We do realize, don’t we, that bailing out isn’t necessary unless the ship is sinking?
I can’t do a better job of encapsulating the failures and obfuscations of the bailout bill better than Eve has done here. But I will say here that this bill has nothing whatsoever to do with mitigating the distress of the average homeowner. If it did, mortgage companies would have been mandated to revoke prepayment penalties (allowing homeowners to be able to afford to refinance adjustable rate mortgages now, before credit is even more impossible to get) and to revoke subordination clauses (which forbid a homeowner to sell a house on private contract without paying off the bank first).
I’ve said this before on this blog, and I’ll say it again. We are in frightening times. We are at a tipping point. If we don’t get involved, if we don’t take the reins into our own hands, the quasi-fascist government we already have is going to run away with all of us dragging bloody through the dust behind it, like condemned men behind a Roman chariot.
Pay attention to whom you elect — on a local level. I’m far from convinced that there is much difference at this point between the Demipublicans and the Republicrats. You have more influence over Congress. You have more ability to strengthen viable third party candidates in your state. Change doesn’t happen when people sit back and watch. If you don’t want to vote, then don’t. But do something else instead. If you don’t vote because you believe the system is corrupt, then speak up. Tell people how you feel. If you will not use your voice to support a candidate, then at least use it to scream in frustration. Your voice will not be heard if you don’t use it. I don’t care how you use it. But now is the time to be heard.
Scream as loudly as you can, and see how many people you can wake up. Our drugged and sleeping country is being raped and cannibalized while we lie comatose and indifferent.
Make some noise. Make it now.
October 6, 2008 at 10:12 pm |
Well said.
October 7, 2008 at 1:07 am |
I agree with you. I was on the fence about whether I would even register up here. I did. I have never missed an election since 1974 and I couldn’t live with myself if I did it now.
October 7, 2008 at 1:17 am |
I’ve never been more affected or determined with regards to politics than I am now, despite that most of the political coverage is nauseating and there’s only so much I’ll contribute.
But I have an opinion and I’m expressing it.
We’ve gone too much hoping someone else would clean up our mess, telling ourselves that our children could compete in the world even if they were taught faulty “science” and how to take tests instead of critical thinking.
This can’t go on indefinitely and, at some point, we will either roll up our sleeves and do the hard work (with sacrifice) required to clean up the mess we’re in, or it will all collapse around our ears.
October 7, 2008 at 1:52 am |
I just read Eve’s excellent post and posted a silly comment. My silly comment (short version) is to suggest that in the coming election we do an instant term limit by voting out every current Demipublican and the Republicrat as a velvet revolution that wouldn’t leave blood in the streets but would at least catch their attention for a few minutes.
Anything less; they won’t take us seriously.
October 7, 2008 at 2:22 am |
Yes, well said.
October 7, 2008 at 6:06 am |
Amen, and amen again!
October 7, 2008 at 8:39 am |
I agree… and it’s heartening to see how many other Americans agree that we’ve got to act.
October 7, 2008 at 9:04 am |
There are quite a number of shouting voices down here in Australia, too.
October 7, 2008 at 12:05 pm |
If you agree that the economy is the most important issue facing us (not just America) right now but don’t know much about how the system works, there is an excellent primer in the form of a 47-minute film called Money As Debt.
Yesterday Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke about reforming the financial system from the bottom up, and I think it would be great for our legislators to hear from as many lower and middle class people what they think about the world systems of credit and fractional reserve banking.
October 7, 2008 at 12:13 pm |
Thank you, O’Tim. Much appreciated!
October 11, 2008 at 3:17 am |
I think this post is excellent!
I also want to thank O’Tim for his comment where he adds the link to ‘Money As Debt’ which helped me understand how the system works.
Scary…
October 11, 2008 at 4:59 am |
Sorry I haven’t been here in a while. You’ll be glad to know I’ve been screaming at the top of my lungs. Not sure it’s doing any good, but I’m not going down without a sound.