Over at Crooks and Liars, Nicole Belle sums up exactly why something’s gotta happen:

As much as I didn’t like the bailout bill that lost on Monday, I do recognize that we must do something. For those screaming, “NO! Let them fail!” that’s all well and good for you, but the ramifications are far-reaching. How many of you own small business that rely on lines of credit to pay employees? Or are you employed by a small business owner who uses LOCs? How many of you have children who need a student loan to go to college? How many want to buy your first home or sell the one you have before it’s foreclosed upon? All of these very common scenarios require loans and lending is at a standstill right now. Not to mention that lack of confidence in our fiscal situation is causing financial worries all over the world. It’s a poison pill, but I believe we HAVE to do it, or suffer the same scenarios that our parents and grandparents did during the Great Depression.

Dude. How straightforward is that? Even someone like me, who absolutely freaks out when it comes to discussing money because numberz is confusing, can understand this argument.

Public Service Announcement: Thanks to the bloggers at sites such as Crooks and Liars, In One Ear…Out the Other, Daily Kos, TalkingPointsMemo, Politico and Think Progress, not to mention news sites including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and CNN, I’ve got a much better understanding about the economic situation than I did two weeks ago. (And along with Jon Stewart, I have to say that Keith Olbermann rocks out loud.)

The big thing that I’ve learned? Learning more about a situation that is otherwise overwhelming and even frightening is a terrific counter to that building sense of dread. Two weeks ago, I was having trouble sleeping due to worry about the upcoming election and the fiscal crisis. Now I feel much more aware…and with that awareness comes a sense of stability, even in unsettling times.

So hey, if you also get wigged out about trying to understand what the hell is happening with the economy, go on and check out these blogs.