The Name - First of all, to present their plan, they chose to call it a BAILOUT. No matter who uses the term, it implies someone screwed up and now they need undeserved help. The name alone gives the average mind a picture of a government with its financial institutions who did not do their jobs or manage the nation's finances. Though this is true, the name alone causes initial apprehension and suspension. It gave an instant "no confidence" vote in the government.
The Notion - If someone could overlook the name, they still would have to contend with the government's notion that the average American would want to help rich and powerful financial institutions and its constituents keep afloat when many are struggling everyday to make ends meet. After many have lost jobs and homes, why should they be expected to help when the government was not there to help them? This evokes the sentiment, “they got a lot of nerve!â€
The News - The media and its news broadcasts certainly do not help. Americans, daily, are bombarded with varying degrees of truths and analysis of the situation. Rather than be informative, the media only managed to fan the flames of anger and outrage.
The Number - 700 Billion: the magic number. The sheer cost is enough to make anyone passionately against it. Hard working taxpayers are expected to give even more money to institutions that mishandled their money. I think that is enough said about that.
Many other complexities and issues associated with the BAILOUT go unanswered and addressed here. However, these four seem to be the most prevalent. Time and chance will reveal how it all will work out in the end.
