I have never favored the bail-outs. I’m old fashioned. Bailouts is not the capitalists way. The government effectively is guaranteeing toxic debts that the banks are now taxing the consumer by raising credit card rates. In this respect I think the media is mostly culpable. Sooner or later the truth will get out but not soon enough to make a difference.

       While the media prats about A.I.G. for instance those responsible are long gone and the intended retention bonus are indications that these corporations doing business have no intention to change. What we need is to become more productive but this will require some redefinition. Productivity as it has been defined in the past meant more manufacturers and manufacturing companies in america expanding or exporting new products. Now that most of our manufacturing has been exported overseas we’ve been compelled to find new ways to be productive. One area that we’ve becoming more productive is servicing other countries by using our resources (human and militarily) to fighting their wars and taking up their causes. This has not though proven to be beneficial. Besides depleting our resources it has made us more dependent on others good grace and hospitality. The truth is that we have yet to learn how to be productive by serving our own needs besides helping others. I discovered this in my own teaching practice: that I cannot help others unless I can first help myself. And that I can only help other people to the degree that I can help myself. When I was a kid  I was taught that this is selfishness but now I realize that what is in my self-interest is also in other people’s. Now instead of promoting others I offer to help them with my promotions so that as I become more successful so will they. I think what the country needs is the same. We need to do what is in our interest than as we take care of those needs the needs of the others and the world will take care of themselves.