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Yesterday I heard a commentator on television say that if we really want transparency on the economic “bailout” or TARP, that we must speak up to our federal representatives. I thought that happened in November.

I remember when Secretary Paulson announced the need for a 700 Billion dollar bailout of the financial sector of our economy. My first reaction was why. Many of us asked our representatives to assure the need and ensure that the money was used wisely.

Both candidates for President in the recent election said that it would be vital to track the money and confirm that financial titans use the money to ease the credit crisis. When congress debated the bailout bill they said that strings would be necessary to guarantee that the money was used to solve our national problem.

How foolish we were. Many of us actually thought that congress was serious. Lately we learn that Secretary Paulson was allowed to simply throw the money at financial institutions and did so without “strings” or even monitoring.

Anyway, one thing I clearly remember was that Obama promised transparency. Considering that promise, why should the people be required to speak again? After all, It is taxpayer funds.

But considering that news commentators are suggesting that transparency may not happen, I think everyone needs to contact their congressional representatives and speak again. Let us all insist on transparent use of the nearly one trillion dollars we are asked to fund with our tax dollars.

Somehow our representatives must get the message. As taxpayers we are not in the business of financing new airplanes, resort vacations, and huge bonuses for rich business executives.