>>and the banking crisis shows that you cannot expect vested interest always to act in rational self-interest.

How does it show that?
In general, bankers are far richer now than they were before the crisis hit.
The few firms who folded were gobbled up by larger banks and the executives often made more money than they had been making before.

If anything, it shows that they acted clearly in their self interest and continue to do so with the encouragement of the fed.

Here's the latest chapter to unfold while people worry about who said what when about the ACA.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/business/off-limits-but-blessed-by-the-fed.html?_r=0