Is the United States on route to be the next USSR?

Lehman is gone, Fannie and Freddie are nationalized, and the United States is now the largest insurance company in the world. Does anyone know why, the U S government, that is based on the foundations of the Constitution, written by people who gave their lives to establish and defend freedom, are making decisions that are shifting us away from a free-market state towards more government and $7 trillion of debt that is mostly owned by foreign entities (umm China??) Wait, isn't it suppose to be Congress that is suppose to make decisions on monetary policy and government funding? Can someone tell me why people do not realize how important and how big this crisis really is and why people are not being more concerned? I am not an expert on government so if I am wrong please, someone tell me.