The shock-doctrine peddlers are saying the world will end if the bailout isn't passed. So you'd think that Congress would focus a little on fixing the financial crisis.

Instead, the Senate bailout bill includes issues of vital national importance such as :

• Extension of economic development credit to American Samoa (p. 279)

• Rum excise tax to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (p. 279)

• Motorsports racing track facility (p. 290)

• Wool modifications (p. 295)

• Children and wooden arrows (p. 300)

The list goes on and on . . .

It also includes plenty of unfunded mandates.

Indeed, it seems like pork barrel politics as usual in Washington.