Freedom of BLEEP

The Obama Power Grab, Part V

Multiple banks have tried to pay back their bailout money (with interest) but the Obama administration is refusing to accept it. Even banks that have reported profits since the bailout and have successfully restored investor confidence are being forced to sit on piles of borrowed cash. CNN also reports, “It’s likely the Treasury will not permit bankers to return taxpayer money for many more months.”

The reason for this is clear: the government wants to control these banks, just like they control GM and Chrysler. Why? Well for one thing, the Pay for Performance Act was just passed by the house. This legislation allows the government to dictate pay for anyone working for any company that accepted TARP money (in other words, it has nothing to do with performance).

If the government can fire the CEO of GM and mandate what comes off their production lines certainly they will take unprecedented authority over the banks as well. They will be able to regulate who can receive loans, ultimately determining which businesses in the US can stay open. Chairmen have already been threatened with “adverse” consequences if they persist in trying to pay the loans back.

While it’s disturbing that the government could have this much control, it’s even more disturbing who will now be running these banks… A man who couldn’t even figure out how to pay his taxes!

Obama’s Power Grab, Part II

President Obama has altered the U.S. Government so that he will directly oversee the census in 2010. It’s important to consider why he would want this control, and why it violates the Constitution.

First, the census directly effects congressional redistricting. This can ultimately determine which political party a district favors. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790 under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to keep the census out of partisan hands. This is also one of the primary reason why the Department of Commerce was created in 1903. Expect gerrymandering to be much more prominent when 2010 comes around.

Second, the census determines how government funding is allocated. Everything from spending on schools to roads is dictated by the census.

Even though we have a Department of Commerce specifically dedicated to “gathering economic and demographic data for business and government decision-making,” Obama wants to oversee the census himself for inarticulate reasons. Starting to see why Obama’s first two picks for Commerce Secretary turned down the job? And remember, liberals have also allocated an extra $1 billion dollars to the census this year through the the porkulous package. You can sure change a lot with that kind of cash.

R.I.P.