[fhayek]

I am not expert (that goes without saying), but I suggest that there COULD be a free market solution. Ford deals with a bank, but also pays an insurance premium that with some large banking/insurance concern that kicks in if the original bank fails. No government fingerprints necessary. The insurer would have all the incentive in the world to keep tabs on the bank in question. Again, not perfect, but preferable to the government’s involvement. At least IMHO...

[Alberta's Child]

That may be an improvement. The potential problem there should be obvious: What happens if the insurers fail?

That’s not an outlandish possibility. In fact, the collapse and near failure of major insurer AIG was one of the things that made the 2008 financial collapse so devastating.

We are discussing some questions here that go right to the core of the stability of our entire financial system.