This piece is pretty one-of-a-kind in the way it covers the bailout of Wall Street. It hits on all the issues where economic downturn affects consumers directly -- from Social Security to pensions to unemployment -- to show that they need assistance too. There's a good balance of factual information and personal anecdotes. All around, an excellent, helpful report.

Excellent article from Consumer Reports about the recent U.S. bailout of the financial industry -- and the need for a separate rescue plan for consumers. This in-depth, ten-page report provides extensive factual information on how the crisis is affecting the rest of us, with seven recommendations for government aid, to protect taxpayers and their retirement funds, as well as reforming health care and mortgage programs, while curbing credit card abuse and reducing foreclosures.

Unlike most coverage of the bailout, this report takes an in-depth look at what all the big numbers mean for Americans. Well-researched and informative.

Yes, it uses original sources, and presents a side of the so called "bailout" that seldom gets told.