Bailout? Rescue? Loans? Freebies?

What is it exactly we taxpayers are footing the bill for? And everyone talks about $700 billion. They probably (like me) don't realize the oft-quoted $700 billion is a mere drop in the bucket, and merely the latest in a string of bailouts this year (i.e. Fannie, Freddy, AIG). Take a look at this chart to see how the 4.6 trillion dollar total (so far) compares to other major government projects over the decades...

(Click to enlarge pie chart)

(For comments by others reacting to this chart, see the original post at boingboing -- "A directory of Wonderful Things")