KAREN WEBB Moore, OK
11.20.08
An Open Letter To The U.S. Senate:
First of all, I have never worked for an auto company, nor have any relatives I know about. I want to make sure all of you understand that jokes and crap about having auto CEO’s give up jets to fly coach aren’t funny because the people most punished by this aren’t the guys flying anything who have golden parachutes, but the guys at the bottom.
The workers don’t have golden parachutes and, in fact, in the last decade they have taken hit after hit to their benefits and retirements, and they aren’t allowed to make the decisions on types of cars they are building.
The CEO’s and wealthy board members of every entity getting anything in the way of taxpayer money do need punishment and, so far, I haven’t seen any going to any of the correct people. You guys have deregulated any and every kind of safety net for the rest of us and let the big guys play fast and loose with our futures and in return you are still pushing for tax cuts for people who need no tax cuts because they haven’t created a damn thing except huge bank accounts for themselves.
Do not start on unions because they have a right to expect to be treated fairly and since President Bush took office they have given in on numerous things. You guys are working really hard to get rid of even a back-up parachute for the people who really need one.
Senators, you guys have a lot of room to talk about others getting special treatment. The last time I looked, even a one-term congressman gets a better benefit and retirement package than most union members. You can serve one two-year term and get retirement and health care benefits that the rest of the country doesn’t get.
You guys are the only thing we have — kind of like union stewards with pretty good [maybe silver] parachutes who are protecting us from greed. Who do we sit down with to discuss cutting congressional pay and benefits like the rest of us?
Cut the crap and start focusing on what this will do to the millions who have no say, whatsoever, and have no parachutes.
A while back the Supreme Court allowed Bethlehem Steel to nix retirement benefits, during bankruptcy, in order to pay creditors, leaving the thousands of retired workers with zilch, so do something, already.
Oh, and by the way, in a cabinet member, I like one with experience and maybe even inside-the-beltway experience over some dude who raised money and judged horse shows.
