Freedom to do business

1.) The last-minute arrangement that was ramroded through Congress by Mr. Bush and Mr. Paulson--the one that appropriated $800 billion of public money for "too big to fail" financial institutions--was not consistent with the goal of preserving responsible government for the people. It was a bad precedent; as soon as the administration changed, the Democrats followed the Republican wake and sliced themselves a cut of the the action, appropriating $767 billion. Republicans trickle down; Democrats trickle up. But it's all taxpayer money, and now it's public liability that strangles our government with unsustainable hopeless hock. This is not favorable for preserving the US government as an instrument of the people, by the people and for the people. 2.) The TARP and the Stimulus are both irresponsible boondoggles.  We need to do something to overcome its effects, short term and long term.

3) What we need to preserve, at all costs, is this: the freedom and viability of all Americans to conduct business at the lowest levels. This means that all of our people, of all ethnic identities, must remain free to initiate enterprises and operate them prosperously, unobstructed by superfluous regulation and burdensome taxes. 4.) The American people, if allowed to remain free and resourceful, will build new free markets and enterprises on the ruins of this present economic chaos. But if people look to the government, or the banks, or the Fed, or even Wall Street, to bail them out of this mess--then they will become indentured servants. We cannot build recovery upon the shifting sands of irresponsible lending, or speculating on derivatives and credit default swaps. We need to find true value again. It's back to basics time. What is truly valuable? Find out what that is, and then produce it, or help someone else in producing it. Maybe it's solar panels; maybe it's corn or tomatoes or cabbage. Maybe it's widgets or bicycles or rickshaws or scooters. 5.) Americans, look around you. Ask yourself: What can I do to improve the present circumstances of myself and those whom I hold dear? Then do that--whatever comes to mind when you ask that question of yourself. Ask not your country to bail you out, but ask what you can do to bail yourself and your loved ones out of the deep mess in which we're stuck.

Carey Rowland, author of Glass half-Full