News at Eleven (Back Page): The government eventually shored up agricultural lenders

and streamlined the farm bankruptcy process. But the lifeline came too late for many families.

Now Washington is opening Treasury's vaults to kick-start the economy and stabilize financial institutions. The contrast in the speed of the federal response is stirring frustration on the range and enlivening poems. As [Yvonne] Hollenbeck says of her fellow ranchers:

"Stock Exchange" to them is to trade a horse or cow;
their market is the Sale Barn while on Wall Street it's the "Dow."
There's never been a program to bail out the livestock man;
when things get tough their motto is to "Hang on if you can!"

from Los Angeles Times: They're well-versed in hard times

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