Here’s what I’d do about bailing out U.S. businesses
November 21st, 2008I’ve been watching, reading, and thinking a lot about our economic meltdown. And while I remain averse to government bailouts of failed companies – auto, financial, ad infinitum – I do remain convinced that many free trade policies often create disadvantages for domestic production when competing with other nations.
If we leave it to Congress, CEO’s and lobbyists, we will just get evermore bits of amended gobblity-goop that results in endless taxpayer debt to bolster bad business practices.
So here’s my one-size-fits-all, nationwide socialist, U.S. corporate bailout proposal:
- Remove government subsidies, tax breaks and loopholes for business.
- Institute basic national single-payer health insurance for workers and families.
The country is going deeper in debt anyway, so wouldn’t it be better to use it to help U.S. companies and give health care to Americans, than just give to the same people who created the mess?
November 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Single payer health care is a great long-term solution. As a first step, though, let’s give some bailout money in the form of tax credits to workers who want to buy stock in their companies – starting with the auto companies. Giving at least partial ownership to the workers might just be the kick in the pants that dinosaur of an industry needs.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
With due respect, Sinister, my problem with your proposal is that it may not necessarily be a wise investment to buy stock in companies with failing management!
November 21st, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Ah, but if the employees buy enough stock, they can kick out the management and elect their own.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
My point was that much of what’s left of the U.S. industrial base is at an unfair disadvantage globally, in competing with all the nations that have national health care. I doubt employees holding controlling interest in a company could negate that.
Although I do think employees having a voice to their corporate employer is a good thing.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
lets see….. wall st and many of the now bankrupt/merged banks dug this hole, make them dig themselves out of it . i mean they got greedy and now we, the american taxpayers have to deal with it???they can go!@#$ themselves
November 25th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Here’s what I’d do about bailing out U.S. businesses:
First of all, you should know that,
1. “I remain averse to government bailouts of failed companies”, although I will not give an example of a failed company that doesn’t deserve government bailout. It could be your company or it could be Lehman Brothers, I won’t say.
2. “I do remain convinced that many free trade policies often create disadvantages for domestic production when competing with other nations”, again I say this without actually describing what I am talking about. Maybe I’m talking about the Steel Industry or maybe I’m talking about the Toy Industry. You are free to choose which industry you hate the most.
3. “If we leave it to Congress, CEO’s and lobbyists, we will just get evermore bits of amended gobblity-goop that results in endless taxpayer debt to bolster bad business practices.” Please note, that I am not talking about the bestest Senator in Oklahoma, his highness, Senator Tom Colburn. Obviously, when Senator Colburn blocked ‘The Genetic Nondiscrimination Bill’ it had nothing to do with CEO’s or lobbyists.
In conclusion, as a registered Independent, here is my “nationwide socialist, U.S. corporate bailout proposal:”
A. As a newly self-defined socialist, I have decided that all tax loopholes for business should be rescinded, immediately (as in right now). Furthermore,
.
B. We should institute “national single-payer health insurance”, – (but please don’t ask me what that is as I’ve never written about it before. It sounds good and besides, I’m sure that DailyKos is for it
November 25th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Sounds like we pretty much agree with each other on this one, Okie. With a few exceptions:
1) I remain a registered Democrat, for now.
2) While I do like Sen. Coburn better than Sen. Inhofe, I guess I’m not quite as taken by him as you are.
3) Unlike yourself, I don’t keep up with adopted positions on health care at the DailyKos.
And finally, Okie, you really should take the time to learn about single-payer health insurance. It’s not that difficult to understand. In fact, you might benefit from learning to think more for yourself and not depending on others to spell out everything in detail. Here’s a link to this great website for broadening your mind: Google
November 28th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
“Sounds like we pretty much agree with each other on this one, Okie.”
Uhh-huh?
“1) I remain a registered Democrat, for now.”
Is that a threat, Mike?
“2) While I do like Sen. Coburn better than Sen. Inhofe, I guess I’m not quite as taken by him as you are.”
Please, tell us why. Why is Senator Colburn better for Oklahoma than Senator Inhofe? Be specific!
“3) Unlike yourself, I don’t keep up with adopted positions on health care at the DailyKos.”
So, what is ’single-payer health insurance? Where did you find information on this topic? Did you find it on google?