Who should we blame for this ridiculous downturn in our economy?

I don't think one can blame any one person or thing. To me, what it has looked like is a matter of the "chickens coming home to roost" after a couple of decades of businesses and individuals having too often made too many misguided and/or short-sighted choices/moves.

There has often been a widespread set of values that have grown increasingly away from values that contribute to solid financial foundations. (For example, people are hired/elected into positions for superficial reasons, and they often don't have the integrity and or type of intelligence needed to make solid decisions/moves.)

I tend to think that what has gone on with the economy is a "re-setting" of the whole picture, which was bound to happen after too long a time of having things so out of control when it comes to "financial foundations" (in individuals, companies, and/or the government).

Blame the stupidity of the average voter. They elected the politicians, who by their laws, have set the economy on a downward spiral. That is both Democrats and Republicans.

Look up "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat, "Economics in one Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt, "The Creature from Jekyll Island" by Griffith, and "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.

I agree with Lisa HW in some aspects. This is a much wider scope than just big, corrupt business. We need to look at ourselves first. Big business would not be big business if not for people willing to part with their money. We have become a cultrue of instant gratification, with little regard for future responsibility.