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The AIG distraction provides for the same ole politics, and the need for American activism

American’s have little tolerance for wasteful spending and gimmicks of salvation to restore the economy. While mortgage rates provided a surprising boost on Tuesday, the result would have to be more consistent to override the AIG torrent. The AIG story has been sensationalized and even Paul Krugman has taken the current administration to task for it. However it has become an incessant distraction from the real issues that this country is facing as a whole. This is not to say that the AIG fiasco is not important, of course it is. However the original AIG bailouts approved under the Bush administration should have included stipulations for the salary and bonuses for those financial institutions receiving taxpayer dollars.

 

Mediating the economy is not a day time soap opera and although the markets are currently showing some sign of cautious improvement. These rallies cannot be used to do anything more but to look for long term consistency .Improvements in the market will take time and so will the initiatives that Americans require including, universal health care, energy efficiency, better education, and fiscal reform (to say the least).

 

The media and opponents of the administration have harkened the need to promote this “do it now attitude”. Even though the administration has been in place for less than 60 days, the reality is true. Many Americans are expecting the current administration to undue the last 8 years without delay. However that is impossible. Quick decisions will create an artificial effect and not a long term solution.

 

Additionally, American’s are tired of the bailing out big companies, while experiencing loss of their jobs and homes, decrease in salary, and increase in cost of living. Everyone is taking advantage of the middle and lower class, and exploiting the recession. However Americans need not feel like victims, since the focus now should be on ensuring that those industry’s that receive tax-payers dollars are not self-regulating and do not have the opportunity to repeat the mistakes they made to encourage the economic constriction in the economy today.

 

Americans have benefited since the 1920s from the advocacy of self promoting organizations and campaigns that promote the ethics and regulation of a diversity of businesses in industry. Educating American’s on their rights as consumers and employees, now may be the best time to create an organization powerful enough to advocate against the ruthless and dislocated companies that take advantage of the working families and the legislation needed to protect them. It is campaigns like these that are needed to respond to Americans popular anxieties about material excess, misuse of tax-payer dollars, and loss of the traditional values that support working families.

 

Optimism in the markets will come from a diversity of tactics that are not limited to but should include effective policies and consumer confidence. Even though we have seen a boost in the housing market, and even the Asian markets have also advanced, the AIG fiasco has been an unwelcome distraction to the brash and arrogant ideology of big business. President Obama, and Mr. Geithner have offered their accountability on the AIG issue. Americans may be able to  accept this for now, so long as better oversight is provided to prevent issues like these in the future. It is disconcerting that many are quick to blame the current administration for the problems brought on by the CEOs of Wall Street, and the overall economy. when the the pas administration and the congress should be held accountable since policies should have been put in place to ensure tax-payers dollars spent to prop up big business were not abused, or mismanaged. American must also be cautious to not jump to quick analogies pumped up by main stream media, and opponents of the current administration. Since the GOP nor MSM have shown evidence the past or present that they have the basic understanding of macroeconomics and Keynesian theory to support their fiscal debate. 

 

Ultimately Americans need to understand that the government cannot be the only advocate for Americans, but it is American’s that need to be advocates for themselves. Social and economic trends dictate the need for American’s to aggressively organize, and visibly advocate for policies, and legislation that will protect them, persistently. They also need to create campaigns, and resources that ensure the long term education of their economic,employee (including independent consultants) and, healthcare rights, and bona fide claims to prevent wars based on class - or more specifically on working families.