We the People

I don't know if I should quite say this or not, but I wanted to point out the glimmer of hope thatI found today... that our government still works for us.  I didn't say it's the truth, but there is a glimmer of hope.  I just read this on CNN...

But one Republican aide said, "I think it has to be pretty radically altered for House Republicans to support it."

"At the end of the day these members represent the people who sent them here and the people who sent them here are so overwhelming opposed to this," the aide stressed, who noted that calls about the plan were running about 90-1 against the plan.

"However, House Republicans have not agreed to any plan at this point. We owe it to all those with a stake in this process to continue our discussions until we arrive at an agreement that is acceptable on both sides of the aisle -- and more importantly, one that serves the interests of American taxpayers," he said.

And one Senate Republican said he, too, was not ready to vote for the proposal.

"I'm not on board yet. I want to see this thing," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, said. "What I don't like about this -- and I'm very, very worried about it -- I think this is probably the greatest concession of legislative power in the history of the republic, almost."

I actually called our representative today.  Her Washington office.  Truth be told, I was trying to be "heard" through email and for some strange reason the site shut down everytime I clicked the contact button.  So real quick, I just decided to call.  I got a secretary with one ring:

Sheila's office: "Hello"

Me: "Yes, I'd like to voice my opposition for the $700 billion bailout plan."

Sheila's office: "Ok.  Are you one of her constituent's?"

Me: "Umm... I don't know what that means to be honest."

Sheila's office: "Are you in her district?"

Me: "Yes ma'am."

Sheila's office: "Thank you."

I freaked out a little when someone actually answered on the phone.  I want to work up the courage to actually have a conversation with the other person and find out where my representative stands on the specific issues, but I decided to take baby steps this time.  I was pretty proud of myself.  I then emailed our senators and told them why I wasn't for the bailout package and a couple of alternative ideas that could be used instead of the $700 billion bailout.  We'll see if I get a response on Captiol Hill.

Here's what I find so disturbing about this bailout.  The specifics for one.  A blank check for $700 billion dollars to the Treasury Department.  That screams socialism to me.  That means that the government nationalizes certain industries that were once private.  That means that entrepreneurship, innovation and hard work will not be rewarded but instead distributed to lower income families.  I'm extremely opposed to this.  This is America, where hard work and dedication should be rewarded.  I believe in helping lower income families, but I don't believe in enabling them to grow comfortable in their current situation by giving them handouts.

Why aren't we encouraging them to grow?  Every member of Congress that claims to have a "normal" background has done that.  They've risen above life circumstances to hold a very powerful political office in this country.  That's an accomplishment and thus should be rewarded.  So why would those that have benefitted from a capitalistic society all of a sudden want to socialize our country?  That should make you think...

Second thing that should make you think.  Why are the Democrats going along with Bush's plan so easily?  They very clearly and emphatically hate President Bush.  Because it's a crisis?  Really?  I, for one, could not be prouder of the House Republicans (and others that have raised opposing viewpoints to this bailout) for actually standing up to the "crisis situation" with questions, policy suggestions and reservations.  THANK YOU for actually listening to people that called you.  The fact that Democrats are trying to fix this problem so quickly should make you take a step back and wonder why?

There's a reason, and one of them (not the only one) is because this housing bubble started in '92 when Clinton encouraged banks to lend to lower and middle income families that could not afford to own a house.  This led to many families finding themselves in the middle of mortgages that they simply could not pay, home foreclosures and thus spelled trouble for top-tier financial institutions that decided to invest in securities that were backed by these irresponsible mortgages.  President Bush called for reform for Freddie and Fannie in 2001, John McCain warned of this crisis in 2005 as he pushed for reform and yet today we find ourselves in a very alarming, realistic truth: 

That our economy is simply NOT too big to fail.