Quote from Shreddog:
So the fundamental question: Is Goldman making obscene profits off the US taxpayer?
Let's ignore the the tarp funds, the zero interest loans, the ability to use toxic garbage as collateral at the discount window, the AIG bailout that allowed GS to get paid by AIG in full. Ignore all of this and ask yourself this simple question:
What if GS blows up badly enough to take the firm down next quarter? This is a reasonable question since it was conceivable they could have gone down in Q4 of last year. Will they be allowed to go under? The answer to this answers the fundamental question.