First of all: It was the Idea of the U.S.govt. to buy the banks, that refused to loan more money,to overcome that issue.

Only to buy the banks the, U.S.Govt. needed to loan money from for instance China.

Can you imagine you go to a bank and you say "please lend me more money"and the bank replys"We're sorry sir ,but you already borrowed to much!" and then you say "You just wait and see, I'll go to another bank to get a loan based on taxpayers money,to by your Bank.

China however already lent 1/2 trillion to the U.S.

On top of a probably ,as expected,a national depth of 11,3 Trillion,but they haven't started to recalculate,so possibly it could also end up doubled that number.

This of course caused a lack of trust,and confidence. the European Govts.have done the opposite, the last 8 years:

They have privatized all the too expensive national companies

They have raised taxes on top of already to high taxes.

They have declined the national depth until the lowest level of intrest..

At the same time, the European Countries ,without anybody knowing saved up to about 1 1/2 Trillions taxpayers money together .

And as also Mr Alex Carmel suggests the banks have a policy that made the U.S. a strong player in the economic field.

Namely ,you can only borrow money,when ou have money!

To buy these bank is nothing else then nationalizing or deprivatizing , and you can imagine that the European people was gobbesmacked to see how much money suddenly, as if out of nothing, appeared.

But it's a very good investment of the Taxpayers money for the future,because the tax money is from now on doing banking business and making profits on the intrests on the loans of the U.S.

And to resist the impact of the Recession of the U.S. Economy,for now.

I told you this already before, that in Europe there was no sign of crisis.

On the contrary I'd say.

And although the stockmarket had been decreasing,after the bailouts it was rising again.

So, for the occasionalist ,there were big profits to make,but because of economic/strategic reasons you don't hear that,of course.I must say that I don't understand the Story of Mr Johan,netherlands, but maybe he's to much a "safeplayer "on the U.S. economy and to less a Gambler.

In the past stock-markets were never designed in the way they are being used at present (commodities,derivatives,futures)
Nowadays it looks like a giant casino where company-values do not seem to matter anymore
I kept my portofolio after the 2000-techcrash and even now !
I refuse to surrender NOW but i do not intend to buy more...

I worked hard for my money and did not gamble all of it at the stock casinos although I lost a lot of money.
Furthermore I think that a whole lot of the elder current generation
has had enough of it and will not return when they get out

SO GAME OVER , RIEN NE VA PLUS
Yours Sincere

People loosing their ability to pay, to plan their future and the futures of their children or simply to maintain their independence. Pensions at risk and with that health care when people get older.

Next excuse of these happenings will come from the big companies, advising that due to the crisis they will have to lay off people, basically not for the sake of this crisis, but as a excellent excuses to get those weighing heavily on the company's balance sheet out for which they could otherwise would seriously have to battle with unions.

Like many of my fellow Americans I drank the cool aid. It nearly killed my retirement plans and will take years for me to recover. I labored hard put my faith in my 401K and that the value of my home would slowly increase. I sat by and watched as stock brokers and Wall Street executives accumulated wealth beyond my comprehension. What is happening now on Wall Street is just a simple lost in confidence in its leadership. The average Joe American worker believes Wall Street leadership is corrupt, greedy and motivated only by self interest. I for one would like to see new and dynamic leadership, of high morale statue (i.e. Warren Buffet) who will work hard to re-earn the trust of its investors. Right now all I see is the Fed and Wall Street Exec’s telling me everything will be OK meanwhile relax don’t panic just take another sip of the cool aid.

I don't gamble. I am VERY upset by the notion that banks DO GAMBLE with the funds we entrust to them, without so much as a by-your-leave.

Other people can gamble, if they CHOOSE. Leave my money (assuming I had some, which I don't) OUT of it!

Stock Markets. [[shudder]]

China is reducing growth from 11% to 9% and Brazil down from 8% to 7% - how much growth does the US need in the coming decades to handle their debt? Or is debt only an issue for consumers – not nations?

Regards,
Johann, Brazil