From: MAIN STREET, USA
I have been listening to the guest Economist on NPR and I feel that they are missiing the point. This is what I want to say about the proposed financial"bailout". From my prospective , I am asking this-What about the credit laws? How does this bailout help the person(s) that have filed for bankrupcy? Missed payments? Credit Agencies are still getting missed and late payment reports from the banks. To my knowledge, these reports are not taken off for years. Yet you have the economist saying that this bailout will help the banks be able to lend to the public, however the "public" still has "bad" credit. This "bailout" is so that the lenders can change their names and set up shop again. I hope that the "public" understands this! I'm no Ph.D

Sent by Deborah V. Wooten | 5:20 PM ET | 09-23-2008

I hope that the experts who came up with the 700Billion bailout solution have clear and concrete ways of measuring if the 'Mission is Accomplished' - what results or changes should be expected a week from when the bill is passed, a month from then, a quarter from then, a year from then... so we know whether or not it helped solve the problem.

Sent by Haritha | 5:24 PM ET | 09-23-2008

Did the Administration just declare that Congress is too stupid to understand the bill and needs to "just trust" the president and immediate give $700 billion to Henry Paulson any way he sees fit?

I'm thinking this bailout is dead with that kind of attitude. The politics of fear won't work this time.

Sent by Jake | 5:52 PM ET | 09-23-2008

I'm still unconvinced that any kind of bailout will benefit the average American in the short or long term. Not because I'm sure it isn't true, but simply because no one has made a clearcut compelling case that the consequenses of inaction are unthinkable. Even more disheartening than the vagaries of this "crisis" is the lack of concensus on a real long term solution. There are too many people from both parties questioning the wisdom of this action for me to feel that it isn't just another short-sighted profiteering shakedown. This administration has cried wolf too many times to be even remotely credible.

Even when Clinton and Obama agree that "something" needs to be done, I am only reminded of all the democrats that cowed to the republican demands for a decisive response to 9/11. And we must all remember that in an election year, it is better to seen doing "something" than the right thing.

I have half a mind that we should just let the credit/housing markets settle to bottom where they belong.

If we bailout these guys, who's next? Where does it stop? When our international creditors realize that we can't even make the maintenance payments on our debt?

When, like the former USSR before us, are forced to admit that Capitalism is a failed experiment? ...and all of our socialist landlords speak Mandarin.

How do you say "irony" in Chinese?

Sent by Ben | 7:31 PM ET | 09-23-2008

If the Administration had "months" to think about this bailout program, why didn't they do something to prevent the need for the program in the first place?

Sent by Rebekah Stiling | 7:46 PM ET | 09-23-2008

I agree with Deborah. This plan seems to destined to merely restart the cycle.

Perhaps we should ask the experts what can be done to ensure that the financial system is reestablished in a way that allows a few massive firms to determine the health of the market. Let them roll their dice, but make them bet their own money.

Sent by Alex Cason | 8:25 PM ET | 09-23-2008

Yeah right. These bozos couldn't plan for what they would have for lunch tomorrow!

Sent by Leo | 10:30 PM ET | 09-23-2008

Even today, I am hearing on the radio about how we must stop the cause of our economic woes, the "continuing housing crisis." A grave politician says that the average American's home value is still falling! Falling from a ridiculously high value which was never based in reality! Are we now adding must make a profit on our home investment to our growing list of inalienable rights which includes being able to qualify for a mortgage and to buy cheap gasoline?
Us spoiled Americans need to face reality, take a hard look at the national debt, and take our medicine. We need to allow the free market to work. Those institutions and individuals that took unreasonable risks need to fail. The day-traders need to walk away from the gambling table and get real jobs. (I suggest a 75% capital gains tax on investments held for less than one year.)

Sent by Barry Weeks | 10:59 PM ET | 09-23-2008

If congress passes this bill it will be the absolute destruction of this county as we know it. Please wake up people my god, this is not an accident that we are now in this position. Everything will change if this goes forward including the nature of propety rights, and the middle class will vanish almost entirely.

Why do you think these people do not even want congress to read the bill? They know the longer it stalls the more Americans will realize what is really going down here. These institutions must be put into bankruptcy reorganization like anything else, so that an audit of this speculative paper can be performed. Most likely we will find that this was no accident and that it is infested with criminal activity.

The criminals involved in this banking crisis have created these circumstances and this will not only hide them from prosecution, but they will basically control the United States. I'm talking about control over peoples very lives. Any kind of social program you can think of will have to be cut in order to pay for this, and it is going to create hyperinflation on a scale that will make the dollar worthless. We are handing over complete control of our nation to a small group of finacial elite that are international in scope, we need to start recognizing this for what it is. Fascism

Sent by John | 1:59 AM ET | 09-24-2008

I owe credit card debt. I'm thinking that if the Feds by my debt they will have many more collection options than the bank has.

Sent by Glen Nielson | 4:39 AM ET | 09-24-2008

Insist that your congressman vote against the bailout.

The reason the government wants to save these banks is to make sure credit is available to businesses and consumers who need it. There are better ways to accomplish this - example: government guarantees on new loans by sound banks, credit unions and even healthy foreign banks (at least until the bad banks go bankrupt, reorganize and go back in business). Or direct loans from a federal credit union. All of these organizations know how to make loans and administer them.

There is NO WAY the taxpayers should be rescuing the shareholders of the banks who got us into this mess. Let them go bust. Make credit available in other ways. But don't send my tax money to rescue the same people who reaped obscene profits in the times leading up to this collapse.

Sent by Paul Rooah | 10:06 AM ET | 09-24-2008

They have had months to think about it, and this is the best plan they could come up with? Incredible

Sent by Dano2112a | 1:06 PM ET | 09-25-2008

NEW YORK (CNN) -- "I have great, great confidence in our capital markets and in our financial institutions. Our financial institutions, banks and investment banks, are strong. Our capital markets are resilient. They're efficient. They're flexible."
-- Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson,

March 16, 2008
"Our policy in this administration -- laws shouldn't bail out lenders, laws shouldn't help speculators."
-- President Bush, May 19, 2008

"Our economy has continued growing, consumers are spending, business are investing, exports continue increasing and American productivity remains strong. We can have confidence in the long-term foundation of our economy...I think the system basically is sound. I truly do."
President Bush, July 15, 2008

Didn't some of the major institutions get into trouble for saying one thing to their customers while things were going into the tank.

Sent by ray | 1:42 PM ET | 09-25-2008

What is the time-line on this one?
Who knew what when?
Why the uncanny timing?
Why is no one for it, and yet on it goes?

Sent by Anon | 1:32 AM ET | 09-27-2008