Recession Weary Nation Still Hurting from Financial Meltdown

If the ordinary man screwed up as much as the CEO's of the banks we would be fired and we definitely don't make $20 million annually to screw. Why aren't the CEO's being fired and their salary would bail out this problem so the burden isn't on the taxpayers who are already over taxed and can't afford it.

I am against the bail out, but if we are going to have one to stimulate the economy, put the money where it will do some good. In the hands of the American taxpayers. The people will spend the money and get the economy jump started. This is a free market system, if you cannot run your business then you should not be in business. I know the government will not step in when I cannot run my business. Why should we as American taxpayers and voters have the politicians that are supposed to be representing us giving away all of our hard earned money. I say we do away with the special interest groups and all the lobbyists and get the politicians back to working for us instead of working for their own financial gains.

i think it is appaling that a bailout package has to run 450 pages,,, why should we trust a congress that got us into thsi problem to bail us out,,, ??? ther is so much 'pork' in the bailout, the special interrests are jumping for joy!

I do not know why this massive bailout should come as a surprise to any one. On one hand you have all our elected officials who have been mismanaging our economy for decades to the point the taxpayer is 9 to 11 trillion dollars in debt. These same elected officials then told Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac that it was all right to loan money to people who they knew could not repay the loan. When some elected officials tried to halt this practice they were promptly shouted down by other congressman who were receiving hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars in camp[aign controbutions. But according to them this is not a conflict of interest. Now they want to give 700 billion taxpayer dollars to these same people who have mismanged their companies into bankruptcy and why not they are both horrible at managing money. It is ovbious to everyone that neither the government nor wall street executives knows what it means to live within their budget. They say that if the bail out is not passed there will not be any credit available. Isn't giving credit to people who cannot afford to repay the loan what got us into this mess in the first place. Maybe a tightening of the credit will be a good thing. If people cannot get credit maybe they will learn to live within their means. I know I have and so have a lot of other people. As far as I can see neither one of the canidates shows any leadership ability. My vote will go to the one who is just a little less corrupt than the other one. That's not much of a choice but unfortunately it is the only choice we have. . .

As you can see from what happened in the stock market today, the rescue plan is not to bail out Wall Street...that will go on the way it always has....up down and sideways...sometimes you win but most of the time you lose or break even. This is a credit crisis brought on by a lot of factors, and fueled by poor leadership in our government....both parties. My son works for a small company and did not get his paycheck this week because his employer didn't get paid on a big job and could not borrow the money for his payroll. Another son's job is in jeopardy because he works for a nonprofit organization to assist homeless people. They depend entirely on county and public funds to operate. We all hate to support a bill that takes yet more money from the hardworking taxpayer, but if something isn't done the person who is going to be hurt the most is the middle class person who depends on a job and paycheck to survive. The problem starts at the top but trickles down to the lowest level. We're all mad about this, but in the end we are our brothers keeper !

I feel that the goverment has let things go for to long. Instead of bailing out these big companies, put the money in the hands of the tax payers. give each person over 18, five hundred thousand and then tax it. that money goes back to the government and the people still have more than enough to get out of debt and start buying again. this is going to help the ecomomy and th ecountry will be back on track. let the big companies figure out for themselves how to get out of the mess they made. to many times they have been given a break, now is the time to give the american citizen a chance to step up and take charge and help

Whats irks me the most is that our government has not lived within its means, yet set up a system of deregualtion and "easy money" that many people not understanding what they were getting into got in way over there heads. I relocated 2 years ago and at that time the realtors pushed to show me houses I felt were out of my price range. I chose the less expensive home, put 20 percent down and got a fixed mortgage.

presently yes I have some debt, no car loans not using credit cash only. I pay my bills ontime and have invested for the future, ovbviously my investements have taken a hit but you cant pull out of the market without a penalty.

We have seen CEOs bailout with millions and yet I know that we must deal with this issue as the creit market will seize up and small business will fail. This country needs to take a different path and start protecting the MAJORITY of us whom do the right thing.

I as an independent cannot support the GOP as looking at the facts this admin and the GOP that was in power for 7 plus years have really botched things up. IM NOT WILLING TO RISK ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

I think that instead of giving wallstreet $700 billion dollars that they should divide that money up and give it to the taxpayers. That way we could pay off some debt which would put money back into the banks, let the wallstreet CEO's bailout wallstreet.

