Congress, the Media: Still Not Listening

What I find most interesting to observe during the debate on Capital Hill over the $700 billion dollar “bailout” of Wall Street is that neither members of Congress nor the national news media is listening … really listening … to the voices of outrage from the America people.

As anyone who has spent any time on Capital Hill knows, Senators and members of the House of Representatives really don’t give a damn about the opinon of ordinary people in America. What gets their attention are the needs of special interest groups and lobbyists who make re-election possible through their financial support. Money talks. To repeat with emphasis … money talks.

There are, of course, a few exceptions, like Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio). But, there are very few exceptions.

The mainstream news media, especially TV news, is predictably clueless and inept over reporting details of the bailout with such reports that the Dow Jones is UP because Wall Street is encouraged that the bailout will happen. Of course Wall Street is happy, you idiots, because we, the taxpayers, are going to line the pockets of the robber barons on Wall Street whose greed caused this mess.

I heard one news anchor on MSNBC arrogantly comment that the bailout is “too complicated for ordinary people to understand.” As I looked into his eyes and saw the back of his head, I knew that he didn’t have a clue, either.  The media cannot explain the bailout because they don’t understand it. They, too, have become corrupted by embracing the aura of perceived power.

Here’s what it comes down to:

• The “financial crisis” is not new; there have been public warnings for years.
• The current rush to embrace a plan is because Congress wants to pass something fast, and get home to seek re-election. They want to claim they did something about fixing corruption, when they have been part of the problem.
• Both Congress and Wall Street have fallen into a state of unprecedented corruption, fueled by deregulation and greed.
• A bailout – or “rescue,” as it is now being called – does not fix the underlying problems, only passes the buck to the America taxpayers. It is a band-aid scheme, at best.
• With a financial bailout of Wall Street, America will take a step closer to becoming a socialist country and third-world status in its world reputation. Why? A void of leadership at all levels of the United States government, regardless of political party.

Category: Leadership, Personal notes