"If the assets and equity are worthless, the taxpayers won't get their money back."

Evidently CC is more concerned with ifs than facts.

What it they are not worthless? What if a bullfrog had wings? What if you could recognize facts from hype?

It is not a gift as you have falsely characterized it.

Do you have any sort of retirement coming to you? If so, part of the money is likely to be invested in equity, (shares of stock) in these same financial institutions. When the Government buys shares, it is beneficial to you.

On Tuesday, October 14, the Treasury Department announced the creation of a Capital Purchase Program, through which the Treasury will purchase up to $250 billion of senior preferred shares in qualifying U.S. controlled banks, savings associations, and bank and savings and loan holding companies. The program, which is part of the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), but is a departure from previously announced plans to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions

The money might have been given to them to use just like when anybody buys stock in anything but it was not given to them to keep.

Is this a gift or not?