Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Locals call bailout plan a 'joke'

Locals call bailout plan a 'joke'

Sep 26, 2008 - 04:05:20 CDT

By BRIAN DUGGAN
Bismarck Tribune

While North Dakota’s congressional delegation hammered away at a $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan Thursday, locals called the measure many things and welcomed was not one of them.

Mandan resident Chris Schneider, 31, sums up his position simply — “It’s a joke.”

“The burden is on the back of the taxpayers,” Schneider said, noting most people do not expect the federal government to help them if their business fails. “That’s not the way it works for the average American.”

Representatives from local political party offices and North Dakota’s congressional delegation said they have been fielding hundreds of calls all week from people upset about the taxpayer-funded bailout in light of Wall Street’s increasingly dire financial situation.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he expected Congress to be in session through Sunday before passing what could be the largest federal bailout package in U.S. history.

The plan would purchase toxic assets from ailing Wall Street firms that have been teetering on the brink of collapse thanks to the nation’s deepening sub-prime mortgage crisis. Dorgan said President Bush’s proposal lacks provisions that would prevent the crisis from happening again.

“That’s like filling a bathtub without plugging the drain,” Dorgan said, adding Congress should regulate the banking industry as it did following the 1929 stock market crash. “If you don’t address the problems that created this, pushing a bunch of money toward Wall Street isn’t going to fix what ails America’s economy.”

Sen. Kent Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, sat in on Thursday’s negotiations about adding more oversight and taxpayer protection to President Bush’s bailout proposal.

“We just don’t write blank checks around here,” Conrad said, but added that Congress must pass a relief package before the “economy grinds to a halt.”

Kathy Dolan, 52, said she feels that the economic consequences of Wall Street’s woes are deeper than people think and any fallout from the financial crisis will affect everyone.

“Whose fault is it?” Dolan said. “It’s our fault.”

Leah Grinsteinner, 20, said she does not know if the financial crisis affects her right now, but it could down the road when she eventually decides to buy a home.

“It seems like it doesn’t have a play on me,” Grinsteinner, a student at North Dakota State University, said. “I”m not a homeowner yet.”

Retired Bismarck resident Jeff Bye, 64, said it’s essential the government helps Wall Street, “but I”m not happy about it,” he said.

“It was based on greed and I find it ludicrous that people of these large banks would invest in the sub-prime mortgages,” Bye said.

Mel Bracelin, a Kansas resident living in Bismarck while he helps harvest beans and wheat, said he had a pretty good idea what caused Wall Street”s calamity.

“There’s just too many greedy people,” Bracelin said.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

Voice of Reason wrote on Oct 4, 2008 12:27 AM:

" To Vetter,
I'm doing ok as long as I don't think too much about what has happened to our country. I hope you are well too. I can't speak for BILL G-A-R-R but you really don't understand where I'm coming from politically. The fact is that I form my conclusions about individual issues based on what seems the correct view after considering the information I have. Obviously, just like every thinking person, my viewpoints are tempered by my life experiences.

Regarding this meltdown of our financial sector, how it was handled by our elected leaders and what it's ramifications are both internally and externally as a society and as a nation, my view is that it will be both profound and far more extensive than we are being told.

When I read your posts it seems to me like you are viewing all issues through an ideological prism which tends to alter your perspective of them. I could be mistaken, I make lots of 'em, but let's explore this.

Consider the positions in your last post. After a perfunctory sentence or two about how the Bush administration has failed us all. The rest of your statement falls right back to blaming everything on the Democrats and professing knowledge that Obama's administration will be the same as Bush's. Yet in that same paragraph you say that Democrats are always the tax & spend, big government party. Think about the pretzel logic that statement demonstrates.

I'm not even going to discuss the relative merits of a tax & spend economic policy as opposed to a borrow & spend one. As far as laying all of the blame for this disaster at the door of either party, I hope you know better than that.

One last thing, It's the "Democratic" not the "Democrat" party. Show some basic respect.

Have a pleasant weekend. "

Voice of Reason wrote on Oct 3, 2008 11:04 PM:

" To Facts,
As you so clearly wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:07 PM: " I firmly believe, however, that the most important issue in government is to allow and permit public schools to teach the Bible, prayer, and the 10 Commandments."
Since you insist, here a some facts.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them?
(Lev.24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God instituted government in the Book of Genesis and it still exists today.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan, VoR "

fp wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:56 PM:

" geez vetter you are running out of hero`s to worship. I love how you neocons throw each other under the bus. Who is your leader anyway? Who are you going to quote and cut and paste from. You could`nt have an original thought if your life depended on it. You and your party will be chucked into the ashpile. Maybe it`s time to go back to playing your awful music and quit writing on these blogs. Oh and take dew with you, everyone is sick of that gasbag. 8 years of bush rule and our country is ruined ..there is no denying that fact Garth wannabe. "

Vetter wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:30 PM:

" VOR and Bill GARR; Hope you guys are doing well this eve.... Look, I'm extremely dissappointed in the president. There is NOTHING conservative about him, you guys chide him and fault him for being to liberal! He could've vetoed the wreckless spending going on, he grew government by 40%! You guys should be ecstatic! Please don't tell me Obama is going to reform government, your party has ALWAYS been tax and spend, pro-growth government, big programs, ALWAYS! Obama is NO different... So the spending, pro-amnesty Bush Administration, is gone... The housing crisis was caused by the democrat party, that is a fact, deal with it. The American people are angry, and the more they become aware that it was many members of YOUR party that held beck reforms of FANNFREDD, You can find the quotes, the sessions, these jerks were dancing with corruption. "

BILL G-A-R-R wrote on Oct 3, 2008 6:46 PM:

" If I want to see men crying I'll watch Project Runway, LOGO, or the Lifetime network, Hillary Clinton's voice cracked while Boehner and Coburn sobbed! Tom Coburn was caught doing a crossword puzzle at a Supreme Court nominating hearing .The man is a two faced fraud. A typical republican. "

Voice of Reason wrote on Oct 3, 2008 5:59 PM:

" To Vetter, You should relax a bit. Can't you see that our next president will inherit a nation and economy deeply wounded from 8 years of the rape & pillage policies of the Cheney/Bush mafia. Treasury Sec. Paulson will make sure that his real concern, the big boys on Wall St. are all taken care of and when Barack Obama finally takes over in January conditions will be so deteriorated that he'll be forced to put most of his reforms on hold. That way the Right wing talk radio guys can start-in right away calling him a liar and castigating his agenda as empty words.

