Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to report that we’ve been had. We have, to put it gently, been royally screwed.  Screwed by the very people we should be able to trust. (Stifled chuckle)

The 'banking crisis' that we were cajoled into bailing out did not exist, nor does it, in the way that was presented to us. The funds that we have poured into the banks, between $350 million and $8 trillion depending on who you read - and to whom, the Fed will not confirm -  has done nothing – zero – to help the economy. It has done nothing – zero – to help families facing foreclosure. It has used that families tax money – current and future – to bail out banks that made bad investments. To make them whole, comfortable. We have been mislead as to the crisis, its immediacy and causes. When we ask for an accounting to see where our money has been spent, the banks en masse refuse to answer. Refuse to answer! See the articles listed at the end for clarification.*

Bush ran to bailout Wall Street like a breathless kid demanding money for the just missed ice-cream truck. The sky was falling – no doubt. A gun was put to our heads insisting in no uncertain terms that we had to act immediately-  immediately - without oversight, to pour money into the coffers of Wall Street, where it is reportedly just sitting in the banks collecting dust and buying up competitors.

In the days coming up to the election this year investment firms spent $141 million buying influence in Washington while commercial banks split $34 in campaign contributions between both parties. When blue collar workers needed help - as in the auto industry - Congress not only demanded oversight in the form of Czar (a Czar?), the executives were berated and ridiculed like children and sent away empty-handed. And they only wanted a paltry $34 billion - 5% of what Bush dropped into Wall Street.

I don’t like to use the word ‘rape’ lightly due to its hideous criminal and violent significance to victims. I will make an exception this one time. We have been raped by Bush, by Congress and the banking industry. They have taken our money and our future. Why? Because they could - they know they could. They know that we have no recourse. We have no recourse because we do not demand accountability. If we did, how would we enforce it when the enforcers work for, and are appointed, by the elected? Screwed.

Like the Soviet system of old to push back is unpatriotic. To question, not allowed. Make too much of a fuss and suddenly you're branded.  We can't even protest on the streets without a permit. And our media...ha, ha, ha. Sorry, I fell off my chair in momentary mirth. Our media is owned by the same people who give politicians their election funding. Why do we forlornly expect them to rescue us, to fight for our interests? Why would they? Screwed.

While many are wondering how to make ends meet during the holidays, bankers need not worry. You'll be delighted, and relieved, to know that Bush put a one sentence provision into the bailout bill that allows them to draw their bonuses this year as usual. That sure made them feel a lot better and made sure that their earnings are not interrupted by such an ugly word as a 'bailout;' 'economic stimulus' is far more classy and less indicative of finger-pointing. That's why it is officially referred to as such.

Congress too has demonstrated amply that they no longer heed the directions of their constituents; if they ever did. Maybe they just don't care to hide their contempt anymore.

In the days leading up to the bailout they were inundated with calls and emails forbidding them - a rate of 100 to 1 - to pass the bill. And they did it anyway. What does that say to you and me? It says that Congress gave us a polite but collective finger.  And incensed what did we do? Heck, we re-elected them.

If you haven’t already read it, I’d recommend reading or re-reading George Orwell’s tome “Animal Farm.” It was written as a barely hidden put down of the Soviet political structure; it applies to our system of government just as much.

Politicians – and I’ve met a few – will say and do what they have to get elected. I had breakfast with an aspiring young fellow in Palm Beach not too long ago. He bubbled on and on like an excited monkey - I couldn’t shut him up. The only thing that got rid of him was a donation. (Not mine).

Once ensconced inside the Beltway politicians become part of an elite class of people. A "ruling class" who believe - despite their “grass roots” aspirations while on the campaign trail – that they know more than you and I about everything and they behave, condescendingly accordingly. Party affiliations are for show. Republican or Democrat alike become one in Congress; the elected elite. A fine salary, a great pension and influence up the Wahoo. They’ve got made it baby. And so have their financial election partners.

Partners? Sure. Someone paid the millions of dollars it takes to get elected. Banks, industry, investment firms…are all happy to shovel in cash to get ‘their guy' or 'gal’ into office. It costs a lot of money. And when they are elected, you can bet your bottom dollar these friends look for payback. It's human nature. You and I, the people who elected them, are forgotten as soon as the acceptance speech is made. Their new masters hold their election fund check-stubs.

Have you ever thought of running for the Senate? According to CNN last week, you need $70 million to follow that dream and untold influence and contacts. Unless you're a Kennedy; then you get get a nod to take over a position as in the case with Hillary's still warm seat in New York. The presidential election costs Obama $600 million. Who among us, the great unwashed,  has that kind of cash? What do people expect in return for paying for a candidates election? Does the word 'bailout' ring a bell?

“Yes,” you say, “but we, the people,  get to elect them!” True and untrue. You do get to vote. You get to vote for the candidates you’re presented with, like them or not. You vote in elections using a mechanical voting apparatus that is inherently broken. Is it not incredible, given our levels of technology, that we have not yet figured out a fool-proof voting system? I mean how hard can it be? I don’t see many elected politicians beating the door down for a federally-monitored single system anytime soon. As soon as the election is over, it seems, so is the interest in the voting machines and voting accuracy.

We have presidential politics so demonstrably incestuous, so blatantly narcissistic, that they defy belief in this, the supposed seat of democracy. With a population of 300 million we have in the past 18 years as president, a father and son combination and we missed by a whisker a husband and wife follow up. What are the chances? Are they chances? Or is this a sign of intelligent design?

What does that tell us? It tells us that we have indeed an elite ruling class, which has thoroughly ensconced itself separate and above us. It also tells us that they don’t care. “For the people – by the people,” my ass, Abe must be rolling under the turf. And what do we do? Nothing.

There’s a saying that if you’ve going to screw me it would be nice if you kissed me first.

There’s a big smacker radiating from Washington and Wall Street from a group of people who are going to have a super-fantastic Christmas thanks to politics as usual as they tilt their glasses and mouth "screw you!" to you and me.

I thought you’d want to know.

References*

Where'd the bailout money go? Shhhh, it's a secret
The Big Lie: Credit crunch? What credit crunch?
Did America Get Punked On the Bailout? Yes...Now Here's What to Do.
Dude, where's my $700 billion? Congress handed Wall Street a huge wad of cash to jump-start the economy. It didn't work - so where did all that money go?
Congressional Watchdog Vexed With Bailout: Bush didn't have a plan
Bush Administration created executive pay loophole
White House Philosophy Stoked Mortgage Bonfire
Wall Street still flying corporate jets