The news media carried the story today that the bailout bill has been defeated in the House of Representatives, 228-205.

News media such as the AP reported that the "stock market plunged." Plunged? How far is that? From their own report:

"The Dow fell 777.68 points, just shy of 7 percent, to 10,365.45, its lowest close in nearly three years. The decline also surpasses the record for the biggest decline during a trading day — 721.56 at one point on Sept. 17, 2001, when the market reopened after 9/11."

Although the Dow today fell by more points than it did in 2001, it fell less in percentage points: The Dow fell 7.1% in 2001. Did the world come to an end then? No, and it won't now.

I for one won't sell out my constitutionally protected freedoms for some financial "emergency." We will always have emergencies. We must hold fast to the one document which provides a sure foundation in a shaky political and economic world--the Constitution.