The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA

April 28, 2009

Real transparency


Tax day came and went. It was great to see all the protests about the injustice we face as a people when it comes to taxes, like the income tax, inheritance tax and the inflation tax. Something that may have been overlooked is the fact that all of our money, taken directly and indirectly, is going somewhere. Where exactly is this money going?

When the current economic crisis hit, the Federal Reserve went to Congress to find ways to get more money out into the system, specifically to "failing banks." The problem is that, while using our money to "fix" the problem, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke refused to tell our own congressmen where the money was going to.

Isn't it strange that all Americans are held accountable for every single penny we spend? Yet, the Federal Reserve System doesn't need to tell us where our money is going.

Secrecy and lack of transparency are exactly what got us into this mess, along with a loose monetary policy. It's about time our administration and congressmen stand up to the system, call for real transparency, and follow through with it. We deserve to know where our money is going.

HR 1207 calls for exactly that. This bill removes the current restrictions on the auditing process of the Federal Reserve. It will give the system much-needed transparency. To help get this bill through call your congressman and ask for some real accountability in the system by demanding a full audit of the Federal Reserve through HR 1207. This bill is the first step toward accountability and needs our support. Don't wait until next Tax Day to voice your opinion again.

George Specht,

Northumberland