Volumes have been written about the $700 billion T.A.R.P. (Troubled Assets Relief Plan), which was devised to buy toxic  bank assets, but ultimately will not buy so much as a single-wide trailer. Debate rages over rescuing American automakers; apparently, if we don't want to buy American cars, we should use tax money to subsidize the purveyors of the Dodge Omni, Pontiac Aztek, and Ford Festiva.

Now there's talk of the government printing money to bail out the credit card industry, the same credit card industry which profits handsomely from outrageous fees and charges, and despite the federal prime rate plunging below 1 percent is raising interest rates to well above 20 percent without cause and slashing credit limits without notice, effectively pushing overextended American families into financial ruin.

If what's good for the goose is good for the gander then I'll follow the lead of my elected leaders. I'll take my household income and savings, then loan them to dead-beat family members who I know stand a better chance of being crowned British royalty then they do meeting financial obligations. Trade in our trusty Nissan for a star-spangled Chevy Citation, and use my printer to duplicate currency and proceed to deposit them in struggling banks. Now if these shenanigans would land me in prison, how is it such a scam passes for educated, sound fiscal policy?

David C. Mariscal
Yuba City