I just watched the Senate vote on C-Span. They took a pig, fattened it up by $150,000,000,000 and passed the thing 74 to 25. Bravo to the twenty-five that still believe in democracy. Scheer is correct in pointing out that there isn't a lot of courage left in the country.

JAMES PINETTE

Caribou, ME

No organization has cooperated more fully with the "sky is falling pundits" than National Public Radio. Here in Buffalo, New York, listening to Hillary Clinton, Rep. Brian Higgins and various other national political representatives. I was struck by the exact similarity of their messages on why this bailout was needed immediately. Credit was drying up, car loans unavailable, small businesses would close and millions would be unemployed. But where was the proof? When the same message is being spoke by everyone, I can only think that the "big lie" is in effect. I can also remember that this is how we got into Iraq.

For myself, it is hard to believe that a problem that had years to develop and was undetected by the smart financial people controlling our businesses and government regulatory agencies could be analyzed and a solution devised in a few short weeks.

Jay Tillotson

Buffalo, NY