There is currently a major cash/credit flow problem in the US and all over the world. Without going too far off the deep end, the whole reason we are in the mess we are in today is because large portions of the world decided to follow the U.S. model. The U.S. model can be best defined as unregulated, out of control capitalism. When capitalism is allowed to run amok in this fashion it also run afoul of democracy.
Given this foundation, or lack there of, there should be no surprise that we are in the position we are in today. Corporatist state anyone? When voting with your dollars is seen as equivalent to one person one vote.When it comes down to a 5-4 supreme court decision on whether campaign contributions can not be limited because such limits hinder free speech, something is seriously wrong. When money is concentrated in the hands of a few Über rich people and corporations, something is wrong.
Now that there is some contraction in the credit markets banks are getting bailed out and home owners, the mythical little guy, get nothing. The dominoes have started falling and now the auto industry has come with hat in hand. The main sticking point to give a loan, not free money, is to reduce the pay of the union workers. No such thing was asked of the rank and file workers of the banks.
With all that said, these are only symptoms, our democracy is sick and needs to be resuscitated. Our democracy needs an informed active populous in order to live and live up to it's true potential.
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Earlier this week I went to a COB alumni event in downtown philly. The speaker was a city council member, and the topic was tech in philly. Several of the people there were a little annoyed at the idea of expanding tech in the city before taking care of more critical problems. One example of this is the unions in philly... they have the city completely tied up. If you want to have a podium moved at the convention center you cant do it yourself - it is a $500 union job. If you want to move a box in the city government offices, a union worker must do it for you. You cannot move it yourself. Basically, you can't take a shit in philly without a union worker.
Now I am not one who believes all unions are bad... they have their time and place. But this is getting way way way way out of hand. It has an impact all over the city...
By the way. I am proud of you for spelling Über right ;)
I have been to philly and taken plenty of shits without the aid of a union worker. I did notice that you more than happily skipped over the comparison I made between the two bailouts. Seems to be quite the omission. Why is the talk about reducing union workers pay and benefits and the same was not done for the bankers?
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