America is not a democracy, but a republic. The people in our country are represented by elected representatives in our nations capitol in Washington DC by congressional representatives and senators. I personally feel these elected representaives are now totally out of touch with what is going on. They are voting on issues solely for their own interests, and not the needs of those they are supposed to be representing. This last week has been the straw the broke the camels back. They are going to see if they can fix what ails America. $700 billion dollars is a lot of money to spend on something that is not a sure thing! That is like replacing the engine of a car that won't start! Maybe it is just out of gas! This follows Congress taking on stock brokerages, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and a tax rebate that was sure to work! Now they want the taxpayers to bail them out again! Now the Federal Reserve want to ask Congress for more power! The guys that started the fire, are asking for some gasoline to put it out! However, the same urgency of aid does not apply to our citizens. Our borders are still open some 7 years after September 11. Illegal drugs still flow freely across them. No body has been indicted for any wrongdoing other than Martha Stewart in the last few years. It is hard to indict people when you are getting favored loans and lobbyist monies.
Sorry, will not help the person being foreclosed on. They will help the banks that gave out bad loans instead. They cannot stop falling home prices. They cannot stop falling stock prices. These are the persons that cannot even keep illegal drugs or aliens from crossing the border since we were attacked on September 11, 2001. Talk is cheap! Now it is our turn.
Lets start calling these officials of ours and giving them our 2 cents!
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Why are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac still allowed to lobby congress?
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What about ethics?
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Term limits?
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Ban on lobbyist bribes!
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Congress Committee members taking favors from those they oversee. Preferred loans from Countrywide?
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No investigations, no indictments? No fines?
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Bailing out known fraud at taxpayers expense.
There are many more issues that could be raised, but now it is our turn to raise them. Have you called your Senators, and congress persons? Have you written them, emailed them? Do you even vote in elections?
Contact Your Representatives Now.
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml
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called all 3 and have written them. I personally want to see a line item veto. pork barrel spending is an embarrassment. every vote is bought and sold, to heck with what is best for the people, it is what is best for the rich people.
The only thing that they listen to is money. Do you really want to get their attention? Then go down to your bank and take all of your money out.
Then at election time, vote for a third party candidate. Both Democrats and Republicans seem to be controlled by the same group. Really mess them up by getting some people in there who aren't under their control.
Jim, I do call to voice my opinion but it's sad because my representatives are voting the way their leadership decides. There is no longer any individuality in Congress in either party. Constituents are secondary to the party staying/getting in power.
Voting is the only way to have a say in what goes on. You are right we have to call the officials and let them know how we feel. It is time that we all get involved. I know there is a lot of people who are feeling the same way you are on these matters.
Overland Park Homes & Real Estate:: Michael Russell (Overland Park KS Realty Executives ) I agree. Same here. I've called many times. The only great person is my Congressman Price. An incredible individual and true to the cause of the American taxpayer.
Tim Maitski "Secret Agent Guy" (HomeAtlanta.com) I made that mistake of voting for 3rd party candidate - and it only pulls votes from others. I am not interested. Perot managed to pull about 18% of the vote from the conservative base. I will not throw my vote away. It must count, and I must be practical and pragmatic as to how I use it most wisely.
Richard Iarossi (Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.) I did not think that constituents were even that high on the list.
Pat Champion (Coldwell Banker Camelot Realty) We must not become apatheitic or more complacent. Look at Wall Street today. It is down. Investors are giving the "Thumbs Down" to America becoming a socialist state!
I couldn't agree more! It seems the politicians are working for their own interests and not that of the people. Why do we continue to elect people that are not doing what they say they will?! In my state's gubernatorial race, the current governor is attacking the other party about something that she herself did not do as promised in her 2004 campaign! WHAT?! How can she call him out on something that she herself is guilty of doing.. or NOT doing for that matter!!
I think a lot of people are just lazy and don't care to get involved in politics- which is a complete waste of our system. It can't work unless the PEOPLE get involved too! We need to write and call and get our voices heard! It's time to stop being complacent and start making some noise. Learn about what is going on. Read statistics and know about what is going!!
This November is going to be very interesting- I am looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds!
