Comments on: Read the Bill: Stimulus Bill and Bonus Loopholes

By: William Randolph Hunteman

William Randolph Hunteman — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:25 +0000

With all due respect to Susannah, I have to disagree. We get (and have gotten) the government we deserve. If we aren’t all stupid, then we are doing one hell of an impersonation of being so. I’ll believe we’ll vote the bastards out when we actually do so.

By: Susannah Phinney

Susannah Phinney — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:53:01 +0000

Congress are robbing us blind. It’s their job to read each and every bill before voting on it. Stop being STUPID
The American people are not STUPID, as you all seem to think. We think, and maybe we will vote you out of office unless you do your job. SP

By: Paul Blumenthal

Paul Blumenthal — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:32:53 +0000

Donald,

Actually, President Obama had about 4 days to read the final bill, so he probably did have time to read it. Congress on the other hand… not so much.

ReadTheBill.org

By: Paul Blumenthal

Paul Blumenthal — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:31:39 +0000

pastol,

Yes, let’s all let Congress and the administration (doesn’t matter which one, Bush, Obama, Clinton, Reagan, Nixon, or our future Cylon president) do whatever they want in secret. We shouldn’t pay attention to what they do because it doesn’t matter at all.

When Congress can operate in a way where they pass bills so fast that they don’t even know what’s in it, and then later on realize that, at the very last minute, an objectionable provision was inserted–be it retroactive bonus immunity or a liability shield for pharmaceutical companies–there is a serious problem in our democracy. But no, this isn’t a serious issue, no not at all.

Go back to bed America, your government is in control. Here, here’s American Gladiators. Watch this, shut up, go back to bed America, here is American Gladiators, here is 56 channels of it! Here you go America – you are free to do what well tell you! You are free to do what we tell you!

By: pastol

pastol — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:24:14 +0000

Is this really the biggest issue you have to worry about Paul? I’d be looking for a job if I was assigned to this one.

By: Donald K. Allen

Donald K. Allen — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:22:35 +0000

If Congress didn’t have time to read the bill, then certainly President Obama didn’t have time to read it, either, before he signed this thing. With all due respect to the office of President, Obama is blindly taking our economy (and this country) down the Niagara River.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:34:43 +0000

If you owe someone money, via a contract, you owe them. Now, if the company had just fired the bad deed doers, well, then perhaps there would be no bonuses. Sure, the guys running AIG did a bad job. But, so have people all over the place. And they still get paid. If you don’t like the performance of your personnel, fire them and get new ones.

If the government take the money from these people, breaking contracts, what’s next? Will it now be common to steal from people? It doesn’t matter whether the AIG took TARP funds. It doesn’t matter that the guys there were idiots. A company can be stupid. They should have been allowed to fail. Even if that meant financial problems around the world.