2008 Woodie Awards
The sky is falling
GABE MURPHY
ARBITER JOURNALIST
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Opinion
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According to CNN.com, the U.S. House of Representatives Website, house.gov, received a tidal wave of e-mails from the American public concerning the legislation. Yet, despite the cries from millions of Americans, our elected representatives in Washington voted for what may truly be one of the worst economic decisions this country has ever seen. Our government has failed us, and it has become politics as usual, even as the thought of a depression shadows near.
Rasmussenreports.com reported that only 28 percent of Americans were actually in favor of this travesty of legislation. Then how could this happen? Has Washington forgotten their constituency? The key word is pork.
The legislation known as the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008” originally started off as a three-page, $700 billion document intended to bail out, “rescue,” a smorgasbord of bad debts and loans, largely due to sub-prime lending.
When the legislation first appeared in the House, it failed by only a dozen votes only to rear its ugly, awful head again with an entirely new look.
The bill transformed from a three-page disaster into a 442-page nightmare saturated with pork barrel legislation. The new legislation included not only an array of non-monetary economic reform, but also an additional $110 billion in tax incentives for wool, race car tracks, kids’ wooden arrow manufacturers and, my favorite, Puerto Rican rum research.
These new provisions our legislature passed prove their decisions and votes are no longer dictated by the desires of their constituents. They are dictated by greed, wealth and profitability.
The Economic Stimulus Package didn’t work and neither will this. Just as the bill was signed into law, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger warned his state it would be in need of a $7 billion loan due to the credit crisis. With the overwhelming economic problems in this country, it is a sad day when our elected officials refuse the millions of Americans pleading for their voices to be heard.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Joe
posted 10/09/08 @ 8:53 AM MST
Great article and opinion.
Dylan Duke Gintz
posted 10/11/08 @ 7:45 AM MST
"These new provisions our legislature passed prove their decisions and votes are no longer dictated by the desires of their constituents. They are dictated by greed, wealth and profitability. (Continued…)
Rex
posted 10/22/08 @ 10:40 AM MST
I know you are not an optimist but Napoleon Hill, who for 20 years studied and interviewed the most successful people in America, said, "In every adversity is the seed of an opportunity of equal or greater benefit. (Continued…)
ryanimel
Ryan
posted 10/22/08 @ 9:55 PM MST
Good Article!
I think that voters should take a good long look at who they plan on voting for in November. We should be holding these people to a higher standard. (Continued…)
ryanimel
ryan
posted 10/22/08 @ 9:58 PM MST
correction....his name is "pro-life Richardson".....
WHY IS HE CRYING???HE'S TALKING ABOUT OIL!!!!
Don Q
posted 10/23/08 @ 1:06 PM MST
Great article, I agree, but is there anything that can be done by ordinary citizens to change the system as it stands. Voting new politicians apparently is not working as they become corrupted shortly after taking office (assuming they weren't corrupt before hand). (Continued…)
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