….our goal must be to spend these precious dollars with unprecedented accountability, responsibility, and transparency. I’ve tasked my cabinet and staff to set up the kind of management, oversight, and disclosure that will help ensure that, and I will challenge state and local governments to do the same.
President Barack Obama
Can we apply this goal to TARP and the Wall Street thugs bankers?
The Eclectique Citizen
What the world needs now are jobs sweet jobs. Somewhere I heard there was rioting in Iceland because of high unemployment. Why didn’t the established media report on this or the fact that the financial collapse in Iceland resulted in a new election? Maybe it’s because if the conflict is in the details of the stimulus bill, and if derailing the bill makes good copy — so we feature more politicians who are against the stimulus than for it — then we will have the drama of Iceland and Greece here at home. Bad for the country but great for ratings.
The established media isn’t about prevention. (please read my sarcasm or HOLD MY EARRINGS!). Also check out this interview on “Bill Moyers Journal” (2/6/09) with Jay Rosen (PressThink) and Glenn Greenwald (Salon.com) – “Is the established press preventing political change.” I took away the question mark on purpose.
Somwhere I heard an American was travelling in Korea. They were on a train and noticed all their fellow passengers talking on their cell phones while the train was travelling through a long tunnel. Gee, I can’t even get cell phone service in an elevator. The stimulus talks about building and improving infrastructure. The U.S. is still partying like it’s 1999. Everyone else has left the building.
This is the video kicking off the conversation for the Economic Recovery Plan House Meetings happening nationwide starting Friday.
Unfortunately, my work schedule is preventing me from attending any of these meetings this weekend. But my gut tells me “Don’t sit this one out.” So a family member’s going and will report in.
HOLD MY EARRINGS!!!!
My gut’s also telling me there are some people who are more interested in racking up political points and winning elections than helping the country. [Might as well use that line when it applies.] There are people who want to use the stimulus to prop up an old, dying economy, that has been good to them and their friends, but is irrelevant to 21st century life and progress. There are those who are too timid, stubborn, or just down right mean and selfish to look forward and apply broad strokes.
It seems when it’s the American people’s turn for help, there’s the micro-scrutinizing and witholding. When will they send social workers to the banks and investment firms to confiscate their extras bought with TARP monies?
But I’m not going to help these “some people” by being so-so busy that I can’t do something to help my country. This is part of the current civic engagement dilemma a la Catch 22 – people trying to keep up in an economic environment where income is falling behind meeting basic living expenses. So if you can go to a meeting, GO! http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/economicrecoverymeetings/
Update: Found a meeting that fits into my schedule. yay!
The list of over 10 million from President Barack Obama’s campaign has already received the call to host Economic Recovery Plan meetings in their homes and communities. Go to this link: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/economicmeetings/.
Since the Washington Post has nixed Book World and Sunday Source, that frees up more time for other kinds of reading. BTW the bill is 647 pages long.
I do plan to attend one of the Economic Recovery House Meetings. Here are some questions that have been on my mind.
1. Where is the money coming from? – this may be the most difficult one to answer outside the Treasury Department.
2. What is good debt and what is bad debt? We’re going to have debt no doubt either way so you might as well qualify it.
3. What is the for real value of our “assets” or is there more hype value than substance?
4. Is “tax cutting” a new religion or an obsession? I know a few people who are doing financially well and have said they’ll pay higher taxes or forgo the tax cut if it helps the country.
5. HOLD MY EARRINGS!!! – TARP. When will a bank and finance accountability and regulation mob committee be installed? What should be the rules and regulations for TARP funds?