i'm just thinking they are a temporary stop-gap until another Prez gets in office imho.
I think you guys are misunderstanding the situation. This was a bubble, it's been deflated. Of course it can happen again, but we are not under the threat of it happening again immediately. It'd take at least a decade to build back up.
The bailouts were nothing more than something to stop an immediate problem. They were never supposed to be a long term solution. They did what they were supposed to.
The long term problem is much more difficult. It's a problem of allowing people from the financial services industry to lobby congress for loopholes combined with the fact that we let Wall St guys fill all the top positions relating to the economy in the executive branch. Until we stop those things from happening, this problem will keep coming back.
Basically, our economy needs to be regulated better. Not necessarily more regulated, but just better. All you guys screaming for Ron Paul as the solution need to be aware that he wants complete financial deregulation. That's the type of policy that would allow problems like this to happen very easily. Getting rid of the fed won't stop Wall St from creating exotic products that no one understands and create a gambling environment that leads to problems like these.
If Ron Paul had his way, Wall St would be let completely off the chain to do whatever the hell they want. They would rob us all blind. Anyone supporting Ron Paul as the solution to our economy is just supporting throwing gasoline on the fire to put it out.