Your Opinion: Conservatives pursue economic folly

Dear Editor:

Nationally and locally politicians do not want to remind you how our economy came to its sad current state. By encouraging the removal of monetary safeguards America's financial geniuses caused two economic bubbles in 10 years and here we are.

What has changed? A housing bubble slashed $6-8 trillion from our housing worth. That is not over. Millions of citizens are still losing their homes.

Many are being threatened with layoffs and lost jobs from the actions of bought-and-paid-for politicians. While the stock market has moved up and wealthy investors are happy, has your retirement fund regrouped? Remember, IRA's and 401(k)s lost $8 trillion in value or more than 30 percent. Many citizens have to postpone retirement.

What crook or politician who caused this debacle has paid a price? Politicians used our money to prop up the major banks at 100 percent on the dollar for their losses. These banks also received free loans from us. The worthless assets on their books are guaranteed by the government (meaning us).

Once there were campaign finance rules in place to prevent the wholesale purchase of politicians. Now the U.S. Supreme Court has conspired to make this easier by allowing unlimited amounts of corporate money for elections. The 2012 election cycle is already being publicized as the most expensive ever.

Here comes the dishonest sting. Somebody had to pay for the losses and that is us. Our home values and our retirement plans suffer. Now, public employees like teachers, policemen, firemen, state workers are all under fire. If they hold onto their jobs they are supposed to sacrifice their pensions and health care by contributing more or paying higher and higher co-pays on medical bills.

Conservative economics dominate the current political landscape with trickle-down ideas. Conservatives would remove every tax or restriction on business. Their vision of business is truly from the 19th century. One Missouri Republican has even introduced a bill to repeal the Missouri child labor law.