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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Fed Bails Out AIG for $85 Billion

The Fed, which is a Leviathan-constructed enterprise, has bailed out the faltering American International Group (AIG) juggernaut at a cost to taxpayers in the amount of $85 billion. This move will only compound the problem of malinvestments in the financial services industry, which happens to be a welfare queen to the nth degree.

Here's AIG's statement on the Fed bailing it out:

Addresses Liquidity Issues and Policyholder Concerns

NEW YORK--Sept. 16, 2008--The Board of Directors of American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG) issued the following statement in response to today's announcement by the Federal Reserve Board that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is providing a two-year, $85 billion secured revolving credit facility to AIG that will ensure the company can meet its liquidity needs:

"The AIG Board has approved this transaction based on its determination that this is the best alternative for all of AIG's constituencies, including policyholders, customers, creditors, counterparties, employees and shareholders. AIG is a solid company with over $1 trillion in assets and substantial equity, but it has been recently experiencing serious liquidity issues. We believe the loan, which is backed by profitable, well-capitalized operating subsidiaries with substantial value, will protect all AIG policyholders, address rating agency concerns and give AIG the time necessary to conduct asset sales on an orderly basis. We expect that the proceeds of these sales will be sufficient to repay the loan in full and enable AIG's businesses to continue as substantial participants in their respective markets. In return for providing this essential support, American taxpayers will receive a substantial majority ownership interest in AIG.

"We commend the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department for taking this decisive action to address AIG's liquidity needs and broader financial market concerns. We thank them for their leadership during this critical time for the global financial markets. We also thank Governor Paterson, Commissioner Dinallo, Commissioner Ario, the other state Commissioners, and the Office of Thrift Supervision for their willingness to assist AIG.

"Policyholders of AIG companies around the world can rest assured that AIG's commitments will continue to be honored."

It should be noted that the remarks made in this press release may contain projections concerning financial information and statements concerning future economic performance and events, plans and objectives relating to management, operations, products and services, and assumptions underlying these projections and statements. It is possible that AIG's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these projections and statements. Factors that could cause AIG's actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those in the specific projections and statements are discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors of AIG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and in Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of AIG's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2008. AIG is not under any obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligations) to update or alter its projections and other statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

American International Group, Inc. (AIG), a world leader in insurance and financial services, is the leading international insurance organization with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of retirement services, financial services and asset management around the world. AIG's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the stock exchanges in Ireland and Tokyo.

CONTACT:
American International Group, Inc.
Charlene Hamrah (Investment Community)
212-770-7074

Nicholas Ashooh (News Media)
212-770-3523


This is definitely economic fascism to the core. Fascism is a profit system, in which the private enterprise's profits are private, but the losses are socialized. Laissez-faire (free market) capitalism is a profit-and-loss system, in which both profits and losses are private, and the taxpayers are not footing the bill for either one. The former should be condemned and opposed, while the latter should be embraced. This isn't a matter of oversimplifying the issue; this is a matter of the Left, including the vast majority of the American public, being ignorant and uneducated on free market economics, particularly the Austrian school of thought.

Having said all that, there's a dime's worth of difference between the systems, and the Left has gotten laissez-faire all wrong. Not only that, they're both ignorant and arrogant about it. Ignorant because they choose not to look at the economic models in depth and understand how they truly work. Arrogant because they think they know everything there is to know about economics, and yet they know nothing.

So much for tolerance, open-mindedness, and diversity in the world of progressive liberalism.

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