.....and companies such as GE would have been in the ICU.....
Was GE selected as a typical representative of the class or does GE have a specific problem?
GE is on my S%%%% list for propagandizing via their board organ NBC
GE is on my S%%%% list for several reasons, one being its dealings with Iran.
My uncertain recollection is that GE and GM both got themselves added to the list of financial companies whose stocks the SEC currently does not allow shorting.
GM however just got part of the $25 billion bailout in the other big bill from congress - the omnibus spending bill, so I'm hoping they can pay the rent for a few more weeks.
I suspect that GE (and GM) are representative of a class, but they are "outstanding" representatives of that class, and I don't offhand recall hearing specific names of any others in that class (well, Ford, perhaps).