“There is general agreement among economists about what needs to be done to stabilize the financial system. The banks have to be recapitalized, all deposits have to be guaranteed (beyond the $100,000 FDIC limit) and additional stimulus has to be provided to increase consumer demand.”

Whitney is another one, along with William Engdahl who seems to have fallen for the British recapitalisation scheme or ,rather, scam. This is a bottomless pit of public money: the banks have to be put through bankruptcy, then nationalised with guarantees to depositors and mortgage lenders. This can only be done within an agreed international framework. 

Black Friday Counterpunch October 10 / 12, 2008

By MIKE WHITNEY

Stock markets across the world are in a state of hysteria. The tidal wave of sell-offs, which began when Henry Paulson announced the Bush administration’s $700 billion bailout plan for the sinking banking system, has swelled into a global tsunami racing round the globe. Shares fell sharply across Europe and Asia for the fifth straight day following a 679 drop on the Dow Jones. Nearly $900 billion was wiped off the value of U.S. equities in just one trading day. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, the “fear index”, soared to a record 64. Credit markets remain frozen. Libor, the London interbank offered rate, nudged up slightly on Thursday night, signaling even greater resistance to lending between the banks. Until there is relief in the credit markets, stocks will continue to slide. But trust has vanished. The 50 basis points rate cut that was coordinated with foreign central banks has had no effect. The market is being driven by fear and pessimism. Read the rest of this entry »