$700 billion dollars. The number 7 with 11 zeros attached. $700,000,000,000
To put some context on things, I've grossed about $470,000 in my entire working life. (And most of that's been taxed, of course, so I don't see half of it.) The government is spending about 1,500,000 times the amount I've made in my entire life to bail out these corporations.
If the government changed their mind and decided to give that money to US citizens, they could write a check to every US citizen for $2,325.58. Yes, over $2000 per US citizen. And that's counting children. Counting only US adult citizens over 18, it'd be 2 or 3 times that amount.
I don't know about you fine blog readers, but I could sure use 2 grand. Bail me out! 