"It's hard to make that argument without expecting the firm to...

"It's hard to make that argument without expecting the firm to act 'in the national interest' which it is not proper to expect. This firm acts for its shareholders not the 'national interest.'"

Banks are the only companies that are allowed by the government to "invent" money. If you get a home loan from them for $1million only $100k is actually real money that the bank has in capital reserves (ie deposit funds etc), $900k is just a book entry. They then charge interest on the full $1mill.

It's the biggest government handout going around...so yes they need to be good corporate citizens and look after the national interest or else we will see the government step in and start running banks again.