The following is a letter to the editor of the Ogden Standard Examiner (Ogden, Utah) which was published September 28, 2008:

Dear Editor,

All Americans should be outraged that the government proposes using taxpayers’ money to pay off the bad debts of foreign banks. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on ABC television that "foreign banks will be able to unload bad financial assets under a $700 billion U.S. proposal . . ." .

Since the U.S. government is already in debt, every American taxpayer—and future generations of taxpayers—are being placed even deeper into debt. Why? To bail out foreign bankers. Why must U.S. taxpayers now pay for the poor business decisions of bankers in foreign countries?

We should be only slightly less outraged that the government is taking taxpayer money to give to failing U.S. businesses—businesses run by "expert" corporate officers earning millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses each year.

The bailout money will come from taxpayers. Paying taxes is mandatory—if we don’t pay our taxes we are fined or imprisoned. Thus, we are being forced under threat of fines or imprisonment to give our money away to foreign bankers and U.S. financial institutions. This is a serious misuse of the government’s taxing authority which must not be allowed to happen.

All Americans should write or email their congressman, senators, the President, and the candidates running for office—immediately—to let them know that we oppose this misuse of taxpayers’ money.

Marty W. Jensen
South Ogden Utah