They're Not Bailing Out America, They're Selling Out America

Earlier this week the Senate passed version two of a fundamentally flawed bill that will do extensive damage to the principles of our nation's financial system. Today the House of Representatives will vote on this bill and it is expected to pass this time around. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 is opposed by 70-90% of Americans. The bailout bill has passed the Senate for a second time and now it appears that it will pass through the House the second time around. So if an overwhelming majority of Americans are against this bailout for corporations then why are the people who are supposed to be representing us passing this bill? The really terrible thing is that the second time around the bill is actually far worse than the first time.

I spent a good amount of time earlier today reading through as much of the 451 page document as I could stomach. Almost none of us want Wallstreet bailed out and that is bad enough but here are the things in the bill that you might not be aware of: It provides tax breaks for the steel industry, it provides money for the wool industry, it provides money for coal research, it gives $129 million to the Rum industry!, it provides a tax break for a company that makes wooden arrows for children!, it gives $18 million to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and so on. There are also provisions for tax credits for people who buy household appliances that are energy efficient and were manufactured this year or the next two years.

As you read through that list there were probably a couple things that didn't seem so bad and there were probably several things that made your blood boil. A tax break for a company that makes wooden arrows for children??? Someone needs to find out which senator put that in the bill and if they are from a state that allows senators to be recalled then the people of that state need to rise up and use their power to recall that senator. The same could go for any of those other earmarks. The point is that whether you find any of the things that were added to the bill to be good or not doesn't matter. None of these things should have been included in the bill. Our politicians have been busy telling us over the past couple weeks that this is going to be as bad as the Great Depression. First of all I don't believe them. Because if it was really that bad then why did it take an extra 150 billion dollars in earmark spending to be put on the bill before enough of them would vote for it? If this was really about what was good for the country then why couldn't they just vote on the bill on it's own merit? The truth is that they don't care about what happens to the country. They only care about advancing their own careers. They care about the special interest groups that fund their campaigns. They certainly do not care about their constituents.

You need to look at who voted for this and who didn't. Both major party presidential candidates voted for this bill. Shame on them. And as I'm writing this I put the vice presidential debate on mute because I just couldn't bear to listen to the lies and half truths anymore. I live in Pennsylvania and unfortunately both of our Senators voted yes on this bill. Republican Arlen Specter and Democrat Bob Casey Jr. Today I wrote both of them an email which I've copied here so you can read. Perhaps you would like to use it to send to your own senators.

Dear Senator [Insert Name Here],

During this time of economic upheaval in our nation it saddens me greatly to see you vote yes on the bailout bill. This is a bill that 70-90% of Americans are against and certainly that would apply in Pennsylvania as well. The thing is though Senator, that Americans are against the core of what the bill stands for, that alone was enough to have the American people set against it. Now though you and your fellow Senators have packed it full of tax breaks for special interests and added more costs to an already costly bill. Provisions for Wool? Really? How about Rum? Here's a good one: a tax break for a company that makes wooden arrows for children! The list goes on and on. I read through the 451 page bill and frankly, I was sick to my stomach as I did so, knowing that both Senators from Pennsylvania had signed on to this atrocity of legislation.

You and your friends in Washington have shown once again that you do not have America's best interests at heart. Rest assured that when you are up for re-election, I will be voting against you.

Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]

I honestly don't expect to get a response from either of these gentlemen but if I do I'll be sure to post it on here.

Whether the bill passes or fails in the House of Representatives you need to look at who your representatives are and remember their names. Remember this day of infamy, this day when our politicians have continued their ways of greed and corruption to sell out America. When these men and women are up for re-election, vote them out. Also remember though the ones who voted against it. Whether or not it passes you should write to them and thank them for the stand they have made against this unconstitutional bill.

The President, both major party presidential candidates, and far too many senators and representatives support this garbage piece of legislation. A couple years ago here in Pennsylvania the state legislature held a vote late at night to give themselves a pay raise. When the people found out about it they were angry and they got organized with their anger. We voted almost every one of them out of office that was up for re-election. You corrupt politicians in Washington had better look out because the people are angry and we will not forget what you have done here. You will be voted out of office.