May 21, 2013

Weather

Fair

52°
Feels Like: 50 °
Conditions at Grand Junction, CO
Get the news you need to know before you go out the door with the 11 News Morning Show weekdays from 5 to 7 a.m.
Save Email Print Bookmark and Share
A A
Reporter: Tim Ciesco Email

Bailouts, Bailouts, Bailouts: Local Experts, Residents React

The Dow Jones surged 396 points Monday upon news that the federal government is set to bailout banking giant Citigroup. But while Wall Street celebrates, Main Street grows weary as more of their dollars are handed over to corporations.

Between feeding $700 billion to the financial sector, Congressional talks about a rescue plan for the auto industry, and now a promise to help banking giant Citigroup --

"Obviously there's been a severe, significant downturn in the market over the last thirteen months," said Larry Jones, Branch Manager of Financial West Group.

--People like Cindy Somers are beginning to cringe when they hear the "b" word: bailout.

"I certainly understand we can't allow these businesses, particularly the auto industry, to completely lose because then we all lose. There's so many millions of jobs attached to that," said Somers. "But again, they caused this to happen and they're not really paying the price.

Others say corporations should never have had to ask for or receive bailouts in the first place.

"I think you have to let some of them go bankrupt," said Grand Valley resident Gary Davis. "I think that just has to happen. We can't afford to bail them all out."

But local financial experts like Jones feel differently. He says recent market trends are starting to show signs of recovery, thanks in part to the government bailouts.

"I think it's positive in the sense that the government understands how serious this is and how committed they are to get the economy moving again," said Jones.

As more and more corporations are forced to make layoffs and as credit grows tighter, he says the bailout plans are important for more than just the businesses they help.

"I think corporations and banks hopefully will be improving credit, the ability for people to borrow loans," said Jones. "I also think the consumer will gain more confidence and start to spend money again. People have to understand, they will benefit as well."

But many say they're still not convinced bailouts are the answer to fixing the economy.

"That's one of the things I think that's scary about it," said Somers. "We trust these people to make the right decisions, but who knows?"

"Back when IBM went down, they corrected, the government didn't bail them out and now they're a viable company again," said Davis. "I think these companies have got to cut back, re-engineer themselves, and prepare for the future."

Local experts say as the financial crisis continues and as a new administration comes into power, we likely have not seen the last of companies and industries coming to the government for financial help.


You must be logged in to post comments.

Username:
Password (case sensitive):
Remember Me:

Read Comments

KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.

  • by Jim78418 Location: Orchard Mesa on Nov 25, 2008 at 02:22 PM
    It seems to me that providing bailout money to a business without the business changing what got it into trouble in the first place will render the bailout nothing more than a bandaid. Without fixing the problem at its root cause you can expect the need for a bailout to return. Generally speaking the fed has no business bailing any business out. If government didn't have it's hands in fannymae's and fannymac's business most of todays problems would not be here.... of course we keep electing the same congress year after year.