Local Residents Ask "Why?"

As the U.S. Congress struggles to come together and pass the $700 billion bailout bill, many Sac State students and local residents are left asking one simple question, why?

“I don’t see what the point of it is,” said Rhianna Cole, a Sac State student. “Everywhere I go, Starbucks, the mall, people are there spending money. So why do [Congress] say we’re going into a depression?”

This lack of knowledge about what this bill will actually do for people seems very widespread, but the reasons for this appear to be twofold.

On one hand, many people are aware that whatever happens will affect them in some way, but they simply don’t understand the situation.

“I watch the news from time to time and try and figure out what’s going on,” said Jessika Johnson, a high school history teacher. “But a lot of what’s said in the news can only be understood by economists and not regular people.”

Johnson was not alone in her view. Many others interviewed expressed similar concerns that if this situation could be explained more easily they would then understand how they will be affected and take more of an interest.

The other reason people don’t have much of an understanding of this issue is that, like Rhianna Cole, they simply don’t care. The majority of Americans who are going to concern themselves with what is happening will do so when the economic problems begin to change their lives.

Unfortunately it is not known when or if Americans will see a change in their day-to-day lives, but even if no change takes place, taxpayers may still be footing the $700 billion check that is about to be written by Congress.