Nothern Trust Is Right to Have Sponsored Golf Tournament!

We have all heard the hue and cry of liberals, especially, about how banks that receive federal government bailout money decide to operate.

Talking heads on both sides of the aisle have lambasted banks who receive these so-called TARP funds for honoring compensation commitments to executives and for completing deals made months prior for such perks as private jets.

Now, the latest bally-hoo from the critics is corporate marketing strategy.

It appears that some banks, one in particular being Northern Trust, are following-though with events that both thank customers and promote the bank, much to the chagrin of Washington light-weight Senator John Kerry.

Kerry, it seems, calls the funding of these marketing events as an "idiotic abuse of taxpayer money." It should be noted that Kerry has supported each and every bailout and "stimulus" package over the past few months. He would certainly know about the idiotic abuse of taxpayer money.

Now, Kerry wants banks who receive TARP funds to be required to ask permission to host, sponsor, or pay for conferences, holiday parties and entertainment events.

If a bank wants to have a Christmas party for its employees to reward them for a hard year of work, they would have to get a waiver from big daddy government, aka Treasury Secretary Timothy Geitner.

Northern Trust did not seek, nor apparently want, to take the TARP funds. These events were planned months, if not years ago; to punish banks for following through on its obligations is ludicrous and clearly political posturing. NT reportedly used the TARP funds in the way they were intended, and to apparent success. NT may have been among the banks who report they were forced to take the bailout funds, whether they wanted them or not. They are not the only bank to make this claim.

It is time for the government to get out of the way of these -- and all -- businesses. If the government gives bailout funds to a bank, and the bank "squanders" the money and continues to fail, don't give them any more money! If they succeed, leave them alone!

It is shocking and irresponsible to define the terms of the bailout after the funds have been distributed.

The banks themselves must be allowed to make business decisions for themselves, and not Timothy Geitner

What's next, no more free pens with the bank's name on it? No more lollipops for kids in the drive-though?

It is outrageous and improper to change the requirements for receiving funds after the funds are allocated.