1. Mark Pittman, Bob Ivry, "U.S. Pledges $7.7 Trillion to Ease Frozen Credit," Bloomberg.com (November 25, 2008).

2. See Ellen Brown, "It's the Derivatives, Stupid! Why Fannie, Freddie and AIG All Had to Be Bailed Out," www.webofdebt.com ( September 18, 2008).

3 Edmund Andrews, "U.S. Details $800 Billion Loan Plans," New York Times (November 26, 2008).

4. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, "Reserve Requirements," www.ny.frb.org/aboutthefed/fedpoint/fed45.html (June 2004).

5. See Ellen Brown, "The Fed Now Owns the World's Largest Insurance Company  But Who Owns the Fed?", www.webofdebt.com ( October 7, 2008).