. Voters need to see their representatives wringing their hands over the “Wall Street Fat Cat bailout” concept, but that is more about the election on November 4th than anything else.

For all of the mayhem of the past 18 months, individual Americans are being asked to give up a long weekend in Vegas to save their financial system. That’s bad for the retailers at the Fashion Show Mall on Las Vegas Blvd. South, but it is definitely good for the rest of us.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 110th; bailout; federalspending
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So, this guy is FOR the bailout?
1 posted on 09/26/2008 2:30:19 AM PDT by library user
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To: library user

....of course this sum includes the illegals right?


2 posted on 09/26/2008 2:33:19 AM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: library user

is he insane? and how many of those are adults that work and pay taxes?


3 posted on 09/26/2008 2:38:26 AM PDT by ari-freedom (We never hide from history. We make history!)
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To: library user

McQueen doesn’t get it. Anytime Congress injects taxpayer money into the economy to aid failing businesses means the tentacles of socialism have grown a little longer.


4 posted on 09/26/2008 2:42:02 AM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: library user

2/3’s of the population don”t pay taxes, it more like $10k per person, household of 4 = 40k. We are running deficits so we are not retiring debt. 20 years from now I’ll probably eating rats. I hope I’m still fast enough to catch them.


5 posted on 09/26/2008 2:43:30 AM PDT by Rhino54
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To: library user
An alternate reality check:

Current running total: $1,014 billion
Current U.S. population: 305 million
Number of taxpayers whose tax dollars should be taken to pay for the irresponsibility of others: 0
Maximum amount that can ethically be taken from productive citizens to pay for losses by those acting irresponsibly: $0.00
Total cost if the bailout is done correctly: $0.00

I can't think of a better fix for our financial system than allowing people to reap what they have sown. THose who gambled and lost will learn nothing if they are bailed out, and the problems will recur. In contrast, if the markets are allowed to work, lenders will make responsible decisions in the future based on an honest assessment of the risks, and our economy will function even better in the future.

The truth is that the Democrats killed the bailout so they could blame failure on McCain or at least keep him from getting credit. Like a stopped clock that's right twice a day, the Dems got it right when they delayed this bill.

6 posted on 09/26/2008 2:43:59 AM PDT by MathDoc
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To: library user

I am always in favor of less rather then more govt, but that said I think this whole thing is being misrepresented here and in other places.

My understanding and correct me if I am wrong, is that the money is being used to purchase assets which will have a definite value because they are all backed up by real property. Since these assets can at some point be sold, perhaps not for a profit but certainly not for a 100% loss (I know, that’s not possible), at least some if not all of the money may be returned to the treasury as has happened in the past when such bail outs have occurred (Mexico, Chrysler).

WE would not be handing the money to the companies in trouble but rather would be buying their currently non performing assets thereby allowing them to resume their operations. With the proper new regulations put in place to stop this from again happening, things ought to work out for the best.

Where am I wrong?


7 posted on 09/26/2008 2:44:36 AM PDT by 101voodoo
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To: MathDoc
"The truth is that the Democrats killed the bailout so they could blame failure on McCain or at least keep him from getting credit. Like a stopped clock that's right twice a day, the Dems got it right when they delayed this bill."

I doubt it. They are not that organized and if they cannot come up with absolute proof John McCain said this or did that to hurt the proposals passage they simply look like obstructors again.

8 posted on 09/26/2008 2:46:42 AM PDT by 101voodoo
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To: 101voodoo
The other aspect of the 'for bailout' coin is that for the people that do pay taxes, etc. there are a substantial number of them that have significant investments in the market. So it is a balancing act against more taxes or more losses....which is better?

Also, again there could be other forces at play here - people in the financial industry falling prey to greed resulting in mismanagement/theft. Will government takeover remove this problem? I don't know. My worry is that this financial mess will screw up an awful lot of 401Ks etc. and create a greater dependency on the already insolvent Social Security system.

9 posted on 09/26/2008 2:51:19 AM PDT by Gaffer ("Arguing with a Liberal is like not wiping yourself after taking a dump" Scatological, but true.)
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To: 101voodoo

http://www.youtube.com/TheMouthPeace


10 posted on 09/26/2008 2:59:51 AM PDT by A. Morgan (VOTE FOR Obama N' we'll be up to our necks in TAXES and OUTA' GAS!)
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To: 101voodoo
“WE would not be handing the money to the companies in trouble but rather would be buying their currently non performing assets thereby allowing them to resume their operations. With the proper new regulations put in place to stop this from again happening, things ought to work out for the best.” “Where am I wrong?”

