Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Human Rights Law Blogs -> Never In Our Names

Human Rights Law

: Never In Our Names

Executive Power Grab in Bank Bail-Out Bill

By Alexa

(propinas to Larry Madill at Daily Kos)

Though I can't pretend to understand the ongoing financial meltdown of the last week, two items seem apparent. As a disclaimer, I don't know if these events signal a Second Depression or not. If you know, please comment. This isn't a "special interest" issue like torture, and I don't believe any "most Americans" can opt out because jiringonza, it won't opt us out.

Item numero uno: A mito, or myth: "oh, what happens on Wall Street doesn't concern me because I don't have investments." This is a false perception. I live paycheck to paycheck, too. I see the impact in dozens of ways every single day. If you want me to sing Bad Moon Rising ("bathroom on the right," as Mayan quips) I could, but my guess is you're feeling some pinch, too.

Numero dos: In the Text of Draft Proposal for Bailout Plan, you'll notice this caveat pertaining to the Secretary of the Treasury:

Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

 
This is way too much Absolute Power.

While a bailout is needed of the financial sector this bill seems to also constitute a massive and dangerous power grab by the Executive Branch of this country. Particularly since the Congress seems to be abdicating its own oversight duties and precluding the Court System from being able to intervene as well.

Okay, and I say this as someone who realizes some kind of bail out is necessary, WHOA! Time to slow it down Democratic Congress. Think before passing this legislation. No one in a government should be allowed this much power with this little oversight. (Larry Madill at Daily Kos)

I don't know nuthin' 'bout no economies, Miz Scarlett. But tyrants? Power grabs? Despots? These I understand and as your worried correspondent, Island Girl from NION-TV, I hope you will join me and take action as a citizen of a purported democracy and protest this final fuck you from the Bush Administration.

DIGG Link

Phone Numbers:

Senator Charlies Schumer (202) 224-6542, Email Submission Page

Senator Chris Dodd (202) 224-2823, Email Submission Page

Switchboard Number for the House of Representatives: 202-225-3121

Switchboard Number for the U.S. Senate: 202-224-3121

Understand that your children and mine will not be able to repay this debt, nor will our great-great grandchildren. The cost of Living Neocon has and will continue to marginalize their futures in ways I don't even want to think about. But a day will come when they'll ask you how it happened. As the prophet Bob Marley was wont to say, "tell the children the truth."

Full post as published by Never In Our Names on September 20, 2008 (boomark / email).