The Protests Outside Treasury Begin

As some of you may be aware our office is right across from the Treasury Building.  I can see Paulson from my front porch, so to speak.  

A few minutes ago a very loud protest began outside Treasury.  It is angry, loud, unnerving. 

For those in Congress looking to but a deal back together I hope they consider what has happened to the American middle class this decade.  The typical family is making less money today than when Bush took office.  Those in bankruptcy, with homes foreclosed upon, in poverty and without health insurance have risen.  Every day anger at the economy drove the GOP from office in 2006 and is driving the national debate today.  Given all this it was almost unbelievable that Congress would pass the 1st Bush Bailout Bill which had so little obvious benefit for those struggling harder and harder to make ends meet.  It is why the calls coming into Congressional offices are running big time - 30 to 1 in some offices - against the deal.  

The economic performance of the Bush era has been an epic failure.  A lower standard of living for the typical family.  Rising poverty and those without health insurance.  Out of control spending balanced with dramatic tax cuts for the wealthy creates a structural budget deficit and a huge increase in the national debt.  American support for global economic liberalization dramatically recedes, and the new global trading round - Doha - fails.  Needed investments in our kids, our skills, our infrastructure, the all important transition to a low carbon economy all put off.   Umployment rising.  Collapsing housing and financial markets. Bush's economic stewardship has been disasterous for America - why should we expect him to all of a sudden to get a major financial crisis right? 

Our advice to Congress - put real provisions to keep every day in their homes as part of the final deal or don't be suprized if the American people and very real voters spit the bit.  The American people are tired of a government more concerned with things other than their increasingly difficult struggle to get ahead.  This debate is a time - even this close to the election - where Congress and the President can acknowledge that the struggle of every day matters to them as much as the struggle of big banks.  This isn't that hard my friends.  Keeping people in their homes is both the right economic thing to do and the right moral and political one as well.  

If you are looking for a plan on how to do it give Hillary Clinton a call.  She has a good one.