At some point, the war of words and early drafts of legislation are going to give way to politicians making real choices about the degree of new financial regulation in this country. The financial industry is increasingly fighting two uphill battles: defending itself from what happened and, increasingly, defending itself from defending itself. The newest outrage is centered on banks trying to make sure the regulatory pendulum doesn’t swing so far the other way that we don’t create a nation of banks in a catatonic state. The reports of multi-million dollar lobbying expenditures by the usual suspects have the regulatory crusaders back out on the front line and proving why some degree of legislative restraint is in order.

“They still retain an enormous amount of influence,” said Travis Plunkett, who lobbies for the Consumer Federation of America and said he has seen firsthand the influence of large banks. “What is surprising to me is that some members of Congress are letting them get away with flimsy arguments. They are using many of the same arguments that they were using before the financial crisis” – such as saying that new legislation would inhibit competition and consumer choice.

There are, undoubtedly, some activities that need to be curbed. But five years from now there are probably few out there who will want to recount the ways the economic recovery did not take place the way it could have while watching Populism: A Disaster Movie.
Bailed-out banks lobby hard to stave off limits [Boston Globe]

Comments (28)

  1. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 12:42 PM

    I wish Greg was jewish.

  2. Posted by 1,000,000 non-Jewish Crickets | September 28, 2009 at 12:47 PM

    *chirp*
    *chirp*

  3. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 12:50 PM

    Greg Michaels: A Writer Nobody Wants to Read

  4. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 12:51 PM

    Greg, why don’t you take the rest of the day off?
    -Dealbreaker Sponsors

  5. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    Drier that yo mamma’s bajingo, Greg.

  6. Posted by pfluger | September 28, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    The newest outrage is centered on banks trying to make sure the regulatory pendulum doesn’t swing so far the other way that we don’t create a nation of banks in a catatonic state.
    Atone for this sentence!
    - Jewish English Professor

  7. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:00 PM

    Greg, don’t massage my feet and tell me it’s Platonic.
    -Grandma Michaels

  8. Posted by Tony Rockahamma | September 28, 2009 at 1:08 PM

    @7 – everyone knows a foot massage don’t mean nothin’.

  9. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:10 PM

    an article nobody wants to read

  10. Posted by NakedShort | September 28, 2009 at 1:11 PM
  11. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:14 PM

    @8 I’m the foot fucking master! That shit means something and you know it.

  12. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:15 PM

    @8- Would you give a guy a foot massage?

  13. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:16 PM

    Greg, don’t pee on your bed and tell me it’s meant to be endearing.
    -Grandma Michaels

  14. Posted by Tax Chick | September 28, 2009 at 1:16 PM

    @Naked
    You ARE really bored. Unfortunately, DB isn’t going to provide much help today.

  15. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    @12 fuck you

  16. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:23 PM

    @11 -
    Now look, maybe your method of massage differs from mine, but, you know, touchin’ his wife’s feet, and stickin’ your tongue in her Holiest of Holies, ain’t the same fuckin’ ballpark, it ain’t the same league, it ain’t even the same fuckin’ sport.

  17. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:25 PM

    @10/NS
    You can do better. Needs more raunch.

  18. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:32 PM

    @ NakedShort — why are you using Greg Newton’s moniker — bad form — change it.

  19. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:33 PM

    @ NakedShort — why are you using Greg Newton’s moniker — bad form — change it.

  20. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:34 PM

    Greg,
    I hope Bess is atoning for your inability to post decent topics.

  21. Posted by NakedShort | September 28, 2009 at 1:38 PM

    @18,19:
    a.) No idea who Greg Newton is
    b.) Blow me

  22. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:40 PM

    @18/19 he doesn’t use it anymore. what’s the big deal?

  23. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:41 PM

    18,19 = Greg Newton

  24. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:42 PM

    but regulation was so effective in the past. surely over-regulation will fix all our problems this time…

  25. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 1:47 PM

    A Sequel to “Disaster Movie”. Sweet.
    Oscar. Put it down. Kim K for Best Actress.

  26. Posted by Joe Mac | September 28, 2009 at 3:05 PM

    #8 What about your technique? Do you be tickling or nothing?

  27. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 3:54 PM

    “Populism: A Disaster Movie”
    I liked it better when it was called Dr. Zhivago

  28. Posted by guest | September 28, 2009 at 4:14 PM

    @26 -
    Shit yeah. I got my technique down and everything, I don’t be ticklin’ or nothin’.
    –8

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