I doubt that there is a single poster on this board that lived through the Great Depression. Most of them are young, and their parents are my age or younger - their grandparents may have been children when this event happened. I know, from my parents' generation's stories, that a depression is not something that you take lightly.

I do not buy things that I cannot afford to pay cash for. If I use a credit card, it is only for convenience and 99% of the time I pay the entire bill off as soon as I receive it. I've never owned a car, a house, co-op, or any type of property. That being said, I understand that many people are willing to put their ass in debt because they want to have a family or live above their means in some other way. Even though I did not have these things, I cannot come out against the bailout loans that are currently being worked out because a depression is not something that I would wish on anyone - especially myself.

My heart does not bleed for those who have to rent an apartment instead of owning a house, but it's not right for everybody to have to suffer because of bad loan practices. If we let the country's economy go under, we'll all be in very bad shape.