Let's Talk Politics

Why Can't We Just Move Past Bush?
First off, let me say how overjoyed I was to read this article below and finally see someone telling the damn truth about much the mistakes and faults of the Bush Era is still looming over America's head like a bad odor. As much as everyone (including me sometimes since I am a staunch Obama supporter) would like to believe Obama and his administration can erase the harm done by the previous administration and just keep it moving-they can't. Because it's impossible. Not until there is a point where this new administration comes clean about all the illegal stuff that went on during those eight years (real transparency) and fully gains the American peoples' trust in Government back by doing so, we are never gonna escape the ghost of President Bush past.

http://bit.ly/19ztiZ

Some Desperately Needed Relief For Consumers
This past Tuesday (May 19), the Senate in a 90-5 vote, passed a bill to restructure the way the credit card industry does business. In a time where hundreds of thousands of people are currently unemployed and the economy is in a recession (partly do to the credit card industry), I am happy to see Congress stepping up ad doing more for the people and less for business. The bill could be sitting on President Obama's desk waiting to signed into law as early as Friday (May 22). If the President signs it like is expected, the bill would give the credit card industry nine months to change the way it does business: Lenders would have to post their credit card agreements on the Internet and let customers pay their bills online or by phone without an added fee. They'd also have to give consumers a chance to spare themselves from over-the-limit fees and provide 45 days notice and an explanation before interest rates are increased. Some of these changes are already on track to take effect in July 2010, under new rules being imposed by the Federal Reserve. But the Senate bill would put these changes into law and go further in restricting the types of bank fees and who can get a card. For example, the Senate bill requires those under 21 who seek a credit card to prove first that they can repay the money or that a parent or guardian is willing to pay off their debt if they default.

http://tiny.cc/qrhoM

Guard Us With A Watch Dog
The Obama Administration is considering creating a new committee or agency to serve as a watch dog over big business to make sure that a crisis like the one we're in now doesn't happen again. There's no question that corporate America's greed and abuse of power coupled with a non attentive previous administration (or non caring previous administration, whichever you prefer. I was trying to be a little nice for once lol) got us here. There is also no question about whether or not big business needs to have more federal restraints. The answer is totally yes, but I just hope that the Obama Administration doesn't create a whole new monster with this new committee. If this new committee is put together right and really does it's job by really enforcing the regulations and laws put into place by Congress then this committee can be a blessing, but if they are just gonna pussy foot around and be there for show then we may as well not have them. They will then prove to be more troubles as they will have to begin to answer to clash with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the various bank regulatory agencies.

http://tiny.cc/X9klF

Gas Guzzlers vs. Obama's New Plan
Yay! Obama is doing something environmentally friendly and putting together a plan that would mandate that automotive dealers make all their vehicles average 35.5 miles per gallon. Obama also wants to put into place a national emission standard that vehicle manufacturers have to adhere to in order to reduce the greenhouse gases put out into the environment by cars and trucks. President Obama outlined his administration's plan to end dependence on overseas oil by curbing vehicle emissions, calling the initiative a historic turning point toward what he calls a "clean-energy economy." He said, "As a result of this agreement, we will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years," said Obama, joined in his announcement by leaders of the auto industry, labour, government officials and key national and state political leaders."And at a time of historic crisis in our auto industry, this rule provides the clear certainty that will allow these companies to plan for a future in which they are building the cars of the 21st century." In my opinion, this could really work if the administration follows through and gets the auto industry to commit to start developing new innovative ways to build cars more efficiently and with less impact on the environment and a smaller (or even more perfect, none) reliability on gasoline.

http://tiny.cc/cyCSr