Reprinted from the
Springfield News-Leader

March 29, 2009

Sarah Steelman

I have tried to be good and keep my mouth shut, but it simply is not in my nature. I can't stand to watch what is going on in Washington and not comment. What is it that the whole lot of them is thinking? I keep going back to the same thought -- and, as a mother I know that other mothers will know exactly what I am talking about: I hope my kids never behave the way Congress and the administration are behaving. They remind me of school kids on a playground when a fight breaks out, the tough guys join in, the weak guys run and hide, the wimps point their fingers at each other and say, "well, he started it" and the cowards change their stories. I know that other mothers who have broken up fights on playgrounds will agree with me. And what do we hope and pray that our own child will do if he or she is involved? We hope that he will have the courage to tell the truth and say I am sorry or he will have the courage to say why he hit the guy or that at least if he provoked the fight will take responsibility for it -- right or wrong.

It seems that most in Washington think the American public is like the playground supervisor who turns her back on these shenanigans. However, they are wrong. The public is paying attention and the view from here is one of outrage, frustration and shock.

This is the question that needs an answer. Why wasn't there a provision in the original TARP bailout bill that prevented bonuses for banks or insurance companies that receive these funds? It really is that simple. A prudent legislator who was concerned about the American taxpayer would have required that provision. But guess what -- no one required that in the legislation. The House, Senate and Bush administration shoved it through by creating an atmosphere of fear and warning that the entire financial system would collapse unless TARP passed. And the next picture we saw was that of House and Senate leadership with smiling smug faces looking at the cameras boasting about how they saved the financial world from collapse.

If there was ever any concern about how these funds would be expended, it certainly wasn't expressed by the gloating conferees or the administration. Four months later, which was totally predictable, these AIG guys get their bonuses and Congress -- both Democrats and Republicans are shocked and outraged by the behavior of AIG and their greedy attitude. And, to top it off, they violate our Constitution by passing a tax on the bonuses. It reminds me of the scene in "Casablanca" when the French police Captain Renault (played by Claud Rains) shuts down Rick's Cafe (played by Humphrey Bogart) exclaiming, "I am shocked, shocked to find out there is gambling going on in here!" as the dealer brings him his winnings for the night.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090329/OPINIONS/903290314