Follow the Bailout money: $ 8.5 TRILLION and counting

"Diane Lim Rogers, chief economist with the Concord Coalition, says her biggest fear is not hyperinflation and the social unrest it could unleash. 'I'm more worried about a lot of federal dollars being committed and not having much to show for it. My worst fear is we are leaving our children with a huge debt burden and not much left to pay it back.'"

The federal government committed an additional $800 billion to two new loan programs on Tuesday, bringing its cumulative commitment to financial rescue initiatives to a staggering $8.5 trillion, according to Bloomberg News.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Worth
What investors can learn from Madoff scandal 12.21.08
People older than 70 1/2 will get mild IRA break 12.18.08
Soft landings in home loan crash 12.07.08
Retirement distribution rule changes proposed 12.02.08
More Net Worth »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End result of federal rescue programs?

Inflation
Recovery
Crippling debt

SF Gate polls are strictly surveys of those who choose to participate and are therefore not valid statistical samples.

Our poll software uses a variety of methods to ensure that only votes determined to be valid are tabulated. When this determination cannot be made, we may not process your vote.

No actions are taken by SF Gate as a result of the polls.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That sum represents almost 60 percent of the nation's estimated gross domestic product.

Given the unprecedented size and complexity of these programs and the fact that many have never been tried before, it's impossible to predict how much they will cost taxpayers. The final cost won't be known for many years.