How can so manypeople misunderstand the "bailout" and actually believe they are somehow punishing Wall Street?

First, those who have earned a good credit rating will have credit and receive credit... "lack of credit" will not exist. We will simply return to a time when you had to justify your means for credit. Hence, some will not receive credit, but they are the ones who should not receive credit in the first place. THAT (unqualified borrowers) are part of this whole crisis, and they should not receive more credit if they cannot be approved for it.

Second, yes, this crisis will hurt some businesses, and some people may suffer a job loss. However, we cannot sustain all businesses at the expence of taxpayers.

Yes, our loan interest rates will go up... thank goodness. Finally, people will not be so willing to incur debt so they can have what they want now. In the past, generations saved up their money BEFORE they purchased what they wanted. Hence, they had little outstanding debt. Today, we do not want to save a 20% down payment on a house or save up for that "big screen tv." We would rather have the item now and worry about the payments later. Luckily, if interest rates are more, people will be less likely to use loans and credit cards.

Last, our retirement accounts may take a hit, BUT they did in the 80's, and they rebounded wonderfully. I find it very naive for people to believe that our market will never fail, our housing "bubble" will never burst, and that our economy will never suffer corrections.

Thus, I disagree with your premise, and I, for one, do not think that the government should be responsible for rescuing individuals and companies and that made reckless, irresponsible decisions.

It does not matter what you call it , it is still a 700 billion $ "program" to save huge insolvent private corporations.

Themes from Bailouts

From the many bailouts over the course of the 20th century, certain principles and lessons have emerged that are consistent:[3][4]

* Act quickly and decisively

* Let insolvent institutions fail in an orderly way

* Loans help the system cope with liquidity concerns, but bank solvency issues require recapitalization (i.e., debt elimination or asset purchases from the entity by the government).

* If taking over an institution due to insolvency, take effective control through the board or new management, wipe out the common equity shareholders, but protect the debt holders and suppliers.

* Government should take an equity interest to the extent taxpayer assistance is provided, so that taxpayers can benefit later.

* A special government entity is created to administer the program, such as the Resolution Trust Corporation.

* Prohibit dividend payments, to ensure taxpayer dollars are used for loans and strengthening the bank, rather than payments to investors.

* Strong oversight.

Rescue, bailout...all the same language for giving tax dollars to the Wall Street mogols who are not regulated in what they allow businesses to do. I love the fact that the working public finally had a chance to "stand up and be counted", since if this was not an election year, it would have passed easily. This was a rushed bill with too many things that would come back and bite the taxpayers later. For years I have heard about the Government not being able to get into any businesses dealings, but now we are expected to pay for their mistakes. Same goes for the Auto industry that is shipping all the jobs out of the country, still raising the price on vehicles while the foreign manufacturers are building plants here and making money.

Greedy big business brought this problem on themselves. So now the little guy with the little paycheck is supposed to pay for the problem-

and if we don't, it's OUR fault! What happened to accountability on the

part of these companies? I'm sorry, but poor people are used to being

poor- it's the rich folks who can't stand losing their precious money. These "maybes"- maybe the taxpayers will see a profit, maybe they won't

lose their jobs, yada, yada,yada... isn't good enough anymore. Too many

people have already lost too much to trust the system anymore. Oh, and

by the way, what's supposed to happen to medicare, social security, and

the high cost of living and medical care in the meantime? No one knows!

The cost of the measure is unknown - the $700 billion figure is only an estimate.

Where are the adequate safeguards to avoid a repeat of the crisis ?

What will happen if it doesn't work ?

It's all the time the same people who pay the Wall Street "mistakes", the U.S. taxpayer...

What happens next?

"You save the banking system....Ok ?

I agree but paying for what, just for paying and paying again....

I understand the consequences of not passing the bailout. Granted the markets went up 200 points today but they went down over 700 yesterday. Still I can not support the bail out and I will not support the bail out until a provision is made to bring to trial everyone who had a role in getting our economy in to this mess. The bail out rescue plan calls for giving $700 billion no questions asked. It holds nobody accountable, it does not punish anyone for their greed. If we do not make an example out of at least 51% of those responsible for this mess by sending them to leavonworth or putting them on death row, this will happen again.

I worked in road construction,and funding for that went away in war.Now I work for a copper refinery that is either going to be bought by an Indian company or a Mexican company.For the past couple years you hear about thousands of people losing their jobs,houses,etc.THOUSANDS!!!First it was the adjustable rates,and the gas prices.All of us that could, have adjusted to it.Groceries going up,5 dollar milk,corn speculation.Working people have had to manage.We were told "Our economy is a strong economy,stand strong"as we lose everything.NOW you are trying to scare us?We stupid people don't understand?It's going to get bad?Most of us have been living the bad and adapting to it.I would rather lose everything,than pay a ceo of a company with my tax dollars.Let them get a taste,we have already had a drink.

All those "flip this house" guru's have sucked all the money they can out of the lower end of the economy. Now those garbage houses they loaned money against are falling apart and worthless. They want to sell them again.....to the government (all of us). What a stroke of genius for the profit mongers. I'll bet their all high-fiving and back slapping all the way to the bank. Oops, where's my bank? Good for them. Let those who have been living the good life give poverty a try. We're all here waiting for you.

People want to vent. Wall street and banks are natural targets. Easy to forget that PEOPLE own the stocks that are going in the tank; and PEOPLE borrow the money that isn't available if banks fail.

My husband's job already went away so this means nothing to me.

When I see a dividend check, I'll believe I have ownership in these companies.

I'm not being sarcastic. This is just how I see it.