What Is Goin’ On?

I guess you could call John Barrow a maverick. He was first elected to Congress in 2004 and since that time has voted contrary to the Democratic leadership on things like immigration. Most recently he voted against the baleout of Wall Street. As John explains in this interview, the Bush Administration pushed fast and hard to get a $700 billion baleout for corporate business, but failed to provide adequate consideration and protection for the homeowners. Further, John, and others, were not satisfied with what appeared to be a blank check for the Bush Adminstration. For example, they wanted to approve the baleout in stages, rather than all or nothing. As it is, the Bush Administration could conceivably get control of all $700 billion before they leave office.

Another issue was the “golden parchute” for Wall Street executives. John says the attempts to impose restrictions on executive compensation were so watered down as to be meaningless.

Of course, the economy is the issue that is on everyone’s mind. When Bush took office the national debt was about $4.5 trillion. Today, it is over $10 trillion. When Bush took office I was a Republican, but it took about 2 years to convince me that he wasn’t a Republican. Oh, Bush and his cronies, say they are Republicans but they do not have a clue about the Republicanism of Barry Goldwater.

John believes it is time to start protecting the American economy. While it may be important to open up foreign markets, if doing so destoys the American industry and workers’ jobs, it is not worth it. For that reason, John has voted against several trade bills.

When it comes to energy, John favors an all out effort to achieve energy independence. We should have learned in the 1970s that our energy policy should not be tied to the price of oil. If we only focus on energy issues when the price of oil is high, all the oil producing countries have to do is to lower the price and we forget about it until the next crisis. What we have needed for 30 years and not had, is leadership. Leaders see the future, think about what is coming and steer the country on a safe course. Politicians put tomorrow first, because tomorrow they are up for re-election, tomorrow they have a fundraiserm, and tomorrow they can hide behind something else to cover their sins. Tomorrow is already too late!

Leadership is non-partisan.