Here is what we are up against (BusinessWeek):

[Political Heretic]

Financial Regulation: Industry Objections Increasing
Obama's plan for financial reform has sparked a growing chorus of protest from banks, hedge funds, and other interests

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jun2009/db20090626_446404.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily


If the financial elite are the only voices heard, then we will not have substantive responsible regulation by the time Congress gets to passing a final bill. That's not a slam on anyone - the President could propose an absolutely flawless policy and it still is not likely to be what we get. So can we please, not turn this into "You hate Obama, no I don't" debate.

We're talking about something where, we can't afford "well its better than nothing" change to the way we do business in this country. Our children can't afford it. Not every issue looks like a neat linear line from "better than nothing" to "perfect."

Imagine the situation with our plunder capitalism of the just the last 30 years as though we are standing on one side of a huge canyon. A bridge that does not span the canyon isn't "good enough." It's good for nothing. Of course we are not going to suddenly change everything overnight. But the changes we need, all of them are dramatic and sizable, and because we have let our country fall so far, there's really no way to avoid that.

The financial elite and the privileged interests that control Washington politics will stop and nothing to ensure that a regulatory agency is toothless, that it is staffed with wall street insiders, that there are maximum loopholes written into law. Our only hope, and it is a small one, is large public engagement.

Help me by researching out organizations and agencies that may be launching a public campaign in support of real financial overhaul. I don't just mean organizations who are "for it." I mean organizations that are going to spend money on it - if there are any. Let us get connected to a policy campaign for changes that working America DESERVES.

Government, by and large as the shadow cast by big business over society, is not our friend. People in Washington, by and large are either not here to help us or find themselves drowning in a corrupt system that all the honest efforts they made are stifled.

Either way, we're at war and most people don't even know it. The privileged elite continue there unwarranted aggression against the public, the working class - driving down or stagnating wages, widening the income gap, destroying unions, privatizing the commons, stripping the people of rights and re branding them as "privileges." All with the support of a political elite more interested in maintaining their own status, power and access to celebrity and influence than protecting the people of the United States.

Either we start fighting back, or its over.

If and when this legislation comes out as water-down, loophole ridden, symbolic garbage, what will we do? Will we all roll over and say "maybe next time?" Or will we finally, finally say, "enough."

[baldguy]

1. You bankster guys don't like it?

Fine. Give us our trillion dollars back.

[DrToast]

2. Reform should have been tied to the bailouts

As if nobody saw this coming.

[Blue_Tires]

6. i said that from the get-go...

there was never going to be another opportunity with that much leverage over wall street

[Raineyb]

7. That's exactly why I was against the bailout

Just throwing money at the banks is not going to fix the system and without reform included in the bailout the banks will just use our money to fight further reforms. That is why the argument that we bail first and fix later was frankly, pardon my French, bullshit.

Regards

[uponit7771]

3. If they don't like it that means it's good for the many

[Doctor_J]

4. The failure to send a bunch of these people to real prison was a mistake

that will haunt us

[OHdem10]

5. The Democrats had better start thinking about their legacy.

Yes, they inherited a fiasco but what will they do with it.

Will they fix the situation????? or will they spinelessly permit
a complete crash for the country. We are not out of the woods
yet.

[Thrill]

8. Watch how fast the Democrats leave Obama out there by himself. Watch and see

[Political Heretic]

9. Kick.