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Viewer Comments On The Revised Rescue Plan

We asked what your thoughts were on the revised economic rescue package. Here are your responses: 

Dear Legislators: Thank you for raising my, my children's, and my grand children's taxes so that your buddies or campaign contributors in the bow and arrow industry can prosper now. --Mike Patton

Here are my thoughts. Money for Alaskan Fishermen ok lets guess where this one came from. Money for wooden bows oh that is is really worth my tax dollars. This 700 billion dollor bail out has become a joke. How much more is the american people especially the middle class going to have to take of this. If Obama and McCain agree on this bail out well this country is in even bigger trouble then we thought, How could any one add another 105 Billon dollars to an allready greedy bill. Once again someones hands are in the cookie jar and the middle class worker will end up paying for it. Well god bless america --Robert E. Sajdak

Wooden toys? Bows and arrows? I don't understand how these items will improve the economy. How about dividing the $700B amongst the 200M+ citizens of voting age and allow us to infuse the economy? Now, that's a bottom-up approach. --Steve Hart

I'm a small business owner and feel the stress of the economy like everyone else, Ive owned my home for 17 years and didn't fall victom to the mortgage scams, how does this rescue plan keep a small business, employing 13 others (with families) alive and well in America. Really. Couldn't we find a better way to spend (or not spend) this money. --Jerry Callis

Who do the politicians think they are fooling? Raising the FDIC insurance to 250,000 is going to help who, most people don't even have enough in the bank to make a difference and those that do can put the money in other banks. They are just pushing the problems back more as usual to try to make themselves look better. --Sherri Hilgen

It just proves that our federal government cannot cut spending. They cannot promise that they will cut out the earmarks that are so costly to all Americans. Just more rhetoric in an election year. No wonder so many Americans are so cynical and skeptical toward our government leaders. --Carol

As the economy suffers and swoons, the politicians are more interested in protecting their own investments than in helping the American people. One analyst said that 2/3 of the American economy is driven by consumer spending. What will happen if big business gets a bail out but consumers do not? The economy will collapse anyway because their will be no consumer spending to drive it, nor will there be anyone who will be able to get one of the loans from the 'newly freed-up money' that this is supposed to make. Looking at the bill and what it took to get passed, it is obvious that it cannot be that good. Pork barrel projects are bribes to get bills passed and any bill that truly helps people (constituents) and the economy shouldn't need bribery. In fact, in these times, all political positioning should be set aside to try to avert the greatest financial crisis we have seen in 80 years. Unfortunately, our politicians are not smart enough to realize that we have already been through a similar crisis and the basis for the plan was laid out by FDR 3/4 of a century ago. God help us all. --Ryan V.

This Bill should of never passed. The Senators and Lobbyist have done it to us again. When are politicians going to realize that the American people don't want their type of compromise by being manipulated by Lobbyist. --Carl Turley

I think it is a shame that our political leaders can't get their act together. This bill was supposed address the financial crisis and not the petty wants of a few, no, all those out of touch senators. Tell me how does giving money to the wood toy industry help out the tax payer or our troubled economy? It seems to me the same old game is being played and our leaders are sending us to hell in a hand basket. I say fire the lot of them during the election. Vote no on all imcumbents!!!!! --Christopher Williams

I'm tired of the press continuing to perpetuate the flawed "The Wall Street vs. Main Street" argument. The two are linked whether we like it or not. Wall Street is in crisis partially because people on main street aren't paying their mortgages and people on main street are feeling the pain of the Wall Street crisis in their 401K, IRA and job security. We're all in it together and its a good thing the Senate passed this bill. Let's hope the house can put partisan politics aside and help us move forward toward a solution. --Mike

Why are we adding more money to this bailout plan? Will this bill lower the interest rate on our credit cards; help with the rising gas prices, etc. I just don't get it. --Adkins

