Janice, this is my 4th time through a downturn in the real estate market as well.  I don't know about you, but this is the worst I have ever seen it.  This bailout is absolutely horrible and, I agree, worse than the S&L bailout, even though it smacks similarly (bailing out politically connected investors who caused this mess without ramifications).  The other thread was started before the announcement of the bail out. 

I remember the RTC and their strong arm tactics, worse than seizures by the IRS.  The only good thing that came out of that mess was MERS, but even that is corrupted now. 

Just a couple of quotes that pertain to this thread and the other you mentioned -

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" - Lord Acton

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it" - George Santayana