Grasping Reality with Both Hands: The Geithner Plan FAQ
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2009/03/the-geithner-plan-faq.html

Q: What if markets never recover, the assets are not fundamentally undervalued, and even when held to maturity the government doesn’t make back its money? A: Then we have worse things to worry about than government losses on TARP-program money–for we are then in a world in which the only things that have value are bottled water, sewing needles, and ammunition.

bailout plan overview