Former Fed Chairman, Paul Volker, wants to break up the big banks.

He advocates a return to the Glass Stegall Act that separates commercial banking (with low risk & minimal leverage) from investment banking. Opponents contend that we need our large institutions in order to compete with the rest of the world's large banks.

Our financial system may continue on this roller-coaster until he gets his way. Let's hope we don't have to return to a 20% prime rate in the process!

Source: New York Times, Oct. 21, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/business/21volcker.html?_r=2&hp