While our government is trying to save the banking and auto industries, Italy has its own economic crisis to be overcome by government intervention.

The Italian government says it's shoring up the parmigiana market by buying 100,000 wheels of the famed cheese to give to charity.

Despite a strong demand for the cheese in Italy and abroad, parmigiana producers are struggling to make money, which puts parmigiana's future at risk, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The government is buying the chunks of cheese, which weigh about 77 pounds each, with money from a special European Fund meant to feed poor people, the Journal reported.

And in all seriousness, makers of mozzarella producers are upset, arguing that they need a bailout as well.

Well, at least the Italian government is getting something tangible for its money -- is the US government getting anything similar for all the billions in taxpayer cash being tossed around in bailout plans?