February 2, 2010
Hard to believe
Yesterday we urged Mike Sheridan, Speaker of the Assembly, to "name names" of lobbyists for the outrageous payday loan industry who were, according to Sheridan, trying to oust him as Speaker for agreeing to permit a vote on a bill that would cap interest rates at 36 percent. Seemed like an easy one, but today's JS headline confuses us more--"Sheridan acknowledges dating payday loan lobbyist."
So what? is one response, but was she the source of the rumors? Yikes! Before jumping to conclusions, here is Sheridan's quote: "Shanna is a friend of mine and I have a lot of friends that are in the lobby corps." (Credit where credit is due. He did name one name.)
But Wisconsin's own lobby corps? Sheridan went on: "I mean, I think that part of my job is relationship building." No comment needed.
Here is another headline: "JOB LOSSES ADD TO CITY FORECLOSURES." The accompanying article says, "The second wave in the foreclosure crisis has hit Milwaukee with homeowners losing their homes because of job losses...subprime mortgages." How about payday loans as well? Note to Speaker: No one cares about you dating a lobbyist, but we do get upset if the Democrats with a majority in the Legislature ignore evictions! People are suffering--pay attention.
There is a housing crisis. How about a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures? Lower interest rates? Restructured mortgages? Any interest in those issues?
C'mon!
post a letter about this blog »
These are tough times. Instead of everyone working together to keep our lives affordable, there are still those who think it is their divine mandate to raise prices, to gouge, to move ahead at the expense of those who can afford life's necessities least.
The banking industry is just one where money and profit come before people. It's as though bankers have forgotten that they rely on us just as much as we sometimes rely on them.
In order to get the economy moving again, everyone ought to take less and give more until we are all back on our feet. It's going to be a very long, slow and tough struggle to get things moving again if most of us remain oppressed by those who control our debts. These are the friends and neighbors who can help us most.
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | February 2, 2010
A few suggestions for dealing with our current mess and the pandemic of government/corporate corruption.
1.) Move your money to a credit union or local bank. Close out your credit cards as soon as you are able. Put yourself on a cash only basis as much as possible.
2.) Boycott any and all businesses displaying the Chamber of Commerce logo/sign etc. The Chamber is bound and determined to outspend both the Dems and GOP in political efforts to get their way. Don't help them with your money and tell the local businesses why you are doing it.
3.) In the coming primaries and/or elections write in "None of the above" for any and all offices. Barring that then vote for the candidate who raises the least. The way things stand now it is doubtful that either of those choices could put us in a worse situation.
In other words, to the extent it is possible for us to do so it is time to quit playing in their sandbox. In the end they need us more than we need them. Just simple human and economic ecology.
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | Egg Harbor, WI. | February 3, 2010
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