[lbo-talk] Socialism ascendant?

[WD]

> Looks like Paulson is floating the idea of an Res. Trust. Corp., but the
> size of it will be breathtaking. For it to work, the back of my envelope
> suggests that we are talking about an institution that will have to be able
> to handle $3 TRILLION in liabilities. And it will have to re-organize the
> mortgage banking system from the individual borrower all the way to a
> regulated exchange to handle the secondary market.
>
> It's a great opportunity, actually, and only the Bush Administration could
> fuck up so bad as to require this.

I have a non-hostile (as well as potentially naive and ignorant) question:

I understand why forming an RTC-like entity might be the least bad
solution to The Crisis.  Even so, a shit sandwich is still a shit
sandwich -- and it now looks like US taxpayers are soon going to be
asked to eat a $2-3 trillion one courtesy of Wall Street.
Realistically, how could this be a "great opportunity" for the left in
any tangible way?

Another question for those with expertise in the financial markets:
What's up with the SEC banning short selling?
http://www.cnbc.com/id/26781646  Everything I've read so far suggests
this is a wild, desperate move...

-WD