According to the news last Tuesday morning, several brokerage firms bailed out by the government to the tune of $700 billion have set aside over $3 billion each to provide bonuses to their employees ranging from $110 to over $300,000.

While millions of Americans are losing their homes, their jobs and their pensions, these huge bonuses are for the very people whose greed and corruption contributed to the current economic crisis.

I have scoured the Monitor and the headlines of all the papers in the newsstands. Nothing. Not a word. Where is the outrage? Where is the anger? Where is the cry for accountability?

Congress knows about it. Rep. Barney Frank said there was little they could do about it, but if they go ahead, there will be tough regulations in the next Congress. Where was Congress when this was going on? To my knowledge, the White House has said nothing.

We need to rise up and use the one powerful weapon we have and let our votes give voice to our outrage by ousting those whose economic policies have brought us to the brink of depression. Yes, we do need change. We cannot survive four more years of Bush economics. If we don't speak up, question those in power and demand transparency, who will do it for us?

PATRICIA NELSON

Concord