February 10, 2012
I’m writing in support of a strong Volcker Rule. My family and I were affected by the economic collapse of 2008, and we don’t want it to happen again.
As you prepare the final rule, bear in mind the fundamental goal of the rule – to ban big banks from exposing consumers and taxpayers to risky proprietary trades.
Banks that break the rule should face swift, automatic penalties for violations. Violations of the Volcker Rule endanger the stability of our financial system. They should not be treated lightly.
I recognize that hedging is an appropriate part of risk management for a financial institution. But at the height of the 2008 crash, financial institutions owned derivatives with a nominal value of $1,400,000,000,000! No one has ever been able to explain to me how those derivatives did anything useful for the American people -- or the American economy. At some point (well short of $1.4 quadrillion!), hedging stops being hedging and becomes simply gambling!
Exemptions should only be allowed if they do not undermine this goal. If an exemption would result in exposing consumers and taxpayers to bank risk, it should be rejected.
Thank you for considering my comment,
Mary A Carroll
Chicago, IL