Sen. Jim Bunning: The Bailout Is Un-American

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We are in the problem we are in because of spending money we do not have. I am for extending the benifits to people who need them, but we must find the real money to pay for them. If we continue to spend money we do not have the US in in for Chapter 11 or worse. How can any of us face our sons and daughter along with our grandkids with the debt we have saddled them with of $40,000.00 per person in this soon to be second or third world country the USA.
We should be giving Sen. Bunning all the support we can. Wake up America the free ride is over and should have never started. I blame both parties for their inability to face up to their responsibility to make hard decisions. Both parties are more worried about their election in two years and in the Senate their election in two or four years.
A very good start to changing the way we elect our public servants is to fund the election of the congress via federal funds. No personal wealth or resources from lobbist would be allowed for you own election NOME. No lobbist would be allowed to give money to any elected official ever NONE. I feel we would soon see elected officials start doing the right thing working for the good of the country. There would be no thought of how it would effect their fund raising, because they would not have to spend 300 day a year trying to get enough money to get relected from special interest groups. Its an idea, you can't beat somthing with nothing its a start.
If the goverment is looking for addtional revenue start taxing the internet. There must be a trillion dollars in revenue laying around in internet. the other day I bought a hat on the internet. No sales tax no federal tax no nothing how nice. Addtionally there is a hugh under ground cash economy. We called to have our sewing machine to be fixed at our house. The first person we called said he would be happy to fix it for $45.00 cash. If we wrote him a check it would be $65.00. This is a small example but this goes on in every field that provides services to the public. Amy time a small business man or woman can put through a service without leaving a paper trail many do. This area is systemic with leaving out the goverment and does a lot of harm because many people resent their neighbors for doing it and getting ahead of taxpaying families who are playing by the rules.
I guess it's we have met the enemy and it is us. It goes to the people who had their house appraised for more that it was worth with the help of the lending instution. In turn the bank bundled these unworthy loans with 80 or 90 good ones and sold them to people who did not do the due dilligents. Which were sold to bigger finanical companies who did not understand the new field of derivatives but saw the big bonuses to be paid out to them for reaching the goal of (xyz) which the company had set. All along the line people got what they wanted money. What are we leaving our kids and their kids? We can do better.

Larry Collings of IL 12:23PM March 02, 2010

Jim Bunning you were right. I am a Democrat that that would have voted against you, but not bow. You told Allen Greenspan that he had been their to long, and you were right. You voted against the Bail Out and you were right. The Banks are going to prove you were right when they give all of rheir Executives this money.
I am now a Bunningite.

Robert Belcher of KY 10:56AM October 30, 2008

I'm mad. I am against any bailout of any kind. I would rather live in a recession than give money to the dishonest companies, banks, etc that created this problem. To the people who are behind on their mortgages, I'm sorry, but you signed on the dotted line. To Voters: if your rep in Washington votes for this, they don't deserve another term. Vote them out.

LDC of TN 8:21PM September 27, 2008

Repeal the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and begin to let the government be in control of printing money ONLY! Not some wealthy greedy money barrons who don't care what kind of calamity befalls the United States.
Get away from the Money Debt Bonds and start printing Debt free money!!

Carl J Daubenspeck of PA 2:22AM September 27, 2008

I can't find fault with Sen. Bunning's assessment. But even he has got to admit that this is a pick-your-poison choice. Between the two, I prefer the pain I can measure -- the $2,300 it's going to cost me and every taxpayer -- to the one I can't, which could be the worst economy since my grandfather was limited to three days a week at Western Electric during the Great Depression. My hope is that the FBI investigation finds the people who should be prosecuted and jailed for this.

Bob Zientara of IA 2:22PM September 25, 2008

What do you think?
I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 (85 billion) bailout of AIG.
Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to Americans in
a "We Deserve It Dividend".
(Just think how that would parse out at 700 Billion being proposed to bail out, not only American banking interests but those of Switzerland, France, UK, Japan, and others!)
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000
bonafide U.S. Citizens age18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman
and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So, divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a
"We Deserve It Dividend".
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So, let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But, it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college – it’ll be there
Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car – create jobs
Invest in the market – capital drives growth
Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else
Remember, this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks
who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company
that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it...instead of trickling out
a puny $1000.00 “vote buy” economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG – liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate. < BR>Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.
Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
"We Deserve It Dividend" more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.
And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned
instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Kindest personal regards,
Birk
T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

JerryKing of NC 2:13PM September 25, 2008

I am a very liberal Democrat from Kentucky (yes, there are a lot of us) and I have never agreed with anything Jim Bunning has ever said, but I do now, wholeheartedly.

of KY 8:28PM September 24, 2008

Yet a better question, will the taxpayers feel a bigger pull on their wallets if the 700 billion dollar Paulson Plan goes through? Or if the government lets the bank crumble (factoring in the domino effect of the imminent recession)? I'd say let er' burn.

Scott of MN 4:59PM September 24, 2008

One of Bunning's aids needs to explain to him who his boss is.

jim of CA 11:51AM September 24, 2008

I am not sure what is more depressing - the current financial mess, or the fact that so many Americans (including Senators Bunning and DeMint) are blithering idiots. What Bunning and the pro-Bunning idiots don't understand, is that the Wall Street mess, which was egregiously caused by extremely greedy/reckless bankers/mortgage-brokers, and incompetent US (un)regulators, DESPERATELY NEEDS to get fixed immediately before we hit catastrophic financial apocalypse. If banks stop lending, bond markets see only forced selling (and no buyers), and insurance juggernauts (like AIG) fail ... the consequences will be disastrous (worse than the 1930s depression) for the average taxpayer, who will feel the pain more than anyone else. Without a liquid, lending, and fully functioning Wall Street/Banking system, our entire economy cannot exist. Fixing the problem is not a Wall Street bailout - but a bailout of the US taxpayers, who will ALL go bankrupt if there is no immediate action. Moreover, if this Paulson plan is enacted correctly, there is a good chance that the taxpayers will be made whole with some profits to boot.

Daniel of NY 8:59AM September 24, 2008