Comments on the Secretary of theTreasury's statements-New York Times!

Mr. Paulson states "our financial system seized up and severely damaged the economy". I hate to inform the Seceretary that the economy had been damaged - by the massive number of unemployed people - for quite some time. It is just now that the extent of the damage has become so severe that it is beginning to impact how we live our lives and how we work. Yes, we do need" to stabilize our financial system and to get credit flowing again" but instead of bailing out American International Group (AIG), Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and the rest, what is the problem with "bailing out" the people who TRULY need a financial revitalization program aimed specifically at THEIR problems? Or is it just the rich who get the "bailouts" while the rest of the American people get the "shaft" - again?

On the Economy

I've got to ask this question - besides extending benefits - which only affects about 80% of the total amount of this country's unemployed, what's being done to help them? My answer to you - NOTHING! There are unemployed people out there in the heartlands of America who've exhausted their unemployment benefits - as has yours truly! - but I don't hear anyone "trumpeting" our cause. In these days of giving BILLIONS to people who truly don't need or deserve them, what would be so difficult about helping the millions of those who've lost - or are about to lose - their residences or have lost their means of transportation or their ability to communicate with anyone?