The "public" vs. the "shareholders"

Let's stop the mythology of "we don't want to save shareholders at the expense of the public".

That is one of the great lies and when you hear someone say it - cringe.

Just about 60% of ALL Americans own shares of stock, one way or another. Either directly, or through stock mutual funds, company retirement plans, etc.

And this number goes UP every year, not down. Despite the market tremors of the last decade.

So, please, even if you don't understand that the bailout is not rescuing firms for the sake of paying off executives, it most certainly is not benefiting some "shareholder" class in opposition to the "rest of us".