FYI, I ran across some interesting stats and facts about Fannie/Freddie reform bill that was pushed by John McCain- YET Obama and the other dems refused to support it. Way to go guys!
http://townhall.com/video/TheFivewithAmandaCarpenter/1450_091708Five
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16&bill=s109-190
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-190
Thanks for sharing, Nicole Weidauer
The Egerer & Weidauer Team, Keller Williams Realty North Seattle
Jim, I agree with a lot of what you say and think your pro-active stance is great. We all need to get in touch with our congress people. However, I disagree with what you said about voting for a 3rd party candidate. It's the Repubicans that have created the present mess on Wall Street. Deregulation is like leaving a kid in a candy shop and telling them they can have whatever they want. Chances are they'll get greedy and end up with a very upset stomache.
Privatize the profits, socialize the risk.
Jim,
It may be that this crisis will bring people to the polls, and to activism. Politicians can be arrogantly insulated.
I love your list.
Taking money from lobbyists
Term limits
Add on bills and earmarks
Line item veto
Bills should be passed on their own merit, not because the important legislation is held hostage.
I have been lazy about politics. Never thought it mattered which of the two were elected. But maybe it matters what I tell the one who did get elected.
they can start with this $700 billion bail out. vote on the merits of this bill. do not add other agendas to it. Give the other agendas their own time for debate and vote.
Richard
I agree that we need to let our elected officials know how we feel (done that!) I disagree with you in regards to voting third party. If we want change that is the only way we are going to get it.
Jim, great call to action and very important. Thanks for this good post. I've not gotten involved....but it's time we do.
Jim,
You are absolutely correct except that the bailout price is far higher. I only wish that EVERYONE would get involved. Where is the outrage here?
The Republicans have gone nuts, and the Democrats are.....well......they're the Democrats.
The only one who was out in front of this was Bob Barr. It's time for us to reclaim our freedoms and push back against this creeping socialism. Is this a free market economy or isn't it?
If you agree with me, take the time to check out Bob Barr - it's not too late to have an impact in 2008!
http://blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/09/21/barr-ahead-of-the-curve-on-financial-crisis/
It does seem important to call your representatives, although I historically havn't, and I agree they definetly seem very out of touch alot of times on whats going on.
I actually went with a delegation once to talk to our state representatives about a real estate issue. It was very interesting to see how many people had no idea what they were voting on & we would go sit down & inform them of it. (so I guess I was a lobbyist for a day, but for a good cause)
Althought I agree about the part in Washingon, I think those with the most money get the most done.
Chad Stewart
Westfield Realty - Lake City FL Real Estate
http://www.chadstewart.com
I just put out Nancy Pelosi email contact info out, we have got to get others involved. No one in congress cares what we say. Could we start a campaign or petition as a group? Maybe we should be a force of numbers, maybe it takes a group to get attention.
Jim, you're saying what everyone is thinking but either too intimidated or too cynical to say. Kudos for speaking up. It would be nice to think there was power in numbers, if enough people rattle the cage, maybe something will shake loose.
Jim, the thing that scares me the most is this line item in the 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."
Do you realize with just this one thing that it takes the entire Executive Branch and hands it to one person!!!!! We have just become a Socialist Country. We can't let this happen!!!
Here is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's contact info: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
Aloha Jim,
When I lived in Virginia and worked in DC, I witnessed first hand the power of lobbyist persuasion. It's one big ol' party of wining and dining, lavish lifestyles, and conspicuous consumption. The DC sex trade, second only to Nevada in it's size, scope, and profit, has had a long and storied connection with congress. With hundreds of brothels, call services, and massage parlors some a mere block from the capital building, it has to make you wonder. Here are some interesting statistics on just how criminally minded some of our elected officials are.
* 29 members of Congress have been accused of spousal abuse.
* 7 have been arrested for fraud.
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks.
* 117 have bankrupted at least two businesses.
* 3 have been arrested for assault.
* 71 have credit reports so bad they can't qualify for a
credit card.
* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges.
* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting.
* 21 are current defendants in lawsuits.
