There is enough blame to go around. The Republican should bear the whole responsibility of the 80' collapse of the real estate bubble and the S&L, and the dems, thought that with QSB 1242 they promote small business formation (so much that many had no economic right to be formed). Government should interfere as little as possible in decisions relating to capital allocation, using taxation to favor one or another, apart of cases of National defense, is ridiculous. Where, IMTO, they should intervene, by massive investment of massive wasted funds on unnecessary wars to the roots of that war (oil/energy). If we spent only 20% of those wasted funds in a policy of real energy independence and renewable energy resources, we would be much better of, and the world would be a more peaceful place. But I think we are shifting from economy to politics (yes, these are intertwined...)