[alokin]

after Bear Stearns, Freddy + Fanny now the car makers are crying for government money. Or will Lehmann ask or who else?
They will have to increase taxes or print money, in both cases, the taxpayer must pay (I really begin to feel sorry for you). The effect will be more bancrupcty and more foreclosures and the government will have to step in even more, this is like a spiral.
Maybe the rest of the world (yes, there are other countries out there) will suffer as well as lots of banks have bought lots of foul credits.

[americandream]

Dolebludgers!

[Heineken]

They've been printing fake money for so long now, who'd know the difference? What's one more bailout?

In terms of public perceptions and fiscal functioning, is an $11 trillion US govt. debt any different from a $12 trillion one? A $13 trillion one?

The money is play money. The military and the police and the bombs that back it are real.