The (Not-So-Great) Bailout of 2008

Gather round children,
 as I tell the tale,
Of how all the banks
 started to fail.
About how the government
 bailed out the rich,
Rather than the poor, 
 which would have been a switch.

People were greedy, 
 for something called cash,
Brokers on Wall Street had plenty, 
 so what they did seems rash.
And so they started
 robbing regular people blind.
That's how America (and the World) 
 got into a bind.

The banks began approving loans for homes, 
 to anyone who might need.
The value would go up,
 and you could re-mortgage indeed.
People started spending 
 what they never had.
The way money was their religion
 was awfully sad.

People would spend thousands of dollars,
 On luxury items and diamond rings,
While poor children went without 
 food, braces and things.
The world was on a bubble 
 about to break.
Still banks pushed loans and investments
 with ratings that were fake.

The economy crashed 
 like a run away train.
Regular people watched as their savings 
 and retirement went down the drain.
The president and congress 
 fearing another crash,
put together 
a bailout plan fast.

They reasoned, if we don't fix the economy
 the whole ship will sink.
"You don't understand," they claimed
 the world is on the brink.
And so the government taught future generations,
 handing (the rich) a bone,
That's it's okay to spend 
 more than you own. 

By: Joseph DeMarco
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Nutter Avatar
May 12, 2010 at 1:58 PM
The plight of the economy put to rhyme, well done sir poet.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace