I agree the bailout is a bad thing, but we have no choice at this stage.
I believe in a free economy, but why is everyone so against regulations (on gas, banking, etc...). We need oversight on things, as we have always had on utilities (e.g. Public utility boards, etc.)..
I just hope the government takes equity in everything so they can make money on the upside. Our government and financial institutions are extremely interlaced. We are a capitalist system and there is no escaping the mutual benefit of the two.
IF we become a poor country, even for a few years, the government would not be able to have the influence it needs around the world. CHINA is going to kill us in this century; and the way our politicians behave, we kind of deserve it..
p.s. -moved nearly everything -96% to bonds/treasuries, and only suffered a 1.2% drop in a week.