America has the greatest, most impressive economy in the history of man.  One hundred and sixty-six economists from America's top universities noted this fact in a recent letter to Congress.  Our free-market economy has brought our country "unprecedented prosperity."  To tamper with that market could be disastrous.

We need to view these issues in the abstract in order to view them properly.  Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told Fox News this morning that the American people are demanding strict limits upon corporate executive pay.  While great in sentiment, those limits would not help our economy in any way and would potentially open the market to excessive government intervention.  Our immediate goal here is not to "make people pay," though I think we all hope that heads do roll down the line.  Our goal is to make our sick economy better.

Our economy is like a human being in that it isn't simply a collection of rules and principles, but an organism that can grow healthy or sick.  The government is never to fetter this organism, just as it shouldn't shackle or restrain free individuals.  Instead, it should serve as a sort of nurse, caring for the American economic organism whenever it grows excessively sick.

I remember being told about giardia while backpacking in Colorado many years ago.  While the information may have been incorrect, I was told that if one contracted this parasite (which causes diarrhea, including "greasy stools that tend to float"), he or she had the option of  either taking medications and risk a recurrence of the disease later in life, or let the disease take its toll for a number of months and be done with it forever.

This seems to be the option in our care for the economy: let the parasite work through or potentially put off the consequences to later days.  The best option may be to just administer palliative care--the medicines that would simply alleviate the pain and effects of the sickness, rather than attack the sickness itself.  Offer a minimum bailout package with maximum oversight, sell off Fannie and Freddie to the private sector, and cut the capital gains tax.  Those things will all help without selling our nation's soul.  Individual bailouts for businesses and individuals should be avoided, but as fellow Americans, those who survive the looming bouts of violent sickness should be ready to hold back the hair of those who share in the economy's sickness.