Cass, while your figures of 25.2 billion earned at 8.2% interest are accurate, there are a couple of inaccuracies: TARP funds allocated were approximately $700 billion.(some under President Bush) Of that $700 billion, various sources have stated that between $50 billion and $150 billion will not be repaid. While it did possibly save the financial system from failing, are those very banks that were saved, lending money today to individuals and small businesses?(the very people whose money saved them) Ask someone who has recently attempted to get a new mortgage or borrow to buy a car.