We need to take time with bailout

The last time we were warned about an impending threat to our way of life, mushroom clouds were said to be 45 minutes away.

That led to the trillion dollar (and counting) Iraq boondoggle. The threat was so "grave" that there was no time for debate.

This sounds like what I'm hearing about the Wall Street bail out.

Frankly, the way honesty and truth are so routinely distorted in Washington, I need proof that there really is a crisis of epic magnitude before I'm willing to contribute another trillion to what may be one last gorging of the "pigs at the trough."

When politicians, of any stripe, insist that we must give up vast sums of money without explanation, it is time to guard our wallets.

We have been marching into this financial abyss for quite a some time.

There is plenty of time for honest, transparent and sober debate.

Then, if we need to take action, fine. But we cannot allow those who led us here to be rewarded for their greed.

Joe Marshall

Palatine