The banks not only need to be taxed - they need to be broken up.

[kentuck]

The President has stated his desire to tax the big banks to pay back the American people. The banks are laughing in his face.

But we don't need simply to tax them - we need to break them up. If they are too big to fail, then they are too big to exist. That is what the President needs to be talking about.

Unfortunately, the Senate, and many in the House, are bought and paid for by the big banks and the financial institutions. Because of the present political realities, it is impossible to get done what needs to be done. Getting rid of Chris Dodd was a step in the right direction. It is sad that he is a Democrat.

[Double T]

1. The banks will just turn around and increase their interest rates and fees to pay for IT.

The LARGE banks need to be broken up at the very least. I would prefer to see ALL the banks nationalized taking wall street and their investors totally out of the picture. Reasonable interest rates, charges and fees are the kind of thing this economy needs to get restarted.

[AndyA]

2. This will accomplish nothing.

The banks must be broken up, as others have said. Any corporation that is too big to fail is too big to exist.

Break up the big corporate conglomerates to increase competition and diversity in the market place.

Then tax bonuses over a certain amount at 50%, payable by the individual who received the bonus.

This is all just a bunch of crap. The American people are hurting, and the ones who are largely responsible for that hurt are flying around on corporate jets, vacationing at one of their 3 or 4 vacation homes, and living like royalty.

Who says crime doesn't pay? If Obama doesn't deal with this issue, he deserves to be a one term President.

[Double T]

3. M & A must be stopped by the Justice Department.

Competition is being totally eliminated.

[Orsino]

4. The fucking bankers need to be taxed.

Along with all the rest of the ultra-wealthy. Their status is an incredible privilege in today's America, and they need to take on more of the tax burden.

[amborin]

5. interesting article here, from common dreams:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/12-8

[KittyWampus]

6. I agree and the push for trust busting has to come from the Federal Govt