What $700 billion Could Buy

"Taxpayers should compare the bailout with the pricetags on a few other items deemed unaffordable by the Administration and Congress:

• Covering health care costs plus out-of-pocket medical expenses for all of America's uninsured: $100 billion

• Universal preschool: $35 billion

• Rebuilding New Orleans: $100 billion

• Free college education for everyone: $50 billion

• Total energy independence for the United States, with a shift to renewables within the next ten years: $500 billion"

With the bailout plan in the works, sometimes its tough not to think about all of the spectacular, important things we could be having if giant, wealthy banks hadn't ripped us off for so many years, fallen straight on their asses, and then begged for help... But don't worry. I'm sure the President has got it under control...

(taken from an article at http://www.progressive.org/mag/rc092408.html written and researched by Ruth Conniff on Septenber 24th.)