Mailbag: 3/24

Time to check Federal Reserve

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) recently asked Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to disclose the names of banks who've accepted taxpayer-backed loans exceeding $2.2 trillion dollars (2,200,000,000,000). Bernanke's reply: "No."

Those familiar with the secretive Fed were not surprised. Did you know that the Federal Reserve operates with no governmental oversight? In 95 years since its incorporation, the Fed has never been audited. The Federal Reserve is a private corporation that is owned by its member banks (Watch a Fed spokesman admit this in the short video at www.meetthefed.com). The privately owned, secretly run Fed has the power to create money out of thin air, which it then loans to our government — and charges us interest. Now the Fed has decided that it can also create unlimited trillions of dollars out of thin air to loan money to whomever it desires, purchase any assets it wants, and keep all of the details secret from the American people and our representatives in Congress.

The Fed was created in 1913, supposedly to stabilize our economy and banking system, and to avert financial panics and crises. However, since 1913, Americans have suffered the Severe Depression of 1921, the Great Depression of 1929-1946 (with thousands of bank failures), the prolonged stagflation of the 1970s, numerous recessions, the stock market and real estate bubbles of 1997-2007, and now the economic collapse of 2008-???? So much for economic stability. And how strong and stable can our banking system be if it requires trillions of taxpayer dollars to avoid a total implosion?

The Fed's stated objective of monetary stability and "fighting inflation" has been a failure. The U.S. dollar has lost over 95 percent of its purchasing power since 1913 (See for yourself using the C.P.I. inflation calculator at www.bls.gov). Contrary to the common myth that the Fed is an inflation-fighter, the Fed actually causes inflation by creating huge sums of money out of thin air and pumping it into our economy.

No provision exists in our Constitution for the creation of a Central Bank like the Fed, nor for Congress to delegate the control of money.

Please call your representative in the U.S. House of Representatives and tell them to co-sponsor Congressman Ron Paul's (R-Texas) HR-1207, which demands a complete audit of the Federal Reserve System.

HR 1207 has already gained 39 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and is gaining momentum fast. Let's put our individual political differences aside to demand transparency of the Federal Reserve and our nation's monetary policy.

Baraboo residents call Tammy Baldwin at (608) 258-9800 or (800) 828-0498. Tell her to co-sponsor HR 1207.

Peter Kolar,

Baraboo

Frostman perfect for school board

Just wanted to take a minute and respond to former school board candidate Power's letter of March 13 (Power thanks supporters in school board election).

While Ms. Power was defeated for a second consecutive election, several newcomers tossed their hats in the ring. Successes being the fact, those six individuals were vying for two available seats. Whether the voting percentage was six or 96, they have spoken.

Unlike Ms. Power, I will vote for Scott Frostman. Ms. Power offers the position that he is new to the community and lacks the knowledge and history of what has happened to our school district. Does that mean his input lacks merit? I believe Mr. Frostman is the perfect individual for school board. I believe he will offer a clear and fresh look at our school district. I believe he will be able to act in the capacity of a leader without a personal agenda or a back-biting vendetta. I believe he has the ability to help unite the community toward a common purpose, the children of the Baraboo School District.

I hope that our community doesn't base the ability to interact and lead solely on your length of time in the Baraboo community.

I am also curious as to what is considered new to the community. I was fortunate enough to have met Mr. Frostman about two-three years ago, when I coached his son in fall park and recreation soccer. If that is new to the community then when should he expect to be openly welcomed?

Daniel Wech,

Baraboo

Are you guilty? Neither is Vosen

I'd like to put more of a face on the Father Vosen false (to best of our knowledge) allegations. Let's say you work at a retail store. At the end of the day, it is discovered that money is missing from the sales for the day. When the boss starts inquiring, a co-worker states you were seen in the area where the money is kept. The boss reaches some hasty conclusions, tracks you down, escorts you to the parking lot and says, "I'll call you when the police and I complete our investigation."

Have you done anything wrong? Are you guilty? You are from a small town. Rumors begin that you "may be" a thief. Soon, the "may be" is dropped and people are saying that "you are" a thief.

Have you done anything wrong? Are you guilty? Now, you cannot get a job, people start avoiding you, you are denied (because of prejudice or your own discomfort in the setting) participation in social activities in which you have been active. Have you done anything wrong? Are you guilty? Aren't you entitled to a presumption of innocence? If you are guilty, shouldn't it be proven beyond a reasonable doubt? Let's say the "continuing" investigation goes on for more than five years and the end is not in sight.

Tell me, how is this situation and the handling of it different than the treatment of Father Vosen? Are you guilty? Is Father guilty? Will he/we ever know? Will he get a chance to defend himself? I thought he did a pretty good job in chapter 51 of his book, but that was squelched. In my opinion, he has repeatedly stepped up to the plate, but he has been the victim of "bean balls" that have taken him out of the game of being able to come to his own rescue. That's where I came in. Since then, I have been asking Bishop Morlino for help in rectifying the miscarriage of justice involving Father Vosen.

Walter D. Smith,

Baraboo