Op/Ed

Published: February 2, 2008  

       

As we enter another RECESSION it is clear that Congress and this President are looking for a solution to this crisis. The main cause of this however, will never be addressed, and that is Deregulation. Deregulation is the legalization of White Collar Crime. Every scandal since the oil shortage of the 70's up to our present time, has been Deregulation. The theft of assets, pensions, 401 K's, and the gradual collapse of Industries such as the Airlines, even Education and Hospitals, all begins with Deregulation and ends with Privatization. At first Deregulation allowed big business to devour small businesses. Then it allowed big businesses to rip off consumers and citizens. As it continued to survive thru government bailouts it was able to rip off the taxpayers. Even entire states like California. Deregulation also allows for the rip off of share holders. Now it is even "Bad for Business" because only the "CEO"  (Chief Embezzlement Officer) and Insiders benefit from deregulation. Taking huge payments while the company collapses.

 

        Congress and the President are once again trying to fix the oncoming crises with bailouts, interest cuts, and mergers, which bill the taxpayer, consumer, and employees. This is why it never ends. With the trillions of dollars that have been ripped off now in the hands of Campaign Contributing, Lobby Influencing, Criminal Enterprise Officers, our system will allow the Decriminalization of White Collar Crime to continue. It is amazing how every financial expert in the news implies we don't need regulation even without even being asked. Look at it this way. Since the Laws of the Economy now Supersede the Laws of Society, we need to govern the Economy. Since the Republicans were supposed to be Law and Order and Security then why are they in favor of an Anarchist Economy. The Economy is the Society today. The Republicans want to limit Compensation for Victims, Yet are totally committed to Excessive Compensation for CEO Predators.

 

         This will be a nightmare for the Democrats to resolve when they inherit the fallout of the scandal. Once you have true Majority Status which they will, you have to choose between the people that voted for you or the people that own you. It's easier to SPELL OUT the PEOPLES BUSINESS in the MINORITY because you don't have to actually deliver. You have to SELL OUT the PEOPLES BUSINESS in the MAJORITY. So lets make it easy for everyone. We only need to Regulate the Criminality of CEO's that destroy businesses, not the Functions of Business that makes a Profit. 

 

        If we don't regulate Lobbying you will have Deregulation. This is bad for businesses doing business with businesses. There is a domino effect. Put it this way, the economy needs laws the way society needs laws. For example If you are against regulating firearms fine, but you still need to make Murder a criminal offense. I know a fortune has been spent to make Liberalism a bad word, but we need regulation in a big way. Also remember we have not had liberalism since the 70's. What we had was corporatism claiming to be liberalism that only benefits the wealthy. The same corporatism that claimed to be Conservative. It would take 4 years of Socialism just to bring us back to Capitalism. People must decide DO YOU WANT LESS PEOPLE WITH MORE MONEY AND MORE PEOPLE WITH LESS MONEY   OR    DO YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE WITH MORE MONEY AND LESS PEOPLE WITH LESS MONEY.  

 

         Under this administration we have seen THE WEALTHIEST WITH EVERYTHING TO GAIN,

THE POOREST WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, and THE MIDDLE CLASS WITH NOTHING TO GAIN AND EVERYTHING TO LOSE.

 

 

                                 William J. Wahlsteen