Even with an extra night at the hotel, it'll still be cheaper than the private flight.

Not with the escorts and the dinner of Komodo Dragon, Todd.  Sure the dragon's good (tastes like chicken) but the escorts ain't cheap.  I'll tell you, those girls will suck you dry.  Your wallet I mean.  Yeah, your wallet. Thats the ticket. 

Buy just throwing in two names I can tell this.  The recent talk is not about the good Obama can do, but just tak to bash Bush.  I find it rather amusing that one can even throw in a past Republican President, but yet, the Bush haters will defend even a Republican President to bash Bush.  I voted for Bush twice and I don't apologize for it, and I voted for Obama and I don't apologize for it either.

The $700 billion bail out is a big mistake.  The big three auto makers should file for bankruptcy.  If the poor family just trying to start out by buying a home and has to face forcloser for "unwise credit use"  I think the banks and the auto makers should be hung by the gallows first figurative speaking.  I'm for the little person getting the break, let the banks and the auto makers sleep in the bed they made.

I come from both sides of the coin, my dad was a union man in a small factory (so he was not rich ) and my husband worked for GM as an accountant . Unions are a good thing in that they provide protection for their workers and we have become a better country in part because of them. Are they perfect, no. My dad always had a problem fighting for a guys job that was a complete screw up.

On the other hand, every beneifit the union fought for, management also took and doubled it. Management did not do what toyota did and develope new ideas and look to the future and answered problems that were clearly there. It is not the union that decides what type of car they produce.

Unions serve a purpose but the big three have gone too far. But as my mom would say "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater."

Edited to add:

As my dad says , if all employers pay their employee's a fair living wage and treat them well, there would be no unions.

Geez, Matt...don't you remember the big "Mission Accomplished!" banner.  How much clearer does the victory need to be for you?

JT Molloy wrote: I'd give my left something or other to have the jobs of some people on here who don't even seem to notice we're in financial hell.

I feel for you, JT.  That's why I made mention of the fact that just because it's not happening to you doesn't mean that it's not happening to millions of others.  It's dangerous to assume that because you're OK that things aren't as bad as they really are.  Take me for instance.  This economic crisis hasn't hit me very hard at all.  I don't own any stocks, so what happens on Wall Street doesn't directly affect a portfolio I don't have.  I'm in a nearly recession/depression proof industry in that no matter how hard times get, people always turn to television to help take their minds off their troubles.  There are hundreds of stations that all need content that I am more than able to provide.  Finally, I recently paid off all of my credit card debt.  Having nearly $20,000 taken off my personal ledger is certainly a weight off of my shoulders.  All of that said, however, doesn't take away from the fact that I know there are people out there worse off than me.  There always will be, but right now, at this time, there are a disproportionate number of people in the United States that are feeling the affects of this crisis.  Because it's not affecting me doesn't mean I can't see it affecting others, millions of others, and therefore am not saying that this crisis is something which it is not.

That's a long winded way of saying I hope things get better for you and others in your situation, JT. 

So its clear: I don't think anyone was unsympathetic to those who are going through really hard times.  I think it was more a discussion of where this crisis is at present and how it compares to historic financial downturns. 

That being said, I'll add my voice to Al and Matt's and wish JT, or anyone else who's suffering, my heartfelt best wishes.  If there's anything that can be done that I can help with, I'd be willing to try.