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    Posted September 30, 2008 by
    idealist615
    Location
    Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    Bailout outrage

    More from idealist615

    Obama's Bailout Speech....

     

     

    MUST READ:

     

     

    Excerpts from Obama's speech in Nevada today:  Needs no analysis or introduction.

     

     

     

     

    .......This financial crisis is a direct result of the greed and irresponsibility that has dominated Washington and Wall Street for years. It's the result of speculators who gamed the system, regulators who looked the other way, and lobbyists who bought their way into our government.  It's the result of an economic philosophy that says we should give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else; a philosophy that views even the most common-sense regulations as unwise and unnecessary.  And this economic catastrophe is the final verdict on this failed philosophy - a philosophy that we cannot afford to continue.

     

     

     

     

    This is one of those defining moments when the American people are looking to Washington for leadership.  It is not a time for politics.  It is not a time for partisanship.  It is not a time to figure out how to take credit or where to lay blame.  It is not a time for politicians to concern themselves with the next election.  It is a time for all of us to concern ourselves with the future of the country we love.  This is a time for action.

     

     

    I know that many of you are feeling anxiety right now - about your jobs, about your homes, about your life savings.  But I also know this - I know that we can steer ourselves out of this crisis.  Because that's who we are.  Because this is the United States of America.  This is a nation that has faced down war and depression; great challenges and great threats.  And at each and every moment, we have risen to meet these challenges - not as Democrats, not as Republicans, but as Americans.  With resolve.  With confidence. With that fundamental belief that here in America, our destiny is not written for us, but by us.  That's who we are, and that's the country we need to be right now......

     

     

     

     

    First, I said we needed an independent board to provide oversight and accountability for how and where this money is spent at every step of the way.

     

     

    Second, I said that we cannot help banks on Wall Street without helping the millions of innocent homeowners who are struggling to stay in their homes.  They deserve a plan too.

     

     

    Third, I said that I would not allow this plan to become a welfare program for the Wall Street executives whose greed and irresponsibility got us into this mess.

     

     

    And finally, I said that if American taxpayers are financing this solution, then you should be treated like investors - you should get every penny of your tax dollars back once this economy recovers.

     

     

    This last part is important, because it's been the most misunderstood and poorly communicated aspect of this entire plan. This is not a plan to just hand over $700 billion of your money to a few banks on Wall Street.  If this is executed the right way, then the government will temporarily purchase the bad assets of our financial institutions so that they can start lending again, and then sell those assets once the markets settle down and the economy recovers.  If this is managed correctly, we will hopefully get most or all of our money back, or possibly even turn a profit on the government's investment - every penny of which will go directly back to you, the investor. And if we do have losses, I've proposed to institute a Financial Stability Fee on the entire financial services industry so that Wall Street foots the bill - not the American taxpayer.  I've also said that if I'm President, I will review the entire plan on the day I take office to make sure that it is working to save our economy and that you are getting your money back.

     

     

    Even with all these taxpayer protections, I know that this plan is not perfect or fool-proof.  No matter how well we manage the government's investments under this plan, we are still putting taxpayer dollars at risk. I know that there are Democrats and Republicans in Congress who have legitimate concerns about this, and I know there are many Americans who share those concerns.

     

     

    But I also know that we can't afford not to act. Both parties are close to accepting this plan, and over the next few hours and days, we should seek out any new ideas that might get this done.  This morning, I proposed one such idea that might increase bipartisan support for this plan and shore up our economy at the same time:  expanding federal deposit insurance for families and small businesses across America who have invested their money in our banks.

     

     

    The majority of American families should rest assured that the deposits they have in our banks of up to $100,000 are still guaranteed by the federal government.  That guarantee is more than adequate for most families, but it is insufficient for many small businesses to meet their payroll, buy their supplies, and create new jobs.  The current insurance limit of $100,000 was set 28 years ago and has not been adjusted for inflation.  I've proposed raising the FDIC limit to $250,000 - a step that would boost small businesses, make our banking system more secure, and help restore confidence by reassuring families that their money is safe.......

     

     

     

     

    .............I will begin by reforming our tax code so that it doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.  I will eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-ups, so that we can grow our economy and create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

     

     

     

     

    I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95% of all workers and their families.  And if you make less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increase one single dime - because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class......

     

     

     

     

    ...............I won't pretend this will be easy or come without cost.  We will all need to sacrifice and we will all need to pull our weight because now more than ever, we are all in this together.  What this crisis has taught us is that at the end of the day, there is no real separation between Main Street and Wall Street. There is only the road we're traveling on as Americans - and we will rise or fall on that journey as one nation; as one people.

     

     

     

     

    This country and the dream it represents are being tested in a way that we haven't seen in nearly a century.  And future generations will judge ours by how we respond to this test.  Will they say that this was a time when America lost its way and its purpose?  When we allowed our own petty differences and broken politics to plunge this country into a dark and painful recession?

     

     

     

     

    Or will they say that this was another one of those moments when America overcame?  When we battled back from adversity by recognizing that common stake that we have in each other's success?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I believe that this is one of those moments.  I know that many of you are anxious about your future and the future of this country.  I realize that you are cynical and fed up with politics.  I understand that you are disappointed and even angry with your leaders.  You have every right to be.  But despite all of this, I ask you to believe - believe in this country and your ability to change it.  I ask you what has been asked of the American people in times of trial and turmoil throughout our history - what was asked at the beginning of the greatest financial crisis this nation has ever endured. In his first fireside chat, Franklin Roosevelt told his fellow Americans that "..there is an element in the readjustment of our financial system more important than currency, more important than gold, and that is the confidence of the people themselves.  Confidence and courage are the essentials of success in carrying out our plan.  Let us unite in banishing fear. Together, we cannot fail."

     

     

     

     

     

     

    America, together, we cannot fail. Not now.  Not when we have a crisis to solve and an economy to save. Not when there are so many Americans without jobs and without homes.  Not when there are families who can't afford to see a doctor, or send their child to college, or pay their bills at the end of the month.  Not when there is a generation that is counting on us to give them the same opportunities and the same chances that we had for ourselves.  Now is the time to make them proud of what we did here.  Let's give our children the future they deserve, and let's act with confidence and courage to show the world that at this moment, in this election, the United States of America is still the last, best hope of Earth.  Thank you Nevada, God bless you, and may God bless America.

     

     

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