So what IS the best solution here in your opinion?

[mvd]

I'd rather get DU opinion, because I'm not exactly sure what is going on. I just know that the middle class, poor, and homeowners must be protected.

[1corona4u]

1. Oh, this ought to be good....

so many 'experts' on this board....(you're probably going to be sorry you asked, LOL)

[rug]

2. Open up $700,000,000,000 credit directly from the government to human beings.

[busymom]

3. I'm not an expert, so my opinion might be laughable, but...

Instead of 700 billion going to wall street, I'd vote for 700 billion to go towards universal health coverage, fixing social security and medicare, the development of a good public transportation system, loans for small businesses and educational grants for individuals to get job-retraining or cover a larger portion of college without putting kids into debt.

I know it wouldn't rescue the financial sector immediately, but it would help the people of America.

[kypp]

4. Make sure your investments aren't in the stock market.

[screembloodymurder]

5. Tell the Republicans to stick their 700 billion problem

up their ass. They'll not get another Democratic vote.

[napi21]

6. Well, here's MY plan.

Let the Gov't purchase the bad paper.

Since the gov't then owns the mtgs. they should be renegotiated, and new mtgs issued at rates and duration that the home owner can pay. Some will never fit into any reasonable loan, and will have to face forclosure.

To pay for all this, I suggest a 1/2% surcharge on every stock transaction. That should not only pay for this bailout, but it would put the onus on the people who caused the problem, and it would also drastically reduce the purchases & sales made just to manipulate the market!

[Celebrandil]

7. State ownership necessary...

I know that the American people is allergic to state ownership of financial institutions, but it might be necessary. I fail to see how the taxpayers can otherwise get their money back. That doesn't mean that the state will (or should) own a majority share of any company. During the bank crisis in Sweden in 1992, the (conservative) government at the time bought large chunks of banks in trouble. Measured as part of the GDP, the Swedish crisis was similar in scale to the crisis we now have. The Swedish government tried to act like any other investor, just a bit bolder. Years later those chunks have been sold and the taxpayers have got every penny back. No bank had to close.

[mvd]

8. Yes, I think some government control in a "new New Deal"

is needed. Too bad the country is so allergic to government.

[freestyle]

9. Require conversions to 15 or 30 years fixed rate mortgages,

Do some compensation of lenders for foregone profits. Re-regulate to prohibit exotic financial instruments. Halt foreclosures and require workouts. Make loans, or equity purchases to increase liquidity and make sure the taxpayers are made whole. No golden parachutes, and prosecution of that is warranted.

The country runs on credit, so something must be done to loosen it, but we also need to restructure things so the conditions that led to this crisis can't happen again.