Every year across the U.S. we participate in a long practiced tradition of welcoming in a New Year. This is followed by reminiscing, contemplating, and evaluating the occurrences of the previous year. Deep and thought provoking questions are often asked in the first few days of each New Year, and Resolutions are developed and committed to by many of us; for a time anyway. Let’s apply that tradition to the arrival of the new fiscal year for the Federal Government which occurred on 1 October, 2009.

A year has passed since we were told by news reporters and our Federal Government that if they did not take immediate and drastic action, the entire U.S. economy would collapse and “Martial Law” would be required to address the resulting civil turmoil. Our elected and appointed officials warned us of pending economic doom that would lead to a global depression, greater than the one our nation experienced in the 1930’s. We have experienced a deep and troubling recession over the last year, but have seen no proof released by the government concerning the economic doom predicted by Washington D.C. and Wall Street. Where is the evidence that was so sound and compelling that it required our elected House and Senate members to act so rapidly on numerous legislative bills that they could not even take the time to read them? Why does this compelling evidence remain hidden, rather than being widely disseminated to the American Public? Wouldn’t the public understand the dire threat to our country and unite to overcome this economic threat of chaos? Why are Americans not demanding this compelling evidence be released?

Twelve months ago our House and Senate enacted the $700 billion “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008”, more commonly referred to as TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program).  They warned the public that the banking system was about to collapse and the funds would be used to buy up “Toxic Assets”.  Elected officials identified that this was a crisis driven bill that had to be acted upon immediately; there was no time for debate or deliberation. Polls at the time identified most Americans were opposed to this “Bail Out” bill. Congress enacted it against the will of the people. Looking back, it is not surprising that it has failed to accomplish its stated goals and that the banks and other institutions receiving the money did not use it as intended by Congress, and the average American can see no discernable improvement.

Seven months ago our House and Senate passed the $850 billion “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009”, often referred to as the Stimulus Bill. This was not a group of capital construction projects to rebuild transportation infrastructure, bridges, ports, federal buildings, or other public facilities.  Instead it was a bill that grouped many proposals that had been put forward as pet projects by Congressional members each year, but had been removed each year in debate and deliberation. Polls showed that most Americans were opposed to the bill because they perceived it as nothing more than pork, yet our House and Senate were so compelled to take action that it was created and passed against the will of the people.

Six months ago there was tremendous anger and turmoil as it was revealed that the insurance company AIG was paying out large bonuses to executives.  Normally this would be of little to no consequence to the average American, but in this case they resented the bonuses because our House, Senate, and Administration had previously taken an 80% ownership stake in AIG using Taxpayer money. Once again the American populace had overwhelmingly been against bailing out AIG with tax dollars, but now they were irate at the AIG executives receiving bonuses while employed in a failed company, and also at Congress for being so inept at legislation and oversight that this event could happen.

Five months ago we saw the finalization of the Federal Government takeover of a significant portion of the U.S. automobile Industry. Only Ford survived since they had declined to take the multiple Federal loans that had been given out to the U.S. Automobile industry previously.  General Motors and Chrysler were declared insolvent and forced into bankruptcy court. Although today the names for both remain, in reality they ceased to exist as the courts forced settlements that favored the Federal Government and Unions over the holders of priority debt, disregarding 200 years of U.S. bankruptcy and contract law.  Once again the American people had been strongly against the use of Taxpayer funds for the loans and bail outs going to the automobile industry, but their elected officials knew better.

The last four months of fiscal year 2009 can best be labeled as “The Summer of Discontent”. Americans, who were never politically active before, began to attend Town Hall meetings where they demanded their Congressional Representatives and Senators explain themselves and their policies. They loudly demanded their personal opinions and observations concerning Health Care, and to a lesser extent on Cap and Trade pending legislation, be heard. No longer could elected representatives hide in Washington D.C. and ignore the polls, e-mails, letters, and phone calls expressing the American people’s disagreement with their elected officials. In reaction many Congressional Representatives and Senators canceled or refused to hold Town Hall meetings, in some cases they restricted attendance to invited constituents only. As summer faded and elected officials returned to Washington D.C. they breathed a sigh of relief, believing that with time the American populace would return to their couches and potato chips. But it was not to be, for the American People had planned a party.  It started in Sacramento California and over a few weeks many tens to hundreds of thousands shared a little time with each other at a TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party. Some in the press reported that a few Right Wings Nuts arrived on 12 September 2009 at the Washington D.C. Mall. I suppose that the other unrecognized, but estimated at 2 million in attendance were simply God fearing, Tax Paying, and Patriotic Americans who were peacefully assembling and expressing their opinions.

During fiscal year 2009 many trillions of American Tax Payer dollars were taken from the middle class by the Federal Government who diverted these funds to Banks, Insurance and Car Companies, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and many other industries because each was “Too Big to Fail”. Our elected officials in Washington D.C. over the last 12 months actively decided to ignore the will of “We the People”. What are “We the People” going to do about it?