* And in 1998 alone, 84 were stopped for drunk driving, but released after they claimed Congressional immunity.
I'm not sure if asking the weasels to keep their paws out of the egg basket is going to work. There needs to be more public over-site, the public display of criminal records of our elected officials, and the public needs to educate themselves about the people they put into office, and not rely on the media to produce accurate back ground information on potential candidates. We need honest politicians, unfortunately, that concept is an oxymoron.
Peace,
Jim -
A bailout is not a long-term solution, but may be politically expedient short term - especially in this Presidential Election Year.
Already, uncertainty of passage by Congress has scared Wall Street. Republicans, whose lack of oversight may, in part, have started this mess, are pushing hard to get the plan ramrodded through, without change.
Democrats propose some common-sense oversight and change, but, of course, will be fully blamed by those further right if their voiced concerns causes delays in passage.
Even McCain's cries for strict oversight of such a large bailout are somewhat laughable, as he supported much of the deregulation in the first place, several years ago.
Indeed, the bailout will be pushed through, I would assume. But, once again, the bulge under the rug from today's problem being swept there will trip our kids, and our grand kids, years from now, with inflation, an incredible federal deficit, and a trashed U.S. Dollar throughout the world.
Why do they always have to install the stoplight at the dangersous intersection AFTER the kid on the bicycle gets hit by a passing car?
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
Jim, Good post! We must call our elected officials even if we don't have much faith in it doing any good. Dean& Dean's Team comment above is right on. What gets me the most is how stupid they think we all are. Like taking candy from a baby...maybe. This $700 billion bailout consists of 3 PAGES! 3 Pages, you read that right. When I sell a house the contract has 8 pages and addendums. $700 BIllion dollars for a 3 page agreement? Haven't they already stolen enough from us?
They make it so easy these days with the automatical email forms, etc...to contact our representatives...there really is no excuse to sit back and do nothing.
Ditto! you are totally right about us taking the bull by the horns and letting our representatives know where we stand. I'm pretty good at speaking my mind. Good blogging!
Jim - Thanks for the call to action. Realtors need to understand the power we have as a 1 million+ nationwide constituency and as the largest grassroots political action group in the country. Our voices need to be heard on our own behalf and on behalf of the millions of clients and homeowners who are otherwise voiceless.
Jim, I agree, it is time to wake up and take action and have our voices heard.
After reading every post I am truly amazed of such a lack of respect from our elected officials in so many cases this next election should be a call to action by everyone of us. Both parties need to wake up and listen to the American people and we the people need to speak up and retire the public servants that don't do their jobs.
Ok - I have called, emailed, and written a post encouraging others to do the same. It is almost surreal. The gov't has effectively become the largest player in the private housing industry. Now, they may well take interest in a substantial portion of the financial sector. Is this the end of capitalism? Are we not proving that we cannot tolerate the failures involved in market corrections and should therefore demand a larger government role in all financial aspects? Good grief!
Jim, This post is certainly worthy of the Feature. If We the people of this once Great country don't stand up and say No More to these professional crooks politicians we are Doomed to suffer the consequences of our apathy.
Jim...
You're preaching to the choir here, but the sad fact is that most people won't do anything. This all is really going to cost us down the road BIG TIME!
Excellent advice. Done, and I've also published several blog posts to the same effect.
Everyone needs to spread this message however we can, and quickly, since both parties in Congress are in a hurry to outstupid one another on this. The debate is over what form the bill should take, when most of the people I'm reading on both sides of the political spectrum seem to agree that the form it should take is: rejected.
Nicole Weidauer (Keller Williams North Seattle) Nicole, I loved your comments and I liked the Video! Good stuff. Why isn't main stream media reporting the facts? The research I've done on my own questions the very peole that are holding themselves out to be saviors in the bailout. The top 20 recipients of Fannie Mae money says it all! Thieves were left guarding the bank for too long.
http://townhall.com/video/TheFivewithAmandaCarpenter/1450_091708Five
Evil prevails when good people do nothing!
Here is the latest draft the bill, which I must admit I think is substantially better than Paulson's original proposal. I wouldn't go so far as to say this makes me for the bill, but at least it's moving in the right direction.
