Archive: Opinions

Our nation appears to have survived the brunt of the Great Recession, the near economic collapse of our economy which began in late 2007.  Some believe that the Obama Administration’s bailout of financial institutions and two of our three automakers is the chief reason.  Without such drastic action, our economy might have collapsed hurling our country and much of the world into a global panic far worse than the Great Depression of the 1930’s. 

The return on our investments from these bailouts has brought good news to our treasury.  The money loaned to most banks has been paid back and with interest.  Both Chrysler and General Motors are reporting profits for the first time since the start of the financial crisis.  Wall Street Investment firms, banks, and the two automakers are giving out bonuses to executives and employees for their efforts to turn around a sinking economy.

Less these titans of Wall Street and Industry forget, the money they received for their bailout came from tax payers.  President Obama and Congress turned to Middle America, the backbone of democracy, to save the economy.  We the people put our faith and our fortunes into their hands hoping they would act responsibly and restore economic stability. 

After all, they were responsible for the economic mess.  Through mismanagement, greed, and sheer neglect, they allowed their respective corporations to manipulate the markets in order to gain maximum profits for themselves.  They scoffed at the risks their actions might have to our economic well-being and gave little or no thought to the rest of America.  They acted selfishly and shamelessly until they needed our help.

And we, as true patriots, did what was right.  We agreed to bail them out.  And now it is America’s turn. Teachers, police officers, state troopers, firefighters, emergency and rescue personnel, state and local employees now face an uncertain future.  State and local governments are in crisis.  Many are burdened by billions of dollars in debt.  Politicians are desperate to seek solutions to this mounting debt, but few are acting in a responsible manner. 

Many politicians are calling for extreme measures putting America’s future at risk.  Our nations best and brightest, those who put honor and duty ahead of personal gain, are now the scapegoats for the financial mess at the state and local level.  In some states, governors have declared that their economic woes rest squarely on public employees claiming salaries and benefits are out of line with private sector employees.

In addition to drastically cutting salaries and benefits, some governors would like to take the unprecedented step of removing their right to collective bargaining.   Some in the media have become the cheering section for this ignoble cause.  They spend hours belittling and deriding those who teach our children, protect us, keep us safe, maintain our roads and bridges, and ultimately make America the great nation she is.

Is there room for negotiation? Yes and the state employees in Wisconsin and throughout our nation are willing to go the extra mile and give above and beyond what we asked of those on Wall Street.  But to ask those same Americans to give up a freedom, their right to collective bargaining, would be a slap in the face to all those who fought and gave their lives both at home and abroad to defend our freedom. 

Those in the banking and investment sectors as well as those in corporate America ought to engage in a truly patriotic act and invest in America. Our nation needs to invest in a future that guarantees that the best and brightest will teach, protect, safeguard, repair, build, design, and serve in our cities, towns and villages.  The President and Congress must bailout America as quickly and decisively as they bailed out Wall Street and Industry.  Our future is at risk.  America is at risk.  And that is to the point. 

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