Bankruptcy Day II

Credit card company profits 2004: $30 billion

Lots going on with the Bankruptcy bill. This is a really big deal. It does appear it's going to pass, hurting millions of Americans. On the upside, Democrats may be able to use this as a "wedge" issue in the mid-terms. It is so blatantly pro-wealthy it staggers the mind.

In fact, the Freepers are going kind of crazy about it. You know a bill is bad if the hardest of the hardcore are saying it's a bad idea. That link is to a discussion forum regarding the Paul Krugman editorial I mentioned yesterday.

Now, I tend to lump all conservative/freeper types into the same bucket, but it does appear that some of them are capable of formulating an independent thought. I was quite surprised. Then there are a large number of them that are just really hard core. Example:

Adults have to be responsible for their actions and the government already has given the irresponsible a break with bankruptcy. Why not require people who can vote, sit on a jury and own a gun to meet their contractual obligations? If that is too much to ask then let's just end the Republic right here and now.

26 posted on 03/08/2005 3:37:15 PM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)

I wonder if Freepers are embarrassed to have a guy like that among their group. Actually, I'm curious about Oxen's take on that comment. Giving the "irresponsible a break with bankruptcy" - indeed. A couple of obvious comments. First, bankruptcy protection is a part of the Constitution (as a result of indentured servitude). I'm sure that he doesn't realize that. Second, more than half of all bankruptcies result from medical bills. I suppose that person considers them irresponsible for getting sick and not being able to afford care.

Clearly that person is ignorant and hate filled. There are some people that are strict Darwinists. Survival of the fittest - at any cost. That person probably would have no problem seeing somebody lose everything, and end up on the street to freeze or starve to death. He would contend that any such person brought it on himself by being irresponsible.

They call themselves Freepers. I call them sociopaths. A true sociopath lacks any empathy for another human being, which is clearly in evidence when reading the posts on the Free Republic forum. Now, my calling them sociopaths may sound like just mud slinging rhetoric, but I'm not trying to be cute with it. In reading what a large number of them are writing, I seriously think they fit the clinical definition.

But, don't get me wrong. I expect responsible behavior, and a person paying their way. Still, a normal human being will be empathetic and charitable to other human beings in need. Most Freepers are not normal human beings. The Congressional Republican's are not normal human beings. The wealthy controlling credit card companies are not normal human beings. I think that any Democrat that votes for this bill should be castigated by the rest of the party.

Interesting factoid:

1 Utah
2 Tennessee
3 Georgia
4 Nevada
5 Indiana
6 Alabama
7 Arkansas
8 Ohio
9 Mississippi
10 Idaho

41 South Dakota
42 South Carolina
43 Connecticut
44 New Hampshire
45 DC
46 North Dakota
47 Hawaii
48 Maine
49 Massachusetts
50 Vermont
51 Alaska

What do you think that represents? Obviously the ranking in filing for bankruptcy. The top 10 states in bankruptcy filing are all red states. 7 out of 10 in the lowest ranks are blue states. That's very significant. Why do those that are most in need of Democratic policies continue to support Republicans?

By the way - two states have homestead exemptions. I live in one of them. This bill will do away with that. Where my home was protected before, that will no longer be the case. If I get sick and can't work, I'll lose everything.

That is the "ownership society" of George Bush. That is the Republican party.

One last Feeper comment:

Well, if you were in the Senate, you could count on my vote for "anyone but Torie". Personal responsibility, financial and otherwise, has to be flogged back in people, if need be (and there IS a huge need for it).
Centuries ago there were debtors' prisons, and before that the institution of debt slavery, even extending to debtor's family. Not that there were no bad debtors at that time - there were, but the notion of responsibility, buttressed by real penalties for failure - was much deeper rooted, to the point of being unquestionable.

49 posted on 03/08/2005 4:34:05 PM PST by GSlob

How nice.. bring back debtor prisons, and indentured servitude...



Republican Jesus stolen from Jesus' General - which just happens to be one of the the funniest web sites on the net. I could hang out with the General, in a purely manly hetero-sexual sort of way of course.