Letters
- Details
- Written by: JD Baxter
OK, we are in a pickle. Yes, we need regulations and oversight to prevent this pickle from happening again. But we also need to dig our way out of this jam.
The solution:
First, we don’t need to spend $700 billion, because we should not think of reimbursing the idiots whose greed and stupidity caused the whole mess.
Our only concern should be to shore up the financial structure in order to:
Enable those who are capable of paying their home mortgages to continue to do so;
Create a loan/mortgage market that functions in the future; and
Protect the retirees and working class whose IRAs or retirement nest eggs are at risk, not through fault of their own, but because their futures were compromised by idiotically bad decisions made by the folks running those investment firms.
For the folks who were in charge – NO BAILOUT. Let them go broke. Better still, send them to jail.
For the wealthy speculators who traded paper back and forth in an ever-escalating orgy of greed and excess – NO BAILOUT. Go get a real job. Stop being blood-sucking parasites and try doing something productive for a change.
But for small-time investors who were used and abused by The Big Boys, I think most of us recognize the wisdom of taking steps to avoid seeing hard-working, contributing Americans lose their retirement savings.
So let’s just suppose the actual amount needed (once the Fat Cats, Pirates, Crooks and Exploiters have been cut loose without two pennies to rub together) is only $350 billion (only!).
Who should pay? Well, to start with, Secretary of Treasury Paulson (whose PERSONAL net worth equals $500,000,000) should pay. Either the guy is a crook who was in on the shenanigans, or (at best) he is an idiot who never saw this slow-motion train-wreck coming, even though warnings were shouted from the rooftops by economic experts for years now.
There are thousands of people whose assets equal Paulson’s in this country, and most of them multiplied their net worth many times over by exploiting the mortgage industry. And THERE you have it. Those are the folks who should be paying.
And don’t worry, there is no conflict in the idea of cutting the mortgage/investment Robber Barons off without another penny, and simultaneously expecting them to pay for the bailout with their own personal assets – those Big Boys have been socking away profits by the hundreds of millions for many years, now. THEY HAVE THE MONEY. Don’t believe anyone who tries to con you into believing they don’t. What was lost during the past few months is just a dip in the barrel. Those crooks have been siphoning off the cream into Swiss Bank Accounts for years.
All it takes is 700 people with personal assets worth as much as those of our Secretary of the Treasury. 700 Paulsons x 500 Million in personal assets = $350 billion.
No one expects people like Paulson to offer more than half their assets, no matter how patriotic they may be. Half the assets would do. (Would Paulson and his ilk be able to survive on a mere $250 million each? I think so. All it takes is a little tightening of the belt. Suck it up, Paulson – we know you want to do it for your country. You know, the country you LET DOWN with your unbelievably inept incompetence. That country.)
Are there 700 people worth as much as Paulson? Oh, yeah. The past eight years have been very, very lucrative for crooks, pirates and robber barons. Eleven thousand households have annual incomes exceeding $5,500,000. The 400 highest taxpayers in the nation have gross annual household incomes exceeding $87,000,000 (household incomes for this group have risen more dramatically than for any other group).
So, $350 billion divided among the Paulsons of the USA is not only fair, but it’s quite doable. And quite painless, so far as the other 99.9 percent of Americans goes.
So there you have it – problem solved. And this patriot won’t even charge Congress a consulting fee.
JD Baxter enjoys sustainable farming in Upper Lake, and is willing to give pro-bono financial advice to Congress any time they need it (i.e., often).
{mos_sb_discuss:4}
- Details
- Written by: Susie Wiloth
There were many great prizes for the silent auction generously donated by several local merchants and friends. These rides continue to afford the Wiloth Equine Therapy and Riding Center the opportunity to provide our unique form of therapy to many of Lake County's Special Education children.
We will continue to expand our fundraising efforts so that we can provide our therapeutic riding program to as many of Lake County's children as possible, free of charge. It is with heartfelt appreciation that we say "thank you" to everyone that attended our ride, as well as those that helped sponsor and put this event together.
As part of our services, we would like to update you monthly on stories of our students, volunteers and staff members who make our organization a reality.
This month we are showcasing Kimberly Walker. Kimberly is one of our 16-year old volunteers who resides in Lower Lake.
As part of Kimberly's 4-H All Star project, she is starting a 4-H chapter at our ranch specifically designed for children with special needs. Her goal is to teach children the responsibility of caring for a horse, subsequently rescue a local horse in need, rehabilitate him/her back to health, and then train him/her for the therapeutic program. The students will be able to see how their work can improve the life of an animal in need, and then work with that horse during their individual therapy sessions.
We are honored to have had Kimberly working with us for nearly one year now, and are humbled that she chose our ranch to facilitate her project. Please look for updates on Wiloth Ridge 4-H, and how the members will progress through their rescue project.
Our family and staff would like to thank Hospice Services of Lake County for allowing us to take part in their family retreat at Saratoga Springs, and Sutter Health for inviting us to participate in Camp Watta Watta held at both MSquare Farms and Highland Springs. We met such amazing adults and children that our lives will forever be touched by the warm welcome that was extended to us at each event.
