Can Tax Payer Afford the Wall Street Bar Tab?

Most of today's coverage will be trying to define what AIG's take over means for the economy, while trying to spot the next failure.

Why You Care suggests focusing on the thoughtful reporting by the LA Times today as it tries to add up the cost of the recent actions by the government to either backstop institutions or out right take them over.

Here's why you care: At the end of the day either the government's actions will be right in that better to pay now than even more later - or - it will be the wrong call because the market will anticipate the government acting from here on out. The LA Times piece explores this important question.

What Why You Care would love to see is a follow up piece adding not only the price tag for the government's recent market action, but Afghanistan, Iraq and the entitlement programs that are going to face an incredible test with the baby-boomers retiring in droves. Not an easy task, and that's just for the journalist to write it.