Many of us knew that considering Bushs dismal record in the private sector that he would leave a mess for his successor to clean-up. After all it's what he's done every single time. (I mean when was the last time you heard of an oil company CEO in Texas losing money.) What is shocking is how blatantly corrupt and openly contemptuous of the American people he is.

I know that you either can't or won't get what I'm saying. I understand that you and a few others (about 30%) will never grasp the magnitude of damage that has been done to our beloved nation by these profoundly immoral leaders with little regard for our individual rights and freedoms in their heavy handed, misguided quest for wealth and power. But life will continue, the earth will keep spinning and at least we had a chance to live in the worlds most privileged country. "

NDGuy wrote on Oct 3, 2008 1:03 PM:

" Locals call bailout a joke, eh. The joke's on us. I can hear the cackeling on Wall Street and DC from here. "

Vetter wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:40 PM:

" It is true what he's saying Bill. Yours is the tax and spend party, for bigger government and more big programs. Have the republicans failed us as well? Yes they have, Conservatism needs to prevail again, Government needs to change the way they do business. This crap bill just passed the house, the people get hosed again. "

BILL G-A-R-R wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:04 PM:

" I don't have time to point out it's bias, scrool down yourself after you google your address. All the answers 'lie' there. Encourage your friends to open up their eyes also.
Hmmmmmmm.... no test for McCain eh? I know you think it's going to hurt him but Obama might be, just maybe, probably will be, A OK without North Dakota's white supremacy vote. Get used to saying these 3 words 'President...Barack.. Obama! CHANGE IS A COMING! and it won't be coming from a self proclaimed maverick wearing his POW status on his sleeve. GIVE ME A BREAK! "

One for the Road wrote on Oct 3, 2008 11:20 AM:

" To BILL G-A-R-R Wow did you even look at the test or do you not have any objectivity left? I have not credibility huh? Based upon your objective analysis I suppose. That is pretty good. So.. what errors/falsehoods were presented in this quiz? "

BILL G-A-R-R wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:32 AM:

" One for the road.... Very nice try almost Carl Rovian.... republican propaganda http://www.barackobamatest.com/ .........You have absolutely no credibility. ''If anyone finds a John McCain version like this.. please post it?'' You know yourself that the party of dirty tricks has not made the same test for McCain. You're all getting soooooo desperate of late.

Sen. Tom Coburn is a tad too late in his comments. It's true what he's saying, but it's nothing but partisan rhetoric now. Where was this cry babies concern when his party was in control. He cries as much as Boehner. RIDICULOUS! "

One for the Road wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:46 AM:

" I found this to be very interesting and I learned a few things. Click on the link below and answer some test questions. See how you come out. If anyone finds a John McCain version like this.. please post it

http://www.barackobamatest.com/ "

VoR wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:33 AM:

" To Dew,

My wife informed me that for a few days I had been babbling incoherently and making some ridiculous statements with little connection to reality. She also told me that during this period I was submitting several posts while drifting from bouts of sobbing to maniacal laughter. Apparently many were posted on a board headlined - Dorgan calls Wall Street bailout 'unbelievable' .

My best guess is that watching the value of my retirement income and my investment portfolio dissolve over the last 2 weeks caused some type of a psychotic break, a "suspension of my lucidity", if you will. Fortunately, my loving wife was able to waterboard me back to my old self recently and watching the debate last night really did the trick. ;)

In short, if I did indeed post anything that seemed crazy and totally disconnected with reality over the last few days...Oops, sorry.

Now that I seem to be back in touch with "reason" again I'll review those submissions and try to amend for any senseless ranting I may have posted over that sad period during my break of mental continuity.

(*NOTE: WATERBOARDING is an enhanced interrogation technique and should be conducted only on designated enemy combatants by a professional interrogator in a closed room at a secret location with no witnesses. DO NOT ATTEMPT AT HOME.*) "

Dew wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:06 AM:

" V0R, or whoever you are today, the mud my be old but is is stilll just as stinky and sticky as it was then ! No one can deny that Obama had close ties to Tony Rezko, Bill Ayres and Rev. Wright! Also his close ties to ACORN, who is being investgated for voter fraud right now. ACORN was also part of the home loans problem, forcing them to give loans to people who could not afford a house! "

REX wrote on Oct 3, 2008 6:29 AM:

" And America takes another firm step toward Socialism. "

Voice of Reason wrote on Oct 3, 2008 1:03 AM:

" Vetter; That is so typical of you...."there you go again, pointing backwards". I'm not going to answer your questions, or in the way you want me too. I did hear one thing from Sara Palin in the debate that I completly agreed with, "Change IS coming to Washington."

Dew, C'mon now, Rev. Wright??? You're slinging some old mud there, but who knows maybe it'll stick this time and slow down Obama's momentum. We'll see. I guess if I was in your position I'd be dredging up whatever I could find too. Don't forget about Tony Rezko & Bill Ayres. It's pretty weak stuff, but then again it's stronger that those totally discredited Muslim rumors or the fake birth certificate nonsense.

I've gotta hand it to you, No "white flag of surrender" on your part.

I guess you're right Vetter, I'm baaaaack.

U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A...O-bam-a, O-bam-a, O-bam-a.

Yup, I'm back & blue. "

Vetter wrote on Oct 2, 2008 11:24 PM:

" Clearly advantage goes to Palin! Gutter Politics Billy? That's all you can say? The main stream media has failed this country, your canditate has NOT been properly vetted. In fact if he had been vetted there is NO WAY he would be at the top of your ticket. Ask Hillary if SHE thinks he was vetted properly. Heck ask Biden! He is a far left radical, with extremist friends and values. There's a reason FOX news is killing everyone in the ratings, they're the only ones showing both sides. That's the reason you on the far left hate them so. Tell me Bill was Senator Coburn wrong with his statement today? "

Voice of Reason wrote on Oct 2, 2008 9:58 PM:

" OK, Debates over. My campaign is "un-suspended" again. (ADVANTAGE - Biden)

Did anyone else notice that earlier today John McCain labeled the Bail-out (oops, I mean) Rescue bill as irresponsible legislation that will bring our economy to the "edge of disaster" & said that President Bush should "veto it".

Just after he voted FOR it???

