Can it be a coincidence that the day that Obama announces a plan to cap compensation of employees of banks who received government assistance, GS announces plans to repay its TARP loans?

I don't like the game they're playing...

tw you forgot who are washington best friends....

It seems like a very sensible business move. When the Treasury was handing out free money, GS borrowed some. When the government added strings, GS pays it back. It's no more nefarious than repaying a variable-rate loan when the rate is increased by the lender. To the extent that GS can lure better folk with better pay because they've turned their back on the government feed-trough, then GS will profit.My only concern is whether GS and others will stubbornly eschew government support when they really do need it. To the extent that executives at weak institutions avoid taking the money they really do need, the financial system will experience more surprise bankruptcies (a la Bear Stearns) that damage confidence in the entire system.

that's seek, while NOT surprising.

If I were an executive with a multi-million dollar contract, I would refuse the funds, even if they are necessary and then pick up my golden parachute when the shareholders force me out for bankrupting the firm.Make a lot more money that way than only 500k.

QuoteOriginally posted by: NattieLightIf I were an executive with a multi-million dollar contract, I would refuse the funds, even if they are necessary and then pick up my golden parachute when the shareholders force me out for bankrupting the firm.Make a lot more money that way than only 500k.Thank God you're not an executive!

TARP

Can/would Goldman and Morgan give up being 'banks' ? What is the probability and possibility of Goldman and Morgan Stanley [others ?] giving up being commerical banks so they could escape restrictions of Dodd/Frank and all the other regulations that have and will be passed ?

That's a possibility and easy to be a fact. Apart from this discussion, what is your take on Maiden Lane 2 asset sale by FED, to CS and lastly GS ?

who started the poll>> Is society better off with or without Goldman Sachs?at the moment "with" is winning by 6 votes !"with" 74 (votes) 52.11 (%) "without" 68 (votes) 47.89 (%)

QuoteOriginally posted by: jfuquaCan/would Goldman and Morgan give up being 'banks' ? What is the probability and possibility of Goldman and Morgan Stanley [others ?] giving up being commerical banks so they could escape restrictions of Dodd/Frank and all the other regulations that have and will be passed ?They probably could, but it wouldn't help them in the slightest, unless they also shrunk themselves down to a size where they were no longer deemed "systemically important financial institutions".