GOP Econ 101 - Privitized Profits, But Socialized Losses

[Median Democrat]

I was listening to Stephanie Miller today, and she hit the nail on the head. For all of the GOP's celebration of the free market, they always insist on socializing losses due to the economy. They rail against taxes on corporate profits, but they swoop in to bail out these same corporations that stubbornly resist governmental "interference."

If these companies want government assistance, then they need to acquiece to regulations so that the American public is not left to bear the costs. Worse, the folks who ran these companies into the ground often leave with millions of dollars in bonuses or severance payments as these companies crash and burn.

Where is the GOP when individual families lose their jobs and their homes? I know, singing the praises of the free market, and telling them lift themselves up by their own bootstraps. I don't see the Bush administration telling AIG to lift itself up by its bootstraps.

[valerief]

1. Free Market means free to steal from the Treasury whenever you want. nt

[ibegurpard]

2. "Where is the GOP when individual families lose their jobs and their homes?"

Telling them to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. John Kenneth Galbraith Used To Call It "Lemon Socialism"

The government would get stuck with all the losers like AmTrak and then people would complain socialism doesn't work...Maybe Amtrak is better now...I don't know enough about it...

[Overseas]

4. That's the phrase progressives have been using about Republicanomics.

Privatize the profits and socialize the losses. I think it is a great description, too.

[Union Thug]

5. Spot on. And because we the people are bailing these out these criminal enterprises...

WE the people should maintain ownership of them, and every goddamned criminal manager/executive/ceo involved in allowing this to happen should be sitting in prisons with murders, rapists and the other human cess-pools out there.

It's this kind of greed that should inform every working parent to teach there children to have a healthy hatred of the wealthy.

[Median Democrat]

6. We Require More Verification For Unemployment Benefits Than These Bail Out Loans

I have no problem with the profit motive so long as the corporations are regulated and pay for the costs of regulation. If they are not willing, then we should not be bailing them out. If they love the free market so much, and hate regulation, then have a nice life, and enjoy the road to bankruptcy.

This is the quid pro quo. You want the government to help you out, then you better help out your fellow citizens. General Motors wants a loan? Then, GM better build a plant in the U.S., and not cut health care benefits.