The deafening silence of last week was a response to your asking what you should do with your money given that the free market was on the verge of a meltdown.

OK, perhaps your financial adviser came up with a reasoned answer. But most analysts could do little but watch as the global economy was stunned with the collapse of one business giant after another. Only an intervention by the U.S. government stopped the hemorrhaging on Wall Street.

The subprime mortgage crisis continues to claim casualties. And now that the government has decided to step in, taxpayers will be on the hook for billions of dollars to bail out major corporations possessing astronomically high debt.

There is plenty of blame to go around for the mess we’re in.

Trusting Wall Street to police itself was complete folly. Government regulations are cumbersome for the private sector and can impede economic growth. But some regulations are necessary to help prevent the excesses that led to the crisis we’re enduring.

And many Americans are swimming in debt. They are the ones who bought homes they couldn’t afford and the ones who have credit-card payments they can’t make. Just as businesses must be responsible for their decisions, people must live within their means. Whatever situation you face, there are people to consult for help.

But know that the economic road is going to be plagued with huge potholes for at least the short term. We’ll all need to exhibit patience, fiscal discipline and a spirit of goodwill to survive it.