Slideshow

'You won't find a trail back to Curry or Gruenberg': Comments of the week

October 25, 2018 10:00 PM

Readers consider to new evidence regarding Operation Choke Point, debate the impact of Democrats taking control of the House in November, respond to concerns about weakening the Volcker Rule and more.

On an argument by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., that recently unsealed court documents shed light on the harmful effects of the Obama's administration's Operation Choke Point:

"Unfortunately, this appalling practice of government chokeholds continues at the state level. New York Governor Cuomo's attempt to bankrupt the NRA by use of New York's insurance licensing bureaucracy is scary and is being mimicked by other "progressive" states. Other ways these bureaucratic powers will be misused in the future is even more frightening."

Related: Evidence is now clear: Operation Choke Point hurt lawful businesses

A man films the exterior of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. The FDIC, seeking to replenish deposit reserves as banks fail at the fastest pace in 17 years, today voted to unanimously to have lenders prepay fees through 2012 raising about $45 billion. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Another reader debates the impact of Operation Choke Point on legitimate businesses:

"Chokepoint was indeed an appalling policy/practice, and all who participated should be dealt with accordingly. But we all need to keep in mind that agency officials, including the FDIC Regional Director mentioned, were following orders. Chokepoint came from the very top of the OCC/FDIC, but you won't find a trail back to Curry or Gruenberg. They and others who crafted this indefensible agenda left no fingerprints, as even they knew it was wrong."

Related: Evidence is now clear: Operation Choke Point hurt lawful businesses

Representative Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California and chairman of the House Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee, speaks during a hearing about mortgage and foreclosure servicing in Washington, D.C., U.S., Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010. U.S. House lawmakers criticized the Obama administration's program to prevent foreclosures as a Treasury Department official testified that the initiative has reduced monthly mortgage payments for almost 520,000 homeowners. Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Maxine Waters

Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg

On an argument that moderate Democrats will still be a significant force next year if the party takes control of the House, potentially opening the door for bipartisan legislation:

"I like the optimistic point of view - we absolutely should go in with the approach of seeking collaborative, bipartisan solutions. But the author has a much more glass half full view of Chair Waters than I do - I have not seen any inkling of a willingness to accommodate both segments of her committee..."

Related: Banks should fear a ‘blue wave’ in the House, right? Not so fast

doganmesut - stock.adobe.com

Another reader weighs in on the impact moderate Democrats could have if the party wins back the chamber in November:

"After all the so-called moderate Rs get wiped out in this year's mid-term, the only ones left will be Democrats. Look at the agenda of the New Dems and Blue Dogs. All reasonable, pro-biz, pro-free trade, pro-innovation, consensus seeking moderates. I wish there were half as many moderates in the GOP, but the Freedom Caucus has taken over the asylum."

Related: Banks should fear a ‘blue wave’ in the House, right? Not so fast

Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, speaks at the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) 2013 Economic Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, March 4, 2013. Volcker said U.S. central bank officials may find it difficult to rein in their historic stimulus at the appropriate time because there is a lot of liquor out there now. Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Paul Volcker

Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg

On an argument that weakening the Volcker Rule would put taxpayers at risk once again:

"Complete nonsense. Laws that have existed for years prohibit a depository bank from engaging in high risk trading with deposits. The Rule mostly affects affiliates that do not hold deposits. Volcker himself acknowledges that proprietary trading played no role in causing the recession. High risk trading with deposits is a lie used to agitate the public and legislators who don't know any better into passing this misdirected strategy to make it inconvenient for Goldman Sachs to own a bank."

Related: Trump reopening Wall Street casino by weakening Volcker Rule

On an argument that banks should be collecting more data to understand how their products affect people:

"As a community banker, I have to ask, "Who is struggling to regain public trust”? Certainly not those of us who live in and serve our communities. We do not need data to help our customers succeed or to improve their lot. If we do not help customers to succeed then we will not succeed either. To suggest that we might do otherwise is insulting."

Related: Banks should measure their social impact