Big Surprise! The Bailout Didn't Pass!

Let me just lay my cards on the table.

I am a liberally-raised registered democrat. I spent many tender years summering as a child-volunteer-envelope-stuffer for landmark campaigns in Florida when visiting relatives in Delray Beach (not DelBocaVista, my Seinfeld-loving friends). And my Great Aunt Mae has for years sat as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, carrying 40,000+ votes in each election.

I come from people who founded some of the first labor unions, helped bring clean water to communities, and worked to ensure services for those in need. This often included increased taxes for the greater good.

I share this all knowing that as I do I am speaking as one of the less policitally active and knowledgeable amongst my accomplished family members. This unique brood includes not only my Aunt Mae, but also many other accomplished, intelligent and politically active members, including:

• my politically outspoken and knowledgeable activist sister, Steph.
• my Professor / Health Officer brother, Pete who also teaches college courses and sits on NJ Health committees.
• my Ivy educated mother, who works in a municipality, and deals daily with grassroots politics.
• my lawyer stepdad with a history of renegade cases and local and state campaign management.
• my Grant-Writing cousin Linda, whose work benefits the community and their mental health services.
• my cousin Jimmy the Supreme Court Justice in NYC.
• my brilliant Uncle Sam, who, in addition to many other professional accomplishments, was so ridiculously intelligent that he discovered and in essence created a new form of mathematics, Repunits & Repetends, while in retirement. Then he published a book on said subject, and actually died at the podium, while on tour lecturing admiring geniuses who wanted to learn from him.

I come from these movers and shakers, these self-starters, educators, and professionals that embrace the fight to constantly improve our nation. So you can understand why I often do not write about politics, since the majority of my moving and shaking lately involves the playground and potty training. God forbid I accidentally use an incorrect term or get one of the facts wrong and wind up in a doomed debate with one of my more stellar and in-the-know family members.

But even I was not surprised when the Bailout failed in the House today. A blank check for $700 Billion? I may not be the sharpest economic tool in the shed here, but a Bailout plan of this magnitude requires not just quick action but a modicum of serious thought and planning. House members are afraid to commit to something of this magnitude so quickly with this little planning - for fear of failure and catastrophic consequences to not just their careers, but also to our collective National Pocketbook.

Get out the big chalkboard, folks, and try again. And this time, please come up with a solution -quickly - that includes some more regulation, oversight, and planning for the distribution of these funds!

Until then,

Shana Tovah,

Jen