The Debt Slaves of America: Senate Democrats Abandon Victims

[Itsthetruth]

CounterPunch
April 6, 2005

The Debt Slaves of America
Why the Media Can't Read the Bankruptcy Bill
By DAVID SWANSON

David Swanson is a board member of Progressive Democrats of America.

The most remarkable thing about the bankruptcy bill (which has now been postponed in the House until next week) is something that the corporate media is incapable of reporting on and probably in some cases incapable of even recognizing. Namely, this bill offers an ideal test for the Democrats.

Most bills contain some redeeming features, some elements that are good for people, not just good for corporate profits. With most bills, a case can be made, however contorted and unconvincing, that it's actually worth voting for, or that it's better than some even worse alternative. Those arguments are almost impossible here, because several dozen amendments aimed at making the bill into something less than an outright atrocity have been voted down. In addition, the Democrats on the House Judiciary have laid out for their colleagues the case against this bill in a 54-page dissent that was leaked to Raw Story.

This bill allows us to answer the question: "What if there were a bill that served purely and clearly corporate greed while damaging millions of non-wealthy Americans, would the Democratic Party stand against it? Would the Democratic leadership fight it? Would all members of this purportedly distinct political party vote for people over profits?"

In the Senate, the answer is clearly no. In the House, things are uncertain. The vote is scheduled for next week.


http://www.counterpunch.org/swanson04062005.html

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Stop the "Debt Slavery" Bankruptcy Bill in the House!

One of the worst, most vicious anti-people bills ever to hit the Congress (S. 256) is slated to be voted on in the House next week, and will pass unless we, the people, can put enough pressure on House members to defeat it.

In the next few days, we need hundreds of thousands of people to both call and Email their own congress members, plus Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. (Click "Write Your Rep"). Then please take the following actions:

Deluge your local and regional newspapers with letters to the editor and opeds.
Deluge every talk show, including conservative ones -- lots of conservatives declare bankruptcy too!
Deluge every tv and radio station’s news room with encouragement to cover both how truly awful this bill is and the surging public campaign to stop its passage.
Help organize, and attend, rallies at congressional offices around the country at noon, local time, on Wednesday, April 13.

The "Debt Slavery" Bankruptcy Bill was written by credit card companies, which made $30 billion in profits in 2004 - but are blinded by greed.

The bill will change current law to prevent you from declaring bankruptcy under Chapter 7, which pays off your debts by liquidating your assets, giving you a fresh start financially. Instead, it would force you into Chapter 13 with a rigid 5-year repayment plan. You would no longer be able to protect your car and home, and you would have to pay greater legal fees.

Simply put, you would become a debt slave to the credit card companies.



http://elandslide.org/elandslide/index.cfm?campaign=debt

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54-PAGE REVIEW
House Judiciary Democrats' dissent from bankruptcy bill
RAW STORY

A copy of the Democratic House Judiciary Staff's dissenting views on the bankruptcy bill was leaked to RAW STORY last night. The House vote—in which the bill is expected to pass—was scheduled for Wednesday but postponed to next week, likely because of members' desires to attend the Pope's funeral.

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/dissenting_views_bankruptcy_405.htm

[sadiesworld]

1. kick

[Somawas]

2. Not only a kick

a vote. Democrats who vote in favor of this atrocity will have abandoned any attachment to traditional Democratic values and constituencies. There is no way a populist or a progressive could vote for this abomination.

[Tactical Progressive]

4. I agree.

This bill is the kind of atrocity that you don't vote for, just on principle. Regardless of the consequences. Even at the risk of something so unthinkably painful as the credit card companies won't give you a campaign contribution bonus. Oh the horror.

[savannahana]

3. another kick