Bailouts

I feel bad for the people who were duped by the Madoff ponzi scheme.  However, I don't feel bad enough for them to consider using the billions for bailouts to help them.  Many people lost a significant amount of money, but they were taking risks -- as we all do when we invest our money -- and stood to earn quite a bit of cash in the transaction.  As it is, I have lost a significant portion of my 401K due to the drop in the Dow averages, but I don't hear anyone shouting to help me.

We are in this together but the government should only be using the money to keep the economy going.  I don't see how giving money back to those who lost big would even support the economy.  It's not as if those people, once they receive their million or so back, would then go out in a fit of joy and spend it all.  The money is going to be invested elsewhere.

Yes, I do understand that when big business has the money from those investments they will generate the economy.  Still, it's just white collar money.  Where this country is hurting is in the blue collar sector.  Sure the auto workers have to tighten their belts, but they also represent what makes this a good country.  I would like to be rich, but I don't necessarily want that to be what defines this country.  

We need to get back to basics.  Support the mom and pop shops if there are any left.  Buy a house to live in and have a vested interest in improving your neighborhood.  What the hell, take the time to know your neighbors.  We've allowed ourselves to be defined by the car in the driveway for too long.  It's time to define ourselves by the character of the people who live in the houses where those cars are parked.

We need to bailout with caution and care.  And try to be kind to one another.  In the crash of 1929 it wasn't the poor people who committed suicide; it was the rich as they contemplated life without money.  The poor just continued on and made a nation that many felt proud of.  Times are tough; they will get tougher.  We need to put individual interests aside and hope that those in charge will do what is necessary for the greatest number not just those with the greatest number of assets.