The latest jobs report is out, painting a picture of an economy slowly climbing out of a major crater. As the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission said right at the top of their final report, things did not have to be this way. This was an avoidable crisis, and it was exacerbated by risky and illegal business practices, regulatory failures, and systemic problems related to oversight and accountability.

While the top race on next Tuesday’s ballot will surely affect how things move forward next year, it’s the lower level races that have the potential for really moving things in a new direction in DC. There’s a big crater that still needs to be filled, and getting local officials in office who are willing to scream for accountability, for regulation, and for good government that addresses the needs of the people is probably the most direct way I can help.

The Obama Administration is not even investigating financial crimes. Is it because they think what the banksters did was just fine, or because the banksters are social peers, and criminal prosecution is just beyond comprehension?

Preet Bharara makes the world safe for hedge fund traders. The rest of you can go hang.