Viewpoint: No "bailouts" to irresponsible companies

By Steven Johnson, Portage Township

Author's Note: Below is a copy of an email sent to U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, Governor Jennifer Granholm and State Representative Mike Lahti.

I am writing to you because I am one of the voting constituents who put you into office to represent me as a citizen of the United States and of the State of Michigan and also because I cannot any longer, in conscience, refrain from expressing myself at the reprehensible behavior occurring in the nation’s Capitol. I am referring specifically to the entire frenzy of "bailouts" being done in the pretense of stabilizing our economy.

Not really so long ago persons in public office were elected to serve as public servants. My greatest concern is that it appears that without exception we are no longer being led by men and women of principle, but rather of political expediency.

I meet no one who agrees with this "rescue" fiasco. The universal opinion seems to be to let the fiscally irresponsible companies and individuals declare bankruptcy and learn a hard but lasting lesson -- and to allow the remaining companies who have been more responsible to absorb the business. The government should not buy or run businesses (how can they, in view of the way they conduct themselves fiscally already?). And failing businesses that come looking for a bailout should be told NO -- on principle.

The solution to any problem never was more of the same. Fiscal irresponsibility will not be solved by the government doing the same, just on a bigger scale. The abandon with which you are spending our hard-earned tax dollars and our financial futures, with pride, on anyone who has already proven that they cannot or will not conduct themselves accountably is sickening.

The government has no business acting like a bank. It is the purpose of government, at all levels, to diligently protect the citizens in their inalienable rights -- NOT to dispense privileges. Your entire power is granted by the people to be used for the entirety of the people and not for special interests.

Who will "bail out" this great country when you have sold it down the tubes?

It is my opinion that any representative who votes for a bailout should be removed from office for overstepping their bounds and acting in a most irresponsible manner to the detriment of those people and principles they were chosen to represent. I will be watching to see how you vote on these issues.

Since you seem to be able to come up with billions or trillions of dollars in the midst of one of the worst recessions this country has ever faced, I do not want to EVER hear, for the rest of my life, that any of you claim you cannot fund the defense of this people -- your first and only designated purpose -- in their rights and liberties.

If you are personally so concerned about these failing companies, I would suggest that you donate whatever part of your salary you can to assist them. Do NOT give away my tax money with which you have been entrusted. DO reinstate strict accountability both for yourselves and anyone else in positions of power, so that the right and true principles upon which this great nation was once founded will be upheld and honored once again.

Editor's Note: Viewpoint columns posted at the request of the author do not necessarily reflect the views of Keweenaw Now.