I guess the most generous thing I can say is that McCain was for the bill, before he was against it.

But on the same day!!!

Somewhere John Kerry is rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter. "

ndr wrote on Oct 2, 2008 8:47 PM:

" I would much rather help out my MAIN STREET and not there MAIN STREET!!!! "

BILL G-A-R-R wrote on Oct 2, 2008 7:46 PM:

" Vetter.... Please keep up the great work on behalf of the Dew crew. Every time you guys sling muck and mud, McCain pulls out of another state. Obama has been vetted for 18 months now, if there were something to this wouldn't we know all about it by now. Or do you think Rush, Billo, Brit, and Sean are sitting on this out of respect for Obama? I believe the nation is tired of of gutter politics. Are you seriously proud of the manner in which your man is campaigning? I gotta go, I guess something is on T.V................. "

Dew wrote on Oct 2, 2008 6:09 PM:

" VETTER:
Very good posts! I do have to agree with you!

I also see where Voice of Reason has left us and the old and Blue V0R is back to his nasty retorts.....

I guess when Obama gets in as president we will all have to follow the Teachings of his pastor, Rev. WRONG because we all know well enough that hs is still his buddy, his pal, after all he sat in that church for 20 years and NEVER, EVER heard him preach like that! What else can we not believe aobut this man? "

Vetter wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:45 PM:

" State Senator Tom Coburn ----- We have a patient with cancer, and they have secondary pneumonia because of the cancer and we're going to treat the pneumonia. But we're not going to fix the cancer. We're gonna ignore the cancer. Let me tell you what the cancer is. The cancer is Congresses for years upon years have totally ignored the Constitution of the United States and taken to us areas where we have no business being. There is no way you can justify in the US Constitution that the country ought to be the source of mortgages for homeowners in this country, and yet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac control 70% of the mortgages in this country. If anybody in America is mad about this situation, there's only one place they need to direct their anger, and it's right in the Congress of the United States. What we're going to do is we're going to continue to treat the symptoms rather than directly go after the cause that has created the greatest financial risk and peril this country has ever seen. We're not going after the cause. The cause is get back within the bounds of the Constitution that very specifically says where we have business working and where we don't. We decided that we would ignore the wisdom of our founders and create systems that are outside the enumerated powers that were given to us because we know better, we know better. We don't know better, it is obvious. This body continues to spend more, authorize more, and create bigger and more intrusive government, limiting the power of the great American experiment to in fact supply an increased standard of living. We're in tough times, but they're going to get tougher until the American people hold this body accountable to live within the rules set out in a very wise, a very providential way that served this country well. We ignore this book, this Constitution at our peril, we are reaping exactly what we have sown. "

VoR wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:35 PM:

" You can put lipstick on pork to sell it...its still pork. I'm now "suspending my campaign" until after the Debate. I wonder if Tina Fey will be watching? (sorry, that one was just too easy) "

Vetter wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:21 PM:

" By Stanley Kurtz

What if Barack Obamas most important radical connection has been hiding in plain sight all along? Obama has had an intimate and long-term association with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (Acorn), the largest radical group in America. If I told you Obama had close ties with MoveOn.org or Code Pink, youd know what I was talking about. Acorn is at least as radical as these better-known groups, arguably more so. Yet because Acorn works locally, in carefully selected urban areas, its national profile is lower. Acorn likes it that way. And so, Id wager, does Barack Obama.This is a story weve largely missed. While Obamas Acorn connection has not gone entirely unreported, its depth, extent, and significance have been poorly understood. Typically, media background pieces note that, on behalf of Acorn, Obama and a team of Chicago attorneys won a 1995 suit forcing the state of Illinois to implement the federal motor-voter bill. In fact, Obamas Acorn connection is far more extensive. In the few stories where Obamas role as an Acorn leadership trainer is noted, or his seats on the boards of foundations that may have supported Acorn are discussed, there is little follow-up. Even these more extensive reports miss many aspects of Obamas ties to Acorn.

An Anti-Capitalism Agenda
To understand the nature and extent of Acorns radicalism, an excellent place to begin is Sol Sterns 2003 City Journal article, ACORNs Nutty Regime for Cities. (For a shorter but helpful piece, try Steven Malangas Acorn Squash.)

Sol Stern explains that Acorn is the key modern successor of the radical 1960s New Left, with a 1960s-bred agenda of anti-capitalism to match. Acorn, says Stern, grew out of one of the New Lefts silliest and most destructive groups, the National Welfare Rights Organization. READ THE REST AT http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI= "

Vetter wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:13 PM:

" VOR; That is so typical of you.... you know very well that that's how they do things in the Senate! Republicans and Dems are guilty of this PORK=Bribery issue. They've been doing it forever... Also remember that 95 Dems voted against the original. Something has to be done, just not this bill. We wouldn't be in this situation if Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Chucky Schumer, Maxine Waters, etc. etc. wouldn't have blocked the Mcain co-sponsored bill back in 2005! Where is your outrage over this?!?! The Bush administration sucked itself down the drain right along side your party, they could've vetoed this crap spending going on, so he's part of the problem. If anything, this more of the same with Mcain when it comes to the economy, should be pointed right at the democrat party.

This stuff has been going on for a LOT longer than the last eight years. So quit blaming the Bush administration. We had democrats FORCING banks to issue high risk loans in depressed areas (redlining), the banks said "NO, we're NOT going to give out these risky loans in this or that community" and you cried "Your a racist" and started suing banks!!! Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Fed. Sav. Bank Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Docket / Court 94 C 4094 ( N.D. Ill. ) FH-IL-0011
State/Territory Illinois

This was a class action suit against Citi Bank, they said NO, and were sued! They settled out of court. Guess who one of the attorneys for the plantiff was in this case????? That's right.... BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA...... fast forward to 2005, Most libs in the democrat party killed the Mcain sponsored bill... ALL of them quoted as saying "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are going fine, Franklin Raines has done an outstanding job!!!! So stop with the spin VOR, this credit crisis is firmly planted on your side of the court. Even President Bush asked for reform 12 times in 2008 alone!!! Have a great day. "

VoR wrote on Oct 2, 2008 1:39 PM:

" To StayFocused, I guess it should be mentioned that your comments don't seem very focused to me. You wrote and I quote, "we could have weathered all the minor fraud except for the left wing democrats constantly blocking progress then trying to blame it on republicans." Then you wrote, "only one party made the Vietnam War longer by constantly dragging back and criticizing the war. Now they have been dragging back on this police action as if they have all forgotten all the oil well fires Saddam set in his invasion of Kuwait. Our embassies in north africa were blown up and he paid the families of suicide bombers who blew themselves up in Israel. After the first war he fired at our planes in the no-fly zone and gassed Kurds." Then you wrapped up your post by saying "Pirates have always taken over oil wells, food aid shipments, and now tankers. The world will not become peaceful by Obama wining and giving nice speeches."

