Why must the gov't borrow money to fund bailouts? (Why not just "print" it)?

Only Congress can approve of increasing the national debt and with presidential approval, or a 2/3rd majority vote by Congress.

As we print money, it makes the US Dollar worth less. Now take the last two words of that last sentence and put them as one word and that will further enplane this answer.

Note: The US, or any country backs their currency with gold any more. Nixon took the USA off the gold standard in the 1970's.

The Federal Gov't borrows money from the Federal Reserve Bank. The Federal Reserve prints the money and loans it to banks and the federal government. The Federal Reserve is really not part of our government although the Fed Chairman is appointed by the President and they have to answer to congress. Some say that it is privately owned by international bankers. Some say that it is not. Also this is how we end up in debt as Americans because the government borrows money from the Federal Reserve to make the government run and then we the citizens of America pays taxes to pay the Federal Reserve back the money that it has lent us. Also are taxes are used to pay for services.

But as you asked the question "Why not just print more money?" Well its not that simple because the more money in circulation causes inflation.

I say the Federal Reserve should just cancel all debts owed to it by the Federal Government. Its not like they need the money because they print it. Also the whole idea of money is just made up. Its not real. We as human place the value on the paper. It is made up by men out of thin air. It is created when the government takes out loans from the federal reserve. That is when money is created.

So they have an unlimited amount of it. Also our money is not backed by gold any more. Go to google or youtube and type Ron Paul and why he wants to abolish the system of the Federal Reserve and go back to the gold standard. Some say this is why JFK was assassinated because he wanted to abolish the Federal Reserve.

Here's a great idea, why don't we just give every US citizen their own printing press. Then they can each print as much money as they like. Americans would be spending money like crazy, we'd all be rich.

We all know that that wouldn't work. You can't create wealth by printing money. You'd just be repeating the same mistake that got us into this situation in the first place, leverage. The banks took your $1 deposit and magically turned it into $20. Which made us all feel like we were rich, never mind that it was imaginary money. Your idea would simply replace Wall Street's imaginary money, with Washington's imaginary money. Only this time there wouldn't be anyone to bail us out.

because inflation would be freaking huge! you would see your lifesavings (effectively) cut in half inside of a decade!

Because we have to have gold to back it up if it isn't credit. And they aren't borrowing for the bailout the American taxpayer is footing the bill.