[Aquinasfan]

I don't know much about banking, but my understanding of the problem with the American attempt at deregulation was that the banks were allowed to become involved with riskier investments, but at the same time were insured against failure. The banks were partially deregulated.

American and British banks should be given greater latitude in their ability to seize assets. This is war, and the criteria for determining guilt (by association) should be widened.

[LSJohn]

fyi

[LSJohn]

fyi

[LSJohn]

related thread here

[Rodney King]

American attempt at deregulation was that the banks were allowed to become involved with riskier investments, but at the same time were insured against failure

Yes. The FDIC should be eliminated, and the banks should have to buy account insurance in the private marketplace. That would result in the insurance companies keeping close tabs on what they are doing, kind of like how Moody's and S&P rate bonds. The insurance companies will take close looks at how banks are valuing their commerical real estate investments. Banks that are going nuts on speculative investments will have to pay higher insurance rates, to discourage such. Or, if the insurance companies are behind the times and are using inappropriate valuation techniques, the banks can not offer insurance at all, and informed consumers can decide for themselves if the higher interest rates are worth the added perceived risk.