There were just too many political turkeys this year for us to keep it to just one blog post. Here's a couple of others birds worthy of sticking a fork in:
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
The whole economy is a turkey this year. There is Wall Street greed, $700 billion bailouts, bank failures, the imperiled auto industry and the fact that loans are hard to get. But we’re picking on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae because they’re easy to anthropomorphize. The mortgage giants — more properly known as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and Federal National Mortgage Association — were taken over by the government in September because, according to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, "failure of either of them would cause great turmoil in our financial markets here at home and around the globe."
The government takeover, of course, resulted in great turmoil in our financial markets at home and around the globe. Turmoil that continues, with no sign of stopping.
So thanks, economy. And don’t expect a dollop of whipped cream on your pie. We just can’t afford the luxury this year.
Ignoring Ike
When Hurricane Ike made landfall in the wee hours of Sept. 13, the damage to Galveston was devastating. And the nation paid attention for, well, about a day. The city was nearly wiped out, and it barely caused a blip on the national radar.
Perhaps it was a matter of timing: Ike hit the Texas coast just days before September’s economic freefall began. The financial panic, combined with an intense presidential race, managed to push the devastation off the front pages of most newspapers.
Meanwhile, more than two months later, some Galveston residents are still living in tents because their FEMA mobile homes are tied up in red tape. Dangerous debris is still everywhere, and 75 percent of homes have flood damage. And although The Washington Post reported that 79 percent of Galveston’s inhabitants had returned by November, the hurricane’s economic impact will displace many residents who can’t make a living in the island town anymore. Galveston’s University of Texas Medical Branch was so devastated by the damage that it was announced last week that about 3,000 of its 8,000 Galveston employees will be laid off.
The sad part is that not many people know the extent of the damage caused by Ike. In a world of catastrophes, Galveston isn’t getting the attention or the assistance it deserves. Come on, Americans and the news media: This holiday season, give Galveston the gift it deserves — your attention and help.
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