Genius Has Failed. Again.

How ill is a huge chunk of the American economy?

So ill that fairly savvy and impeccably connected financial operations like Bear Stearns and The Carlyle Group have gotten their teeth kicked-in over the past few days. And they are just the tip of the iceberg.

So if those guys are feeling the pain, what do you think is going on with Mom and Pop Main Street?

Throw in a (ever) weakening dollar, exploding government debt (tick-tick-tick go the entitlement programs), rising energy costs (for dirty, finite energy no less), two wars and a "credit crunch" not seem since the Great Depression (believe it) and the financial landscape begins to look mighty grim mighty quick.

So while we remain optimists, it would be nice to hear the presidential candidates talk a little less about stuff like this. And a little more about the details of their plan for helping America ride out this latest bout of fiscal turbulence.

And might we humbly suggest that all three candidates (and their staff) start here and here?