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The taxpayers' mudhole

The Iconoclast analyzes contradictory coverage in Fayetteville newspapers of the great TIF (tax increment finance) boondoggle, the long-behind-schedule grand hotel that was going to rise with the diversion of school tax money to private developers' pockets. A muddy scar is the only byproduct in the heart of Fayetteville so far.

Comments

This has nothing to do with Fayetteville, except for the angle of taxpayers taking it in the "mudhold":

I am absolutely amazed that more has not been made -- by the Democrats, the press or anyone -- of the collapse of the economy under the Republican administration. I heard a brief piece a couple of weeks ago on NPR about how all 50 state attorneys general wanted more regulation of the mortgage loan industry, but the Bush feds refused. Since then nothing but echoing silence and stuff about Obama's pastor and the ever-popular news about Britney Spears and who's been thrown off "American Idol."

Now, of course, we have the result. AND the taxpayers are bailing out the mortgage industry -- no reference to Congress or anything; the Bushies just do it.. This morning NPR had an expert on talking about how leveraged institutions like Bear Sterns are and how it takes only the flick of a butterfly's wing for the whole house of cards to come tumbling down. They're saying Lehman Brothers will be next. Guess who's going to have to bail all this out. Right you are.

I guess we're all so dumbed down these days that an issue like this (the GOPs screwing the economy in favor of momentary winfalls for their buddies) is to complicated for the people, and, sadly, the corporate-run media, to understand or to try to explain.

Oh, and let's not forget McCain and Cheney in Iraq dodging bombs while ululating about how wonderful things are over there. Actually, the mess Bush has made of Iraq doesn't seem much worse than the mess he's made right here at home.

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