Heidi I disagree. The mess is a Congressional mess. Know your constitution.
Here are the duties of Congress.
Congress has been controled by a Democratic majority for the last 2 years. Your vote for a 3 party candidate will insure failure. It is time we stop listening to spin, and understand what is really taking place.
Dan I agree.
Richard Smith Mortgages Home Loans FHA TN GA AL (American Acceptance Mortgage, Inc) We need to get active in the process. The democratic caucus is actually trying to insert into the bill that the bailout include sub-prime. Much of what they are after alone ...over 70% of that has been already been identified as fraud!
Renee Burrows - Las Vegas NV Real Estate (Nevada Realty Solutions) I could not disagree with you more about the 3rd party. Guaranteed to fail. It will pull votes from the most popular candate and allow the political dark horse to win. I can safely bet money against it ever working.
Jeanean Gendron ~ Redding & Shasta County Specialist (Real Estate Professionals--GMAC) As citizens we are also stewards in this great nation. We have a part to play.
Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton (Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC) I agree. We need to get involved in a constructive manner.
Dan I disagree about Barr. He is from Georgia. Wrong choice, and he will only pull votes. Wrong guy, wrong time!
Chad Stewart (Westfield Realty Group) Thank you for your thoughts. We need to personally do something...otherwise we will be counting our own personal losses.
Kathy Honeycutt Realtor/ Neighborhood Specialist (Dynamic Realty INC) It matters that we do something, at any level we must voice our concerns. We must excercise our rights as voters.
Maple Valley WA Broker/Owner Colleen Fischesser 425-432-5400 (RE/MAX Select Real Estate) Colleen we all have rights. Lets stop talking and start doing. I've contacted all my elected representatives and voiced all my concerns.
Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com Most persons are not getting how dire a straights we are in! This is something we must all speak up about. Passion is a good thing. This is the future of America we are speaking about.
Kimo Stowell (Home Staging & Interiors JDS Consulting) So true! Charles Rangle this week was questioned about his Villa rental that he has not paid taxes on income. He said he did not understand the complexities of the tax law. He is the head of the tax committee and writes the tax law. He has been doing it for 20 years or more? This is exactly what I am discussing. The laws do not apply to him!
Dean Moss - Dean's Team Chicago Real Estate Team (Dean's Team - Keller Williams Fox Realty) The committee oversight for the last 2 years have been democratic. It is a democratic congress. Lets see when has everything start to unravel? Bingo. Lets seperate the hype from facts.
Ricki Eichler, your Texas Hill Country connection (Hill Country Estate Properties) What about the rebate? That was supposed to fix all. What about the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout? 200 billion there not even a month ago.
No indictements yet since last August on Countrywide? Senator Dodd...we are waiting...you received a favored loan from the head of Countrywide. Is that why you are not inclinded to open an investigation?
Christine Wade (eRealty Network, LLC - Real Estate Virtual Assistant) It does not get any easier than this!
Celina Gleason (AgentOwned Realty) Go for it! LOL!
Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes / Temecula & Murrieta (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage) You are right. They keep blaming real estate. Let us place the blame where it belongs.
Eunice Waller (Prudential Simpson & Assoc.) I agree. We must act. History will also judge the apathetic that stood by and did nothing to stop the fire.
Donald Urschalitz P.A. Realtor ABR e-Pro (One World Realty Inc.) I could not agree more. Public servants must serve the public not themselves.
Erik Hitzelberger, --Louisville-Bullitt County Real Estate (RE/MAX Alliance) If a brokerage in your town failed would the government get twisted? NO! They are getting twisted because they owe big favors to all of those that gave the politicians big cash favors.
Cameron Wilson: Murrieta/Temecula/ Menifee California Real Estate (Century 21 Tri Valley Realty) Agreed!
Richard Weisser, Associate Broker, E-Pro ERA United Realty, Auctioneer, CE Author (Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc. ERA United Realty) We must try!
John Lockwood We must also ask why hte rush? Why the secrecy? Most persons do not even know what was involved in the Fannie Mae bailout. There was a bailout inserted in Chrysler. There are ax write offs for pharmaceutical companies...
