How do you feel about Obama's economic team and plan?

It's very telling that whenever Bush speaks on national TV, the market takes a dive and when Obama speaks,  it rebounds.

leon, of course things are going to get worse, look who we have had running our country for the last 8 years, these idiots have just about ruined this great nation. You cant say a word about anything if you are one of the folks that voted those crooks in and then kept them there after you found out just how corrupt and stupid they were. Your comments reaks of ignorance.

I know, everyone needs to relax and take a step back. He is not even our president yet (thank god) and all these negative ads and headlines are being produced. I know things are not so great, but I have yet to feel it myself. In fact, my fiance' and myself just got approved for a home loan and gas is $1.89 in my state, these things don't happen in an economy we portray to our world. These high up officials need to start doing and stop talking about how bad it is. No one knows whats going to happen a week from now, but apparently Obama says he Knows things will be even worse the next 24 months. Come on, really? 

lol, it is funny how dumb people actually are.  People should of actually spent some time in elementary school learning what the 3 branches of government actually do.  When I see someone say the current administration caused this economic meltdown, I realize how ignorant they are and because of that reason they should not be allowed to vote.

Ok what does Congress do everyone?  They pass legislation right?  The President can Veto and force a 2/3's majority of Congress to get legislation passed.  If you are going to blame someone, put the blame in the right place.  Congress, specifically  Pelosi and the other liberals that supported Acorn.  If you think Obama is going to be the annointed one and fix everything, I strongly suggest you look at his liberal voting record.  Taxes go up, spending increases and things get a whole lot worse.

But yes blame Bush!  Why not, all the sheeple are great at it.  Even if the "Democratically controlled" Congress is really to blame.

Exactly what has the Bush legacy left us with??  Lets see 2 wars, 1 billion a month overseas, deregulation to a point not witnessed since Hoover that left the banks and financial industries failing.  Yet th Dems who were in power for not quite 2 of the 8 years are at faiult.  The Dems much to their  dismay also listened to Bushand Paulson and pushed through the bailout and now you lay the blame at their feet.  I as an independent can see that this goes way deeper then Pelosi and Frank.  Who are the sheep here.... Not anymore. If I recall Bush came into the White house with a surolus and went on a spending spree and mismangement of a magnitude that most republicans are disgraced by.  Finally, intelligence has reimerged on the scene and while Bush has "checked" out there is a team at work for once.

What exactly does Acorn have to do with the economic crisis again?

Marty Marty,  Obama will only add to big government and further drag this country down.  I do not subscribe to the Kool-Aid drinkers of the USA.  His "New Deal" ideas are the old failed policies of Big government and FDR.  History always repeats itself when you mix government with economics. "The market" which many see as only a few is in reality everyone. No matter how free an economy is or how heavily regulated it is, the economy of that country will go up and down. Empirical data shows no matter how much regulation on an economy you have to prevent downturn or economic "inequality", the situation is only worsened by government.

And quit blaming Bush for the economy.  Barney Frank and the rest of the goon squad democrats were warned several years ago that FreddieMac and Fannie Mae were in a downward spiral and would bring this economy down.  Barney and crew claimed that those claims were false and lauded the leadership and stability in those agencies.  Get the facts straight before you spew your ignorance.

fourteen years of repulican controlled congress, reagan = deficit, bush sr. = deficit, clinton=balanced & surplus, GWB=largest deficit in history, Obama inherits this and will leave with the same even larger.To say it is the fault of a Dem. congress in two short years is ridiculous. Many years of the FAILED trickle down economics.

Let it all collapse and let us start to rebuild a great nation once again.

Kucinich/Paul 2012

Ya know, you people are crazy!  George Bush took us into a war we should not have gone in to, nor could we afford.  This had a major role in our economy today!  So, I will blame Bush, and am counting the days until Obama takes over!  THANK GOD!!!!!!  All you people need to give it a rest and give the guy a chance. 

