Barbara Mikulski is mad. She's madder 'en hell. She told me so. She wants to protect Bal'mer and Mer'lin. You see, in order to know what our far-left leaning liberal leaders are doing I signed up for their email newsletters. One of my friends phrased it as "spying on the enemy". I wouldn't call it spying. Senator Mikulski never asked me if I was a clear-thinking educated voter, commonly referred to a Republican. So it's not really spying. It's more like eavesdropping.
I recently sent Senator Mikulski a message letting her know that I did not agree with the terms of the economic bailout package that she and her cronies in Congress devised. For example, did you know that some of the bailout money, which is funded by you the taxpayers, loans from the Chinese and the Middle East, and by printing more money, making our money less valuable, included tons of pork?
Sure, there were some good things. FDIC insurance was raised from $100,000 to $250,000. That actually makes sense. However, a toy arrow manufacturer in Oregon received tax credits to continue producing these arrows, though Oregon's leaders in Congress deny inserting the provision. This seems to be the epitome of ridiculousness.
Other pork includes changes in tax laws for depreciating racetrack construction, a revenue sharing program for the rural schools and community self-determination program, costing taxpayers $3.3 Billion, tax credits to movie producers for producing their movies in the United States, an economic development package to American Samoa, and a program to provide benefits to people who ride their bicycles to work.
As you can clearly see, the need to maintain the integrity of our credit system hinged on toy arrows and bicycle commuters. Who knew that Oregon and American Samoa were the tipping point between world-wide economic collapse and a rosy future of economic prosperity?
So back to my letter from Bab's. Bab's writes that the taxpayers…"watched Wall Street executives pay themselves lavish salaries. They've watched irresponsible lending practices. They've watched Wall Street gamble on risky investment mechanisms. Now those very same Americans who've worked hard and played by the rules are being asked to pay the bill for those who didn't." Okay, Bab's, enough of the drama.
Wall Street Executives do not pay themselves. You know that. Only Congress pays themselves. Oh, snap! That's right. You vote on your own pay. Doesn't this make you a hypocrite? Sure does! In fact, executive pay by publicly traded companies is determined by the Board of Directors of the company which they work for. Millions of Americans are right when they say that "Barbara Mikulski doesn't know what she's talking about."
Irresponsible lending practices. Yes, kind of like the practices mandated by the Community Reinvestment Act that the Congress passed in 1977 requiring lending companies to give loans to low-income applicants - applicants who normally not qualify for loans. Low interest rates during the early 2000's exacerbated the problem. Is Wall Street to blame? Or the head-hunting loan scalpers?
Bab's goes on to say that the bill "protects tax payers". Protects tax payers? By requiring us to repay the first installment of what could be a $3 trillion bailout? If you call that protecting me, get the cuss out of Dodge, Miss Senator!
And let's not forget her attack of "Wall Street", you know those greedy irresponsible bastards who operate on loose regulations. What Bab's conveniently ignores is that "Wall Street" is a euphemism for the financial industry, a financial industry that extends across the country and right down Pratt Street. I know she doesn't give a shit, but there are a few decent sized "Wall Street" companies in Baltimore that are money managers that are getting their ass kicked by the market, some deservedly, others without cause.
Punish them all, Babs. They all deserve a hard and swift kick in the ankles. Because we all know that the upper management people will be the ones punished, not the rank and file employees that get laid off by the thousands, right? Oh, maybe not!
So, Babs Mikulski, before you go around with your miniature vicious attacks on the companies that manage our 401(k)'s, employ thousands of people, and provide the means to live in a house and raise a family, be cautious of what you vote for. It may come back to cause huge repercussions for thousands of your constituents. You know the ones - the ones that work and that are not on welfare and provide the tax dollars that keep this country moving.
We're mad as hell, too. And we vote. At least I hope so.