John Lockwood I will have to stop and take a look at it. However, Wall Street has already voiced its disapproval.
Calling, faxing, and emailing Congress is good but voting in November is better! Don't forget to vote and be sure to review how your Representatives voted on bills important to you and let your vote reflect that!
Obama can't win Georgia - McCain's WAY ahead in the polls.
We need to send a message that the Republicans have to return to their conservative roots (anybody remember when they used to be conservative?).
The Libertarians can offer us at least a voice to point to another way.
www.bobbarr2008.com
I think you're preaching to the choir, Jim. I'm against the bailout, even in its new form. If we're going to nationalize the banking system and/or take over failed banks, let's do that. While we're at it, let's revive Glass-Steagall and start getting some regulatory muscle to prevent such a thing happening again.
Actually, Laura, it's not socialism -- Socialists would at least get to keep the banks they pay for.
Frankly, the whole process strikes me as completely insane.
As for Wall Street being against the new version of the bill, since when did the role of government become moving stock prices in one direction or the other? The chickiens have come home to roost for free market deregulators, haven't they. But as always, if you're a big enough fox, you get to eat all the chickens when that happens and by the way, "Waiter, my good friends the taxpayers will pick up the check, thank you very much."
Now it's Chris Dodd's fault? Jesus Christ. This country could be underwater and the last sound you'd hear are the right and left blaming each other over who was supposed to turn on the pump. The Dems and Republicans TOGETHER dismantled the New Deal protections that would have prevented this whole thing from happening.
Like mixing gunpowder and a match. Jim don't you know they are experts on everything once they are elected.
Dee Toohey (Innovative Realty Solutions Group) Voting is how I excercise my rights. I have never missed an election since I voted at 18 years of age.
Dan I also heard that about Obama in Georgia. he knows he cannot take Georgia and he has pulled all his ads and will spend the money elsewhere. Republicans must return to their roots.
Eric Bouler (Prudential Gardner) Well said! It isn't just real estate.
John Lockwood Thank you for your insigths. It is both parties, but come on...Dodd getting a favored loan while on the committee? Accepting lobbyiest money from Fannie Mae while on hte committee? Unacceptable if we as individuals allow this behavior. Shame on us!
Eric Bouler (Prudential Gardner The Congressman from New Orleans "Dollar Bill Jefferson" is facing a 21 count Federal Indictment for basically stealing and get reelected last time around. We should all do better than this. I doubt if he ever thought about the voters. Its more than real estate this time around. I do not trust the insiders. Maybe Charlie from the garage could do a better job. At least he can balance the books. Burning up about this. There is plenty of room at Angola Prision Farm in rural Louisiana for some of these bankers. Smart guys would get wise quickly there.
Unfortunately, the ability to get elected does not insure great leadership. The very competent people tend to aviod that process. I would add that there has to be lower asset to liability ratios. The current $1.00 to $30.00 is crazy.
Tigard Oregon Real Estate >> Wayne B. Pruner, GRI (Oregon First) A lot of folks do not belong in Washington!
Jim:
Great post & advice and yes, we should all call our representatives/congressmen/women. I think we get complacent because we feel our voices will not be heard, but enought of them will. Let's make some noise tomorrow.
PS: Call a news conference and start a movement beginning with Realtors.
Jim- Very important post! If you don't stand for anything you will fall for something.You must get involved with politics. You must make your voice heard.
Term limits!!!!
Florida has term limits. We have NO income tax. We have no grocery tax. The state does not get our property tax money.
Florida has a 66Billion dollar expenses this year, they cut it back from 70+ B, and are only short 1.6 B and that they are going to take out of the savings account.
We have great health care for all children under 19 years of age that is as low as $15 per month per family.
If a state such as ours can have a balanced budget and can work with out increasing taxes so can any other state or country for that matter. We have term limits here!
Both parties say different things but they always do exactly the same thing. There is no difference between them when action is taken. As evidence of that, look at the incredible spending increases, increased size of government, and increased levels of regulation while Congress and the President were both Republican. And both preaching limited government and decreased spending. Deficits have been far lower under Democrats, but that has been almost accidental. Both parties are in the pockets of corporations and Wall Street mortgage banks and everything they try to do is eventually designed to protect them. The numbers show that the country has done the best economically when there was a Republican Congress and a Democratic President. The reason is that they gridlock and stop each other from doing anything. The less the government does to help us, the better off we are.
