Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeI've been struggling to understand the irrational behavior of Congress that is damaging America -- the continuing onslaught of regulatory constraints on business to "protect the consumer" versus encouraging responsible, or discouraging irresponsible, behavior of the individual.
A recent article, "Overdraft fees: Senate gets tough," epitomizes this irrational behavior -- Congress proposing rules for banks relating to the amount of overdraft fee that can be charged or the number of times such fees can be charged per year.
I ask, "Where does the consumer's responsibility fit in?" Shouldn't the consumer abide by common sense "rules"? This applies as well to consumers of credit, mortgages, insurance, "unhealthy" food, etc.
I remember when my children first overdrew their checking accounts and were charged $30. Mom and Dad insisted they pay the fee out of their hard-earned money -- "mean" parents weren't going to pay for their mistakes that could have been prevented by simply reviewing, or balancing, their checkbook. They have not overdrawn since.
This is what is worrisome: What incentives are there for Congress to encourage responsible, or discourage irresponsible, behavior? There aren't any, the solution is antipolitical -- i.e., such encouragement or discouragement often alienates voters, particularly those who want a painless or riskless solution -- those who don't want "mean" parents.
DAVID GREENSLADE, Kennewick
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