Bailout Tally So Far: Twice the Entire U.S. Budget

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This just disappoints me that Americans are not seeing the light. When polled 58 percent of Americans approved of how well Barrack Obama is doing his job, while 59 percent of that same group said that they were very concrned about the size of the federal budget deficit. Do the not posess the common sense to realize that you can't approve of a man that is increasing the deficit if you are worried about it.

Ryan of IL 2:16PM February 25, 2009

Bail Out should have not been done. Let the forces in financial system handle the activties in banking system.
Politicians are not capable of handling serious matters.

Tas of CA 11:28AM December 31, 2008

I dont have an MBA from Harvard but I am smart enough to know that throwing hundreds of billions of dollars at this mess will create more long term problems than it will fix. The solution is to let the free market system, that we all like so well, take the big hit now so we can move on. The ensuing recession without this bailout will be bloody but it needs to happen so that we can hit bottom sooner than later and begin the struggle back to where we need to be. AIG should have been allowed to fix its own problems or fail. The banks should be allowed to fix thier own mess or fail. Those individuals that bought houses that they can not afford will also have to bite the bullet.The car makers, as well as all the other businesses or states that have their hands out need to get their own houses in order on their own or fail period. Hundreds of thousands will lose their jobs as businesses contract or fail. Those businesses that have done a good job will buy out the others, as it has always been done in a free market. If we are truly a capitalistic nation then we need to have faith in that system or give up and become a socialized nation and let our government run everything. I understand that government needs to play a vital role but that role is expanding beyond anything we have ever seen in our nations history, including the great depression. The experts are all wrong when they say that our children will bear the cost of this spending spree by our government. It will more likely be our grandchildren and great gradchildren.As a 53 year old I wonder what kind of country we will be leaving them if and when we get beyond this mess. ONE OTHER THING. Let us agree to call this a BAILOUT until it is paid off, then we can relabel it as a Loan.

David of FL 11:01PM December 28, 2008

You're always welcome to go a little farther north and move to Canada. That's a beautiful land that I'm sure you'll begin to hate after a while as well. And instead of asking yourself what you did to cause the problems in your life, and asking yourself how to fix them, you are simply going to blame the government.
Am I thrilled that these big companies are getting all of this money, AGAIN? Not in the least. But, it's a necessary evil. Let's just hope this latest recession helps set up better regulation to prevent this sort of thing in the future. Thankfully, I'm young enough where this is my first MAJOR recession. Times are tough, but truthfully, it could be a lot worse. There are some fields of business that are actually doing better now that the economy has tanked. The trick is being clever enough to be in these fields...
Of course, I'm not that clever. I stay in a failing field, and I keep holding on as tight as possible. WHy? I'm stubborn, and I like the company I work for. If it fails, that was be incredibly difficult, but we will get through. I don't know about your area, but there is plenty of work in my area. People just don't want to do it. Either the work is too much for them, or the pay is too low. I tell you one thing. I would rather make $8 an hour shoveling shit than making nothing at all. Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way, which is part of why unemployment is so high.
Some people aren't even trying to get jobs. We recently got an application at our small business (which is hiring) pointing out all the worst in the applicant. She clearly did not want to get hired, but was just trying to keep getting her unemployment. THe terrible part is, we may not be wealthy over here, but once you get your foot in the door, your pay can average from $12-20 an hour, depending on how hard you work. I'm sure to some people that's pocket change, but in my area, that's a fair wage. But, she'd rather collect that unemployment check that have a little pride and make a living.
I'm as lazy as the next guy, but at least I do my job.

