Pay Raise for Government hidden in Auto Bailout Legislation; Democrats drop the ball!

I'm a person who calls things as I see them regardless of who my beliefs or alliances support. An apple is an apple and a square is a square. A Kennedy is a liberal extremist and a Bush is simply an idiot. I do not turn a blind eye when those I support do something foolish or that I disagree with on some issue (unless you're Lanie).

In that case, Democrats really dropped the ball on the auto bailout bill. Not the part that concerns the bailout either, in fact, that's what they got right. They reduced the amount asked for by auto companies, specifically because the auto companies can't give a timetable for when they will run out of money or how they are changing their operations to save capital.

Tucked away in the bill is a measure to increase judges' pay due to cost of living by about $5,000. That's right, in one of worst economic hardships our country has known in quite some time, Congress voted to increase pay for a sector of government jobs.

I find this appalling on a number of levels. First off, Democrats are supposed to support the working class. If they are doing this to fall in favor with federal judges then I suppose it is a strategy that might work (I would think judges would be smarter than that but money will influence anyone). Republicans voted against a pay raise for them that last six years, what some narrow minded conservatives would say is part of the Republican party's fiscally responsible behavior. If Republicans are so fiscally responsible, how did we end up in this economic mess and especially trillions of dollars of debt under a Republican President?

This is NOT the time to be handing out pay raises. If Democrats think this should go through because the Republican party has enough assholes to oversee pay raises for the very rich instead of voting for a raise for one of the most important positions in government, then I understand their position. But they still dropped the ball. Everyone needs to conserve every dollar they can facing financial turmoil, especially the federal government!

Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi lost some of my support when they both advocated for this. Pelosi could have stepped up to the plate and said "no fucking way, not now" and her approval numbers probably would've gone up. Instead, the rich get richer again. While it's true that a lot of attorneys make more than judges, $169,000 is a pretty nice salary. I guess $169k doesn't buy what it used to.

The second, and most appalling part of this issue...government officials are eligible for a Cost of Living pay raise every year and the rest of Americans aren't eligible?

Excuse me, but what the FUCK is going on here. This is exactly why a lot of Americans are in the positions they are in financially. Salaries that don't increase with the cost of living is one of the causes of our economic peril. Credit card companies and banks with high interest rates are in league with issues like this and with businesses nationwide to put us in this situation.

If we're supposed to feed our families, keep a roof over our heads, make sure we have electricity and water, how the hell are we supposed to enjoy some free time? I guess this is what TV was intended for all along...a one time expense that could provide endless entertainment while not draining all your money (although that changed with the invention of cable and satellite).

Yet, all the shows on TV have actors wearing fancy, expensive clothing, driving luxury vehicles, and enjoying fine dining and vacations at premier locations. Our stadiums and sports teams overcharge us to see some play LIVE instead of watching it on TV (where the seats are better and the picture is clearer). Commercials advertise the latest rounds of shit you don't need but they're convincing you to buy their new, cool products (everyone around you that has them will be quick to remind you and your family/children that you all are poor and all poor people are losers).

Did you know America is the only wealthy industrialized nation not to legislate any paid time off and holidays for its workforce? Britain offers four weeks, Denmark gives 30 work days, and even Japan mandates 10 days. The United States guarantees nothing, with low-wage and part-time workers suffering the most (source: Rebecca Ray and John Schmitt, "No-Vacation Nation," Center for Economic and Policy Research).

This all ties in together and this downward spiral sinks deeper everyday. To think that I actually thought Democrats would be any different than Republicans in Congress.

Want to hear a really great idea to solve this economic crisis? My dad suggested this to me the other day and I thought it was pure genius (of course, rich people will never allow this to happen). This $700 billion financial bailout...instead of giving it to these institutions, write an $86,000 check to every single U.S. citizen who made less than $250,000 last year.

Wait, what...some of you still have your heads up your asses? How many people have debt more than this (not including mortgages)? It would solve the financial credit crisis that all these institutions are crying over. Most people would have lots of money left over and would probably buy a new car (the auto industry would be saved) or put it back into the economy in some fashion. No more recession, no more auto bailout, no more Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, no more foreclosures.

This country needs a serious overhaul in Washington. Rich people and lobbyists (pretty much the same thing) are controlling everything. The few controlling the many. The few enjoy the spoils and lecture the rest of us while they blow their mountains of money on anything they wish. Why are so many people in favor of capitalism again?