You can't blame the public--and politicians--for getting worked up about the previous bailout plan proposals. Taxpayers would have been on the hook for $700 billion. And while proponents of previous plans can argue that the ultimate beneficiaries are John and Jane Public, it feels more like a handout to bank executives. TheStreet.com notes another potential insult: More banks may try to recover in part by hiking fees on deposits and basic services. It's only natural to try to pass on costs. Fees of course have already been soaring. Average overdraft fees rose 45 percent from 1997 to 2003, while inflation rose 12 percent. For banks, this looms as an important PR issue. For the moment, it seems like a back-burner issue.

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