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[eznark]

Wasn't he the guy passing out tobacco lobbyist checks on the House floor?

Maybe, I have no idea. Hence the asking.

Possibly that great depression thing too. Or maybe in a time where i couldn't poop where you do or use your drinking fountains legally.

I would say any time pre 1990-ish was worse than this. It was also much, much worse just a couple years ago.

 

[BruiserBear]

Do you have a fix rate mortgage?
Does your employer provide you with healthcare?
Are you going to send your kids to college?

Yes, I have a fixed rate mortgage. I have employer provided healthcare. I have no kids.

 

[Oblivion]

Civil War seems like it was probably a shittier time to be an American. But ya, this is totally way worse than living in a war torn nation killing my friends.

Possibly that great depression thing too. Or maybe in a time where i couldn't poop where you do or use your drinking fountains legally.

Interestingly enough, all those terrible eras were caused by people who bear an uncanny resemblance to the tea pa...oh, nevermind.

 

[TacticalFox88]

I really can't share that sentiment. The government has very little impact on my life when it really comes down to it. In fact, throughout my life I'd have a hard time thinking of when the federal government has had any impact on my life, and I'm 35 years old. My state and local govenmemts seem to have far more of an impact on me, with local taxes and road tolls. Federal taxes for a middle class guy like myself don't change all that much.

......Holy fucking shit. hahahahahaaha

 

[Piecake]

Yes, I have a fixed rate mortgage. I have employer provided healthcare. I have no kids.

You'd have to be a freakin moron not to have a fixed rate mortgage

 

[Dr. Pangloss]

Yes, I have a fixed rate mortgage. I have employer provided healthcare. I have no kids.

Your fix rate mortgage would not exist if not for the backing provided by the federal government in the form of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Your healthcare is subsidized through tax breaks given to your employer by the federal government. You are now one of us. You have joined the ranks of the socialists.

 

[ToxicAdam]

This is the first time in our history that a political party has threatened not just national but WORLDWIDE economic destruction if they didn't get their way (which ironically, is supposedly to help IMPROVE the economy).
.

I can't really argue against your perception, you're entitled to it. But, it's important to remember that for the vast majority of the years after WWII (when we actually become a world economic superpower), the Democrats owned both the House and Senate and were led by fairly competent people. So, the odds of something like this happening were slim to none. It wasn't until recently that a paradigm shift occurred and Republicans were able to see-saw control of Congress back their way.

 

[GaimeGuy]

I really can't share that sentiment. The government has very little impact on my life when it really comes down to it. In fact, throughout my life I'd have a hard time thinking of when the federal government has had any impact on my life, and I'm 35 years old. My state and local govenmemts seem to have far more of an impact on me, with local taxes and road tolls. Federal taxes for a middle class guy like myself don't change all that much.

you only think that because things work. You take things like safety standards, health inspectors, labor rights, etc for granted. When the government works as it should, no one notices, life goes on, you pay your taxes, and the system functions as it should. When government fucks up, though, you do notice, and you hear about it.

In the UK, people don't need to check to see if their doctor accepts their insurance. They don't need to pay monthly premiums, or not know what their drugs will cost until they're rung up at the register, or deal with hospital payments. They just pay their taxes and the government sorts it all out for them. If they get hospitalized, they get taken care of, all the expenses and payments and get handled behind the scenes.

If you talk to anyone from the UK and try explaining our system to them, even something basic like in-network and out-of-network coverage, they'll probably be very confused. They don't have to deal with any of that.

 

[Diablos]

Interestingly enough, all those terrible eras were caused by people who bear an uncanny resemblance to the tea pa...oh, nevermind.

Ding ding.

At the rate we're going by next decade some serious shit is going to go down. Seriously, a small group of fringe lunatics are doing a damn good job of taking us right back to the 1920's, not even exaggerating here.

P.S. - If you've reached the point where actual civil war and the height of racial segregation are the only things you can think of to counter the notion that this is a downright awful and terrifying time to be an American, that might just be a little red flag. Not much else is left to cross off the list.

