[quote user="Gluestick"]If you want to understand why this went wrong, then study the demise of Continental Illinois bank in the 1980s. http://fic.wharton.upenn.edu/fic/case%20studies/continental%20full.pdf Then study the demise of Long Term Capital Management. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-Term_Capital_Management As the last intelligent Chair of the Fed, Paul Volcker stated on both occasions, if either CI or LTCM had have been let go, then probably either event could have tripped the Ultimate Domino Effect feared for so long: which is what has partially happened now. And this is the result of Fractional Reserve Banking, not banks enjoying the ability to create money from thin air! [/quote] Thank you for the above information. Whilst I study it, readers may like to hear this man's views: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeb2VnI7S4U