I know it's been a while since I've written anything for now President Obama's aides to take to him, but I think he's had some time to settle in.  Besides, some of these topics really need to be discussed now before the bailouts go any further.  Let's start with the money Bush approved. 


That $700 billion dollars was appropriated for the banks with virtually no limits on how it was to be used.  Consequently, the recipients of these monies have misused them.  Institutions have not been substantially increasing the amount of loans approved but rather using the money to pay for bonuses, trips and acquisitions which are unrelated to loans in any way.


And when GM and other automotive industrial businesses came to the government for bailout money, why weren't they referred to the banks that, since the bailout, the government technically owns?  One would expect that after giving the banks emergency money to make loans, that businesses that needed emergency loans could now get them.  That's how the system is supposed to work. 


There is no reason for the taxpayers to give money to companies who may get loans from the banks we've financed.
But the gross malfeasance committed by bank executives must be halted, immediately and with memorable harshness. The country is going hungry and those people are siphoning the soup bowl. 


Time to crack the whip.


All bailout monies not used directly for the purposes of the business of banking must be returned immediately.  And I mean in less than a week.  Executives who don't do that, or turn over the parties who misused the money will be jailed under the enemy combatant statutes of the Patriot Act because, well, stealing from relief money at a time when financial security is a matter of national security is an act of treason.  Put them away and we dont even have to deal with them until the crisis is over.  No lawyers, no charges, no communication, no habeas corpus.  They can sit and ponder their sins until the justice system gets around to them.  And that could be a long, long time.

 
The people who replace them then should have a greater respect for the handling of government assistance.  The days of money growing on bushes are dead and gone.  We have a responsible adult in the White House now and he's going to make us behave ourselves. 

Don't make him get the belt.


Republicans threw a hissy fit in the house and not one voted for the economic stimulus plan.  This is simply a show of obstinance by the republican party.  It wouldn't have mattered if the democratic party introduced a stimulus bill which came down from Mount Sinai chiseled into rock, no one would have voted for it.  This was the first time they had a chance to defy the president and like any good labor union they went on strike.  When the going gets tough, you know, the republicans become democrats.  Who knew?


Still I believe that money needs to be going out to the lowest levels, out in the counties and cities, to build jobs and rehire the workforce. Without jobs people can't buy.  Without sales merchants can't sell.  Without sales and income the government won't get taxes.  And without taxes, who's going to help all those people out of work? 

Better to get them all out working on the shambles of our highway systems and our bridges that, as happened in Texas when Bush was governor, went to hell in a handbasket from government neglect.  (hint: lowering taxes doesn't get public works repaired.  Only spending does that)

And the rest of the challenges this country faces?  Well, I don't have enough room for that.  Suffice to say that ALL of us are in this together, not just the president and not just the democrats.  If we fail, we fail together. 
 
So if you want the economy to get better, let's cooperate.  And if you see a house republican in the next couple of weeks, slap 'em for me, will ya?

Perry