Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 23, 2008
“The RTC (Resolution Trust Corporation) was created in 1989 by Congress as a federal agency to close failed Savings and Loan Associations and sell their assets at the highest value. Proceeds from sales were used, along with Congressional appropriations to pay all obligations to federally insured depositors Thousands of Savings and Loan (S & L) executives and directors were convicted. No S & L shareholder received a penny of taxpayer dollars. Innovative techniques such as the securitization of commercial mortgages were created to achieve the highest “net present value” for all assets sold. RTC was never a “bailout” in the sense of going beyond explicit federal guarantees. When the job was done, the RTC closed its doors–forever.
In 1993, it was thought that higher capital standards for all financial institutions, tighter asset appraisals and the experience of the S&L crisis itself would help prevent a reoccurrence of a financial crisis caused by mortgage defaults. Now we find ourselves, yet again, mired in a mortgage-driven crisis. However this one, if not soundly managed, could saddle future generations with unprecedented debt.
We offer this discussion of “lessons learned” from our RTC Oversight Board leadership roles in the spirit of “those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it”. At the same time, much of the work of the RTC should be repeated. We caution officials not to act so precipitously as to replace the last 20 years of government paralysis with panic. Notwithstanding the extreme nature of the current financial crisis, “doing it right” is the most important thing that can be done. If Treasury and Congress get this wrong because of unbridled haste to “do something”, the implications are far more serious than anyone can imagine. It will take years to unwind any poor decision making.
We believe that the following ten principles must guide the current federal response:
1)