Posted on 09/23/2008 5:58:26 PM PDT by markomalley
American capitalism was rescued last week by -- who'd have believe it? -- socialism.
Free-market fundamentalists will spin what happened as something else. "Temporary government intervention in the market" or "just another federal loan program." And there's the ever-popular "bailout," a neutral term implying we do it all the time and it absolves everyone of any blame.
None dare call it socialism. But that's surely what it is.
Washington has nationalized AIG, the insurance giant, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as much as Moscow under Vladimir Putin has nationalized big-winner industries like oil.
But with this defense: The Russians nationalized profit and privatized losses. We privatize profit and nationalize losses. And that's the worst sort of socialism.
At the same time, we're told that this "bailout" it good for all of us little people and that we must not point the finger of blame. We're all in this together, the argument goes. It's an argument especially favored by Republicans. But it's too patently self-serving.
It you can't point the finger of blame at those "masters of the universe" who turned Wall Street wealth into Confederate currency, then, by extension, you can't fault the Bush administration, which squandered a $250 billion surplus, spilt American blood and treasure in an unnecessary war in Iraq and closed its eyes to the rape of capitalism by Wall Street free-market fundamentalists.
What we're witnessing is an end to the era of unregulated capitalism that began with Ronald Reagan and was carried to its absurdist extreme under George W. Bush and his radical Republicans. It's over. And Wall Street will never be the same.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Socialism rescues nothing - it enslaves everything.
These institutions were pre-insured by the government, along with student loans. That’s the whole corruption scheme. You can’t have congress critters with stakes and bribes from institutions like these, it’s conflict of interest at its worst, it’s socialism.
These were not GOP programs but strongholds of the Dem party in terms of ideology and direct link.
“If” it helps/works, voters may remember in it the booth, which could help 0bama.
I am so against this.
Both parties are guilty.
Most elected officials in both parties use their power to help themselves, their friends and relatives instead of putting the country and their constituents first.
As long as politicians are on the take we will never have an honest government that puts the country first.
Here is what we need to clean government up:
ALL Lobbying should be outlawed.
Politicians are not allowed to accept any gift or payment from anyone while in office. That includes transportation, seminars, meals, sports tickets, free gifts to family members, no speaking fees, country club memberships, etc.
Politicians should be allowed to accept campaign donations only from individual citizens and there should be a small limit on the total amount allowed.
All donations should be identified with a valid social security number.
No donations from foreigners or foreign organizations. PERIOD.
No donations should be permitted from corporations, unions, PACs, colleges, charities, insurers, hospitals, clubs, NAACP, CAIR, etc.
Donations from individual citizens ONLY!
It should be illegal to “bundle” donations. Each person should make their own donation.
To run for a different office all people in federal office must resign their current job before they start to run for a different one.
A candidate or office holder cannot use donations from the previous campaign on a new campaign. When a campaign is over and the bills are paid any unspent donations must be turned over to the US Treasury and the campaign account must be closed.
Severe criminal penalties for any lobbyist, politician or office holder who violates the rules.
We need term limits for the Senate and the house.
It is ridiculous to have people sit on their butts in Washington for 30 or 40 years feathering their own nest and milking the system.
Quote: All donations should be identified with a valid social security number.
While i agree w/ some of your points don’t forget fake social(ist) (in)security #’s are easy to come by.
You are correct but I’m sure you get the idea.
The E-verify system used to verify valid SSN’s by employers seems to now be working quite well and could do the job but needs to be refinanced by congress.
The bill to do that is being held from a vote in congress by NJ Senator Menendez who is holding it hostage and demanding a bunch of new visa’s for relatives of illegals already here.
We do need either a new revolution or some serious butt individual kicking in Washington.
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