After turning on the news this morning to learn that the CEO of Merrill Lynch used 1.2MM dollars to renovate his office, I can not find any HOPE in the government to use the bailout billions to help us!  Most of you reading this are Realtors and we pay our own taxes each year.  While some of you are not, you are taxed at the end of the pay period.  In either group, we all HAVE to pay Uncle Sam. 
 
Much like the CEO's who flew in on those corporate jets to ask for money, this CEO used 1.2 million dollars to renovate his office.  This included a $86K rug, a $35K commode with legs and a $1500 dollar trash can.  (Bank of America had to ask for an additional 20 billion to cover the bonuses paid on Dec 31st before the takeover of Merrill Lynch on the 1st of Jan)
 
Now I don't know about you folks, but I'm more than a little upset about this.  On many levels.  One, I've had to substitue teach in the interim of the slow market to make money.  I make $65 dollars per day to do this.  Those $65 dollars are taxed.  Hence, my taxes went into the fund that is bailing out the greed of Wall Street.  I'm sorry, but I don't think I should be forced into "slave labor" to fund programs for CEO's to buy $1500 trash cans.  While I know this sounds extreme, think about it, it's not.  It's reality.
 
We have now been placed among those children who make clothes for dollars a day.  Is this our reward for turning a blind eye to such things?
 
There has to be a time when we say enough is enough. 
 
I want someone to tell me why things like Merrill Lynch, the auto industry, Goldman Sachs, etc., go unpunished?  We learn more and more each day of the gross negligence of misused funds but nothing is done to stop it.  All we hear is that it's not going to happen anymore, but it just keeps going and going like that cute little pink bunny. 

I want someone to tell me why I should earn those $65.00 taxable dollars?
 
The man about to be in charge of the Treasury didn't pay his own taxes and he's gonna oversee ours so do you think any of us will get a pass?  Can we plead "it was a mistake, or I didn't realize, or just plain "ole stupid"?  Do you think that would work for any of us?  No way, the tax man cometh!
 
I'm just wondering this:
 
 "If I digitally enhance my photo to include a bloated belly with flies in my eyes, will someone give to the "Trash Can Tammy Fund"?
I cannot promise your donation is tax deductible or that I will even receive it, but I know if you give you'll feel better about yourself.
 
This is not intended to offend, but rather to illict some type of hope in everyone to take a stand.
 
Thanks for taking the time to read this and think about your own trash can fund!