Thanks much for the message, Emily! As I said in the entry (and I meant it!), I was rather horrified to find myself thinking that way; I posted it not so much because I think it's a correct reaction as to document and wonder about the fact that it was the reaction that I had.

On the specific point:

1) Not at all! Wall Street is a bunch of private firms, not run or funded by American taxpayers anymore than it's run or funded by Venezuelan or Welsh taxpayers.

2) It's true that not bailing out the current failing institutions would likely have led to quite a bit of pain, banks closing, etc. However, now that Congress HAS bailed them out, they will take even MORE risks (since, after all, if anything goes wrong someone will step in to save them), and the NEXT meltdown will lead to even more pain. Sacrificing long-term health for the short-term illusion of health: bad idea!

3) I know, isn't it awful? :) I think it would be ideal if countries could freely trade with one another, but ALSO arrange things so that if one country has a problem like this, other countries don't find themselves so entangled. Probably impossible, but hey...