Oh and you might want to check your history regarding the draft too. Presidents don't have much to do with it: September 16, 1940 congress began the first peacetime draft in the US. With the start of WWII congress amended the act to require all men from 18 to 65 to register with those aged 18 to 45 being immediately liable for induction. Service commitments for inductees were set at the length of the war plus six months. The WWII wartime military draft was extended by Congress, but it expired in 1947. In 1948 the draft was re-instated by congress.
The US congress discontinued the draft in 1973.

I hear Grape Kool Aid tastes the best, but since you appear to be an expert in this area, please share your wisdom. "

Enough wrote on Oct 2, 2008 12:38 PM:

" Does anyone know where we kind find the specifics of this bill? I looked through a 400+ document that was interesting but I want the specifics of the add ins. The pork that has nothing to do with the purpse of this bill. I would be so nice if our representatives could stay on task for once but this seems to have become the norm with every bill. "

StayFocused wrote on Oct 2, 2008 12:17 PM:

" This began years ago when Democrats began blocking the building of Nuclear Power Plants. They also blocked reprocessing of the fuel. France and Japan reprocess it but our left wing got it outlawed in this country. They did it so they could argue about where to put the waste.

This also began when more and more regulations were put on where we could drill for oil in this country.
Importing 70 percent of our oil is ridiculous and making us all broke. As gas prices reached near $4.00 a gallon all the people commuting from the suburbs of big cities were in trouble. And all the people in the inner cities with loans they could not afford even in good times all defaulted at once.

In other words we could have weathered all the minor fraud except for the left wing democrats constantly blocking progress then trying to blame it on republicans.

Both political parties are beholding to wealthy people and corporations because it is so expensive to get elected. Politicians in both parties get money from lobbyists to introduce bills. But only one party made the Vietnam War longer by constantly dragging back and criticizing the war. Now they have been dragging back on this police action as if they have all forgotten all the oil well fires Saddam set in his invasion of Kuwait. Our embassies in north africa were blown up and he paid the families of suicide bombers who blew themselves up in Israel. After the first war he fired at our planes in the no-fly zone and gassed Kurds.

The way the democrats have acted regarding the military one would wonder if a volunteer military will be possible if Obama wins. I would expect to again see the draft and anti draft riots like happened under that other democrat Lyndon Johnson.

Pirates have always taken over oil wells, food aid shipments, and now tankers. The world will not become peaceful by Obama wining and giving nice speeches. "

NDGuy wrote on Oct 2, 2008 11:15 AM:

" I posted this on another topic but I'm so mad I'm going to repeat myself. I find no middle ground in this debate and the evidence is overwhelming. Once again our Senators and Representatives have chosen to abdicate their responsibilities to the people by passing middle of the night, pork barrel legislation (tax breaks for wooden arrows isn't pork?) and call it bipartisan statesmanship. I call it something entirely different but I know OLE will not let me say it here. Guess which of our great senators voted for this one. At least Dorgan got it through his head that North Dakota sees through this little game and voted against the sham. Good bye Conrad. Hope you get a nice job with great bennies from your buddies on Wall Street after the people of ND vote you out. Pomeroy, you're next up to bat. Follow Fancy Nancy at your own risk. The most telling and damning evidence of collusion between congress and their Wall Street banking buddies: TOTAL SILENCE. Where is the cry for hearings, investigations, etc. that usually accompanies the finger pointing and denials normally associated with this type of scandal? "

VoR wrote on Oct 2, 2008 11:05 AM:

" $100 billion here$100 billion there...pretty soon you're talking about real money!
What the (fill in here) ! I can't believe what I'm hearing. A $700 billion bail-out (excuse me) rescue bill wasn't BIG ENOUGH, so to get the Republicans to support it they need to tack on another $100 billion in pork, because they think that will help them to get re-elected. These guys are in some other world.

OK sure, most of agree that something needs to be done to save us from falling into another great depression. But once this is done. I want the FBI to conduct a complete and probing investigation with full accountability followed by prosecution of any and everyone who engaged in any form of false information, fraud or misappropriation of funds or who withholds and or destroys any information. Heads must roll on this one.

When Bush signs this bill we should require that it be done, surrounded by all of it's sponsors and underneath his "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" banner. "

VoR wrote on Oct 2, 2008 10:59 AM:

" To BILL G-A-R-R, I wonder what polls taken after tonight's debate will look like. "

Online Editor wrote on Oct 2, 2008 10:57 AM:

" To VOR: The policy is no profanity or references to it. "

C3PO wrote on Oct 2, 2008 8:12 AM:

" Did anyone see how much pork is in the NEW bailout plan that the senate sent over? Brings it over $800 billion... I can't afford that - can you? "

BILL G-A-R-R wrote on Oct 2, 2008 12:39 AM:

" Dear Dew crew....The polls, from Quinnipiac University, showed Obama's support jumping to 50 percent or above in Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania.

The polls were taken over the weekend, after the lead-off presidential debate Friday in Mississippi and during Monday's dramatic stock plunge.

The poll showed Obama leading 51-to-43 percent in Florida; 50-to-42 percent in Ohio; and 54-to-39 percent in Pennsylvania. All three polls showed Obama gaining considerably compared with pre-debate polls taken before Friday night.

Combined, these states offer 68 of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory on Election Day, Nov. 4. Since 1960, no president has been elected without winning two of those three states.
Are there any more anti Obama sites you would like the country to look at? "

W. J. Hinichs wrote on Oct 1, 2008 10:52 PM:

" Dear Fellow Commentators:

I get queasy at the thought of congress taking 700 billion dollars from we, the people! From my perspective, this is throwing good money after bad and cannot help but feel that we should hold off until after the presidential election.

When we vote, we should keep in mind what Senator McCain said at a campaign rally in Missouri today when he relayed that if elected President he will eliminate wasteful subsidies like those going to farmers!

