Debt, debt, debt.

Editor,

Paul Krugman wrote yesterday that our government has "very little leverage" over the banks. Why is this the case? How did this happen?

Do we negotiate with rapists to allow them to engage in certain behaviors because we have "very little leverage" over them? Do we negotiate with murderers?

Why is putting people out of work and out of their homes by scamming around with gambling instruments legal?

If you read about the "Washington consensus" and the economy after economy that Wall Street and their fellow travelers in the IMF and the World Bank destroyed across the globe from 1973 until countries like Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, and others kicked them out in the 20-naughts, you will see exactly the same MO operating here in the U.S.: looting the economy, driving the country deep into debt (like the investments banks did to Simmons mattress), saddling citizens with enormous debts they will never be able to pay.

Debt, debt, debt. It's the gift that keeps on giving to the usurer who issues it, the "product" of choice to liars, traitors, and thieves.

re: "Safety Nets for the Rich" (10/20/2009)