Burn After Reading (Great Title, Bad Movie, Worse Reality)

"We need to stand up together, or get on our knees separately" - D. McDougall

(This post covers what TARP isn't doing, and at the bottom, a fascinating new job posting from the US Army)

From ABC News, August 11, 2009 (highlights as well as comments in parentheses are mine):

"(T)he Congressional Oversight Panel warns in its August report, TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) never actually bought any troubled assets."
"It is likely that an overwhelming portion of the troubled assets from last October remain on bank balance sheets today," the panel's report says. (That part makes me nervous - likely??? So even the panel doesn't know for sure how much is out there?)
"We are now 10 months into TARP," the panel's report notes, "and troubled assets remain a substantial danger to the financial system." (So who's supposed to address this?)
"In order to advance a full recovery in the economy, there must be greater transparency, accountability, and clarity, from both the government and banks, about the scope of the troubled asset problem," the Panel proposes." (Remember that promise???)
(Wasn't that the purpose of the TARP??? I believe the free-market system will reject it's shackles and improve the economy (I believe it's happening right now) so as the TARP didn't cause this, the lack of coverage of the troubled assets, will make the future financially unbearable)
Ultimately, the panel says, "Financial stability remains at risk if the underlying problem of troubled assets remains unresolved." (This is not a ideological issue, unfortunately, this is an economic issue, that led to a political issue - the economy will take care of itself, it always does, but the politics leads to total governmental control over ALL facets of our lives - is that what you want?)
https://mail.tcaps.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Story?id=8296946%26page=1
(Please contact your Senators and Representatives - it still has to be up to you, even as Rep. Nancy Pelosi says protest is "Un-American," I rely on that wise political sage, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (stated 2003) "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say, we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration." For once, I agree with her.)

By the way, the United States Army has the latest employment post, if someone is looking for a job -
https://mail.tcaps.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=292 Read under "Advanced Responsibilities" concerning the handling of "the operation of a displaced civilian (DC) resettlement facility." That's not an internment camp, is it??? Look at the title of the position - Internment/Resettlement Specialist (31E) - you tell me.....please?

Great quote from Doug Patton (August 11, 2009)
https://mail.tcaps.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/dpatton/2009/dp_08111.shtml
"During the dark days of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, Lutheran Pastor and Theologian Martin Niemoller wrote these now-famous words: "First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and Trade Unionists, but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not Jewish, so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."

"Fast forward three-quarters of a century: First they nationalized the banks, and though I was not a banker, I spoke out, but no one listened. Then they nationalized the automobile companies, and though I did not work for them, I spoke out. Some people listened, but others took advantage of "cash for clunkers." Then they nationalized the health care system, and though I did not work in health care, I spoke out loud and clear. And if they come to place me in an internment/resettlement camp for speaking out, will there be anyone to speak out for me? "

Definitely, something to think about - and hopefully, you'll do something about it -

"They won't have to silence us if we don't speak" - D. McDougall