W.J.Hinrichs "

Damocles wrote on Oct 1, 2008 6:40 PM:

" They play us to be fools to be talked down to. I have heard more than a few TV commentators and politicians exaggerate how much money was lost in the stock market after the house voted against the bill. At least one said that A Trillion Dollars Was Lost in a matter of hours. Another said it just evaporated.
So lets talk about stock basics.
One person buys hoping the stocks will rise. Another person sells thinking they have topped out. One lost and one did not.
Or one person buy long thinking stocks will go up and another person buys short predicting the stocks will fall.

When the Stocks took a trillion dollar (or whatever) dive the short sellers made money. Then when short selling was blocked they put half of the same money back in to buy long.

There is only so much stock and it is traded from person to person.

Money does not disappear in the stock market. People who win the bet are normally constantly playing the market so it goes back in. Unfortunately they often put the money back in somewhere else.

When people treat us as if ignorant in some area that is fine. When they treat us as if we are fools it is not fine. "

Damocles wrote on Oct 1, 2008 3:47 PM:

" We still import 70 percent of our oil and export billions of dollars, some of it to dictatorships that do not like us at all.
We do have lots of cheap energy here at home. Uranium, coal, natural gas in very large amounts.
Democrats and Democratic Hollywood have opposed building nuclear power plants for a few decades. Thank Hollywood for the old movie China Syndrome where a nuclear reactor was going to melt down through the earth all the way to china (laughable if not so serious to the gullible).
Democrats and so-called environmentalists opposed offshore drilling. Obama was opposed to off shore drilling until just a couple of weeks ago.

So now supposedly the financial world is coming to an end only because of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. So now a bailout will end all of our problems? Wrong, We still need lots of oil until we can put other liquids in our gas tanks.
All countries dollars are dependent on energy. Energy to run tractors to grow food. Energy to run factories to produce everything from tractors to refrigerators.

The bad paper on over priced houses sold to people who could not afford them is not a good deal. Like the unused decaying FEMA Trailers from New Orleans big hurricane, they needed to be occupied and maintained.
Many houses are empty and being vandalized and looted.

I am sure every senator has read the 400 plus pages in this bill that they are about to vote on.
I wonder if every one of them thinks borrowing these hundreds of billions from FDIC is a really good idea?
They bundled so many bills together in this that they had been having trouble passing, that at least the lobbyists money will have finally been well spent. "

JB wrote on Oct 1, 2008 1:33 PM:

" To Jewel:

It sure does stink to high heaven. You see, if the bailout does not pass, most of us MIGHT suffer (but no one knows for sure). However, if the bailout does not pass, the people at the top (including those in Congress) will certainly suffer.

That's why we are being cowed into accepting this "evil thing with the holy name." "

Jewel wrote on Oct 1, 2008 11:49 AM:

" Bailout:

This is fishy. Why the rush? Did they want to do this so hurriedly that we didnt have time to think? Why the closed door meetings? Why were private investors not given a chance to buy up these toxic mortgages very cheaply? Were our creditors pressuring us? Were conflicts of interest involved? Was it political? And forget about the taxpayers ever profiting from this deal. I think theyre trying to scare us.

This is strange. This smells to high heaven. "

fact checker wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:12 AM:

" Brad wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:03 AM:
" FACT: $15,000 a month since 2005. What McCain has received from Fannie Mae. SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES, CONFIRMED on CNN. "

Brad should really learn to read but more important comprehend what you have read. What your fact really said is; "One of the giant mortgage companies at the heart of the credit crisis paid $15,000 a month from the end of 2005 through last month to a firm owned by Senator John McCains campaign manager" "

RD wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:09 AM:

" Get ready for it to pass......why? It's simple. The american people do't have any say in these choices anymore. Money and power have over run our country for years/decades. It now comes to this amount and you all can sit back and watch it and wonder. If the government would of payed more attention to this we wouldn't be in this situation but they didn't because of there focus is on themselves. A trait America has picked up over the years, being selfish.
If the goverment wanted to resolve the problem I'll give them a solution (on me, no charge). Take the top 5% of our contries wealth and let them loan out this bailout plan. Granted they might get greedy and ask for high interest rate, but they made alot of money out of this, wouldn't it make sense for them to help clean out this mess? Warren Buffett help out Goldman Sachs Group Inc with 5 billion what a great idea..... "

Brad wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:03 AM:

" FACT: $15,000 a month since 2005. What McCain has received from Fannie Mae. SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES, CONFIRMED on CNN. "

Lou Dobbs wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:54 PM:

" http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/30/dobbs.qa/index.html "

JB wrote on Sep 29, 2008 9:45 PM:

" I'm actually not that worried. North Dakotans are good at not losing their heads at crunchtime. "

NDGuy wrote on Sep 29, 2008 9:39 AM:

" To Rugby Reader, For heavens sake PLEASE give it a rest. This has nothing to do with our troops in Iraq. We all know how much you hate Bush now just stop already. Not every ill in the world is the result of Bush in the white house. I voted for him but would never do it again. That said, however, I wouldn't vote for any incumbent politician this election. Both parties have blown it big time. This bailout is one of the biggest scams coming from DC. It puts the burden of this mess squarely on the backs of the people without any accountability on the part of those responsible. Why? Because, I believe, the politicians and Wall street/Banking industries are so deeply into each others pockets this was could have been stopped 4 years ago and nobody did anything. It's not just dems or repubs the cause is the current political system that's behind this mess. That's politics and we don't need any more career politicians. We need good citizens representing the people. "

Damocles wrote on Sep 28, 2008 10:27 PM:

" To facts
It is worse than that. We do not have the money for the bailout and no one is telling us where it will come from. On the TV news today a newsperson ask a politician where the bail-out money will come from, will we borrow it from China or Saudi Arabia? The answer was one of those vague No its in The System, kind of answers.
So let me ponder. We are talking about almost the same amount of money in the US annual budget and we need to sell T bills to China and other countries to meet that.
Maybe we are going to borrow it from a major oil company with us being the middleman who guarantees the loan? Maybe we will borrow it from international banks? Maybe someone should tell us who we will be owing.
I wonder when we are going to get out of the business of guaranteeing other peoples money? The only thing we have left to trade or sell seems to be tax breaks and drilling or logging rights on federal land. Other than that this country is barely solvent. "

Dew wrote on Sep 28, 2008 10:08 PM:

