Thanks, Congress.

I should be studying for the GRE because I have this crazy notion that I want to be a college professor and I have about three weeks to learn some math. Instead, I'm learning some new math. That failing to pass a $700 billion bill = the Dow losing $1.2 trillion.

So, (700,000,000,000)(x) = 1,200,000,000,000 (I guess that's 1.2 trillion).

To solve for x we must divide 1,200,000,000,000 by 700,000,000,000.

x = The House of Representatives playing politics with our future and their constitutes who don't understand the ripple effect in the economy.

Make no mistake about it, Congress failed us today. Democrats failed us, Republicans failed us, they all failed us. Nancy Pelosi failed us by making a partisan speech...the House Republicans who got their feelings hurt failed us. I went to bed on Sunday night thinking that the deal was done. The Treasury's 4-5 (however long) page proposal had blossomed into a 109 page bill and after endless days of bargaining, the bailout seemed to be a done deal. Not so on Monday morning. Today the stock market saw the biggest single-day point loss ever - costing the market approximately 1.2 TRILLION DOLLARS.

It is absolutely imperative that the federal government stop this free fall our economy is in -- or at least set a floor for how far we will fall. As this crisis worsens banks are working harder to find safe places to put their money. This includes your small town, family-owned banks (yes, they still exist), your regional banks, and your major banks. In addition, there is a effective freeze on new lending. If you are not a customer you may find some banks simply will not lend to you. Businesses stricken with their own economic tough times, who depend on lines of credit to operate, may have a harder time making payroll, resulting in a loss of jobs.

No, Americans shouldn't be expected to hand over a $700 billion check to Wall Street, but it is much more complicated than that. Our world depends on the movement of money. Our world also depends on intervention. The free market needs a guiding, not-so-invisible, hand to insure the world's assets and our future. I've never experienced high inflation, and I don't want to. I don't mind penny-pinching, but I'd rather not live on the street because I can't afford my apartment, all because some members of the House of Representatives didn't want to do their jobs today.

See who voted how here:
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/29/bailout.rollcall.0929.pdf