As long as people keep believing the lie that either one of the two major parties represents any different result, we will never escape from them. As long as they keep getting votes they'll keep on thinking they are doing what we want. We keep griping, but keep voting for them. What is that definition of insanity everyone is always talking about?
Jim great post all your points are Dead On. Problem with Washington is we have way to many good old boys and too many corporations with their hands in the good old boys pockets. Term limits for sure. But now my real concern is the government getting involved in the sale of these homes. Here in Michigan I have seen bank agents drop the prices back to 1999 prices. Where will our prices go if the govt gets involved.
Sheila Reeves I do seminars, but not political ones. LOL! We must all become very procative very quickly! They want to bury this before anyone can question it!
Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes Terms limits would be a great start!
Carl Pruitt - FHA Mortgage Specialist (fhaloanadvice.com) I agree, it is about individual responsibility. It is also like one Doctor will not testify against another. The mob calls it "Omerta!" Wrongdoers in any party need to be prosecuted, sensured, broght to trial etc! End of story. The need to stop picking on persons like Martha Stewart to slap around. Their crap will put us into the dark ages.
Ed & Cindy Knight (Realty Executives e-Group) It is out of our control already! They are just trying to prop it up until after election. As they supposedly debate the issues, they are moving their personal money to safer places. The rich and powerful do not give a damn about the average American. They do not give up power easily. Now it us up to us to start rattling the cage.
I agree and disagree with you Jim. But the one thing that just about everyone can agree on is that things are out of hand... not getting out... all of the way out.
Too bad the Senate wouldn't look at John McCain's proposals a few years ago.
Jim - Thank you for taking such a stand on the state of what these politicians who we have voted into office do once they are elected. Their egos get the best of them and they cow tow to the lobbyists and special interest groups in their greed for power and creating these back door deals instead of doing what is in the best interests of their constituents. As a voter in Connecticut I am totally disgusted with the behavior and lack of investigation into Senator Christopher Dodd.
Jim,
Thanks for the post. Informing our representatives of our wishes and holding them accountable in their role as our representative, will ensure that our call to action is not only heard, but heeded.
Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy (Diamond Dwellings Realty) Lane it is interesting who voted against his proposal! The same people that are now acting as our saviors. If they weren't so hell bent on voting party lines then, maybe they could of actually helped the American citizen! The word they are using now are "We want to see if this will work!" Excuse me? 1 trillion dollars in the less than a few weeks, and they don't even know if it will work? What type of jerks have we got running this nation at every level?
Donna Bigda, Realtor®, ABR, SRES, e-PRO Branford Connecticut Real Estate (RE/MAX Alliance) Too bad he isn't alone. They all need to be accountable! This is really too deep for us not to get on the phone and start demanding investigations! The founders of this nation would be rolling over in their graves if they saw what these creeps have done to this great nation!
William Collins, Broker Associate (ERA Queen City Realty) Great advice William! "Informing our representatives of our wishes and holding them accountable in their role as our representative, will ensure that our call to action is not only heard, but heeded."
Jim, you are what America is all about. I envy your enthusiasm and proactiveness for creating change, and about America's political system. So few citizens contact their representatives because they feel like their voices are never heard. As soon as you find a representative that could support your position, the opposing position will come in, with huge lobby dollars, to squash what's best, in exchange for campaign contributions. In a major way, the real estate and mortgage crisis that we're going through now, is a result of private interests, paying off who they needed to, to allow relaxed lending standards, facilitating the growth of home ownership, and the demise of America. There were and are government agencies that monitored all of the financial sectors' activities, and no one stopped them, or suggested pulling back the reins, for long-run considerations. Writing letters to your representatives is a first step, but what can we do to make them do the right thing? The current administration will already be out of office by January?
