For Many Americans, Fear and Distrust Run High

[cal04]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092903325.html?hpid=topnews

The leaders of the country said: Trust us.

The people said: Not this time.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 in the end was a $700 billion piece of legislation that few people could truly love, and it offered citizens from across the ideological spectrum a little something to hate. Conservatives said they could not abide the government intrusion on the free market. Liberals recoiled at government checks rescuing Gucci-wearing Masters of the Universe. There were those who sniped that this was a "No Banker Left Behind" program.

A political establishment held in higher regard may have been able to hold together some kind of coalition of the willing. But distrust of the nation's leaders, from the leaders of Congress to the president of the United States, foreclosed that possibility.

Members of Congress in both liberal and conservative districts were inundated with e-mails and phone calls from angry voters opposing the bailout. With Election Day a little more than a month away, many lawmakers appeared to pay greater heed to their constituents than to their party leaders.

[lostnotforgotten]

1. Trust Washington And Wall Street Hucksters - You Got To Be Kidding

eom

[ChazII]

2. Wise words.

Trust no one and always question anyone in any type of authority.

[Union Thug]

3. Yeah, after you've been raped for 30 years, we expect that you'll trust us...

At least we can vote our government out of office. Those let-them-eat-cake assholes on wall street are hardly different than modern monarchs and perhaps the obvious 1789 solution is the only appropriate one.

[elfin]

4. Plus, many live on cash and paycheck to paycheck

Wall Street and mortgages have no meaning -- but their credit card balance does.

They will NOT vote for someone who signs on to this complicated mess.

Free to vent their anger and votes against all others who have participated in this binge - or all who stretched to participate in the form of a first home.

[dgibby]

5. The world's greatest lies

1. The check is in the mail.

2. I cannot get you pregnant.

and my personal favorite:

3. Trust me, I'm from the government and I'm here to help!:rofl:

[Stellabella]

6. Actually, when the government is well run, it DOES help. A lot.

The only way large populations have had their lives change for the better is when the government got involved.

Social security is the best example. Senior poverty was rampant before it was implemented.

[dgibby]

7. I agree,

but it's the last 8yrs I was talking about.

[Stellabella]

8. Then I agree.

Chimpy has really done a job on this country.

[yurbud]

9. this is what I didn't like about Dems backing bailout--why trust Bush on ANYTHING?

If he told me my ass was on fire, I wouldn't worry about it until I smelled smoke.