Nobody has to tell me that most people don't care about whats happening to other families, I can see it. Between family members who blame the homeowners for taking on mortgages they cant afford, and friends who feel the 700 million dollar bailout is going to hurt homeowners and the middle-lower class, they just dont want it. They are all for MCCain and his money for the war-we are going to win, you know what, we arent going to win anything, we will feel this for yeard to come!! We had our government spend with reckless abandon for 8 yrs---and here we are!!! Nobody cares about the little people when things go good, when we have problems-its only the little people who care-and not much at that! How do we spend millions of dollars
on the war, and people are starving and scrimping to survive??? The CEO's and brokers really need to suffer for what they caused, -no more big payouts for CEO's!! They put a company in the ground-and still walk away with millions!!! NOT FAIR!! Then again, when we [the middle class] are able to buy big toys-and big houses-and spend like theres no tomorrow----we don't care either! NO WE CRY FOR HELP!!! . The people that baught my moms house put 5% down on a $490,000 home-[3 yrs ago] --and my mom said they got a balloon mortgage. What could their payment be?? They have a combined income of $100,000-and they still have to rent part of the house-and are still barely getting by. WHY??? Because they bit off morethan they could chew-and everyone let them! THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR WINS AGAIN!!! We are pawns-but we helped us become pawns!! Doesn't anyone realize that the affect this will have on everything in our lives???
NOT JUST HOUSING!!!! MORE BUSINESSES WILL CLOSE!! Little stores in your neighborhood-more people
will lose their jobs!!! Food and gas prices will get higher----we will be able to do less than we are now!!!
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!

I agree with all the comments below. Why is this a burden on the lower and middle class. The gov. should have stepped in before all these financial institutions handed out loans with a variable interest rate to folks that had no means of handling such a financial commitment when the interest rates went up on their mortgage. My husband is self-employed and we can barely keep our heads above water right now just trying to keep up with the 15.3 percent self-employment tax, now we're to help bail out all the CEO's and Wall Street. We may be one of the lowest tax paying countries but we don't get much for it either. When it's all said and done Americans put out approx. 50% or more of our income to taxes. It never ends, income tax, self-employment tax, sales tax, property tax, personal property tax, tax on food, tax on clothes, sin tax, and on and
on. There are not too many people who will agree with this bail out. Greed is what got the US in this mess to begin with and it's not going to get any better. Bring the troops home and let the money that would have been spent on the war efforts bail out Wall Street.

Right on to the comment below. Figures though, the republicans are making the rules, so, middle class is not even one of their concerns. Oh forgive me, I almost forgot the stimulus package where some of us got 300.00 and bigger families with lower incomes got a little bit more. The US is not really a democracy anymore. The Bush admin has further pushed us into a dictatorship praying on all the poor people's votes through religious factors and then not doing anything for the lower income families. It's all about the corporations and it always will be

The state of the economy is on the heads of everyone--Bush, the government, the AMERICAN PEOPLE and the banks. People can't pay for mortgages because they are so caught up in the "I want it now" attitude of unnecessary items such as the Apple IPhone or the Wii that people are spending hundreds of dollars on this stuff, when that hundreds of dollars could be put towards the house payment or whatever loan. The American people live beyond their means, regardless of what President or government we have. The banks are at fault for overextending themselves and giving loans to the people who don't have the money to pay for the payment. The government, both Democrats (of which 40% said no to the bailout, which is a significant number) and Republicans are too greedy and are worried about what would happen to themselves and don't care about the American people and what happens to them. President Bush did not act quick enough to save the economy which should've been done a lot sooner. So as you can see we are the United States - when a crisis happens, we are all united in contributing to it. Wake up people! Stop spending money on things you think you need when it's just a want. Make sacrifices to keep a roof over your head and food on the table.

All you Bush puppets need to step up to the plate and sell all the things he has givin you for the last 8 years then you can do the bail out. This is your mess, deal with it. Remember when Clinton was in office and you all badmouthed him because he got a bj behind closed doors. Haven't you noticed, your leader has been screwing everyone right out in the open, but lets see, your to stupied to notice. Want the same vote McCain

All you Bush supporters this is your mess. All you people that have it so good from this so called leader, go sell your things to do the bailout. McCain is the same, want more of the same then vote McCain

The bailout proposal was a particularly bold attempt by congress-and in an election year. I'm glad this energized Joe Q tax payer and got him spitting mad. It boggles the mind that they [our elected officials] thought they could actually pull this off under the voters nose. Hell the money would have been better put to use if given directly to the american citizens. That would average about 200K per taxpayer roughly after taxes. Now that would be a way to stimulated the economy.