Quit bailing out poorly run corporations! Take that money and Bail out the American public. Divide that money between everyone over 18 and a legal citizen and we will spend it paying off mortgages, credit cards and other loans. Then we'll use the what's left over to buy and invest which will support well managed companies, instead of companies giving golden parachutes to incompetent executives. --Julia

Wow, you are kidding right? This is a joke? Wooden toy makers... well, I am glad that they were bailed out. This whole situation is laughable. I'm speechless... Tax breaks are meaningless to me... I am not an Alaskan fisherman who suffered from the Exxon Valdez oil spill... However, I am homeowner who was foreclosed on. What is in it for me? I need a land break, not a tax break that may or may not materialize. I need somewhere to live. What about my equity, my land? Rich guy wins, America loses again. --Claudia Ross

What's scary is hearing that only the Senate passed this new bill; it still has to pass the House because the last time I looked both houses of Congress have to pass a bill for it to go into effect. I have a fixed income and there are others like me; we can't afford to live like this - bailing out wealthy businessmen and the government! We are paying for big business mismanagement and a war that has only benifited Halliburton and Black Water and killed many young men and women who deserved a better life than dying and for what? --Kathy Goble

"rescue" Who is going to "rescue" us tax payers when we are the one's losing are JOBS and HOUSES! where are we suppose to go, what are we suppose to do? while they are back at there jobs and have there homes and sitting calmly not worried because we tax payers "rescue" them.... --Michelle

$108 billion dollars more for more special interests. That is the kind of politics that got us in this trouble in the first place. We are all fighting an uphill battle and all the politicians can worry about is making wooded toys and the like? --Ed Liss

I'm hopping mad! Congress should be ashamed of themselves for throwing their pork projects onto this bill. It's bad enough that middle income taxpapers will pay for the bailout, but it's sinful to be expected to cover all this other stuff. I am thinking long and hard about voting for any incumbents in November. --Mary McHugh

I would like to know what credit rating would the 3 credit bureaus give the companies who got us into this mess? Why should I have to pay taxes to get them out of this mess? What's in it for me! I feel that the average American should receive funds. We are the ones the need it. We are also the ones that keep the economy afloat. --Betty Burt

Are they really thinking about middle class? 1. What percentage of working Americans need insurance for a $250,000 savings account? 2. What happened to limiting the golden parachutes? 3. What happened to the basic budget fundamentals - expenses lower than income? --Beverly Rogers

The bailout plan is the biggest scam in the history of this country, forced upon us by lobbyistsin Washington. --Mike Nazem

I have mixed feelings. I knew that the amount that was originally proposed - $700 billion - would escalate. What if they put through ANOTHER package that would take 50% of all Americans debt and forgive that amount. Imagine ALL of the extra $$$ people would have to put back into the ecomony IF they didn't have to worry about every dollar that they can't spend?? Out ecconomy would be soaring! And a lot of tention that people are feeling on a day to day basis would be alleved. If we can bail out the BIG companies - suuposedly to help the 'Main Street' folks - Then BAIL OUT THE folks themselves... --Lynn

I don't think it is the best solution. However, America needs this bill to stop the bleeding in the economy. If something is not done we will be in full recession. Too many homes are vacant and way too many people are jobless. --Cheryl

The new bill is an embarrassment for the American people! When will our politicians actually lead and do what is the right thing for our country? --MK Cowen

This is just a short term Band-aid. Unemployment is rising and will trigger a credit card default crisis of the same size that has no physical items backing it. Our ecconomy can no longer grow on debt. Fundamental changes are needed at the consumer level. --Justin Lee

Our government is as corrupt and incompetent as any , In my 67 years I will not vote for a president, they are all self -serving --Bob Olson

Appalling, ludicrous, insane, nonsensical. Just what we would expect from our corrupt, self-serving politicians that have not learned anything from the House experience. How do you go from 3 pages to 451 pages in a bill in only 3 days? We are not stupid. Lobbyists created this problem. Why are they part of the proposed solution??? SUPREME IDIOCRACY AT IT'S FINEST!!! --Jim Bailey

