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Quickly, I think there are basically four reasons why this bizarre, unhelpful thing passed: 1) As mentioned on reply #8, the corrupting, excessive influence of corporations and lobbyists, shifting all legislation to their benefit and interests. 2) I heard a little bit of a Senate hearing on this, and by the kinds of pseudo-"experts" they invite, and the kinds of questions they themselves ask, you can tell the problem and what kinds of stupid legislation will come next. I heard "explanations" for what kinds of spending stimulus measures are needed, and it was exactly the opposite of what the Federal Government's own statistics for G.D.P., healthy economy, and all the rest going back 70 years or more, show--they claimed "entrepeneurs," that annoying word, need tax cuts for "investment," when that is the least likely to help things. What is needed are direct cash payments to poor and middle class people with bills and things that need to be done--repairs of vehicles and home, etc.--that will flow into the economy instantly. Also, because of their Republican mind-set, they all appear to be unaware of the depth and extent of the problem out here. For example, I remember the statistic even from Molly Ivins several years ago, which has not changed--one-fourth of all minimum wage workers are homeless; they do not make enough money to live in a home, yet work 40+ hours a week! Also, just heard, the price of homes nationally, was down over the course of the whole year, for the first time since the Great Depression of the 1930s; there is something terrible happening out here, that needs drastic solutions, and changes. 3) I think the highest level "D"LC, etc., "Democrats," with their fleets of commercial consultants, "framers," and etc., really have themselves bamboozled by the equally isolated Republicans, so that they believe--still--that they will be hammered by the American people if they raise taxes, help the poor, etc. I think this is actually still the case with these rich people. 4) They are so used to being craven, pleading with Republicans to like them, not hit them, please don't obstruct again, please let's be unified if we crawl and do everything Republicans want, that they are afraid--really afraid--to now have to fight. They have this so built up in their minds, that they don't dare take on pricks like McConnell. Democrats of every earlier era would have been on the floor of both Houses of Congress, and during every single hearing, yelling, accusing, and demanding a solution here (as only Dodd finally is), rather than this endless, disgusting capitulation that is so embarrassing and destructive to us all.
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