"Crisis"

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I think Chris Bowers is right:

Things are getting a little suspicious about this "crisis."

1. Why did the Bush administration suddenly declare a "crisis" during the final two weeks when Congress would be in session during his presidency? Is it maybe because, after the election, Congress would know it wasn't dealing with Bush anymore?

2. If this is such a sudden crisis, why is it that the Bush administration was drawing up the plan for this bill for months beforehand?

3. Why is it that Congress is supposed to bail out many banks and firms that are actually quite successful and profitable right now, and not just those that are failing?

4. Why is Paulson blatantly lying to Congress about oversight?

5. Where did the $700 billion figure come from?

6. Why is Paulson urging that debate on the matter be held after the legislation is passed?

The burden of proof should always be placed on those who are demanding a huge government bailout, not upon those who are skeptical that one is needed. And yet the questions keep mounting, with no answers in sight.

Bush and Paulson are fearmongering, I fear, driving up the panic in order to secure as massive a taxpayer-funded welfare program for Paulson's buddies on Wall Street as possible.

Don't trust them. Because they have done nothing to deserve your trust.

There may indeed be a "need for government intervention," as Chris admits, but "[t]he case hasn't been made" -- and any intervention should be driven not by those with an interest, a self-interest, in welfare for Wall Street, but by those who have been empowered by the people to advance and protect the public interest.

It is time for Americans to take back both their democracy and their economy. With this election, they have just the opportunity to do so.