I'm tired of the rich getting richer off the little man paying for their mistakes and corp. ceo's being bailed out so they keep the severns pay. and retirement package . It would be cheaper to give each household 200,000 to pay off debts. --Joe

Which financial institutions would get the largest amount of help? List the top 10. I read that many "banks" rec'g aid are foreign and if true we should not help any of the non-tax paying corporations. We need to remove the "sweetheart" portions of the bill. --Fred Miklusak

I just saw Suzanne LeMignot's piece on the guy whose work hours are cut back and whose family has to eat more meals at home. Why should I feel sorry for them, when I'munemployed, on Food Stamps, and don't even have a home of my own? To use "More Picturesque Speech," the bailout should have included the people who are, at least figuratively, SLEEPING on "Main Street," as well as the businesses and employees on it. --Jean SmilingCoyote

IT STINKS. On a bill they tell us is so important to the world, the adding of earmarks is so unconcionable it defies description. Every one of those self absorbed congressmen who added earmarks should be ashamed and should, if there were any justice, run out of office. They are the ones who caused this debacle and their continued behavior will only dig us deeper. When is anyone going to bail out the working middle class taxpayer instead of the wealthy, over and over. IT JUST STINKS. --Judith Langer

Absolutely don't agree. No one has actually stated what would happen if we do not bail them out. There are other ways rather than to add 805 billion to debt. --Joe Toma

Once again, our politicians have demonstrated what they are best at - "knee-jerk management! If mortage lending controls and proper market "watchdog" controls had been in place, the collapse would never have happened. Our political system must change. politicians must be held accountable for the "state of the economy", or the same thing, or worse, will happen again. --Joe Martinek

What a joke. This is another example of how our politicians are only in it for what they can get from the lobbyists. I mean come on, help for rum and toy makers on a bank bill? What we need to do is vote out every single one of these bozos and start over. If we do this for a few elections maybe they'll start wanting to represent us instead if filling their pockets. --Tim

In the 30's is was known to be "The Great Depression". In 2008, it will be known as "The Great Heist". --Allen

The bail out package is a mistake. Another backward and dangerous policy by senate democrats. American people must wake up and realize these wall street and special interest groups are ruining our way of life. --Donald LaJeunesse

If it dosen't include cuts in wages, prices, rates, and salaries, any economic rescue package is a waste of time. This economic crisis is the result of 40 years of sheer bloat. --Jon Evans

Total BS. I can't believe that lobbyists and congressmen can have the **** (four-letter euphemism for audacity) to pad this bill that is supposed to "save" not only our economy but the world's, with special interests. Have they no shame? --Tom

The government must think everyday people are total idiots. Why should we pay for others mistakes. When we make mistakes there is no one to blame but ourselves and the government certainly isn't going to help us in any way shape or form. This is absolutely ridiculous and neither candidate will get my vote. I'm staying home on election day. --Cathy

I am wondering who is going to pay for this? --Sue Warso

It's clearly necessary, but where did all these earmarks come from? And how is it possible that those ear marks got past the anti-ear mark crusader, John McCain? So he was against them before he was for them? Can anyone spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y? --John Hubers

What's with all the pork, why are we paying for pork in this bailout? --Shari Sullivan

The first bill was for Main Street and nothing for me and my wife. The second bill is for everyone else but my wife and I. Vote no. --

I still think it is a bad idea. The working class make poor management decision and nobody is bailing them out. So, why should Wall Street be bailed out. This is a shame and America will sure paid for their sins again the working class man. --Phill

Congress should impeach Paulson and Cox instead of rewarding them and their cronies! --Art Tabor

Not thinking enough of the common working class. Considering only the upper class and management in Wall Street and in general politics. --Clifford Blake

It's a waste of taxpayer dollars. I'd like to see my name on that bailout! --Janice

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