The Banking Beast In: "The Day The Economy Stood Still"

Imagine a scene from an RKO film of the 1930's.  A huge monster is on the loose, rampaging through a town, causing pain and heartache to residents everywhere.  People's lives and dreams are being ground to dust by the monster's careless insensitivity, folks watch aghast while he leaves a trail of utter destruction in his wake.  Suddenly, the monster woulds himself badly.  As he falls, he causes even more problems, the resulting earthquake destroying everything in the surrounding area and condemning people to start a long, painstaking rebuilding process.

The authorities in the town take over the responsibility for the monster.  They tie it down while they ponder what to do with it.  Some think that it can be changed in order to become a force for good.  The decision is taken to keep it alive in its current form in the hope that something may positive may spring from the whole sorry episode.  Despite the monsters subdued state, the people of the town are still very angry with it.  They see the authorities depriving them of food in order to feed the monster and keep it alive.  While the beast sleeps, the old authorities take their leave.

Once the monster awakes, the newly appointed authorities decide to untie it and keep it on a lead.  Instead of training the monster and teaching it to graze and help to repair its damage, it is placed on a long chain.  Off it goes again, stamping on more buildings and causing more disruption.  When people complain that this is happening, the new people in charge of the monster insist that this is the best way forward, as there is no more food to feed the monster.  Isn't it a good thing that the beast is fending for itself?

The monster begins to take food from everyone it can, more than it possibly needs to recover it's health.  This surplus is not going to waste, though.  Oh no.  The beast generously shares it with the authorities which have tethered it so loosely.  People starve while the beast continues in its old way and the authorities get fat at the expense of ordinary people.

Then someone from the authorities comes up with a bright idea.  Why not hand the monster over to the people whose area it has destroyed?  After all, they could then sell it to an organisation that specialises in handling monsters and letting them roam free!  Genius!  The people might then have the chance to rebuild a quarter of the house that the monster destroyed!  Be grateful, people!  You have had your lives damaged, your livelihoods destroyed, many of you have lost your homes and the rebuilding operation will take decades!  But on the plus side, you will now own a tiny part of a monster!  Whether you know what do do with it or not doesn't enter into the equation!  The authorities are setting you free!

And if this analogy needs any explanation, try this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12661005

Failing that, it's sledgehammer time..............