As I understand it, I think you have it pretty much correct. As you, I would prefer that the government not be involved in this but frankly I don't see any other viable solution. I do have a concern with the part about returning money to the Treasury as I have not heard anyone state what happens to the money after it has been returned. As I understand it, this $700B will be funded by printing more money. So, it seems to me that the only was to retire this funding would be by removing the equivalent amount from circulation. But, what will be the chances of this happening? Zero...

11 posted on 09/26/2008 3:04:42 AM PDT by snoringbear (Government is the Pimp,)
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To: library user
I would multiply that figure of a factor of at least three ... maybe four

only about 40% of the US population files and pays taxes

.

12 posted on 09/26/2008 3:07:14 AM PDT by Elle Bee
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To: library user

But we pay for affirmative action types such as Rangel that don’t pay their share.

and we pay, and pay, and pay


13 posted on 09/26/2008 3:19:00 AM PDT by NoLibZone (Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac - are not facing any kind of financial crisis,'' Barney Frank 9-10-03)
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To: 101voodoo
Where am I wrong?

You may be absolutely right. However, if you remove risk you also remove reward. The "American Dream" has always been the potential for US citizens to realize those rewards (owning one's own home, etc).

The bailout isn't the end of the US - it's only the end of the American Dream. All brought to you by the fine members of the "I Got Mine Club".

14 posted on 09/26/2008 3:59:02 AM PDT by The Duke (I have met the enemy, and he is named 'Apathy'!)
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To: 101voodoo
My understanding and correct me if I am wrong, is that the money is being used to purchase assets which will have a definite value because they are all backed up by real property.

Not entirely correct. The proposed plan calls for the US government to buy failing "mortage backed securities" from ailing financial institutions. A mortage backed security is not the same as a mortage. It's basically an "asset" whose value is backed by underlying debt. The owner of the security does not have any claim on the underlying collateral (property), only a claim on whoever packaged the security. A lot of the panic around Lehman folding is because many other banks and funds were holding mortage backed instruments issued by Lehman, all of which are now worthless since Lehman is bankrupt. This is my main concern about the current bailout plan. The government should, if anything, be buying up the mortages themselves. They should absolutely not be buying up any derived instruments.

15 posted on 09/26/2008 4:32:37 AM PDT by SwedishConservative
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To: library user

Only about half of our great citizens participate in tax paying. So it’s about $800 per year, and that is after tax money( yes, you will be taxed, and then the money left over, will pay the tax ) So, you have to earn $1,600 more for the next ten years.

Oh, and by the way, as the economy slows, towns and states will be raising your taxes because of ‘diminished returns’.

Have a nice day.


16 posted on 09/26/2008 4:39:59 AM PDT by Leisler
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To: ari-freedom

Half the population is under 18 or retired. Then only half of the working population pays no taxes. So only 1/4 of the population pay taxes.
It’s more like 12K per taxpayer.


17 posted on 09/26/2008 4:46:58 AM PDT by tbw2 (Freeper sci-fi - "Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell" - on amazon.com)
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To: library user

Mark McQueen is an a$$ and an idiot. He says it’s “only” $3324 per person? In my family, we have 5 people and ONE INCOME. We don’t spend three thousand dollars on a week long vacation, much less $3K per PERSON per weekend!

This butthole believes I should fork over $16,620.00 to pay off bad debt accumulated by people who do go and spend $3K per weekend?!?

What an a$$!


18 posted on 09/26/2008 5:02:18 AM PDT by MortMan (Those who stand for nothing fall for anything. - Alexander Hamilton)
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To: library user
Mark McQueen is President & CEO of Wellington Financial LP, a privately-held bridge financing & venture debt fund based in Toronto. He has led Wellington's growth from its inception as a $7 million fund in 2000 to its current $400 million investment program ($125 million fund size).

He was previously a Managing Director and Head of Technology Investment Banking of a leading independent investment bank, and before that part of a team that advised on over $25 billion in transactions as a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions group at a Canadian bank-owned investment dealer.

Mark received credit training at a Canadian Chartered bank and was certified for commercial lending in 1995. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Nexient Learning (NXN:TSX), Top Aces Consulting Inc. and several non-profit organizations including the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA).


Easy for him to say.
19 posted on 09/26/2008 5:10:30 AM PDT by rollo tomasi (Working hard to pay for deadbeats and corrupt politicians.)
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To: Rhino54

“2/3’s of the population don”t pay taxes, it more like $10k per person, household of 4 = 40k. We are running deficits so we are not retiring debt. 20 years from now I’ll probably eating rats.”

Don’t think so. The Libs running your district will tell you that eating rats causes cancer and will take them off the menu at your favorite restaurant. But don’t worry, by then tobacco will be back at 45 bucks a pack, with 43 going to the government.


20 posted on 09/26/2008 5:15:35 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (McCain/Palin 2008)
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