I am one exhilarated sadist! I work in alternative finance, and they are on their knees. FINALLY! My heart quietly screams with joy for each tear they cry! I honestly feel the 'right' folks will suffer here. Though I have 401k to lose, I am no neophyte to 'redos.' I have suffered through enough hardships that have made therapists weep & groan. I have been through & done more with less, and I am ecstatic that these fat cats will get to see what its like! How resilient will they be when there is no place left to loot? I know it looks bad now, and people who've never been through anything similar are scared. I most certainly empathize. But I am confident that those with a shred of fortitude will come out happy on the other side. I truly believe we the People require the financial industry to collapse on the backs of the Executive Whoremongers who have ravaged Us far too long. Right or wrong, I am a happy human in this hour of seeming madness.

I know that the idea behind the bailout seemed lame (I know I didn't like it), but the idea of not doing anything is genuinely horrifying. They have to do something-as much as everyone wants to trash 'fat cats' the fact is that most small businesses work on credit that these 'fat cats' provide and it's going to dry up quickly and then normal people will be out on the streets, not the rich Wall Streeters. So they need to figure something out and cut it with the lazy demonizing of "executive whoremongers". I suspect that most people who throw terms out like that don't really know what's going on and are more interested in a sense of revenge than in making sure the economy survives. I think we should do the bailout in some shape or form, elect Obama, and begin real fundamental structural reform of the economy to make it fairer and to prevent this from happening again.

Well… I'm happy that it wasn't passed but I'm still think a plan needs to come about to help encourage out economy and reform our spending habits.

In all honesty, the downfall of our economy isn't solely due to wall street and executives. The average citizen is to blame as well. Let's face it, Americans live extravagant lifestyles in comparison to the rest of the world. We're buying up sh** we can't afford and acquiring massive debts just to "keep up with the Joneses." And then when "all things fall apart," we start looking to put the blame on someone else and ignore how we ourselves contributed to the problem. To be honest (and I hope I'm wrong), I think that it will take another "great depressions" to change the spending habits of the American people and the government. Only then will we realize what the necessities are.

lol, excuse my grammar and typos.

Ike I agree with you 100%. We have all put ourselves in debt. Really the government wants the bail out so credit does not freeze, is this not the problem that we have been living on credit? I know things are going to get bad but I say let it - sometimes we need to learn the hardway. What the government needs to do with that 700 billion is set it aside for tuition c/ thats where we need the credit and it would be planning for the future - cause as we have it too many American children are growing up to be stupid adults. But I am also happy that the bill was not passed and I live in New York. I did not see any of those damn bonuses. One year GS paid out enough bonuses to end homelessness in NY I did not see them giving up that damn money- so what they pay taxes so do I and I can't even get food stamps.

Judging by the lack of responses, I'm going to guess indifferent. You know the financial institutions who went too far out on a limb will get the relief they need, with few conditions (although I hope Congress will prove me wrong). What about the regular folks who stretched themselves too thin? Where is their unconditional relief?

Jason: "Judging by the lack of responses, I'm going to guess indifferent."

Lol… I know right? I'm a bit disappointed at the lack of feedback. C'mon people… this is your country!

I'm glad it failed - it lacked clear direction and oversight measures.

I also think that is needs to have provisions for both wall street and relief for people who are losing their homes.

I've seen a lot of comments about self responsibilty in terms of these sub-prime mortgages - I agree to some degree, but as someone who was targeted for interest only, I could see how easy it is to get sucked in when an "experienced expert" in the field is telling you its a wonderful option. If you see this as your only opportunity for home ownership, why not take the gamble.

One of the biggest problems facing us is that the middle class is drying up. The difference between the haves and have nots is extreme.

I tend to see, especially in the black community, that once you have moved up (or you have never known struggle folks are so quick to judge.

Those of you advocating for a depression to teach Americans a lesson are really…well what can I say. Total economic disaster would further decimate the middle class and add more people to the system that have no chance at upward mobility..no hope. I already see lack of hope causing extreme social decay.

If America, black people or anyone wants to see this country flourish, we have to give people back their hopes and dreams and support programs and iniatives to help them achieve.