Shameful, Indeed

Today, President Obama called the excessive bonuses given by the banks as "shameful."

He understated the shamefulness of these people, by a large margin.

It also came out the other day that the bailout money given to the banks was not only used to pad their own wallets, but was also used to try to keep average, everyday workers from having any kind of decent life.

Via Open Left, we can learn that Bank of America Corp and AIG, to just name two, used their bailout money to hire consultants and lobbyists in an effort to prevent workers from receiving decent pay or minimal benefits, like health insurance or paid sick days:

Three days after receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America Corp. hosted a conference call with conservative activists and business officials to organize opposition to the U.S. labor community's top legislative priority.

Participants on the October 17 call -- including at least one representative from another bailout recipient, AIG -- were urged to persuade their clients to send "large contributions" to groups working against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), as well as to vulnerable Senate Republicans, who could help block passage of the bill.

...Donations of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to Republican senatorial campaigns were needed, they argued..."If a retailer has not gotten involved in this, if he has not spent money on this election, if he has not sent money to [former Sen.] Norm Coleman and all these other guys, they should be shot. They should be thrown out their goddamn jobs," Marcus declared.

Yet it is the conservatives that believe that not only should these rights be denied to workers, but that the stimulus money should go to giving tax breaks. I'm sorry, but I have a hard time worrying about people that receive $18 billion dollars of our tax money as a bonus, or gouge us at the pump for $45 billion profits. Let them pay some taxes on the largess that they got at our expense.

It's time we all stand up again and speak with one voice to support the Employee Free Choice Act.