Socialism in the USA

Well, they told me it would never happen. The good ole USA is too capitalist EVER to involve itself (visibly and directly, not counting tax and other regulatory measures) in private business. I feel like I'm back in England before Margaret Thatcher!!!! I understand it's "just a loan" - secured against what exactly? And what if AIG fails anyway? As for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who says I want my taxpayer dollars to go to bail out bad loans on homes I don't own? What are the criteria for government bailouts, do you think? Bad publicity and bad press for the USA, for one. Can you think of more?