I'm sure real estate, mortgage and contracting corporations hate the heavy hand of "government bureaucracy" holding them back, but have no trouble taking whatever help is offered from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, local tax incentives and the like. Don't worry, the taxpayer will give you some help. It isn't a handout, it is a hand-up.

I'm sure the banks, insurance industry and the investment houses despise all those layers and layers of red tape that tie them up and prevent them from helping Americans reach their God-given right of financial independence. No worries, you are all too big to fail and we'll just pass the payments on to the generous citizens of the United States. No, really, it is our pleasure. In fact, why don't you give yourselves a bonus?

Wal-Mart, America's greatest economic success story, loves America and loves regular folks. You know, the sort of folks that work at their store for minimum wage. The sort of folks who, upon becoming employees, are given paperwork to help apply for government assistance when it comes to medical care and such. Why would they share a tiny fragment of their distended profits reaped from cheap foreign-made American flags and "God Bless America" bumper stickers when they can just help their employees go on public assistance? If we gave them more money, how would that teach them to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps? Sheesh, you just don't know business, do you?

GM, fed up with all those unions, OSHA standards, foreign companies who collude with their governments and incessant regulation decided it was time to close up shop. Sure, they've been moving jobs out of the nation for years and years even while they were making record profits, but that is just business, right? I mean, we need MORE profits, don't we? So, it is a good thing that TARP money was around to help them back on their feet so they can put more Americans out of work. But it is an American company, right? Yep, a good old American company with a few Americans still building cards and getting paid and paying taxes and buying things in their home town. And, they've even started paying back that money (with more TARP money... you know... taxpayer money). You see, capitalism DOES work!

After watching this PBS program, I see the next bubble rising in the distance. These visionary capitalists are throwing off the dusty shackles of dated institutions and bringing a new model to the world. If only the government would step aside and let them realize their dream of educating those who might not otherwise receive education! Why must the Nanny State always talk about standards and expectations and accreditation and other big words? Begone, you scoundrel! Yes, I am talking to you accreditation and regulations and truth-in-advertising! Just get out of the way Uncle Sam and just keep those student loan checks coming. Stop obstructing the market, comrade!

Same old shell game. Bang the drums of free market capitalism with one hand and hold out the other hand for government money. Exploit whomsoever you can and call it freedom. So glad these forward-thinking capitalists are running this and not the evil commie-socialist-fascist (or whatever term they are using this week on Fox News) government. Why won't the government just get off our backs (and just start sending us checks). No, it isn't all bad, I'm sure, but I guess I'm just jaded after all these types (and I didn't even start on the military industrial complex or the medical industry) screaming about freedom and free markets until they need money or help. Good thing the teat of liberty is full (just like the Gulf of Mexico is full of oil).

/rant