Wall Street Bailout

Well, enough armchair-ranting. This Wall Street bailout plan rankles me from my head down to my ankles, and it's time to proverbially "Speak now, or forever hold my piece--of the national debt."

I'm angry, Main Street America is angry, and you should be angry too. Here's why:

The proposed Wall Street bailouts are nothing more than crony-capitalist, corporate welfare packages. In order to divert the American public's attention from the sheer unpalatability of this proposed legislation, the corporate-funded politicians & media have relied on one of the oldest tricks in the book--fearmongering.

Essentially, they are saying ,"If you do not support the Wall Street bailout, then economic disaster will inevitably occur (i.e. frozen credit markets, failure of businesses, etc...). Therefore, support the Wall Street bailout!" Distract the public's attention by focusing them exclusively on the alleged consequences of opposing the bailout, not the content of the bailout itself. Fearmongering, plain and simple.

What we should be focusing on--the substance of the bailout--are these issues:

• Is it right for the American taxpayer to selectively absorb the consequences of Wall Street investing: should taxpayers absorb the losses while Wall Street continues to pocket the profits?
  
• Is the creation of an Office of Financial Stability the legislated bridge from free-market capitalism to crony capitalism: in other words, is this a governmental safe-haven to offer corporations selective immunity from negative, free market consequences?
  
• Does the "trickle-down" nature of the bailout adequately address the needs and specific problems of the American taxpayer? Or does the relief disproportionately alleviate corporate 'suffering' while leaving the American homeowner out in the cold, unsheltered winds of 'laissez-faire' capitalism?
  
• Is this bailout yet another manifestation of the broken, capitalist-pandering policy known as "trickle-down economics?"
  
• Does the necessity of action mean that ANY action is better than no action? Or will this hasty, ill-thought through bailout actually worsen the situation by creating dangerous precedents: providing corporate immunity from the consequences of irresponsible investing, risk-taking, and predatory lending? promote unprecedented risk-taking with taxpayer's investments for short-term gain? divert funds that could otherwise be used for health-care, green energy, education, and other social programs?
  
• Does this bailout create corporate classism? Socialized government safety-nets for Corporate America? Hands-off, laissez-faire capitalism for American taxpayers? After all, while American taxpayers have been losing their homes over the last two years, it was declared a necessary "market correction," and no help was offered. Suddenly, when Corporate America experiences a market correction, the government and media urge imminent, unprecedented action--throwing free market capitalism to the wind, subsidizing reckless corporate decision with 700 billion dollars.

I'm as outraged as GWB is everytime he walks past a copy of the Bill of Rights. And you should be too. What can we do?

• First, contact your representatives in Congress; the number for Capitol Hill's switchboard is (202) 224-3121. Ask to speak with your local congressman and give em' hell.
  
• Second, speak up! Yes, the average American is as comfortable with politics as GWB is in the non-children's section of the public library. But don't be complicit in their deliberate avoidance of political issues. Like they say in Baghdad, "If they don't like it, tough Shi'ite."
  
• Third, protest! Washington lobbyists are undoubtedly making their voices known; do the same.

Revolutionarily yours,

Thommunist