If the bills weren't so damn LONG...

I repeat myself, but again, why you can have too much government: (does anyone still really think we need "just one more program"?  Comment if you do, PLEASE.)

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson rejected using the government’s financial-rescue program as a “panacea” for economic difficulties, clashing with lawmakers who want the funds to help beleaguered homeowners.

Barney Frank, who heads the House panel, cut off Paulson...saying “the bill couldn’t have been clearer” in also being aimed at reducing foreclosures.  “We don’t have a lot of time and I don’t usually do this,” Frank said in interrupting Paulson during an exchange on how to deploy TARP cash. “I read sections of the bill that says -- write it down -- give them assistance."

Well, we wouldn't be having this argument if you (Congress) hadn't inflated the original proposal from 3 to 451 FUCKING PAGES (PDF download, if you have no life and want to read it). Read the top 10 sweeteners...wooden arrow makers, rum in Puerto Rico, wool-makers...)  There's probably the kitchen sink AND the Second Coming of Christ in that bill if you read enough of it.  Vote smaller, dammit!

A mote of light in a pile of a crap-tacular law

Well, at least in all the "pork" to get the bailout bill through (it went from 3 pages to 451 on Bush's desk!), there's a silver lining if I can just get my current car to last a few more years:

WASHINGTON -- Congressional leaders have added $1 billion in tax breaks for plug-in electric vehicles to a $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill. The provision would grant plug-in vehicles with at least a four-kilowatt battery pack a $4,168 tax credit. A vehicle like the extended range 2011 Chevrolet Volt with a 16-kwh battery would qualify for the maximum $7,500 tax credit for vehicles under 10,000 pounds.

Holy crap, now THAT is a tax break. If you pay attention, sometimes the sucky "system" can indeed be used for your benefit. Stretch those dollars...we're in for a loooooong depr...er, "recession". :^)

Chaos in the market and at home. :)

Wow. Just wow.  Back to some regular blogging....while out of the loop for a while with the new little guy in the house, the financial market has just gone balls-out crazy.  After the Fannie/Freddie takeover (though the gov't started them anyway, so serves 'em right to have to take 'em back in the fold): Lehman brothers gone Chapter 11. Bank of America buying Merrill Lynch. WaMu goes under.  Wachovia bought by CitiGroup.  Here at home, Constellation Energy, parent of BGE, getting bought. (here's a good list of the mess)

So, the solution is this $700 billion bailout?  Um, solving the problems of "too much easy credit" by injecting a shitload of credit into the market?  Keep killing the dollar, politico-types.  I'm looking forward to $50 bucks for a gallon of milk for the kids.  

Sar. Ca. Sm.