Posted by
Frigglesnitz on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 10:27:29 PM
When I read Phyllis Schlafly’s September 4, 2006 column "Greedy politicians seduced by siren song of filthy foreign lucre," I was angry – all over again. It takes writing such as Ms. Schlafly’s to put in a nutshell what so many of us know instinctively but find ourselves inadequate or too busy to describe to our lawmakers.
Lord knows I have tried.
My bio describes having spent the last three-plus years writing. Writing to lawmakers of all stripes about any matter I believed to be important. Writing Letters to the Editor of one of my local papers. Writing letters to columnists. Writing plain letters to the editor without the capital "L" and capital "E." Writing to Secretaries and Commissioners of Departments of the U.S. Government. Writing to the President. Writing e-mail messages or letters to conservative organizations. Writing. Writing. Writing.
In the end, tilting at windmills.
Recently, however, I heard just a small blip on TV about Townhall.com and the stir it’s making – apparently in political circles. And if it makes a stir, it would be in those concentricities.
When I learned of CFIUS and the proposed sale of some U.S. port operations to Dubai Ports World, then, propelled by anger, I could not write my U.S. lawmakers fast enough to let them know my opinion. Later, one of my Letters to the Editor stated, among other things, that
"We, the people, were recently a collective ‘mouse that roared’ with respect to the contract with a U.A.E. company to operate six U.S. ports. That was one spectacular case of roaring.
"Bush vowed to veto any mandate to kill the deal, but he realized soon enough that his veto would be unceremoniously and embarrassingly overturned. He was saved by the gracious withdrawal of the U.A.E. company that would have been a party to the contract.
Also,
"It is splendidly gratifying to know that when enough mice roar as one, that roar will result in accelerated action."
"Why not roar more?"
It is nauseating to contemplate that those who govern states have reached a new low in selling the states’ infrastructure – right out from under the noses of their citizens. Talk about courts going too far! Can courts go too far? Can states go too far? Yes, and yes.
In the words of Ms. Schlafly, "Almost weekly, we learn about other U.S. properties that have been sold or leased long-term to foreign companies.... Why the rush to sell our transportation systems to foreigners? ‘Follow the money’ explains all. State and local governments pocket the money upfront and get to spend it here and now, so politicians can cover their runaway budget deficits and enjoy the political rewards.... They ignore the fact that U.S. citizens must pay tolls to foreign landlords for the next two or three or even four generations" (emphasis mine).
And, "Indiana legislators are concerned that the Spanish firm [to whom Indiana leased the Indiana Toll Road] could rake in $133 billion over the 75-year life of the Indiana toll road lease for which Indiana received only $3.8 billion."
Are Indiana legislators concerned only now?
So who should be red in the face? Voters, that’s who. Red from anger. Red from the straining of roaring.
From what little places will politicians hear the loudest roar? Polling places, that’s where.
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