We hear a lot from Scott Garrett about the free market. He praises it. He thinks the unfettered free market is a boon to America. He thinks the lack of an entirely free market caused the economic meltdown. We now know Scott Garrett was wrong.

There is agreement across the spectrum from the left to the right that the abolishment of regulatory oversight was a major contribution to the meltdown and our recent economic troubles. No one was watching the cookie jar.

The free market philosophy can only work if the people handling our banks and financial institutions are honest and trustworthy. Of course, many are but too many are not. Hello Madoff, Thain, Enron, AIG, Bear Stearns etc. This is not new. History clearly shows how people seek advantages over others, permit greed to overcome good character, conform when they need to whistle blow, take risks with other peoples’ assets and money and more.  This is not new and it is not likely to stop or change.

Is Scott Garrett living in another dimension – way out somewhere?

Since it is difficult to be assured of honesty and trustworthiness, our economic institutions must be monitored and appropriate regulations must be put in place to prevent bad behavior from undermining our country. While these measures would not guarantee an end to dips in the economy and high unemployment rates, it would certainly decrease the chances of their occurring in such an extreme fashion.

Additionally these measures would prevent people from losing the entirety of their savings and pensions.

The unfettered free market has led to a weakened America. It is actually patriotic to support appropriate regulation to keep America strong.

Scott Garrett – are you so naïve or just in bed with the financial lobbyists?

District 5 voters, we really do need a Congressman that understands history along with human behavior and will vote to protect our interests.  Say No to Garrett and YES to a strong America..

The Drum Major Institute (“DMI”) and TheMiddleClass.org

The middle class is more than an income bracket. Over the past fifty years, a middle-class standard of living in the United States has come to mean having a secure job, a safe and stable home, access to health care, retirement security, time off for vacation, illness and the birth or adoption of a child, opportunities to save for the future and the ability to provide a good education, including a college education, for one’s children. When these middle-class fundamentals are within the reach of most Americans, the nation is stronger economically, culturally and democratically.

Most Americans identify themselves as middle class. Yet DMI is concerned not only with those who currently enjoy a middle-class standard of living, but also with expanding the middle class by increasing the ability and opportunities of poor people to enter the middle class. The middle class is strengthened when more poor people are able to work their way into its ranks. In a nation that is increasingly polarized between the very wealthy and everyone else, DMI sees the poor and middle class as sharing many of the same interests. Simply put: what strengthens and expands the middle class is good for America.

Now, readers may think that this is a progressive organization and the votes will be skewed towards Democrats.  However, in the latest scorecard, Rep. Chris Smith got an A and Frank LoBiondo got a B for last year.  In fact, 65% of ALL Congressional officials (House and Senate) received passing grades, with another 15% receiving an incomplete.  That leaves only 20% who received failing grades – and, not surprisingly, only one in New Jersey – Scott Garrett, who also has the honor of a 0% rating for 2009 so far.

Only 5 Senators received 0% grades for 2009, and of the House members with a 0% grade, Garrett is the only one north of PA (there are 2 Reps in PA) with such a disastrous score.  In fact, Garrett has received an F for every year since 2003 (here is a link to all of his applicable votes over the seven year period).

This is truly stunning – even for those who follow Garrett’s record and stances.  There is no bigger enemy to the middle class in the entire Northeast.  From his very first year in Congress through his 2009 votes against the biggest middle class tax cut in history and to preserve the AIG bonuses (where he was once again the only NJ Representative to vote in this way) -he is NOT voting in the interest of his constitutents.

It’s time to Retire Garrett.  The good people of his District deserve someone who will represent them, especially in an economy as bad as this.