The Severed Cortex

Link: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/nation/story/7CF4A207D104BF69862574BD000FEEDE?OpenDocument

Today, without your consent, the Republicans raised your taxes. Yes, a Democratic led Congress gave that consent earlier this year, but under the auspices that Secretary Paulson would not use it. Roughly six weeks later he goes back on that word. I certainly don't like seeing another quasi governmental agency, and I sure don't like it when it's the result of greed at the top. Sallie Mae and Freddie Mac are the poster children for greed, just like Enron or Tyco.

I'd really rather have a free market system, but unfortunately in the United States free market only works on paper, not in practice. Apparently free market in this country only applies if there are profits. If there are losses, suddenly it becomes a social program. The free market could work in practice if people in this country weren't such a bunch of greedy scumbags but unfortunately a good number of them are exactly that. I only see one way of changing that mind set. Instead of feeding our children stories of individuals who strive for power and money, we should instead feed our children stories of individuals who sacrifice their own personal gain for the common good of all. It will take a couple of generations for that message to sink in and I doubt the American people are willing to put forth the effort for something that pays off so far in the future. Yes I know that promoting stories like that is nothing more than propaganda. Today's messages of greed are propaganda too; far more detrimental propaganda than helping others would be.

Here's an old Brookings Institute paper on service written by left leaning E.J. Dionne. (For the record I think of E.J. Dionne as the answer to the right leaning David Brooks ... i.e. neither one lean too far in either direction). In this paper you'll see John McCain's name bandied about prominently. This paper was written long before Barack Obama was on the political scene so it doesn't mention him at all. One might argue that military service (McCain) is more compelling than community service (Obama), but I for one am all for anyone willing to do anything for the greater good of man. Even I can stand next to them in that regard.

Here's the real facts you should look at: Richard Syron, Freddie Mac CEO, received a $19.8 million bonus last year. Daniel Mudd, Fannie Mae CEO, received $11.8 million. I got a canned ham and a year's supply of the jelly of the month club. It's the gift that keeps on giving. What did you get?