You Obama morons got played! On election night the Big O said it was going to be too tough to do all the things he promised just hours and days/weeks before. So his first fault was that he misjudged the economy that he proclaimed in the election that he was an expert on. He was going to fix it RIGHT? That's what he said.  I'm betting you’re glad that he has so much inexperience now. Now he says he won't end the Bush tax cuts, another promise down the drain. Now he says that he won't be able to "Tax the rich" that he ran on during his campaign. The promises keep dropping like flies. Can HE FOOL AMERICA? YES HE CAN! Now part of his economic stimulus package is to give millions to the food stamp program and extend unemployment benefits, more payback for his "core" voter block. Bailout for the UAW and automakers, more payback for another of his "core" voter block. Can a leopard change his spots, no he can't. Can a LIAR like Obama change his lying habits, NO HE CAN"T. You idiots need to face the fact that you got fooled by an ambitious boyfriend who promised you he would be faithful and after the wedding is running around with all your bridesmaids and guests and probably the groomsmen too if you know what I mean. HE is so NARCISSISTIC that he has created his own office, THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT! Check out his sign on the podium at his press conferences. What an ego! CAN HE CHANGE ALL HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES??? YES HE CAN, and has already done so. Thanks for helping put into the White House the most egotistical, narcissistic, inexperienced, lying, evil politician ever. You think GW was bad wait until 4 years from now.

Scott - actually what he has said is he is going to let the Bush tax cuts expire when they are due to expire.  His 'team' is working on a stimulas to help lower and middle class workers.  He is looking at using stimulas dollars employ out of work Americans by fixing the infrastructure of this country.  He wants to phase out the money being scandered overseas and spend that money here.  His plans include advancing energy sources on our own soil so that we are more independent.  Can he fix everything - NO- but he can hopefully get us on the right road and maybe outline some directions so this country won't get lost in another trickle down road block. 

It won't be long before water gets very expensive.

Information is that clean water will run out ----- AL GORE !   HELP !

Do you know that T Boon Pickins is buying up water rights in Texas and New Mexico?

(and the rip-off continues.)

Coporate fat cats have been buying up water rights in third world nations for years. They see the next two crisises FOOD and THEN WATER.

TOO many humans not enough PLANET.

How can a flat tax of 23% on all purchases be considered fair?  If I go on vacation and purchase a diamond in europe and wear it home how would the government tax it?  If I make all purchases internationally then my fair share doesn't exist.  Too many loop holes and unanswered questions.  The fair-tax act depends on honesty and equality.  If we should have learned anything during the last 8 years it's that those two items may be in short supply.

Obama and Specifics? That's an oxymoron. Obama is an Oxford Moron. I gave him a chance during the election and I could see that he was promising everything to everyone with no specifics to back it up. His comments about Pennsylvanians "clinging to their religion and guns" to a bunch of elitist snobs after just leaving the Pennsylvanians should have been enough for anyone with any amount of common sense. If he will talk nice to you to your face and then talk dirty about you when you aren't there, that shows character and in The big O's case, lack of character. I guess the big O stands for OH S*H*I*T!.

Everyone wants to blame Bush for everything. 
Remember the Dems have controlled congress for the past two years and they sure haven't shown us leadership.  I hope Obama can and doesn't promise us change and then recycle the failed polices of the Democratic past.

Will...your discussion is old and worn out.  Washington was completely controlled by the Republicans for 6 1/2 of the last 8 years, and Bush pushed through EVERYTHING...nothing was vetoed.  The Democrats gain a very small majority (by 1 seat in the Senate..."NOT CONTROLLED CONGRESS") in the fall of '06 (by election only, not taking over until after '07) and Bush vetoes everything the Democrats want to do. 

This has been a do nothing administration.  Good riddens to bad rubbish.

Keep drinking the Kool-Aid

f18jets- how about a point or STFU! Ingnorants is bliss, you must be very happy.

I have been making my point throughout this thread.  You should read all comments before spewing your uneducated comments.  BTW since you are obviously spelling challenged I would suggest using spell check. 

f18jets.  You and Limbaugh need to get a new buzz word.  The Kool Aid thing is very passe now.  Get something new.

Thank God Bush has kept the country safe since 911.  Lets not fail to give credit when credit is due.  We are very quick to point out the faults.

Many of you do not remember the Carter Administration.  Maybe many of you were to young back then, but the interest rates were 20%, there were gas lines, and the economy was in worse shape than it is now.  Reagan brought us out of that.  It seems to be forgotton. 

