Bill Moyers Urges Citizens to Stand Up for Reform of Our Financial Systems

[kpete]

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01082010/profile.html

..................

But as David Corn and Kevin Drum just told us, on this side of the Atlantic, the specter of tighter regulation or higher taxes isn't keeping American bankers up at night, to the contrary. Last month, the American Bankers Association sent out an update a "call to action" memorandum crowing over its success watering down the bank reform bill that had been approved by the House and urging its members to beat back similar legislation in the Senate. It concluded, "As one of your New Year's resolutions, please vow to do everything in your power to show, and to have your colleagues in your bank show, your Senators the right path to true reform."

It helps, of course, when the so-called right path is paved with gold. The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, an indispensable source for information on money's role in politics, reported in November that "The finance, insurance and real estate sector has given 2.3 billion dollars to candidates, leadership PACs and party committees since 1989." You heard me right: Billions. A sum that eclipses every other sector — including the defense and health care lobbies.

All of this is beginning to break through to harried taxpayers across the country. There may not be a movement yet for fundamental change, as David Corn said, but here, there, and elsewhere, citizens are waking up, looking around, and asking, "What can we do?" Go to our website at PBS.org and click on Bill Moyers Journal and you'll see what I mean. We'll link you to nonpartisan grassroots organizations pushing for financial reform.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/34062

[Odin2005]

1. K&R

[mascarax]

2. How sad is it when $2.3 billion isn't a surprise?!

Frankly, based on their shenanigans, might be more of a surprise the number isn't higher.

I've been reading "Too Big to Fail" where "billions" is almost like "dollars", "and" and "the"! Big sigh.

Thanks...I'll check out Moyers link. We need regulations!

[berni_mccoy]

3. Fair criticism and well reasoned argument. I can support this.

[Captain Hilts]

4. That was a great show. nt