Local development leaders question federal bailouts
In print Sunday, the Sioux City Journal’s Business section features exerpts of my recent Q&A with Siouxland Initiative executives Debi Durham, Chris McGowan, Joseph Wright and Barbara Sloniker.
We discussed a range of issues, from the global financial crisis affect on the tri-state economy to the prospects for additional local air service to the recent government bailouts of the financial sector and U.S. automakers.
(Audio file of inarticulate man included on link)
When it comes down to it no one is happy with the bailouts in this country, most of all the people who will see the least money from it. Such is the case in Iowa today. These are people who say they are concerned in the disproportionate response and provisions made by the government. They claim we are ready to bail out companies A, B and C while saying companies X, Y, and Z should go stuff it. What this really translate into is Iowa sees what other states are bound to get from this and says wait just a damn minute, you didn’t say Iowa in this pork barrel spending and free money give away.
While I can’t blame them for their rejection of the current package, I do want to smack the shit out of anyone who rejects it simply because it doesn’t include them in the hand out. i still think we need a more balanced approach handing every adult a hundred and fifty thousand dollars and giving them six months to spend it then open up the flood gates for immigration. If your business is afloat at the end then you win, if you can’t survive that sort of cash infusion then you don’t deserve to survive. it is as simple as that.
In the end no matter who gets what any average American with brains enough to think for themselves knows this bailout is about one thing, political capital. Without this deal the next round of elections would have to be fought with half as much money and no politician wants that.