Lets recount.  During Carter's admin.  There was rampant inflation and higher taxes on everyone.  Reagan initiated tax cuts (higher at the top brackets) and the trickle down theory.  The economy had a crash 8 years after trickle down started.  Bush senior caught the flack for that and lost his re-election.  Then came Clinton's admin.  He did some adjustments - raised taxes proportionately- and gave tax incentives to businesses.  Boom went the economy.  GW Bush admin. takes office - cuts taxes - restarts trickle down - eight years later - CRASH!  Lesson learned - trickle down does not work.  Taxes have to be balanced with deficits, spending has to be accounted for.  The next PE has a long road waiting for him.  He is going to have to spend money to keep us afloat, then find some way to balance the bills when the danger has passed.  As for keeping our country safe - hope springs eternal.  We have made greater strides in the last seven years creating new enemies then finding ways to protect ourselves from said enemies.  We are paying mercenaries (blackwater) to patrol cities in this country because we no longer have enough nation guardsman or military left to do it.  Our borders are no more secure now then they where 7 hears ago.  If you're honest you get a passport and go through the proper posts, if you're not just find your own way.

What are you smoking?  Why is it when there are Tax cuts the government receives more revenues.  Lets get educated tax cuts spurs economic expansion, jobs, more money for everyone.  Higher Taxes reduces business and jobs.  History always repeats itself when you mix government with economics. "The market" which many see as only a few is in reality everyone. No matter how free an economy is or how heavily regulated it is, the economy of that country will go up and down. Empirical data shows no matter how much regulation on an economy you have to prevent downturn or economic "inequality", the situation is only worsened.  Ease up on the Kool-Aid

Ha ha ha ha What's with the kool Aid? You republicans are like walking talking bumper stickers. That's your answer to everything... stop drinkinking the Kool-Aid Ha ha ha HEY KOOL AID! No wonder you morons lost.I guess your gonna tell me to lay off the Kool Aid hey whatever helps you sleep at night. I know what helps me sleep at night... The Republicans are toast. Ha ha well what ever I'm gonna have some Kool Aid and sleep well see you later folks. You guys are funny . Rush and Sean have raised you well.

To Will, Bush did not keep the country safe. We were already keeping Sadam off balance by bombing him. There was no need to squander our economy and countless lives. our military depends on a sound economy and we cannot project our power without it. Bush is a traitor. only a traitor would reveal the name of a CIA agent. He pardoned the only person to go to jail for it. That is evidence enough for me of his approval and collusion. Bye Bye fear and loathing. Let America's new day blossom.

f18 - You keep talking about  kool aid  but must be drinking it all before signing in.  Tax cuts = lower revenue = higher deficit.  History - trickle down (reagan) - lower taxes - high deficit - eight years later economy crashed.  Clinton - raised taxes - surplus in revenue - economy boom.  GW bush - trickle down - lower taxes - huge deficit - economy crash.  UMMMMM... could this be a pattern? 

So Den1953 what do you base your comments on?  I would like to know what facts you can bring to the table.

Country Crock please show when tax increases have raised revenue. I want to know what facts you base your statements. I find it humorous how Libs like to spout off but never back up there comments with facts. Good luck because it never happens!

jets - if taxes are 10 percent of 1000 then the government gets 100 dollars - if taxes are 20 percent of 1000 then the government gets 200 dollars - Higher taxes higher revenue!  The choices that government has to make is how to spend the taxes.  If they spend them overseas then the American public gets nothing in return, if the spend them in America then more revenue is created by building the economy - increasing the tax base.  example: 100 in taxes spent in America creates an additional 100 in revenue that creates another 10 dollars in taxes.  The company that received the 100 in taxes then had to pay its employees (including CEO and shareholders) and contractors.  IF the company spends the remaining 90 dollars in the USA then that creates another 9 dollars in taxes.  That equates to 100 dollars of original taxes plus an additional 19 dollar return on government spending - grows the economy! If a company takes the 90 dollars and sends that overseas or banks it then the economy stagnates.  But taxes are not the biggest problem this country has.  Our biggest problem is our infrastructure.  We no longer have the ability to support ourselves.  We do not have the manufacturing capabilities to create the things we need.  Industrial metals, cloth, and food is manufactured or grown out of this country and our money is 'spent' overseas on daily items.  When our government begins to use our money to rebuild what we have lost then we will find ourselves (Libs and conserves) getting the better bargains for our dollars.  This is now a world economy but we no longer have what it takes to compete.  A service society does not create long term revenue to jobs.  I am not in favor of government owned business but I am in favor of our government using our money to help our people and our economy grow and prosper.

But see you are wrong Country Crock. When the GDP goes down revenues go down. Again I asked you to state facts to validate your comments. And Like I stated before LIBS do not like facts. They never want to back up anything with facts.

