Welcome to double-standard America

[jocoshock]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/03/21/sirota/index.html?source=rss&aim=/opinion/feature

This article has some very interesting observations about what has been going on in the country regarding "contracts". I am not posting this as a liberal vs. conservative, republican vs. democrat post. It's a good example of what goes on in the halls of power while the little guys (that's you and me) argue over the ideology they feed us.

The sooner WE figure out a way to hold these clowns accountable, the better. They are ALL in need of some serious adult supervision.

[Hotel Paper]

whoa whoa, how does this deal with ball?

[SFL]

... and I thought it only happened to me. :D

[benishock]

While I agree that the article may have some legitimate points it is obvious there is enough blame to go around to both Republicans and Democrats. I think our country desperately needs a viable third party. However, I must agree with Hotel Paper-- what the hell does this have to do with Shocker basketball?

[1979Shocker]

I must agree with Hotel Paper-- what the hell does this have to do with Shocker basketball?

Maybe that's why it's in the Off-topic section.

[ShockBand]

It was originally in the Mens BB forum till it got moved.

[SB Shock]

What I can't believe is some of you haven't figure it out yet - it's not about Republican vs Democrat - they are all the same just with a different label. They are equally corrupt.

[Maggie]

Re: Welcome to double-standard America

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/03/21/sirota/index.html?source=rss&aim=/opinion/feature

This article has some very interesting observations about what has been going on in the country regarding "contracts". I am not posting this as a liberal vs. conservative, republican vs. democrat post. It's a good example of what goes on in the halls of power while the little guys (that's you and me) argue over the ideology they feed us.

The sooner WE figure out a way to hold these clowns accountable, the better. They are ALL in need of some serious adult supervision.

You want to teach those in Washington a lesson? The ballot box is your only real weapon. Unfortunately, you don’t have a say in which individual is elected to represent the States of, for example, Mass. or Conn.

This article makes some good points and goes a little too far in others. However, I think it is perfectly reasonable to point out that certain union contracts were renegotiated, between the corporate suits and the union representatives, at the behest of government while those companies on Wall Street that received tax payer funds were not required to do the same (in fact Congress expressly approved of particular “bonuses”).

I have never been a part of the “bonus” structure of Wall Street but I do understand why it exists. However, I will say this: If I were a lawyer, middle executive, etc. at one of these companies that took tax payer funds (who had nothing to do with the current crisis – these are big companies) and I get a base salary of $250K and I received a $15K - $20K bonus (which is not uncommon IF your business unit is profitable) that our friends in Washington now want to tax out of existence – I would be very upset and I would look to leave that company.

The investor class invests in jurisdictions where the rules are clear and stable. How can you run a company when the rules keep changing, when you have to worry about being second-guessed by Congress? Right now, Washington is sending a message that there are no rules. You entered into a legally binding contract? So what! Refuse to surrender the money? We’ll pass a law targeted at YOU directly. If you have even a modest asset - a small house, a sluggish savings account or pension provision - these people are making you poorer. In the case of AIG, all of this “outrage” in Congress will kill its bottom-line. It is sort of an odd thing to do when I assume we actually want them to pay us (the taxpayers) back at some point. But maybe that is not the ultimate objective.

The focus of Washington right now, from the President on down, is insane. They seem to want to do everything but address the real economic issues.