It was about a year ago that we were covering the big financial services bailout plan known as “TARP,” for Troubled Asset Relief Program. See the post “Your Family’s $1,000 Bailout Bet on the Stock Market,” for example.

Here’s some news that shouldn’t surprise: The Inspector General for the TARP program calls it “unrealistic” to see much of that money paid back. Go figure.

$317 billion remains unrefunded. That’s about $3,220 per U.S. family, or $1,000 per person.

I learned a phrase early in my time in Washington that applies here: “That money was stolen fair and square.”