Your mistake is to assume is that the economy is static. You can change one thing, but nothing else changes. So you reduce a tax rate, say from 30% to 20%, and your revenue simply goes down by a third. Or you increase income tax rates (this is a Lib-Dem favourite) on salaries over say $100,000, and simple arithmetic tells you that you have millions more to spend on education.

But the economy is not static. It is dynamic. Take a let's look at fiscal 2006. The U.S. Treasury Department reported that 2.4 Trillion dollars were received for fiscal year 2006, an 11.7% increase from fiscal 2005 and a 35.9% increase from fiscal 2003. Lowering the Tax rate actually increased revenue

Let me continue your lesson.

Isn't it the government's best interest for businesses in general to succeed? You need to understand the fact that taxes can only be applied to money which is used. That is, mechanisms like Sales Tax and Excise Taxes and so on, can only be applied when money is used in commerce. Employment taxes and withholding can only be done when employees are actually hired and paid. And since so many taxes are proportional to the level of commerce, the more business a company does, the more taxes it pays.

Do you understand were the money that comes into a business is originated? It comes from the consumers, of course. If the consumers feel times are tight and uncertain, of course they will not be interested in spending money, it's just too risky, which attitude naturally slows down the economy. And when the economy slows down, so does tax revenue. Now, when on the other hand taxes are lowered, this provides taxpayers with more money, and a lot of that gets spent, which revs up the economy ... and in spite of the lower rate, increases the amount of money which comes in to the government. It's the same reason why stores put products on sale; the lower price is made up and more by the jump in volume sales if the manager has planned it right. Basic economics, really.

I hope this helps. You really should understand a topic before spewing ill-conceived comments.

Wil,

Thank God Bush has kept the country safe since 911.  Lets not fail to give credit when credit is due.  We are very quick to point out the faults.

Safe from who?  Saddam Hussein who DIDN'T have WMDs while Osama bin Laden was allowed to slip away? I'll feel safer when Osama Bin Laden is captured and new terrorist groups controlled by him quit forming!

Actually it was Clinton who had the opportunity to take out Osama bin Ladin. He declined to do anything.

Please state the facts

jets - in the recent past our GDP has been raised on speculation not on actual product - that was my point.  Tax revenue is only one type of government money.  Profits on GDP are another.  But if the so called GDP is a paper product (exists no where else) then there is really no revenue - IE - current crash and burn - this economy has been running on borrowed dollars for 8 years!  I borrow money from you so I can lend it to A who can lend it to B who can lend it to C ........  And with each lend the amount gets a little smaller.  Starts out as 100 then 90 then 80 then 70 - Only each lend is listed as a original product.  This is the GDP our economy has been running on.  Once again NOT REAL!  This country needs real products.    Corporations in this country have been manufacturing the GDP's on paper.  Revenue went up because every business in the line of lending got a profit (on paper).  If you keep spiraling money downward - taking a cut each time you complete a spiral there is less and less money to go around.  Reported GDP stays high but less and less available to keep it there.  Henry Ford had the right idea.  If you create a product people want and people make enough money to buy that product then you create demand for the product and can sell it.  Likewise if you create the demand but people can not afford it then it will not work.  We have been working on the create demand side and selling to people who could not afford the products.  Corporations and workers are in this together, like it or not.  The corporations are failing because they extended credit to people who had the confidence to spend (even if they could not afford it).   When those people stopped paying the corporations GDP's took a nosedive.  You can fancy it up or dumb it down but it adds up to one thing taxes are not relative to the current financial crisis because they have not increased.  Raising or lowering taxes is only one part of this countries overall problem.  Corporate accounting needs to be regulated more closely, we need to build true infrastructure (manufacturing), and people need to live within their means. 

You really need to get you facts straight there Country Crock.

f18jets,

Actually it was Clinton who had the opportunity to take out Osama bin Ladin. He declined to do anything.

Please state the facts

The facts are that after 9-11 when Bush claimed he would "smoke 'em out", instead he saw an opportunity to settle an old score of his father's by going after Saddam Hussein.  He and his team made up a great fairy tale of weapons of mass destruction, then pulled troops from going after Bin Laden to go on a wild goose chase to find that there WERE NO weapons of mass destruction.  But he got his man-Hussein--and allowed enough time while doing that to allow Bin Laden to slip away.  Maybe you should get your facts.