The Government bailout proposal went down in flames as it should have. It never surprises me how short sighted our elected officials are. I really believe they actually forget who they work for. It is not surprising with the average american struggling to keep his/her head above water, the majority of voters think this bailout is anathma. In short, I don't think wall street deserves it, they did it to themselves. Let them pay the price. Why not give the 700 B directly to the people. Crunch the numbers and your talking approximately 200K per person after taxes. Now that's a way to stimulate the economy.

From what I read of the recent proposal, I thought it was a good bailout. It would give our people a break in the fact that they could "borrow" to pay their debts; however, in today's world, the people want everything taken care of for them. There are jobs - plenty of them - yes, a good portion of them are out of state but if that's what it takes to keep one's head above water, then that's what they should do. I love the part of the proposal whereby the big shots would have their pay slashed. For years I worked under these people who think they are above and superior to the middle class. Well, you know what..............they put their pants and skirts on the same as the middle class plus they don't even earn the money they get. A piece of paper that says the individual went to college for x amount of years doesn't qualify for outrageous paychecks. What is learned in books doesn't come close as to how a company is run - experience is still the major factor and that means they should be WORKING their way up - not starting at the top.

I can't get over how long it took present government to admit this economy is at its worst.It did not happen within last few days, why then such urgency for the Congres to work on this over the weekend!!! They were so slow and now they act as if the world is going to come to an end in 72 hours. This bailout is to help mainly large companies at the expense of middle class. It is sad, but looks as if we all will have to pay for this mess.

I came to USA, on 1988. I left my native country, because I was sick of the duo, idiot politicians & selfish CEOs. Because of them, my native country got weaken and people has to suffer. Under the corrupt government and money-slave CEOs, there was no justice, no hope, and no dreams. No small businesses can grow. No justice can be found. I felt no proud on the country. So I decided to leave. And I came to America. The country I always dreamed about. The country I wanted to live. The land of oppertunity. Where the justice lives. I was so happy. And I worked hard and hard. I didn't ask for food stamp or government checks. I didn't do any illegal things. I tried my best to become a 'good' citizen. And I got my citizenship, on 1993. It's one of the happiest days of my life. And, I worked hard to become a 'middle class'. I wanted to enjoy my life, day by day, with my kids and wife. And I thought I'm almost there.... But, for the last few years, I've been doubting if I can be a 'middle class'. I've been seeing those 'same idiot politicians and selfish CEOs' (that I saw in my native country,) in my proud country, USA. The politicians and CEOs who care nobody, but themselves. The politicians who graduated from famous colleges, but still don't have any knowledge in basic politics and economy. The CEOs who always cheat the small investors, for their own wealth. The politicians who never represent us, but pretending they do. The duo, corrupt politicians and money-slave CEOs, who never care for the citizens, except themselves.,... But, I still have the same proud that I had when I get the citizenship of USA. I still believe that my kids can be safe and have great living in USA. I still belive that there are more 'good' politicians and CEOs than 'bad' ones. And I trust politicians and CEOs will correct their mistakes and lead America in right direction. So, I want to say a few words to the 'duo'. Please 'open your eyes', 'open your ears', and 'open your mind'. See what how we live daily, listen what we say, and feel what we feel! You're nothing but corrupt politicians if you don't try to understand us. You're filthy slaves of the money, if you don't know how the employees feel. Follow the tracks that our great ancestors did, to make our country strong. Don't let youf kids feel shame on you. Don't lead America to wrong way. Don't let us give up on you. Without us, you're nothing. NOW, WAKE UP, AND GET BACK TO 'REAL' WORK. The works that makes our country stronger. The works that your employees can be proud of you. The works that makes our middle class more stable. The works that we asked you to do when you become politician and CEOs. Work for America, not for you. Don't misuse your power and money. *** Idiots. No Bailout. Without middle class, America can't be the same America we're proud of. - from a citizen who still don't know English Grammar that much -