Just before July 4th the government took over another 7 banks, bringing the total for the year to 52. And there's more to come. Many more. But they can't be taken over just yet because there's not enough spare bucks in the federal till to do the job, and not enough healthy banks willing to take over the tortured assets of their sick cousins.  So these insolvent institutions continue to function--in a manner of speaking. And collectively comprise a legion of...

Zombie Banks

Each day they open their doors, 
Behaving like regular banks,
And hardly a customer knows,
They're part of the dead zombie ranks.

Depositors give them their cash,
Secure in a fed guarantee
That no matter how bad these banks' books,
By the government whole all will be.

T'would be nice if the still living clan,
Composed of well functioning lenders,
Collectively stepped up and said,
We'll take care of these sickly offenders.

But of course they are loathe to do that,
Preferring a bail-out instead,
The reanimate touch of the fed,
For a legion of zombies long dead.

******

©2009 Michael Silverstein

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