Democrat, Hmmm Lets see Hillary stated they had weapons of Mass destruction as did England, France, Germany and Israel just to name a few.  I suppose Bush was conspiring with them as well.  Just becasue ones does not find things does not mean they did not exist.  Wild Goose chase huh.... well if slick Willy had done his job this point would be moot.  My facts are perfect.  Go on lets hear you spew some more.  I am enjoy you making a fool of yourself.

Let me Educate you more Democrat. 

Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution 2002 was a joint resolution passed by the United States Congress in October 2002 Authorizing the War In Iraq.

Seems your ignorance knows no bounds.

Democrat did you forget these people talking about Iraq WMDs????

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them.
That is our bottom line."
President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear.
We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"We urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S.Constitution and Laws, to take necessary actions, (including, if appropriate,
air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction
programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998

I can go on Democrat..just let me know.

f18jjets,

I can go on Democrat..just let me know

Wow, one comment spun you into three rambling rants.  No, you don't have to go on.  I don't want to be responsible for your breakdown.  Calm down, you'll feel better.

I got it.  Clinton is responsible for everything.  Bush was the perfect President.  Ok.

No rambling here.  You made bold statements that were wrong.  You have been proven wrong and the best you can come up with is sarcasm.  Typical.

George Bush has not made us safer, he has made people around the world hate us even more!  His cowboy politics have made working with the world almost impossible.  If he had listened to the warnings before 9/11, he may have been able to avoid that terrible day.  I will give no credit, and will always think of him as the WORST President EVER in our history! 

And what facts do you base this on Christine? 

f18jets,

No rambling here.  You made bold statements that were wrong.  You have been proven wrong and the best you can come up with is sarcasm.  Typical.

This isn't sarcasm.  You appear to be extremely angry.

Christine,

I wouldn't argue with this one.  It just feeds his anger.

No anger here.  Just like to hear facts not opinons and theory presented as facts. 

I agree with Christine. This country is NOT safer. Bush alienated has allies. He led us into a war with a country that had NO weapons of mass destruction. I felt safer under Clinton. He has ignited the fanaticals.

What you perceive as socialism is social democracy and its definition is much more in line with Jesus' teachings than capitalism's. Capitalism in its current application is the cause of the dismal state of our people and economy. As for our Christian roots, religion is between each individual and his/her God. It should not interfere with politics nor public life and become a tool for power or propaganda.

That is your opinion.  Reap what you sow.  Oh, and thank you for dragging me down with you.

We are truely a baffooned country.  "Social Democracy"?????  Like the one enacted in Germany back in the 1930's?   Keep drinking the BO Kool-aid or smoking whatever you're toking on while the level-headed capitalist AMERICANs watch the country being flushed down the world toilet by a democratic congress and a man who has yet to assume office.

Hopefully his Kenyan birthplace (now considered a national monument in Kenya per a Kenyan Ambassador) will be brought to light before January.....  

lbloniau- Well Said. Religion is the downfall of man, not god. Religion was created by man, not god. As long as Religion and Politics mix we are screwed. By the way, BVD, we are a ntion of FREEDOM OF RELIGION not Christianity.

You conveniently use your religion and talk nonsense of a godless society.  I am a Christian and sick and tired of being told that because I'm also a liberal that I can't be a Christian. 

Stop preaching your "moral" beliefs that are not Christian in the least.  Christ would be ashamed of you.  Either you are not smart enough to figure out which are lies or you are and yet you perpetuate them.

Christ wants us to help the least of us - something the Republicans haven't done in years.  Social programs do that.  How you can possibly resent taking care of the poor, the elderly (Social Security is socialism at its finest), children (get rid of SCHIPS - kids don't need medical care).

Our infrastructure needs massive updating.  It has slid because the Republicans didn't want to tax the wealthy.  By updating our infrastructure we will not only employ a lot of people who are jobless, but we will improve our national security.  It's win-win.

And PK-74317, obviously your Republican kool-aid really has soaked into your brain.  Obama was born in Hawaii.  It's a state in the US in case you can't figure that out.  It's not part of Kenya.  Your fear and lies just don't work anymore.  Go get some help!

Capitalism - a free competitive market, motivated by profit.  I am a christian and I do not understand how being competitive or motivated by profit pertains at all to my religion.  The Christian church I grew up in taught us that charity, love, faith, and good works would bring us into gods grace.  Getting rich at the expense of others did not ever come up as a good christian attribute.  We live in a capitalist republic and have the freedom to do what we each feel is right within the laws written by the government bodies.  I have not heard anyone saying that profit will be outlawed. 

