| Palantir wasn't "given" $1.5 billion either. What's your point? The TARP article explains how they ended up being almost entirely loans directly to banks and others - which wasn't the original plan when sold to congress, only part it was supposed to be loaned. The article also mentioned how much they are making off of it as a result of the banks doing a whole bunch of stuff that had little to do with "toxic mortgages" or helping the "little guy" (small business loans and home ownership), again as it was sold to Congress, where it was rushed through with little scrutiny and then administered by a man called a "stooge" for the banks. The fact they made their money back and a few banks got richer, while the market only got further reduced to a smaller group of bigger banks, wasn't the point. It's the disconnect between why they got the money and how it was sold to congress and the public, and how it went to a well connected select few. It's funny how everyone thinks all the dirty details are insignificant now that the mega banks paid it back with interest. Which was always the plan for the actual loans part - that were supposed to have strings attached so it was used for mortgages and small business loans. The original plan also involved buying up a whole bunch of the toxic debt directly... but that of course was quickly dropped and it all went to no-strings-attached loans. Which I highly doubt congress or the public would agree to, even with $100B ROI. Nothing to see here, I guess? |