Pass the bucket

The bail out of Wall Street, article after article says, is not about Wall Street.It's about us. And it's now a rescue mission. We are in the rescue boat, bailing out the water. Pass the bucket.

We are rescuing our economy, allowing credit to flow so jobs and business transactions can continue, so we don't face losses in savings for college and pension plans. We rescue ourselves by rescuing Wall Street, despite acknowledging their excesses.

But, you see, the problem is we do this by dipping into the (tax) pockets of those who pay the most taxes percentage-wise on their income, those who have the fewest deductions in a system designed to benefit those who have the most flexibility to get the most deductions. Fifty percent of corporations don't even pay taxes any more.

Pass the bucket.

You see, the main problem I have is that this situation, all crisis-like-rescue-heroic-mode, did not happen overnight. And it happens right before an election where we get to choose new platforms, right? But while we bail the old water out of the boat, we won't be able to make the changes we need to make in a whole lot of other areas that have been let go that affect the same people who are now expected to bail out Wall Street. Oh, I'm sorry. Our economy.

Pass the bucket.

You can't see me so you don't know what I'm doing with that bucket when it gets to me.

Now I don't have any children, but I do have four nephews and a niece. Two of my nephews have disabilities which require ongoing and consistent health care. Expensive therapies and medication are involved. I've watched the struggles my siblings have had to obtain services, a good education and care for their children. One is now a young man in college and the other still in middle school. Every change requires adjustments - and more services, sometimes equipment. One of my siblings has carefully invested money for his family and their future and the last thing I would want is to see that money downsized in any way.

Pass the bucket.

My other sibling is not able to save money. She relies on paycheck to paycheck from multiple jobs worked by a husband who is a cancer survivor with a heart condition. Their child's care comes first and choices have to be made. And, although before I acquired my disability, I was able to help out, that's no longer the case. So I watch this with a heavy heart.

Pass the bucket.

As we bail out the boat, however, I do wonder not just about my sibling who has been able to save money , but about the sibling who hasn't- and pays taxes from two jobs that don't pay a whole lot of money. I know from my own situation how expensive a disability is to have in America. It sucks you dry financially. There is no relief, no bail out, no rescue on the horizon for many if we are busy bailing out/rescuing our economy from what might have been seen.

And that, I think, is behind the mistrust of many who oppose the bail out-or whatever you want to call it. We can argue back and forth about who should have done what, but the truth is that the Senate will most likely pass a rescue plan and the House will follow.

But make no mistake about it - we are not all in the same boat.


[image description: Two young people are seen standing in a small boat, bailing water out with buckets.]