" Facts: I also have something the Dems should be interested in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

Someone sent me this info, it should be seen all over the US, it sure does tell us who the crooks and liars are and please listen to the very words from some Democrat politicians' mouths as the fiscal regulator AND Republicans tried to warn the committee of illegal and irresponsible dealings on the part of Fannie May and Freddie Mack back in 2005!
You can even ignore the written captions made by those who put together the video, if you wish (they obviously aren't happy with any Democrats), but you CANNOT POSSIBLY ignore the Repub warnings and the Democratic REFUSAL to listen during the taped proceedings. Even Bill Clinton is on record saying the Democrats would not listen! I never knew how bad it really was until now. By the way, the video is from a committee meeting covered by C-Span2. "

Facts wrote on Sep 28, 2008 8:03 PM:

" To Bono: Since the Democrats will not answer this simple question, will you kindly tell me how much money Obama, Conrad, Dorgan, and Pomeroy received from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? "

Rugby Reader wrote on Sep 28, 2008 5:39 PM:

" Here is a joke for North Dakota taxpayers: the illegal, immoral, and unConstitutional occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

And now we are sending 700 North Dakota National Guardsmen to Kosovo?

Yep, sure is some funny joke being played on American taxpayers.

http://ivaw.org "

Agreeing with Cheers wrote on Sep 27, 2008 3:14 PM:

" I agree with you 100%! Instead of giving the banks a bailout that would benefit only them, why not figure what 700 billion would be for each person that filed a tax return. Give that to the American people to pay off their mortgages and other debt, thus...helping the banks. Also think about this...the people that don;t have debt...what will they do with the money they recieve!?!? THey will invest it in the stack market, our banks, CD's...etc...etc...

It's not that hard to figure out! THe problem is it would benefit everyone and not just the politicians and big business. "

Bono wrote on Sep 27, 2008 12:46 PM:

" Vote for McCain and we can look forward to at least 4 more years of this downward spiral. It'll probably take Obama that long just to drag our sorry butts out of this mess. "

Economic Conservative wrote on Sep 27, 2008 10:59 AM:

" Well, according to State Senator Ray Holberg, who is introducing the bill to erase the Mill's 5 Million dollar obligation to the state budget, the Mill lost over $800,000 million in it's last budget year. "The state mill lost more than $820,000 during its last budget year. North Dakota's state budget surplus is expected to exceed $1 billion, and Holmberg says it's pointless to require the money-losing mill to contribute to the surplus." This from a Trib story on the bill. I am only spectulating but if the Mill is required to pay $5 Million a year and Holmberg wants to forgive an additional $4.2 million over what it lost, I have to agree there is more to it then is being told. "

Reality Check wrote on Sep 27, 2008 10:26 AM:

" To: Geoff wrote on Sep 26, 2008 3:07 PM: . . . .Where does the "Buck Stop?" Who is our Leader, (?) at the present time? G. W. BUSH Why has he put us all down this road to foreclosures, loss of jobs, and GREEDY corporations who are sucking all our money out of our pockets as we speak. The corporations are just a money pit and will want more and more! "

JB wrote on Sep 27, 2008 8:26 AM:

" OK, economic conservative, you're painting with pretty broad brushstrokes yourself. Let's hear some hard financial numbers about the Mill in particular. Never really have known much about it, but would love to learn more.

I'm sure there is politics involved in the story behind last quarter's loss, but let's not get ahead of ourselves... "

Economic Conservative wrote on Sep 27, 2008 6:55 AM:

" JB, I admire the way you can convince yourself of these things. You are the kind of person that keeps North Dakota on the map. You are absolutely right. If it wasn't for the socialist way that states like California and texas are forced to use thier tax payers monies to keep ND alive there would be no ND. The US government keeps bailing ND out, and that's no joke. dr fargo is also right, BND is another form of welfare for NDr's, i.e. farmers and students, however having laws that force local governments to keep thier accounts with BND is socialism ala Chavez. And JB, I am sorry, but forgiving the State Mill of it's 5 Million dollar obligation because of losses is a kin to "bailing it out". It's a joke when it's some one else, but it's business as usual if it's ND? Thefact is contrary to what Mayor Hoeven is telling us, The State Mill losses paint a very different picture of the state of the ecomony in ND. "

IT Happens wrote on Sep 26, 2008 11:40 PM:

" If you look at the polls going on at ANY website, you notice that a HUGE majority of the american people do not want this bailout to happen. I happen to agree with them, "you broke it,you buy i" I say. So my question is if 80% of the american people dont want this to take place WHY are they going forward with it? Funny how fast the government comes running when the rich are in trouble. People call into your congressman and tell them you dont support this mugging of the american people. There is only a few days left until the election, this is something they should put on the EVERY SINGLE BALLOT! Let the american people be heard for once because the people we elected are just ignoring what we the people want and doing what they please to keep their buddies rolling in the moolah. "

Cheers wrote on Sep 26, 2008 10:56 PM:

" Just think everyone...over the weekend our congressional leaders will make us real estate tycoons. Yay. We will own toxic assets. Translation: assets that no one else wants otherwise we wouldn't be in this predicament. Seriously, the reason we're in this mess is because the banking lobby has had their way with congress and deregulation watered down. It's the fault of both parties. And the greedy banks and investment institutions who have preyed upon those who yearn for the American Dream. The types of loans being made and the suck-all-the-equity-out-of-your-home so we can invest it for you schemes never should have been allowed. Someone said the government should just write us all a check for $1,000,000...the approximate cost of the bailout. When the banks fail, it won't matter. We'll all be millionaires. We can pay off our mortgages, fund our retirements, and still have money left to stimulate the economy. (I'm not serious, although this idea may have as much merit as anything our leaders can put together). "

drfargo wrote on Sep 26, 2008 10:49 PM:

" The Bank of North Dakota (BND) exists to provide loans (credit) to ag businesses and ND folks for education, etc...and BND is profitable.

Is North Dakota proud of having "the only State-owned bank?" Do North Dakotans want Conrad, Dorgan or Pomeroy to say that a "State-owned bank" is good? If so, would they do it? ...I don't think so.

I'll say that a statement from our federal elected officials regarding the success of a "state-owned financial institution" will never happen from because the guys want to stay in Washington.

