[Tommy]

As I recall, a number of the better large banks did not want TARP money. If the stronger banks had not taken any TARP money, the weaker banks that needed it would have looked even weaker and likely would have suffered runs from their depositers. Consequently, the Treasury Secretary coereced all the big banks to take TARP money to protect the few that needed it. Much of the bank TARP money was repaid with interest at a profit to the government. But now that misguided public anger is being directed at banks, they are being targeted for taxes by populist politicians. Higher taxes and populist politics aimed at big businesses has long been a staple of the Democratic party.