[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21995]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     PLAYING MONOPOLY WITH AMERICA

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, we will work our way through our current 
financial crisis, but we must not forget how we got to this point. 
Essentially, George Bush's friends have been playing Monopoly with 
America.
  I am sure everyone has played Monopoly; it is all about taking money 
that is given to you and making more money. The players roll the dice, 
then buy up hotels and railroads and, yes, houses, largely on credit, 
so they can take money from other players. The problem with Monopoly, 
as it is with our economy over the past couple decades, is that the 
players never have to worry about people or the communities in which 
they live.
  Madam Speaker, we have allowed our economy to evolve in such a way 
that the missions of many of our largest corporations are no longer in 
alignment with the goals and dreams of our citizens or in the best 
interests of our society. Like Monopoly, their only goal is to make and 
end up with the most money.
  Madam Speaker, we must use the people's power to prevent George 
Bush's friends from continuing to roll the dice and play Monopoly with 
America. Then we will have an economy and country that works for 
everyone.

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