why should the taxpayers be put on the hook for that?
One reason that it was done in the past was because it saves the taxpayers money by bailing out a single meltdown rather than something systemic.
But you should recognize: The taxpayers back up the FDIC, but singleton meltdowns are paid out of the insurance fund, which is paid into by the banks themselves. As long as that fund does not get exhausted (ie a systemic meltdown) it doesn't cost the taxpayers directly.
I for one am tired of privatizing the profits, and socializing the losses.
In the extremely unlikely case that the fdic insurance fund couldn’t make insured deposits while the tax payer is on the hook.
The bank's continued existence isn't the FDIC's concern. Making the depositors whole is.