This new American Entitlement Ethic is astounding.  Too many large corporations, and even private citizens, want help, money, and services without any additional cost or obligation.  If a bad decision is made, won’t someone come riding in on a horse and a saddle bag full of cash to solve the problem and fix the mistake?

Citigroup just paid back $20 Billion they received in the bailout to escape the tight restrictions the government had.  Several  other bailout recipients have already done the same.  These companies ask for extraordinary amounts of money, then get upset that  the government body handing this money over wants to make sure it is used to restore the company rather than to keep filling  executive expense accounts.  They are upset that the government would want stock shares, or any other benefit to make such a risk  worth while.  Isn’t that the business that Citigroup, Bank of America and other financial institutions are in?  They lend money,  even in high risk situations, having the benefit of helping the individual while building in clauses and penalties to benefit themselves.

If a friend came to me and needed $10,000 to save their home, and I could arrange my personal affairs to provide it, I would  absolutely do it.   I know it will take a while to pay back; we would outline a repayment plan over time to make sure they could stay afloat.  Now, I would also be holding a title to someone’s car, and letting them know if I see them in some expensive gear or a new car before I get paid back, there is going to be a serious issue.   If I can extend myself to help someone I will, but I deserve to know where the money went and where the money is coming from to pay back the debt.

Since when did being accountable become a bad thing?  Especially when you asked a HUGE favor of someone or, in Citigroup’s case, an entire country.  That bailout money was my money, your money, our children’s money.   I personally want to make sure I didn’t pay for a quarter million dollar bonus for one person, who must have done a great job the past two years since their company was going under.

A few years ago the Baltimore City School System was missing $42 Million.  They asked Mayor O’Malley for financial assistance, who in turned asked Governor Erlich for the money.  The Governor was willing to fill that deficit in the City’s educational budget, but under the condition that one of his people would be involved in the accounting for the Baltimore City School System.  For some reason that just outraged Mayor O’Malley and suddenly he didn’t need that $42 Million from Erlich anymore.  Instead, Mayor O’Malley pulled it out of the City’s “Rainy Day Fund”.  The school system “lost” $42 Million, you don’t want to put the money up yourself, yet you expect the Governor to just hand over money to benefit your city without any provisions to ensure the school system is safe and the money will not again be misappropriated.  Astonishing.

I am not a supporter of the government having their hands in everyone’s business.  I often feel they involve themselves too much, however, they have every right and obligation to keep on top of the corporations who take billions of our tax dollars to do damage control because of their poor decisions.