And American taxpayers deserve to know that their money will not allow for a continuation of the status quo: short term profit at the expense of long term viability; obscene bonuses and golden parachutes regardless of performance; reckless risk taking that have placed the markets in so much jeopardy; rewards for those who foreclose on middle class families and sell mortgages designed to fail to turn a profit; and outsourcing of good jobs to serve short term stock prices instead of America's long term economic health. The prevailing dynamic of corporate America, where the sole priority was the dividend, the inflated bonus and the quarterly earnings report, must give way to a new respect for the long term prosperity of the American worker and the well being of the middle class.

Both of these things need fixing, and both need the sort of oversight, checks and balances, and accountability to the rule of law that Balkin mentions. (Plus transparency!)  

But it seems to me that if we try to fix all the causes of the problem on the same week and in the same bill that we use to set the rules for the $700 billion plan, it might add a lot of loopholes and clutter and fuel for partisan squabbling in the months to come.

That's what American's elected representatives will be trading for this week: more yachts and endless globe-trotting vacations for the obscenely wealthy in exchange for less and less healthcare for average Americans.

And that was the easy part.  We didn't lose our homes or our jobs.  Being 'legal' we don't have to avoid FEMA, police, anyone looking federal.  We have a healthy pet, an intact family.  We got electricity before many, though 5 days after our very wealthy friend.

Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, will be hunkering down for "debate camp" in Florida starting on Tuesday. The Times's Jeff Zeleny notes that while Mr. Obama will have no big events in the critical swing state next week, Mr. Obama's "mere presence (fueled by a few photo opportunities) will surely draw considerable local media attention and put to rest any suggestions that he does not intend to aggressively compete in the state with Senator John McCain."

As of September 2008, the total U.S. federal debt was approximately $9.7 trillion[2], about $31,700 per capita (that is, per U.S. resident). Of this amount, debt held by the public was roughly $5.3 trillion.[3] If, in addition, unfunded Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare, etc. promises are added, this figure rises to a total of $59.1 trillion.[4] In 2007, the public debt was 36.9 percent of GDP [5], with a total debt of 65.5 percent of GDP.[6] The CIA ranked the total percentage as 26th in the world.[7]

Perhaps you meant 83% of the annual budget but that doesn't seem right either.

Net interest on the U.S. national debt was approximately $240 billion in fiscal years 2007 and 2008. This represented approximately 9.5% of government receipts. Interest was the fourth largest single disbursement category, after defense, Social Security, and Medicare.[53]Paying off the debt would free up these funds for other purposes.

This really is little more than a scam to make the taxpayers provide the money to cover the losses for all the bad debt issued by the financial industry. What the Democrats have to do is refuse to get on board and put forward their own legislation that actually addresses the problem, send that to Bush and dare the bastard to veto it. Hang this around Bush's neck and stop letting the High Broderists shame the Dems into backing down. Barney Frank and Hillary are showing them how it's done.

Yes, Harry & Nancy, it IS class warfare, there is no "bipartisan" option, and you have a world historic moment in which to redefine both your party and your nation for the better.

Do you stand with Hoover or with FDR?

Anglachel

I also followed the link in the story which was very very interesting and I feel that everyone should read.

LINK