COMPARING BUSH WITH JFK IN A TIME OF CRISES IS LIKE COMPARING A LIGHT POST WITH THE EIFFEL TOWER

ONE GOOD THING about all this is that the dire predictions that any indictments would result in financial collapse are proving false. Markets are up--both the dollar and S&P---and oil is down. However it is oil where the really interesting things will be happening. The oil cartels---not independent competing companies---have made their last killing at the expense of the rest of us. What can the government do? Plenty. History buffs will recall FDR invading the offices of Montgomery Ward and carting off their president, Sewell Avery in the 1940s over his refusal to pay union wages, a refusal that threatened to cause a strike during war time. JFK went after all the steel companies in 1962 and in a speech delivered to the press he basically threatened to take them over. Read the text below and then compare with the chickenshit speech by Bush delivered just the other day.

"Increasing steel prices by some $6 a ton constitutes a wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest.
"In this serious hour in our nation's history, when we are confronted with grave crises in Berlin and Southeast Asia, when we are devoting our energies to economic recovery and stability, when we are asking reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end to risk their lives … the American people will find it hard, as I do, to accept a situation in which a tiny handful of steel executives – whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility – can show such utter contempt for the interests of 185 million Americans. (Bush say that? Never)
"If this rise in the cost of steel is imitated by the rest of the industry, instead of rescinded, it would increase the cost of homes, autos, appliances, and most other items for every American family … . It would seriously handicap our efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up the pensions of our older citizens and our new gains in purchasing power.
"It would add, Secretary McNamara informed me this morning, an estimated $1 billion to the cost of our defenses, at a time when every dollar is needed for national security.
"The facts of the matter are that there is no justification for an increase in steel prices … . At a time when they could be exploring how more efficiency and better prices could be obtained … a few gigantic corporations have decided to increase prices in ruthless disregard of their public responsibility.
"The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission are examining the significance of this action in a free, competitive economy. The Department of Defense and other agencies are reviewing its impact on their policies of procurement … . And I am informed that steps are under way by those members of Congress who plan appropriate inquiries into how these price decisions are so quickly made and reached, and what legislative safeguards may be needed to protect the public interest.
"Price and wage decisions in this country … are and ought to be freely and privately made. But the American people have a right to expect, in return for that freedom, a higher sense of business responsibility for the welfare of their country than has been shown in the last two days.
"Some time ago, I asked each American to consider what he would do for his country, and I asked the steel companies. In the last 24 hours, we had their answer." (All emphasis mine.)

That was the end of the steel crisis. Now contrast what Kennedy said with the ENTIRE statement by Bush:

"I wish I could simply wave a magic wand and lower gas prices tomorrow. I'd do that."

He wishes. That's it. Period. This can't continue folks; we have an uncompetitive cartel, one that aggressively acts to squash any competition that raises its head, one that is making more money than at any time in the history of the country, a cartel that is squeezing the American consumer into a recession. AND BUSH WISHES. Tell me again why I am a Republican......