Friday, February 6, 2009

I don't believe Obama is a socialist

But I also don't believe we aren't heading in that direction.
When the news came out last week about capping the salary of executives who receive bailout money, I, like most people, thought it was a good idea. But that only last a short while. Upon re-thinking the situation I have many concerns.
Aside form the fact that the bill has so many loopholes no cliche would even begin to decribe it, it is virtually unenforceable. Here is a quick run down:

Situation A: If exec gets more then 500k, they pull otu the money.
Result A: Well the exec still has the money and the only people who lose are the workers of the company an the citizens who rely on the company. As we have seen, these execs are quick to dismiss and throw overboard these people anyways. So what does this change?

Situation B:If exec gets more then 500k, they go to jail.
Result B:Do we even want to think about a country where people go to jail for making money? I mean if the shareholders vote on a salary, who is the government to stop them? We have ways and means to get the word out about abuse by execs. Using this law is just another way for americans to be lazy and uninformed. They hear that salaries will be capped and hug themselves happy, but they don't ever realize that this law means nothing.

Argument A:Well since they are taking our money, they hould have to follow some rules
Refutation A1:This is the first problem, we are nationalizing private industry. We are taking people who, it is taken for granted, understand their business better than anyone, and putting politicians in charge. People who have never been able to manage a budget. Even worse, it puts the companies indirectly in the control of the populous. The rabble.
Refutation A2:This is a backdoor, probably unconstitutional, way to indtroduce regulations. This might sound nice for banks. Right? We all want banks to have more transparency. But what happens when other industries begin to get bailout money? With one party in complete control, who is going to watch over the social activists who are getting money?

Argument B:Well they do not need to take the money
Refutation B1: So only companies who agree to play ball with the powers that be get money?I am sure there are clauses in the commerce sections of the law which prevent the government from giving unfair advantage to private industry

Argument C:Well they aren't really private anymore, they are getting tax money
Refutation C:See Russia, Cambodia, Cuba

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