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Highlands Today

Highlands Today > News > Letters To The Editor

Misplaced outrage

Sherrie Hess-Anderson

Published: November 2, 2009

While the economy recovers from a painful recession, there is outrage from the public and the White House about what some banks are preparing to fork over in bonuses.
So while they are focusing on the perks that the private sector bankers who took public funds are getting, no one is focusing on the perks our elected officials get. And we pay for all of these.
Well, let's compare, Just a little sampling of perk vs. perk.
So, B of A CEO has apparently one corporate jet. What shall we call Air Force One? Then, apparently, there is also an Air Helicopter One, a fleet of special reinforced limos, etc.
I suppose that the CEO of B of A also has a tennis court that was recently converted to a basketball court with, you guessed it, public funds?
Can you imagine the gall of that CEO, expecting us to pay for his country club membership? Oh, wait a minute, they are a private corporation and perhaps some of these funds may not have come from taxpayers.
But, did you and I also pay for the entire bank's perks? Well, let's see, did we pay for health club membership for say, senators and congressmen? Oh yes, I remember they have their own health club.
We also pay for meals, special dinners, parties and White House egg rolls on the lawn, the lawn upkeep, maids, servants and secretaries and all the other perks.
Then there are extra funds they get from all those special interest lobbyists.
So, I wonder if anyone is putting money in the coffers of bank employees for their bid for job renewal when their employment contracts run out. No, all they can ask for is their salary plus a few expected perks.
Banks are now getting money from taxpayer funds so they need to be accountable, right? At least according to our government.
Dear Mr. Elected Official, get a life! With 128 different channels on TV, every major newspaper in the U.S. and own Web sites, how is it you think we are so uninformed?
I hate to bring up some good old religious morals, but I'm afraid the shoe just simply fits best here. "He amongst you that is without sin, let him cast the first stone."
Sherrie Hess-Anderson
Sebring

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