Congress acted in a bipartisan way to solve what at least some saw as a national economic problem, vice presidential candidates had a civilized and spirited debate and in many parts of America last week, the sun could still be seen rising.

Fear on Wall Street and Washington eased as Congress passed the financial bailout bill on Friday, but Main Street remained angry. That may change, and likely will, but possibly not before election day. That day may provide its own kind of catharasis for the middle class.

It was no small irony that attached to the Wall Street bailout bill was a provision that would help people pay their mental health bills. They may be needing that money sooner than later.

When Average Americans get knocked down, they, more often than not, get back up, because they know the battle is worth fighting. When they fight mean enough, or speak loud enough with multiple voices, their leaders usually listen or go quietly away.

As a country, we’ve been through a lot of turmoil the past few weeks, much of it not of our own doing but the doing to those we entrusted to run the country. It’s becoming increasingly clear, that running the country is more and more our duty, not to be delegated lightly. And that realization may be a harbinger for a better future.

While the worries on the homefront remain paramount in our minds, though some seem overblown, many of us remember, because they are neighbors, that brave men and women are still making much larger sacrifices than we as they battle evil in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Monday, the markets will open, probably more positively; seniors will call up their retirement accounts and see they have risen. A small business will get a loan. People around the world will still have a healthy respect for the freest country in the world. They will see, once again, that it mostly works.

Somewhere, an average American will go to work, and on over their morning coffee, realize that it will be tough for the rogues of our government to ever permanently take control away from us. Because, ultimately, the people are in charge.