[Excaliber]

Well, I don't know that it's size has grown any larger, more like a change of people. Typical of every new administration. But 1ntCobra makes a good point, big banks getting bigger as a result of TARP.

As we were facing an IMMEDIATE financial crisis IMMEDIATE decisions had to be made. I recall the "heat" Bush took for his Iraq surge program, no one knew if it would work or not. It did, Bush was a hero, could have been a zero!

Same thing with TARP, virtually ALL the economists had their fingers crossed, the public was outraged, the new administration taking some serious heat. No one was really sure if it would work or not. But SOMETHING had to be done, and fast. TARP is far from perfect, but so far, it seem's to be working out well. It was critical to save some banks right away, even at the expense of others. No doubt that was a tough call, who to save, who to let go. Yup, some banks got bigger than ever! Now, let's get a handle on that with TARP, phase II.