FINISH THIS SENTENCE: CONGRESS OK'D THE $700B BAILOUT . ..

Although the Treasury Department's proposed $700-billionrescue plan has been signed into law, all that's certain is thatthe plan is now reality. How it will play out and, moreimportantly, how effective it will be in getting the wheels ofcommerce turning again remain to be seen, as this week'scommentator makes clear. Describing the plan on its face isevidently fair game, and 48% of you voted that the bailout sticksit to the American taxpayer. Another 29% said there was no otherway to address the problem, while 23% agreed the plan derails anyprivate-sector solution. Spencer Garfield, managing director ofHudson Realty Capital, says the plan accomplishes an importantpurpose but is no panacea.

"You will not see an immediate effect of the plan being put inplace. It will take several months for the plan to start tricklinginto the system. They have to evaluate and pick asset managers, whomay or may not pick third parties to help them. They then have todecide which assets they're going to buy, what the qualificationsare to buy them and at what price. They'll need to use someconsistency in buying the assets, and then the question becomeswho's able to sell to them.