This is too funny. The United States taxpayer as Spanish Prisoner.

Sent by George | 3:21 PM ET | 09-23-2008

How is this bail-out thing supposed to happen?

liberals don't want it to happen, conservatives don't want it to happen. I mean, basically the majority of citizens don't want this to go down. But it will, and that is proof enough that this is a plutocracy, not a democracy.

Sent by Jody Sol | 3:49 PM ET | 09-23-2008

We need a sense of humor in these times.

Sent by L.A. | 3:53 PM ET | 09-23-2008

I wonder how many well meaning dummies will help the "Republic of America" by handing their money over. Hopefully American greed will win their hearts and they won't fork their personal info over to "Minister of Treasury Paulson"!

Sent by Shannon | 4:06 PM ET | 09-23-2008

I have been wondering a few things. Like, how can those CEOs actually do enough work to be worth the multimillion dollar salaries they get? If they work, say, 80 hours a week, what does that work out to in dollars earned per hour worked? Now some time during the workday, our top executive must need to visit the executive washroom. How much does that time spent cost the company? It boggles the mind to consider that these guys likely earn more money each time they use the toilet than I earn in a year. And think of how costly a case of constipation would be to the company?

I have also been pondering an interesting term that I have heard bandied about in the last week--illiquid. Not being in finance, I didn't even know that this was a word until I heard that we, the taxpayers, will buying a lot of things that are illiquid in the near future. Since to me, "liquid" is a term meaning fluid or water, then illiquid must mean the opposite and I have been thinking of other ways to use the term illiquid:

We'd better call the well driller because our well is illiquid.

Figure skaters skate beautifully on a polished illiquid surface.

As you enter the Mojave, miles and miles of illiquid country face you.

Because of global warming, the Polar Illiquid cap is melting.

You left the kettle on the stove--it is illiquid now.

There is a low-pressure front moving into our area bringing increasing illiquids in the sky throughout the day.

A pipe burst on the way to the executive washroom and the CEO's toilet is illiquid.

Sent by Jan | 4:07 PM ET | 09-23-2008

The point is, that this is just another profit making scheme. They abused our economic systems for profit, and now that the system is broken, they are getting a last infusion of money, and consolidating power with the government.

One last little grab before bush is out of office, and everyone stops paying attention during the obama administration.

bernanke threated recession if the bail-out doesn't happen. Which is exactly what they did when Andrew Jackson threatened the banking system.

There is a history to this abuse. A cycle.

Sent by Jody Sol | 4:11 PM ET | 09-23-2008

I love it! A twist on the Nigerian scam, except that the US taxpayers are really going to get stuck with this.

Sent by DJ | 4:38 PM ET | 09-23-2008

Has anybody seen this article? Nobody is talking about the provision in this bailout that gives extra power to the Secretary of Treasury! Is this another attempt by the current administration to grab additional power underhandedly?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/22/dirty-secret-of-the-bailo_n_128294.html

Sent by Dan K. | 5:05 PM ET | 09-23-2008

If they can just wait a whole week they will see there is no emergency for us.

The sense of urgency is based on getting a pile of ignorant Senators and Congress people worked up just before the election.

I believe the whole bail out should be tabled until Novemver 15th 2008. If Wall Street is that worried, then all trading can be suspended until we reach an conclusion based on the facts.

Sent by Christopher M. Brown | 8:09 PM ET | 09-23-2008

A naturalized citizen, I used to think that if not corruption-free, this country was relatively clean compared to some others -- Nigeria, for example. But the collapse of the financial sector exposed the shoddy, sub-prime mortgage ponzi scheme which went on with full blessing of the watch dogs. Now the watch dogs want to take our money to not only bail out the crooks but also to send them home with golden parachutes! Have they no shame? Pox on them all.

Sent by waqnis | 8:16 PM ET | 09-23-2008

This was laugh out loud funny but the bailout probably needs doing. Congress should add oversight, bankruptcy judge ability to alter terms of adjustible mortgages, restrictions on executive pay, and an equity position for taxpayers. Bush-Cheney and Wall Street should bend over and accept it. They brought it on themselves. They have all mocked government and reasonable regulation for 30 years and now they're begging for the government to cover their gambling losses.

Sent by MIke Fleissner | 9:58 PM ET | 09-23-2008

Our current financial crisis is NOT an accident!! If you still think it is, then be alerted - YOU ARE BRAINWASHED. Don't be naive, and don't vote for ANYONE who supports the "bailout"!!

Sent by Bryan F'n Cowell | 8:07 PM ET | 09-24-2008