Bailout or not, Wall Street will never return to its freewheeling, profit-spinning ways of old. - Inspired by Julie Creswell

The time for serious regulation of Wall Street has come. While I believe in a free market, some kind of government watch or regulation is absolutely necessary. This disaster we are all in is because the government didn't step in sooner to stop it (as much as Wall Street is to blame for its catastrophe itself). We can't let this happen again.

Leopards never change their spots. Another "innovative" product or market that gets around regulations will be created. Wall Street loves Gordon Gekko.

If Obama has his dream of transparency come to a head, then yes, there may be a way out of this muddy track. Regulation of a free market gone wrong will mean more than some "new rules" on the books---it will mean an active network of watch dogs, holding legislators accountable to their word.

The stockmarket unfolds in cycles. This is because it is run by the human emotions of hope, greed, and fear. What's happening right now is very similar to the savings and loan scandal back in the 80's. I'm sure during those times people also thought that wall street will never return to its freewheeling, profit-spinning days. Yet we had 2 major bull markets post S&L debacle. After all the fear has cleared comes hope, then like clockwork, people become greedy until it becomes so scary again..

Capitalism is the best form of economic organization and discipline that there is, but it is not perfect. Not only are there always winners and losers, ts strongest motivator is often greed. That is, the greed and ambition of a few can overpower the values and leadership of many because it leads to financial gain and that in turn leads to power. Greed unchecked by regulation will run rampant over anyone and everyone. But, regulation is the substitution of error for chance and central planning and regulation has eventually failed to deliver for these very same victims time and again. As Winston Churchill said, we have to "muddle through" . . . trying to find the right balance of lassaiz-faire and controls as circumstances change.

The kind of transparency and community organizing ideals Obama speaks to is at the heart of the free-market/regulation nightmare. A collection of core regulation communities, if organized to create and steer fair policies (based on real needs, sustainable growth, and balance of powers), is a way of leapfrogging both muddling through and fleece jobs we have seen and stood by one too many times.

Do not mistake a swing in the pendulum as something static or permanent. JK Galbraith warned us many years agoabout how forgetful we are as economic animals. The neo conservatives imposed their particular brand of Polly anna faith in "free markets" on the consciousness of the American consumer under President Reagan who got the deregulation ball rolling down hill until it careened out of control and crashed through years of corporate malfeasance and stock market 'bubbles'. So now we figure to get the economic engine under control again for a generation or two. In the meantime, the big difference between today and 1929, besides memory loss, is that there is an almost instant global feedback mechanism on market reaction to news about markets. This results in a kind of roller coaster ride with the market sliding dramatically one day and then riding up on the next wave of investors who see bargains in the falling quotes.This is also mirrored by the body politic as people bombard their representatives with instant feedback about their ministrations in Washington. Will the roller coaster careen off the track? No dares predict the consequences a week from now much less years from now. Only one thing is certain, economic folly on both ends of the pendulum's arch. -- Mel Blitzer

All this talk about government regulation is mistaken. How can any one believe that government is productive or efficient? The only purpose they serve is finding new ways to raise taxes on those who work hard for a living and then spend that money on projects that don't work (i.e. fail miserably). Am I the only person that sees how futile regulation will be? The problem isn't that Wall Street (public companies) is losing value, its that investors are purchasing into over valued goods. The companies all want you to believe their company will make so many billions next quarter, you buy into that nonsense hoping and wishing, and they have no realistic way of making that amount over and over again for years to come. Besides, the U.S. constitution was broken by Congress by passing the Federal Reserve Act of 1914. Only Congress should have the power to create money...not a private bank owned by international bankers. This is the real cause of our problems. Look into it and see for yourself.

The Fed under pressure from the government kept interest rates too low; Fannie, Freddie, HUD and the CRA Act all encouraged or set rules to require 'affordable housing' AKA 'subprime' mortgages. This is 100% the failure of government. Blaming this on the free market is like spanking a kid for doing what he is told. We pretended like interest rates were some kind of game we could manipulate outside of the market but doing so has always consequences. See here for a rational view: http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/09/26/opposingviews_0927/

"...in defiance of both presidential candidates and Obama..." Huh?! If the lead is that botched, why bother reading on?

The will just isn't there to manage Wall Street. More regs will close some loopholes, maybe the wrong way even, but there will always be new ones invented

Oh, it most certainly will! But, not in the forseeable future. If you look @ the Great Depression 1929 -1942 you will note that it wasn't bailout(s) or economic policy that terminated it. But rather blood; the advent of World War II. Yes, it can happen again!

Oh, it most certainly will! But, not in the forseeable future. If you look @ the Great Depression 1929 -1942 you will note that it wasn't bailout(s) or economic policy that terminated it. But rather blood; the advent of World War II. Yes, it can happen again!

Never is a long time. This cycle will be repeated, probably generationally by new persons who missed this cycle.

Never is a long time. This cycle will be repeated, probably generationally by new persons who missed this cycle.