These issues will be with us for a long, long time. "

JB wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:18 PM:

" To economic conservative:

All government is socialism. When a local government fixes a road itself instead of having the private sector do it, it is socialism. Public schools are socialism. EVERYTHING a government does is socialism. Granted, some socialism is a good idea and some socialism is a bad idea.

In my entire life, this is the first time I've heard of the State Mill losing money during a quarter. (BTW, a loss in a single quarter hardly means the Mill is faultering). Furthermore, about your statement that the Bank of North Dakota will one day faulter as well, it's true that one day the sun will burn out and the earth will freeze. I can't say when exactly though. Do you have any evidence that the Bank will faulter anytime soon?

Maybe we could just sell these doggone businesses to Halliburton. Certainly, the private sector has shown that they have the best interest of the average citizen in mind first and foremost. LOL!

The Bank and the Mill as they are presently constituted work well for North Dakota. Long histories of profitablity bear this out. "

kenny wrote on Sep 26, 2008 5:15 PM:

" Sounds like a good time to quit paying my bills. This plan stinks the way it is written. MAKE them EARN it to keep there buisness i am all for a LOAN at about 2% payable in five years or so. But to bail them out and the idiots who sighned the paper work with poor credit and iffy pay back ability. Just makes me mad. The true people that are being hurt are the people that actually pay there bills and don't ask for the governmets help every time they stumble. It was a matter of time before the greed of few may bury us all. I hope this plan will also include looking into the cut throat tactics of some of these businesses and prosecute them to the fullest potential the law provides. PLAIN AND SIMPLE A LOT OF FRAUD AND THEFT OCCURED UNCHECKED!!!!!!! "

to OBE wrote on Sep 26, 2008 4:58 PM:

" Yeah, its called foreclosure. Thats why we are in this mess. And sorry, you don't get to keep your house. The bank would love your house though, if you are close to being paid off, because they could sell it for more than your loan is worth. "

OBE wrote on Sep 26, 2008 4:04 PM:

" If we quit making our mortgage payments, do we get bailed out too? "

Becca wrote on Sep 26, 2008 3:17 PM:

" If my business was failing, would the goverment bail me out? I don't thing so. So why would they even consider bailing out the big business? "

To OBE wrote on Sep 26, 2008 3:07 PM:

" I too have that same nagging feeling. My husband and I have always worked hard, almost have our home paid off, and have no other debt. We only buy what we can afford and have been able to sock away a substantial amount of money. We have been planning to retire when we are in out mid-50's. However, I see our retirment and savings accounts shrinking daily and it really unnerves me. I feel like I lose either way. If the government bails these companies out, then I will feel it when the taxman comes. If they don't, I fear I will lose a large portion of my retirement savings. It just makes me so angry at both the banks and the people that took the money knowing they couldn't afford that big house, car, or whatever else they think they had to have. People need to wake up and realize that they are living way beyond their means and that they are not entitled to live a lifestyle they can't afford. Frustrated and angry don't even begin to describe how I am feeling. "

Geoff wrote on Sep 26, 2008 3:07 PM:

" To Frightened and Angry; Reality Check, et al: George W. is responsible for everything wrong with this country, right? Actually it's the Democrats that have voted against any reform in the banking industry and subsequently lining their pockets and getting sweet mortgage deals (Obama being one of the biggest receivers of their money, not to mention the Chairman of the Banking Committee, Sen Dodd, and our own Senator Conrad). If your dog gets hit by a car I support that would be Bush's fault to... "

Fed up wrote on Sep 26, 2008 2:56 PM:

" To Just me,
I am so fed up with people critisizing the farm bill,if they knew what they were talking about they wouldn't say a word. I challenge anyone who makes these remarks to start farming and try to raise food for the nation and a living for themselves these days. The expenses are so great that there is very little left to live on, then throw in a drougth and see where they are. There are no hand outs, no unemployment no insurance paid for by their employer no benefits of any kind that the farmer doesn't pay for himself. Put yourself in the average farmers boots and try it. I challenge you! Do you know that the farmer has to take insurance out to try to meet bare expenses when he plants his crops. Maybe you should get the facts before you make those remarks. "

Jim S wrote on Sep 26, 2008 2:18 PM:

" OPPS, That last one was for OBE. "

OBE wrote on Sep 26, 2008 2:17 PM:

" Don't get nervous. Just don't do anything drastic like sell your stock and cash in your investments. It will be OK. "

Ecnomic Conservative wrote on Sep 26, 2008 2:06 PM:

" Interesting comparison JB, first off, government owned business is socialism, paint it any way you like, second, I would classify Hoeven as nothing more than the mayor of a midsizd city and a Socialist/ Democrat playing Republican dress up, nothing more, nothing less. Hoeven is all for welfare, albeit it social, farm or corporate. Hoeven's philosopies don't even vaguely resemble what the Republican philosophies are. Isn't it interesting how there is a bill being prepared to "forgive" the State Mill it's required $5 million dollar payment to the state due to it's losses. Like most socialist ideas, the State Mill is faultering and the BND will eventually faulter too. "

OBE wrote on Sep 26, 2008 1:49 PM:

" I am 52. Until now, I have never felt anxiety about the economic future of the United States. I suppose partly because I was young and naive. This past year, I expereince almost constant anxiety about our economic future and the potential for terrorism and war that exists in the world. We have always lived within our means. We have a mortgage and we are within 5 years of paying our mortgage in full. We don't have any other debt. We don't have children and we have been saving for retirement for many years. We have a comfortable life and don't spend without thinking. We should feel secure. But we don't. I have this nagging feeling that it is all going to collapse. I no longer trust Republicans or Democrats (I have always been an Independent) to watch out for the interests of the people. We should sure use some leaders right now to help us as a nation get out of this mess. "

JustMe wrote on Sep 26, 2008 12:51 PM:

" So many mad about a welfare bailout, I bet if this $700 billion went to a welfare farm bill ND would be happy. "

Rusty Shackelford wrote on Sep 26, 2008 12:22 PM:

" They made their bed. let them sleep in it.
But if Congress does bail them out, Congress can get more lobbiest money.
On the CBS. earlyshow Maggie Rodrigues asked Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) what would happen if there was no bail out. He said the market would correct itself. Let the market correct itself. "

CEO wrote on Sep 26, 2008 12:06 PM:

