An elephant never forgets. Only sometimes.

Did you catch last night the PBS/Front Line special on Banks, Wall Street and bailouts? All of which most Americans are aware of already. It just brought the problem to our attention once again. And we need to be reminded often because our collective memories are oh so short. Remember 1929?

None the less, during this current season of bellicose hyperbole, we need all the reminders we can get. However, phony claims are coming once again from the Banks and the Street width rapid repetition. The defenders of Big Banks, Big Finance, and Big Rip offs are crawling the streets in ever increasing numbers. Mostly in the form of congressmen and Republican presidential candidates. More specifically, from the right. Yes, Republicans are the biggest enablers of Bad Deals for America. Haters of regulations and lovers of dark places. “Take your transparency and shove it,” they might suggest.

Here is where we come in. We must ask the right questions and expect the right answers. So the acid test of their feeble intent is show us the jobs. What happened to all those tax cuts? Where is the trickle down? What happened to manufacturing? Don’t the Republicans remember Jobs-jobs-jobs! And I’m sure the same empty mantra will be shouted once again down the canyons of Wall Street. Later Shouting vociferously in a few short months by delegates to the August Republican convention.

Republicans not too long ago all but guaranteed America jobs if tax cuts are made to the rich. Oh really? Where are they? And why do we need more tax cuts? At least a dozen major tax cuts have been made over the past twenty years. Resulting mostly in very little job creation. More like manufacturing and job loss all sent to china and India.

America is finally waking up to the shallow prattles from the right. Republicans squawking empty promises again and hoping America has forgotten the Wall Street bail out and the big crash of 1929. It really hurt and we will never forget it. No! Not this time and not ever. Republicans! Shut up!

I like what you're doing but narrow your focus

I kind of see what the point is to the Occupy Wall Street movement is about. Although they need to narrow their focus and hammer on one or two things. It would give them a more defined and pointed attack.

However, I agree with the general movement. Too much concentration of money in so few hands. Hands that might be a bit corrupt and greedy. I don’t trust anybody who makes their own rules and just makes money from money and leaves little benefit to the general American population. Sort of like Wall Street “Payday” lenders. Creepy and nasty.

I would suggest the OWS movement to concentrate on getting congress to confirm the director to the Consumer Protection Agency. Lobby the House of Representatives to get that done. Consumers could surely use more protection from the maniacal banks and brokers. Either confirm a director or get rid of the local US Rep who keeps voting NO.

Next, press for taxing the rich and large corporations. Eliminating loopholes and corporate subsidies. Make them pay for their greed. However, I would change the tax laws for corporations and the extreme rich. Lowering the tax from 35 percent to 25 percent with no exceptions, deductions, tax credits, subsidies or any tax holidays. Just a flat rate. I would also tax capital gains by the same rate. This would make tax laws fairer for all.

Anyway, this is what I would concentrate on if I were part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. I wish you guys well. Good luck.