So why is a Kenyan Ambassodor saying he was born there?  I guess he is a wack-job too.....

f18jets, why don't you just take your supply side no taxes drivel and shove it up your ass.  listen retard, THERE IS NO EVOIDENCE THAT TAX CUTS AFFECT THE ECONOMY!!!!  Every study that actually looked  for some correlarion found zip -- EVERY ONE, DOZENS IN FACT!!!  You want to improve the economy, do what Roosevelt started in 1933, and was forced by WW II to put into full gear, strip the worthless rich of their stolen wealth and give it to people who will do something with it.  Our economy was at its peak under Truman and Eisenhower when the nominal top tax rate was NINETY-FIVE PERCENT!!!! - and the actual rates collected topped 55% for the top tax bracket.  We need radical income redistribution thru free education, national health care, grants and low interest loans to SMALL businesses and other startups and a general syripping of wealth and power from our current elites and mega- corporations.  We also need to dropout of the WTO, which exists primarily for the purpose, along with the IMF, of protecting rich people from their own greed, and siphoning the world's wealth to a few thousands.

Sounds like sour grapes Tom.  You must be jealous of hard working successful people.  WWII promoted the economy of Roosevelt and Truman.  If not for WWII Roosevelts failed policies would have extended the Depression for years to come.  Listen and learn.

I'd like to see the good Christians George Bush and Dick Chenney and all the warmongering, war profiteering neo-con free market, profits at the cost of your soul nation builders tried as the war criminals that they are, and then hung like the good Christian war criminals that they are and then stand before THIER Christian Diety, because they would have some very serious 'splaining to do!!!! Profit from honest free enterprise is one thing, profit from the ravages of war and the looting of our national treasury in quite another.

Christ wants us to help the least of us - something the Republicans haven't done in years.  Social programs do that.  How you can possibly resent taking care of the poor, the elderly (Social Security is socialism at its finest), children (get rid of SCHIPS - kids don't need medical care).

I agree!!!!!!!

Christ wants 'us' to help the least of us...not the government.  Conservatives give to charity at a rate of 30% more per household than Liberals...why is that?  Being Christian is not about the government taking one man's money and giving it to another of their choice...after taking a 30% cut of the transfer to administrater the redistribution.  Funny how Liberals chide Conservatives for injecting Chrisitianity into their politics and then turn around and do it themselves when it suits their argument.  How about this...how about requiring any receipient of my tax dollars to first pass a urine test to prove their not buying booze or drugs with my money, demonstrate that they are getting passing grades in school, prove that they are exercising, that they are working when and where they can, or that they are complying with any number of other benchmarks to becoming a self-sustaining human being?  If my hard earned money can't go to the benefit of me and my own family or to the charities of my choice, then at least I should have some assurances it's not being squandered on people who have no intention of working toward being self-sufficient.  Any country that has more than one able-bodied person on welfare shouldn't have to import labor from Mexico.  Don't diminish anyone's welfare, just have everyone receiving it off-set as much of it as they can doing the jobs that no self-respecting American wants to do...that'll get them busting their butts to get off of welfare rather that sitting around eating twinkies and ding-dongs, smoking cigarettes, and kicking around the neighborhood all day on my dime.  Now that's being Christian...because as tough as it sounds it'll be to the benefit of the people involved in the long run.  It'll teach them not to rely on me...but to rely on themselves and on their families and their communities.

I completely agree with David Noah. Each American household's share of our national debt so far is over $500,000. This is what we owe on top of our morgatges, student and car loans, etc. I am 44 and I doubt I will see a penny from the Government when I retire.

Many people out there will swear that the ones with the bad mortgages dug their own hole and should not get a government bail out.  Be that true or false this so called bail out needs to be balanced.  If people are losing their jobs due to poor company management, losing their homes due to no job, losing their retirement because its the only way to eat then we need to find a way to reverse it.  How about spending the bail out money to pay people to do work on the infrastructure of this country?  People get jobs, people can afford to pay their bills and buy food -foreclosures go down - businesses stop going bankrupt.  Even that out with regulations that cap CEO salaries (percent of revenue is acceptable) and restructure lending laws to do away with the current abuses and we may get out of this sooner then later.