" WHy doesn't Conrad, Dorgan, Pomeroy go after the CEO pay benefits etc that ran these companies into the ground?????? Maybe is it cause tehy are firends???? I am not sure but Instead of spending our money to bail the companies out they should go after the CEO's!!!!!!!!! But instead the three would just like to complain about Bush and his policies that lead us here... or should I say congress and the houses policies??? oh wait we won't go there right? HEy the three of you why don't you actualy do something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

Reality Check wrote on Sep 26, 2008 11:49 AM:

" The U.S.A. deserves to go into a deep depression, not unlike the 1930's. You deserve the ramifications connected with who you voted for. That would be G.W. Bush and his economic policies, Wall Street GREED, and corporate welfare programs. The whole financial system needs to correct itself, similar to what happened in the 1930's. The 1930's and the Great Depression brought everything back to reality. The housing market collapsed, as it is doing now and will continue to fall. The price of a loaf of bread dropped to 30 cents and the wages and salaries dropped proportionately. A depression will bring this country and the rest of the world back to cheaper and better times for everyone. Those who seem to complain the most about our economy and the fiasco we are now facing are predominately those who voted for G.W. Bush, you deserve who you vote for! Who did you vote for? "

PO3 wrote on Sep 26, 2008 11:44 AM:

" If a criminal comes into your home and robs you of your money, do you then go to the bank and give them whatever they might have missed the first time they robbed you. Americans just can't figure things out, how did we get so weak and elect such weak leaders? "

JB wrote on Sep 26, 2008 11:10 AM:

" To Economic Conservative:

The bailout being proposed is substantially different from what N.D. has with the State Bank and State Mill. First of all, these institutions are solvent. Secondly, they were established by the NPL with both eyes open and a populist agenda. They aren't really socialism, because they don't dictate the market, they simply participate in it.

Finally, isn't N.D.'s REPUBLICAN governor a former president of the Bank of North Dakota? Using your logic, that makes him a socialist. I wonder if Governor Hoeven would agree with you? "

snoller wrote on Sep 26, 2008 10:56 AM:

" This all started with the invention of credit cards. I'm surprised it went as long as it did. I seen this coming 10 years ago. How much is the average credit card debt?? How many houses in Bismarck are financed??? It's coming and it's going to hit hard all over. This is not a game to play, it's going to get tough. Another thing with all these homes going up in Bismarck, the quality of the homes are not very good. Living in a trailer house may be better option. "

JIm S wrote on Sep 26, 2008 10:19 AM:

" What I think is a joke is some cow poke always has to lof into any blog on here and always has to point her finger at Bush. This is not onlyu a Bush issue. Everything going on in our world that is going on is not only a bush deal. This whole mess we are in is an issue both sides are responsible for. BOTH SIDES. "

Economic Conservative wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:42 AM:

" Not sure what the residents of our socialist state are so upset with, this bailout is socilaism at it's finest. US Government will own 80% of these companies. It's not really much different than the Bank of North Dakota or the State Mill. Perhaps it is the realization that these businesses can lose money even when goeverment owned, ala the State Mill and we all have to pay. What a crazy and illinformed state we live in. For thr record, I think the bailout is a really bad idea. I am releived the real Republicans are against it. "

drfargo wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:31 AM:

" North Dakota has a "State-owned bank" and most North Dakotans don't give that a second thought. I think the this bail-out gives a whole new meaning to the brand name "Bank of America." I think the Country could use a little education about what the impact of having a "state-owned bank." "

Tommy wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:13 AM:

" let the business fail.. let the banks fail... let the idiots with that live outside their means fail.... might have to sell the financed camper, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, $50,000 dollar pickups... Credit should be for emergencies that you cannot afford... not for homes you cant afford or for trying to become a slum lord... to many people have followed these get rich "no money down" plans to buy homes... like my daddy always said.. if it sounds to good to be true it prob is..

xp2kg "

Frightened and very angry wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:56 AM:

" While I am not happy about the bailout, I certainly do not think it is a joke. Nothing about this situation, the Bush administration has gotten us into is humorous; yet playing the blame game solves nothing. Having done my homework I have come to the conclusion that not providing help to the Wall Street debacle will be more of a catastrophe for each American then the bailout itself. I have no debt and am a good manager of my money and am disgusted that our nation is composed of citizens who have credit card debt up to their ears and who are living only for the moment and not the future. We are a rich advanced nation but saving money is not one of our strong suits. My neighbors have multiple automobiles, boats, snowmobiles, motorcycles, large screen televisions and other toys. Most have financed these items and are making payments on them, and are thus far able to do so. The bailout does create a bad precedent but the alternative is just too grim. Will I be selling apples on a street corner in a few weeks or standing in a soup line? Will my pension; I am retired, go belly up? Will I be able to heat my home this impending winter? I have not done anything to cause this financial crisis, will I be swept up into the fiasco of the poor house. I was on a cultural exchange trip to Russian in 1994, during the time when Boris Yeltsin was leader of Russia. The Russian economy had collapsed with the fall of communism and everywhere elderly pensioners, whose small fixed pensions were worthless because of growing inflation, were begging on the streets. Is that my soon to be future and yours? "

Citizen wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:43 AM:

" If you ask me, I think the executives of these corporations should forfeit all their assets to assist with the recovery. They are the ones who drove these businesses into the ground. Watch, theyll walk away with fat bank accounts and retire at some tropical island while the rest of us pay for their mistakes. "

Bethel99 wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:39 AM:

" Another great Tribune Article, out of touch North Dakotan's giving an ignorant opinion about something they know nothing about. We have had tow other bailouts in American History that made the tax payers money and saved a major Company and part of the Banking system. "

Me wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:35 AM:

" No Bailout! No means No!!!! I've already sent letters to my congressman to not spend my hard earned tax dollars on people's inability to understand their own loan and credit arrangements. If your payments go up, too bad, thats your problem. If your house is worth less now than it was 6 months to a year ago, too bad that's your problem. No more haves versus the have nots. After all, this is America. Where before we seemed to be proud of being known as the "bootstrap" country. Let the chips fall where they may. Okay silver spoons, its your turn to comment. "

LJ wrote on Sep 26, 2008 8:28 AM:

" I have an idea. If the mortgage industry is what caused this mess why doesnt the government just buy up all these mortgages with our $700,000,000,000 and refinance back to the home owner. This way there will be more control and accountability and this would also help to shore up home values. This will also keep millions if not billions of dollars of bailout money out of corrupt pockets. "

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