> A couple trillion dollars was used to buy up securities that are realistically worth $0 in pretty much every timeframe for 100 cents on the dollar, cleaning up bank balance sheets.
I have no idea what you're referring to, but if it's TARP then that's totally false. The government made a profit on the bailout.
The vast majority of the securities which the government bought up had intrinsic values higher than what the fear-driven market was pricing them at.
I don't think anyone thinks the assets bought in QE were worth $0. The Fed's impact was entirely at the margin (increasing the supply of investable dollars).
If the assets bought under QE were sold for 50 cents on the dollar (for example), even the most bearish investors would be lining up to buy in droves. Of course, that applies to investors with actual money behind their beliefs rather than random internet commentators who can pull valuations out of nowhere.
I have no idea what you're referring to, but if it's TARP then that's totally false. The government made a profit on the bailout.
The vast majority of the securities which the government bought up had intrinsic values higher than what the fear-driven market was pricing them at.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bailout-high...