Jim ... thanks for your blog article and reminder that America is not a democracy, but a republic. We need to be in some kind of regular contact with our representatives at Washington DC. I have tried to contact our California US Senators Feinstein and Pelosi. No such luck. All I get back is canned email. On the other side of that story is John Campbell ... our friend and US Congressman from our district here in Irvine. John is a great guy and returns email personally whenever he has the time.
Best wishes to you. Harrison
Jim, before I read this post I had call two of our Senators office and voiced my concern.
Jim,
That's what happens when you elect a bunch of politicians and attorneys to office. Personally... I'll be campaigning to see Mr. Senator Reid out the door in the next election for Nevada unless he parts his ways with Nancy Pelosi. Wish me luck!
Jim, last week I wrote our two Senators on the AmeriDream program. Got the pat answers, blah, blah, blah. But they do register the calls and letters and multiply it by 100 ( I think) They know for everyone who took the time to call, there are so many more who feel this way.
Joe Almirantearena (findmyloanonline.com) Thank you Joe. I had to remind one of the persons I called yesterday at one of my senator's offices that we were a republic. She told me she could not speak about elections. I said it is my right as a citizen to do so. As far as the government goes there is a lot of dead wood that works there. It is so politically corrent nothing gets done. I feel this current situation is no different. No one wants to rock the boat, no one wants to step on any toes. Unfortuanatley in the real world we must.
Harrison K. Long - Realtor, Broker & Lawyer (Explore Properties Group, Coldwell Banker Previews) I also have found my congressman was most responsive. Lets think about this. Where in the constitution is the power to do this?
Frank Rubi Louisiana Real Estate-Homes for Sale (Specialized Real Estate Services, Inc.) Way to go Frank! We almost need to do this daily with the situations that are now arising.
Las Vegas Real Estate - Paul Francis, ABR,CRS (Coldwell Banker Premier) Way to go, and best wishes. We need to hold our elected officials accountable.
Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Realtor Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor We need to call, and keep calling them. There is more stuff happening in this last few months than has transpired since this nation was sounded.
Hi Jim,
I contact my reps often, and go out to meet them whenever possible. you never can tell when that one idea you put in their head will ring a bell with them. Also it is nice to have someone to call on when you need a little help that only someone in the government can provide.
Jim
Jim,
As usual you are right on with your observations. Our system is soooo screwed up that our elected officials don't serve our interests but rather those that pay them to get them elected. Basically Paulson and his croonies say here, give us $700 billion to me and we'll make it right! Golden Parachutes for the pompous jerks that have run the system into the ground. You can't tell me that the economic think tanks behind the scenes didn't see this coming... I believe this is just one more push for a one world central bank and America to become a socialist state!!
New Jersey Real Estate James Boyer Morris, Essex & Union County NJ Realtor That is absolutely the best way to do it. We need to be current on events and follow the news. You are doing it correctly!
Rick Turner (RE/MAX Executives) You are right. Why trust the guys that think it is OK for former CEO's of failing companies walk with 30 million dollars in compensation. Americans have only themselves to blame. We know more about American Idol or the show Lost, than we do about the future of this country. It is time we grow up and start participating in government!
When did Bernake ever say until this week we have a major problem?
Jim- Here is a video of Ohio Rep Marcy Kaptur. I wish all of our Reps and Senators had her passion! I thought you might find it interesting that we are not the only ones.
Plus, I wanted to be your 100th comment;-)
Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com) Incredible! I added that Video to the main body of my Blog. She addressed all the issues concisely! Thank you for taking the time to share!
Jim Crawford I want you to run for office-SERIOUSLY . You will make a great representative. Very informative post. But it does bother me that the Government keep bailing these people out. When will they be punished for their act? Heck,will they ever be punished for their acts? Great post Jim.
Lanre Folayan "Buy Washington DC Real Estate" (Exit Premier Realty") Lanre this is not the America anyone grew up with. I no longer trust most of our elected representatives. They have played their hand and it is obvious they are self serving. They are more interested in propping up crooked banks on the backs of hard working taxpayers backs than of doing the right thing and let them fail from greed. Face it, they made bad loans, and they do not want to be responsible for their deeds! Banks today, what airlines tomorrow? Auto makers...the day after? When would it end?