Elaborating on my $700 Billion Idea

A few days ago, I wrote a post detailing what I believe the government could do with $700 Billion that would really help our economy and protect, for once, those of us who have been struggling for years to make ends meet, secure affordable health insurance and maybe, if we're lucky, have some money to spend on what we want, not just what we need. This is the American Dream, right?

I'm writing on this topic again because it seems that my idea is one shared by many. Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner and Joan Blades, founders of MomsRising.org, recently published an article in the Milford Daily Press highlighting the financial struggles American families face and have been facing for years and basically echoing the ideas from my recent post. While the authors reflect mainly on the financial woes of mothers, something I can't relate to, they make many points in their article which apply to most working families throughout the country:

"What's wrong with our nation? That bailing out the big corporations is deemed acceptable, while helping families meet basic needs and protecting women from discrimination is too often dismissed as unnecessary and even un-American?

It's time to change the conversation away from the tired, old trickle-down theories that got us into this mess, where the rich get richer as it gets harder and harder for working folks - and mothers in particular - to make ends meet. The price of milk is up. The price of gas is up, and so are the prices of childcare, healthcare, and the number of hours that need to be worked each day in order to keep up with monthly costs."

All feminist ideals aside--the facts that women make less than men in most cases, the glass ceiling, mothers having it harder than anyone else in the workforce--these issues are becoming so widespread that they are felt by workers of all genders, races and ages throughout our country. The price of everything is up. Peoples' homes are being foreclosed. Why not take that money, even a portion of it, and help the majority of American citizens who are struggling in this recession. Isn't that what we pay taxes for, after all? Or is it to save big companies who have essetially screwed many of us over and, if bailed out, will probably not only continue to do so but also send out the message to other companies that they can do the same, and instead of being punished for their misactions, will be bailed out by our government.

I, for one, am very satisfied that the Bailout Plan was rejected. Not only is the fact that the bill was to be un-reviewable by pretty much anyone and non-subject to any court (which sounds utterly illegal and unconstitutional to me) but the very fabric of the idea behind the bailout plan is wrong.

When Congress sits down to re-analyze this crisis and come up with a new plan, hopefully they will remember who in this situation really deserves the bail-out. Not the corporate executives who have been sitting on top of five-figure and over salaries and running their businesses poorly, but rather American citizens who, though they may have made some bad decisions, truly deserve the bailing out.