Letters With My Dad

So the other day I was listening to the news about the bailout. My wife and I had just written letters to our Senators expressing our views and requesting they act responsibly. My father had just responded to an earlier e-mail of mine and saidd not to worry because Barack Obama was "the guy" for the job and everything would be alright. Here's my response:

I can't trust that he's just going to be that guy without all of our assistance. We assume that our system of government is full of these "checks and balances" and that we can sit back while "the right man/woman" helps to right all the wrongs. We assume that "good people" will remain true to their standards even after becoming elected. I don't trust that any more. Obama is already sounding a little differnt than he did a year ago and the trend worries me. I believe he is the better of our two choices but we should all watch him, and help him, to feel supported to make the right choices. The checks and balances mean nothing if we don't consider ourselves a part of it. WE are the final check. WE are the balance.

Here is a copy of a letter Rohana wrote to our senators. I encourage you and Mom and everyone to write similar ones. OR pick up the phone, even better. If they know we're watching they have to respond. WE are the change we need. Not simply a man in a suit. The letter is as follows:

"Dear Senator Clinton,

Thank you for your work on behalf of our communities and your past willingness to stand up. I hope you will stand up against the Bush administration's current $700 billion Wall Street bail out. They are once again using the average person's fear and lack of information combined with elected officials' desire to be re-elected to push through a blank check.

Don't let them do it. My husband and I had almost $0 invested (even before the drop) and we don't own a home. It seems unfair that we should be asked to pay for the inflated salaries and cavalier mismanagement of Wall Street executives. I feel for the people who are losing their homes and the people who have or stand to lose their jobs. But as the proposed legislation currently stands, it seems to be saving the monolithic idea of our "financial institutions" at the expense of real individuals. Please demand more accountability."

Please, Dad, write and be active. This is not unlike the rush to push through the Patriot Act after 9/11. From that our government started wiretapping Americans, can make sweeping changes WITHOUT judicial oversight and have virtually suspended Habeas Corpus (the right for a person to know why they are being detained and challenge it.)

These investment banks were mismanaged to a breaking point and now they want the government to throw them a lifeline. They all want a Free Market economy when it suits them but want to socialize their losses. But 2 months ago, NO ONE wanted to bail out the average joe who needs a hand with his mortgage. A few years ago a bill was shot down to put 7 billion towards giving children health insurance. 1% of what is being asked now! FOR CHILDREN!

A $700 billion dollar "blank check" to bail out Wall Street's worst offenders? Are you kidding? Seriously? Tell them no. Not unless there are some MAJOR changes. If a bank wants to be bailed out, it should then be subject to massive restrictions to how it does business. It should, in essence, be owned by the people who bail it out and be accountable to them.

This government of the people, by the people and for the people does NOT represent THE PEOPLE because THE PEOPLE do not represent themselves. We need to pay more attention to what is being done by our elected officials and call them out when they start to stray.

Please don't put too much blind trust in Barack Obama. I think he is the best man of the job but even he has one of the people who pushed through the de-regulation 7 years ago (that has subsequently resulted in this mess) advising him. If you get a chance, go to this website www.democracynow.org and start watching. It is the ONLY American news program actually reporting the real news, not taking sides, and asking tough questions of everyone, not just the people we don't like. Today's report (9/23) is particularly eye opening about the current crisis.

I love you guys. Take care. Let's talk soon.
Love,Sean

Lets talk about stuff.

Hi,

I'm Sean. I'm here to talk about stuff. I recently started thinking a lot. I don't know what I was doing before but I sure don't think I was thinking as much as I do now. I also wanted to practice writing a bit, so this is where I add my two cents.

You don't have to agree with what I say. In fact, I prefer criticism. Also if I talk about something and I am distorting the facts, tell me. Sometimes when ranting, we say things we think we know and really have no idea what we're talking about. I do this ALL THE TIME. I love to speak with authority and then find out later what a boob I was.

One more thing; don't take anything I say personally. I really like people. All people. Except assholes. Now see, that was a joke. We all can be assholes sometimes. Seriously. If I say something that comes off assholish, let me know. I probably didn't mean it the way it sounded to you. But if I did, I will explain why.

So here I go. Enjoy.