“(T)he Treasury dramatically expanded its bailout plan to include buying student loans, car loans, credit card debt and any other’troubled’ assets held by banks. The changes, which were included in draft language that also opened the bailout program to foreign banks with extensive loan operations in the United States, potentially added tens of billions of dollars to the cost of the program.
“Although it was a major addition to what was already the nation’s largest-ever bailout, it did not become part of the debate between Democrats and the Treasury over details of the program. A Monday counterproposal by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd included such consumer loans as well as mortgages, just as the Treasury’s draft did Saturday night.
“‘The costs of the bailout will be significantly higher than originally considered or acknowledged,’ said Joshua Rosner, managing director of Graham Fisher & Co., who charged that the Treasury and Federal Reserve have not been ‘forthright’ about the ultimate cost to the public. The plan gives Treasury the discretion to buy the non-mortgage loans and securities in consultation with the Fed.
“Conservatives cited the move as a sign that the massive plan to take over bad mortgage debt already is opening the door to further government bailouts.
“‘Such a large takeover by the government will surely be accompanied by adverse, unintended consequences,’ said Pat Toomey, president of the Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group. ‘Already, other companies and industries are lining up at government’s door asking for their own bailout.'”
Discussion Starters
1.) What are your students thinking and saying about our nation’s economy?
Are they expressing fear, concern, or other attitudes?
2.) What does this government bailout say to them, especially in regard to student and car loans?
Do they expect “get-out-of-debt-free cards” in other areas of daily life?
3.) In what ways do they see this as encouraging financial (and other types of) irresponsibility?
