- - No problem, the US Senate says .... just change the accounting rules.
The credit crunch is primarily caused by mortgage defaults.
- - No problem. The Senate can't save your houses but they will require mental health benefits- if you are lucky enough to still have a job - and health insurance.
We MUST act immediately- or else the world financial markets will collapse.
- - No problem, since Lawmakers clearly have the time and plenty of free paper, let's tweak the alternative minimum tax rules, add tax break for "wooden arrows" *and* throw in $8 billion in tax relief for those hit by natural disasters.
Now (almost) any of these provisions might well be worthwhile on their own merit but cramming this kind of utter non-sense into an "emergency financial rescue package" demonstrates precisely why Americans should prefer gridlock over bi-partisanship. When politicians all get together in agreement on something, bend over and GRAB YOUR ANKLES because it always means the taxpayer is about to get pounded.[/i]
Jury selection in the case is set for Nov. 3. The trial, which is expected to take at least week, should start shortly thereafter. That is, unless a settlement can be scripted.