It's no secret that the economy is weighing heavily on people's minds. A new Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll shows people are feeling very negative about their own finances.

More than 1 in 4 people feel less financially secure than 6 months ago. Another fourth feel only somewhat less secure. But combined, that means half of all Americans surveyed have a negative outlook! Meanwhile, another 40% feel things haven't gotten either better or worse for them in the last 6 months.

Clark doesn't buy into all the gloom and doom about America's future. Yes, we have messes to deal with and it will take time, but we'll get it together.

On the issue of the Paulson bailout plan, Clark hears you loud and clear, America: They're trying to pick our pockets. He applauds those who won't be made to just roll over and cough up $700 billion with no questions asked. The reality is that the American people should get something back -- like we now own about 80% of AIG since the government bailed them out.

Paulson keeps going on and on about making this "clean." Well, "clean" means "dirty" here.