[nodesocket]

Why should there be a blanket ban on stock repurchases? If a company has excess cash, you're advocating they can't put that cash to work "betting" on their future performance?

I however do agree if a company takes a recent government "bailout" they should be restricted from buybacks until they payback the loan/bailout.

[Infinitesimus]

I'd could argue that the "excess" cash might be better used to raise employee wages, reduce work hours, etc. etc. All those things that make human workers a bit happier but c'est la vie

[Gibbon1]

Exactly stock buyback are a 'too easy' way of driving up stock prices. You want companies to use their capital to increase the real value of the company. At the same time you want to discourage CEO's and stockholders from looting the corporate till.

[bradlys]

One could argue that a stock buyback does that for employees who get stock.