"The world of finance feels very insecure right now. What must happen to make it feel reasonably comfortable again"

Bearbuster - you ask a very big question.  The market is a reflection of humankind.  Right now fear dominates.  Last year, greed dominated.  That cycle may go on forever because a large percentage of humans still operate viscerally.  For people that DO think (like you, me and a few others or hopefully more than a few) these times are only disturbing because of the problems we observe locally and globally, not just for our own singular self-interest.  However things turn around at these times and I'm hoping that greater understanding, higher regard for others and common sense will become the prevailing factors after this shakeout.  If that happens, this world will be a better place for more people than it is today.

One of the biggest concerns I have is the tendency of people to accept slogans or thin reasoning instead of proper analysis. This may seem a little off subject however it's the herd mentality that runs with shallow or even non-existent reasoning.  Last year companies were buying up with unbelievable frenzy even though there was no increased value in prices from one sale to the next.  It was perplexing why they were doing that.  And just in my own circle, when I poo-pooed peoples' willingness to dive in and get themselves into such deep debt simply so they could own unprecedented amounts of frivolous items, my critisism was frowned upon as being old-fashioned. 

If this crisis has the one effect of making people feel enough pain to think before they accept the "norm" then it will have been a very profitable event and even worth it.