Just Say No

I don't often get actively political on this blog, but today I'm making an exception. After reading this, I sent the following letter. If you are a U.S. citizen, I hope you will look up the contact information for your congressional representatives and do likewise.

Like most Americans, I am very concerned about the current financial crisis facing our economy, and I am eagerly waiting to hear what (if anything) will be done about it.

However, I am appalled at the plan currently proposed by the Bush administration-- one that is, quite frankly, a naked power grab. It would place $700 billion (or more!) into the hands of people whose lack of oversight has contributed to the problem, and then specifically exempt them from any sort of supervision or accountability. From Section 8 of the proposed plan:

"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

With all due respect: to allow such a sum to be spent without review, without accountability and without interference, is to abandon even the pretense of democracy.

The future of hundreds of thousands of people is jeopardized by this crisis, brought on by irresponsible greed and thoughtlessness, and it needs to be dealt with; but agreeing to further unchecked, unmonitored financial actions is in no way the solution.