Americans Resent Wall St. Bailout

Most Americans, struggling unaided with their own financial problems, resent the Wall Street bailout, reports the Los Angeles Times. Taxpayers don't believe it should be government's responsibility to foot the bill for the collapse of America's financial goliaths, according to a Times/Bloomberg poll. But 57% in a separate poll believe Congress has no other option. Reluctance to use public money to rescue private firms cuts across party lines and income levels.

Alarmingly for John McCain, 79% of those polled say America is heading in the wrong direction under the Republican administration. "It sticks in my craw," said a retired office worker opposed to the bailout. "There should be some other solution. But I think the taxpayers are going to have to cover it."

(More Wall Street stories.)