Today's Standards

Here are some personal observations on current standards.

Sixteen community banks were closed in the first two months of 2009. At least one huge failed bank is still operating with government assistance.

TARP money is available if your bank doesn't need it.

Politicians and the public seem to want banks that received TARP money to lend regardless of credit considerations. Politicians and the public want banks to ultimately repay TARP money.

Now that we are mired in a difficult economic situation the Treasury Department and banking regulators have decided to "stress test" banks. (Seems strange to do a stress test on a patient who is in ICU.)

We seem to have gotten ourselves into this situation as a result of living beyond our means and greed. Seems strange the solution would be for the government to live even more beyond its means.

Personal responsibility used to mean we lived with the consequences of our actions. Personal responsibility now appears to mean we only suffer the consequences of our actions when we can't find someone else to blame or some government agency to bail us out.

Tolerance means that if I offend you, I'm intolerant and if you offend me, I'm intolerant.

Add to this by posting your observations and comments.