The Ongoing War on Consumer Safety, Part 2

So. Congress is all set to pass the most sweeping bankruptcy "reform" bill in history. It is a bill written by and for the big credit card companies. It will make it harder for poor, debt-ridden consumers to dissolve their debts through bankruptcy by forcing them into long repayment plans and throwing up more hurdles in the way of filing for bankruptcy. It will block people from seeking bankruptcy relief if they are above a certain income level. It will be force people into higher payments under chapter 13 plans. And it will place several legal hurdles in the way of filing for bankruptcy that will make it nearly impossible for already financially strapped consumers.

In short, the people who need the most help will receive the least help. Pretty much par for the course under the current administration. I can't say I'm the least bit surprised by this.

And don't doubt for one second that the credit card companies are responsible for this bill. They are always happy to extend vast amounts of credit to everyone, and then they act surprised when people run into financial trouble because of it.

Now don't get me wrong. I can't say I have much sympathy for people with high credit card debt. They are usually the architects of their own downfall. They pretty much deserve to be broke.

But the people who are really going to suffer under this bill are the people who have high debt through no fault of their own. People who suffered some expensive medical crisis, for example. Or perhaps people who made bad financial decisions at some point, such as co-signing a loan for someone.

Of course, one group that won't be hurt by this bill are the people who have legal judgments against them that are the result of anti-abortion protest activities. They can continue to seek bankruptcy protection to keep from paying those expenses. This is an amendment that has killed this bill in the past, but the Republicans finally had enough votes to kill the amendment. Can you say "shameless pandering to the base"?

Once again, big business gets exactly what it wants, from the government it paid for.

I just want to say something to all you red-state voters out there:

WAKE THE FUCK UP!!! THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT ON YOUR SIDE!!!

Thank you.