Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Just say NO!
We must demand our Senators and Representatives vote against any more bailout of private businesses and individuals with government, taxpayer money. It is time for us to bite the bullet and face the consequences of our irresponsible financial behavior. It is immoral for us to pass on to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren this debt.
The American people were sold a "bill of goods" last October, and it's happening again now. Throwing more taxpayer debt at the economic problems our nation faces will only at best delay the inevitable while piling up unconscionable debt on our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Our government now owes more money than all of us in the country put together possess. We now owe nearly $57 trillion while our total net worth is only $56.5 trillion. President-elect Barack Obama has said, "We've got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come even with the economic recovery that we are working on at this point."
Obama's plan, being promoted by Democrats and Republicans alike, is to pass out money, running up debt that our grandchildren will be forced to pay. Their solution is simple. Throw more money at the problem. Many of the projects clamoring for a piece of the "pie" at best are poor investments. Others just don’t make sense or amount to funding of projects no one else wants or sees a legitimate need of.
Where will the government get these trillions of dollars? They will go to the printing press and print more, which means that dollar in your pocket will be worth less. It also means the government will borrow more. From whom? Try China and the rich oil producing countries. At the rate we are going, China will never have to fight us. They will own us.
We don’t need to keep digging the hole deeper and deeper. Where will the bailouts end? We need some leadership from Congress, and we need it now. In the vacuum of statesmanship out of Washington, the American people must show that leadership. We know that in the real world there is no such thing as a free lunch; we must make sure oblivious Washington insiders know that as well.
They must stop feeding the American people a line of $&#@!. Democrats railed against Republicans over federal deficits during the Bush years. Now they are set to allow nearly as much deficit spending in one year than was incurred during the entire Bush administration, and yawn while doing so.
Stop the bleeding now! Just say NO to any more bailouts, "taxpayer investment" and government wealth transfers of all kinds. I for one am sick of the enormous transfer of wealth from this nation to China and the oil producing nations. Every dollar of deficit spending means more for them.
Write your Representatives, Senators and the President-elect. Tell them, "Stop it...NOW!"
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: Barack Obama, Big 3 bailout, Bush, Democrats, federal budget deficit, national debt, politics, Republicans
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Big 3 Bailout thoughts
I wrote the following to Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida on his "No" vote to on the "Cloture Motion; Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008". A yes vote would have allowed the Senate to move forward on this bill, to which leaders intended to attach auto financing and restructuring legislation
Thank you for voting "No" on the Cloture Motion to the "Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008."I wrote a similar note to Sen. Bill Nelson who voted "Yes" on the motion. Except I extended my disappointment at his vote.
While I am fundamentally opposed to government intervention in free markets, that's in large part what got us into the financial and housing meltdown to begin with, if there is going to be government intervention, there must be concessions on "all" sides.
That the unions refused to even consider concessions to help their employers to become more competitive and preserve blue collar jobs is case in point of the arrogance they have fostered.
In tough times everyone needs to be willing to do what is necessary to keep their business viable, unions included.
That said, the very best method for the big 3 to deal with the problem of mismanagement, poor market prognostication and burdensome union contracts is the very Darwinian yet efficient method of Chapter 11 reorganization.
With good decisions they will come out stronger, more competitive and positioned for future growth and profitability without eating at the public trough.
I need my blue collar, Postal Service, earnings to support my family, not those of mis-managers and unionized extravagance.
We must each become involved in the political process and tell our representatives what we think of their actions. Our Senators and Representatives are in Washington to "represent" each of us, the voter, the constitutent, not their own self interests and personal philosophies.
They must listen to us and seriously consider our wishes on the issues. If not, we have the responsibility in our Republic to go to the voting booth and replace them.
But if we fail to provide guidance and feedback, the onus falls on each of us for the actions they take with which we disagree. So take time to get involved, learn about the issues and write your political representatives, it's your future, and that of your children and grandchildren.
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: Big 3 bailout, Bill Nelson, financial crisis, Mel Martinez, politics, Senate