Mr. Allen of ME 9:56AM December 26, 2008

Go back to "Gold Standard" may be only way to keep our
$ buying power as the $ won't be woth CRAP!

mo of AL 11:02AM December 18, 2008

I AS A TAXPAYER SINCE I STARTED WORKING AT AGE 12 COULDNT EVEN GET 2-WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT. WHY, BECAUSE BIG BIZ-NESS USED THE SAME TRICKS,LOOPHOLES AND LIES TO NEGATE THE CLAIM. BUT NOW I KNOW THE ANSWER!START A BIZ-NESS,LIE,CHEAT,STEAL AND OTHERWISE JUST RUN IT INTO THE GROUND WHILE I LINE MY POCKETS WITH OTHERS HARD EARNED CASH. THEN ILL GO CRYING TO THE GOVERMENT WHO IN THEIR ILLEGAL USE OF OUR NATIONS TAX DOLLARS WILL COME BAIL ME OUT.I EVEN GET TO KEEP MY PLUNDER AND STILL GET AN EXCESSIVE SALARY.IN A COUPLE OF YEARS(ABOUT 12-15 I CAN DO IT AGAIN)AS IT IS THE THIRD TIME IN MY LIFE THE GOVERMENT HAS BAILED OUT BIG BIZ-NESS AND I AM NOW UNEMPLOYED FOR THE 1ST TIME IN MY LIFE(IM 44YRS OLD).WHY DONT WE ALL JUST WORK FOR THE GOVERMENT OR JUST STAY HOME AND GET A FREE STIMUL-ASS CHECK.ALL THATS RIGHT I DIDNT GET THE LAST ONE.IT AMAZES ME THAT ALL YOU HERE IS TO MUCH GOVERMENT CONTROL AND IT SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF THE FREE MARKET.I HAVENT HEARD NEONE SAY THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS?WHAT THE NEED TO DO IS LET THEM ALL FAIL.THEN WELL KNOW WHERE THE BOTTOM IS AND WE CAN BUILD NEW PRODUCTIVE COMPANYS AND CREATE NEW IDEAS AND BETTER SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES.HOO-RA FOR GOVERMENT CONTROL AND WHILE THEY R AT IT THEY CAN JUST RE-WRITETHE CONSTITUTION,OH RIGHT THEY HAVE BEEN FOR AT LEAST 25YRS.
NOT SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN NE-MORE!

RANDY RIPPEON of MD 9:08AM December 18, 2008

I AS A TAXPAYER SINCE I STARTED WORKING AT AGE 12 COULDNT EVEN GET 2-WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT. WHY, BECAUSE BIG BIZ-NESS USED THE SAME TRICKS,LOOPHOLES AND LIES TO NEGATE THE CLAIM. BUT NOW I KNOW THE ANSWER!START A BIZ-NESS,LIE,CHEAT,STEAL AND OTHERWISE JUST RUN IT INTO THE GROUND WHILE I LINE MY POCKETS WITH OTHERS HARD EARNED CASH. THEN ILL GO CRYING TO THE GOVERMENT WHO IN THEIR ILLEGAL USE OF OUR NATIONS TAX DOLLARS WILL COME BAIL ME OUT.I EVEN GET TO KEEP MY PLUNDER AND STILL GET AN EXCESSIVE SALARY.IN A COUPLE OF YEARS(ABOUT 12-15 I CAN DO IT AGAIN)AS IT IS THE THIRD TIME IN MY LIFE THE GOVERMENT HAS BAILED OUT BIG BIZ-NESS AND I AM NOW UNEMPLOYED FOR THE 1ST TIME IN MY LIFE(IM 44YRS OLD).WHY DONT WE ALL JUST WORK FOR THE GOVERMENT OR JUST STAY HOME AND GET A FREE STIMUL-ASS CHECK.ALL THATS RIGHT I DIDNT GET THE LAST ONE.IT AMAZES ME THAT ALL YOU HERE IS TO MUCH GOVERMENT CONTROL AND IT SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF THE FREE MARKET.I HAVENT HEARD NEONE SAY THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS?WHAT THE NEED TO DO IS LET THEM ALL FAIL.THEN WELL KNOW WHERE THE BOTTOM IS AND WE CAN BUILD NEW PRODUCTIVE COMPANYS AND CREATE NEW IDEAS AND BETTER SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES.HOO-RA FOR GOVERMENT CONTROL AND WHILE THEY R AT IT THEY CAN JUST RE-WRITETHE CONSTITUTION,OH RIGHT THEY HAVE BEEN FOR AT LEAST 25YRS.
NOT SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN NE-MORE!

RANDY RIPPEON of MD 9:08AM December 18, 2008