As the World Reels

How interesting that the very proponents of smaller government when it comes to the interests of the little people are now ready to become big government and rescue Wall Street fat cats. Aren't these the same leaders who championed free markets and deregulation for the past three decades? Why should they be bailed out while people are losing their homes because of the greed and deception of these very firms? A bailout that does not include help for those in lower income brackets who have purchased reasonably priced homes would be grossly unfair. Perhaps all at-risk loans for first homes should be restructured depending on the income of the owner And it would be a crime to allow the perpetrators of this debacle to make millions from taxpayers.

Mary Bagwell
Atlanta, Georgia

Bundled mortgage securities insured with credit default swaps sold by pseudo-bankers (mortgage brokers) and real-estate agents on steroids? Who needs regulation when juvenile delinquents can run things? This crisis has been caused by pretend loans for pretend buyers from pretend adults with pretend insurance. And now the Wall Street suits are running to Mommy for a nearly $1 trillion bailout. Mommy, confused, scared and forgiving, admonishes her brats and caves in. Socialism for greedy, immature capitalists, and scraps and debt for the peasants? Why are we surprised? They should be required to pay it back, say at 5 percent of future profits. What a concept—that banks requiring us to pay our debts be required to pay theirs.

Tom Evans
Bemidji, Minnesota

Let's say you go to McDonald's and order a cheeseburger. I take your order and your money. Then I take your cheeseburger outside and set it down in front of my dog. I walk away and come back a minute later to find a happy dog, but no cheeseburger. Then I tell you it's my dog's fault, not mine, that your cheeseburger is missing. And no, you can't have your money back. This is pretty much what they've been doing with your money in Washington. It will take years to sort out the details of who stole what from whom and how they did it. We haven't even begun to learn of all the corruption, malfeasance, fraud and stupidity that brought us to this, our worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The one thing we can be sure of is that the American taxpayer is going to get hit hard.

Dave Coyne
Goshen, Indiana