North Dakotans Wait for Government to Act

Sept. 30, 2008— -- In Fargo, N.D., the reassuring daily sound of a train speeding to bring local farmers' corn to market is being drowned out by the sound of frustration.

Local talk radio host Scott Hennen has gotten an earful from viewers who called into his show.

"I don't trust -- I just don't trust Congress anymore," one caller said. "It's never the Americans that are the winners in this deal."

Hennen has found his listeners to be both angry and frustrated.

"We're back to the 'Scott Hennen Show,' where you have a voice. Ladies and gentleman, join the club, the common sense club -- get it off your chest," Hennen said to his listeners. "I know you're mad. I know you're ticked. I know you want to throw things at the radio or television or C-Span and say, 'Ugh, how did we get into this position?'"

Fargo locals are annoyed by the government's lack of action and failed efforts to solve the financial crisis, Hennen said.

People are "part disgusted -- part angry -- people are ticked. I think that there is a realization that we have no choice at this point but to do something significant," Hennen said. "A lot of people here feel it's bad government and bad decisions. It's not a failure of the free enterprise system that we are in this pickle -- it's a failure of bad government, and that ticks people off."

North Dakotans consider Fargo as a place of stability in surrounding rough economic times. While the economy has not boomed, there have been no big busts either.

"They say the economy's weak, [but] they haven't come to Fargo," said E.J. Gabel, a local construction worker. "We've got a good economy here, and house prices aren't terrible."

Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy said he is trying to keep it this way; he voted in favor of the $700 billion financial rescue plan Monday, which failed to pass in the House of Representatives.