We would also like to extend our heart-felt appreciation to our neighbors in close proximity who are supporting or expansion efforts. As the need for equine-facilitated therapy continues to grow in Lake County, we are dedicated to meeting this demand. Many of our close neighbors assist in daily volunteering activities, and our ranch simply could not function without them.
If you would like a tour of our facility, or would be interested in volunteering to help out at the ranch, please feel free to give us a call at (707) 994-5997 or email us at
Thank you again to all of our sponsors who supported our Aug. 9 ride ... we couldn't do it without your support!
Shannon Ridge Vineyard and Winery
Chernoh Excavating
Lincoln-Leavitt Insurance
Highlands Nursery
Hidden Valley Auto Body
Middletown Automotive
Elegant Touch
Cal-Tech Pump
Lake County Home Repair
Clover Hydroponics
Hidden Valley Storage
Spruce Grove Storage
Bekins Moving & Storage
Calistoga Beverage Company
UCC Rentals
Adams Family Pots & Septic
Kitty Rose
Avanti Appraisals
Freedom Heating & Air
Devin Milano
Five Star Towing
TFC General Contractors
TnT Storage
Twin Pine Casino
Reynolds Truck & Crane
Chateau Montelena
North American Cinemas
Anna Seidel
Jill Pitsenbarger
The Luis Family
Affordable Signs & Tees
Six Sigma Winery
Lake County 4-H
First Five of Lake County
Safeway
Foods Etc.
Walmart
Thank you for allowing us to continue doing what we do ...
Susie Wiloth and the Wiloth Equine family and staff are located in Lower Lake.
{mos_sb_discuss:4}
- Details
- Written by: Becky Curry and Wanda Harris
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee would like to thank everyone who helped make our annual legislator’s barbecue a wonderful success. The community support is always appreciated and this year our thanks go to Ployez, Langtry, Ceago and Shannon Ridge Wineries, The Saw Shop, Lakeport English Inn, California Teachers Association, North Bay Labor Council, Operating Engineers Local 3 Unit 10, IBEW Local 551, Teamsters Local 624, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake Building and Trades Council, and United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 38.
Special thanks go to Congressman Mike Thompson, Sen. Wes Chesbro, Sen. Patricia Wiggins, Assembly member Patty Berg, and Assembly candidate Wes Chesbro.
Local musicians Paris and Frindt and Friends, and Connie and Bill brightened the day by lending their special talents to the day’s activities and we are always grateful to them for providing entertainment to the attendees.
The barbecue could not have happened without the hard work of the members, Johnnie Hathcock and Evan Willig who provided an excellent meal. Bill Berkey, Harold Riley, Celesta and Norm Deter, James Evans, Carol Bettencourt, Wendy White, Annie Hall and Stonewall Democratic Club, and too many others to mention here.
Julie with the City of Clearlake was great to work with and we look forward to having the event at the Clearlake Senior Center again next year.
Thanks to everyone who attended and we look forward to seeing you at another successful event next year.
Becky Curry and Wanda Harris were co-chairs of this year's barbecue.
{mos_sb_discuss:4}
- Details
- Written by: Kevin Engle
I am now so disappointed in both of our presidential candidates for supporting this "bailout" bill that I long for the days when Ross Perot was in the race. That little spit-fire would straighten this mess out in no time. Washingtonians have been so busy looking at the ticker tape they failed to see the CEOs running out the back door with all the cash. Free market economy ... huh? I may not even vote for a president in this election. Somebody please dig up FDR and try to kick-start him. We need him now more than ever.
In an era where milk is more expensive than a gallon of gas, I guess anything is possible. However, to saddle the American people with the reckless financial follies and avarice of the mortgage industry borders on the macabre. Yes, I can now clearly picture our forefathers twirling in their graves and can hear them loudly cursing Lloyds of London ... quite loudly.
Bailout a corporate blunder? I say nay. In the recent past we have all seen these cold-hearted entities move off of American soil in search of the benefits of the "global economy" promised by Volker, Regan, the Bushes and Clinton. All the global economy has done is cost hardworking Americans their jobs and pensions. I doubt there is any American who doesn't know someone who has lost their hard-fought pension due to a corporate dissolution or at least someone forced into an "early retirement" and reduced pension/benefits because their job was moved to foreign soil for the good of "the bottom-line". Heck, even Hershey's, the historic giant of American chocolate, recently announced its plans to close its American plants and move to Mexico! Is there no shame in the quest for corporate profits?
If Washington wishes to bail someone out, let's bail out our blood, sweat and tears, and pensioners stripped of their dignity. How about the poor suckers who opted for the smoke-and-mirror tactics of the banking industry and the wonders of the adjustable rate mortgage during an era of runaway inflation? I hear dog food makes a great meatloaf. The banking industry should be ashamed.
Every American should have the right to a home of their own. This is truly the American Dream. Have we all forgotten the great Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life"? That was what America used to be about. That is also as it should be and could be today. There is no excuse. Our children deserve better. Washington and Wall Street have lost their way. Middle Class America is dwindling away. The sin of avarice looms heavy these days. Lord please absolve us of these ways!
Kevin Engle lives in Lower Lake.
{mos_sb_discuss:4}
How to resolve AdBlock issue?