See, it's not just what is about to pass that's the problem. It's the principal of it. The way our Congress is acting over what, as previously stated, is routine housekeeping in the eyes of history. It's absolutely terrifying the way our elected officials are acting over something so typical.

 

[eznark]

Ding ding.

At the rate we're going by next decade some serious shit is going to go down. Seriously, a small group of fringe lunatics are doing a damn good job of taking us right back to the 1920's, not even exaggerating here.

P.S. - If you've reached the point where actual civil war and the height of racial segregation are the only things you can think of to counter the notion that this is a downright awful and terrifying time to be an American, that might just be a little red flag. Not much else is left to cross off the list.

So you think we are worse off today than a couple years ago? Really?

 

[ToxicAdam]

I think I need to pull a Stoney Mason/Mandark/etc etc and retire from this thread.

 

[Oblivion]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7375118n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Holy shit, what the hell is up with Ben Stein? Did he get get fired from his gig as a Fox contributor or something?

 

[Suikoguy]

Apparently this is how the Military Cuts ended up

One of the final sticking points this evening was the issue of how to ensure the domestic discretionary spending cuts in FY12 and FY13 would be spread out across both defense and non-defense programs.

House Republicans started out insisting on a “freeze” of defense spending so that the entirety of the reductions would fall on the non-defense side. This would have imposed a disproportionate share of the burden on important domestic programs such as education and medical research. Democrats insisted on imposing a “firewall” that would ensure that any attempts to increase defense spending could not be done at the expense of domestic discretionary programs.

House Republicans balked at the firewall idea when it was first proposed by Senate Democratic leadership staff and the majority staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee almost two weeks ago. In response, Senate Democrats offered a compromise: if House Republicans would accept the firewall in concept, Senate Democrats would allow for other forms of security-related spending (State Department/Foreign Operations, Homeland Security, Military Construction/Veterans Affairs) to be grouped together on one side of the firewall along with Pentagon funding. As part of this condition, the total annual reduction in spending would be split evenly between the security side of the firewall and the non-security side of the firewall.

This proposal was at first accepted by Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s office, but then later rejected. In the end, in a decision that paved the way for a deal with the Obama administration and Senate Democrats, the Speaker’s office returned to the same firewall compromise that House Republicans had earlier rejected.

As a result, out of the $7 billion in domestic discretionary cuts taking effect in FY12, at least half will come from “security”-side funding. For FY13, roughly half of the $3 trillion in cuts will come from “security”-side funding.

Still not exactly sure what it means...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...05841.html#liveblog?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

 

[Byakuya769]

Damn. Somdude got banned right as his opinion would have fit within the mainstream discussion here.

 

[GaimeGuy]

oh, and another thing you take for granted: No midair collisions between passenger airplanes. the FAA was established after a series of mid-air civilian-civilian and military-civilian aircraft collisions showed the need for a single centralized air traffic control system.

 

[Piecake]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7375118n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Holy shit, what the hell is up with Ben Stein? Did he get get fired from his gig as a Fox contributor or something?

Excessive spending by Obama? Thats pretty ridiculous considering that if we got rid of the bush tax cuts and 2 wars we would still have a yearly deficit, but not an insane one, and that being mostly contributed to the recession and the lower tax revenue that comes from it

 

[Diablos]

So you think we are worse off today than a couple years ago? Really?

Economically, no. But considering this solution lacks backbone and does fuck all for revenues, we're going to have an even slower recovery, if not risk going back into recession.

Not to mention, the far-right is, as I said, doing a fine job of setting up the framework for 2012 so they can blame everything on the Democrats while they execute Bush Presidency 2.0. Things might be fine now but that's not going to matter much if the Tea Party continues to get everything they want, including the Presidency.

 

[KHarvey16]

oh, and another thing you take for granted: No midair collisions between passenger airplanes. the FAA was established after a series of mid-air civilian-civilian and military-civilian aircraft collisions showed the need for a single centralized air traffic control system.

Not only air traffic control, but all of the regulations regarding aircraft. Every piece of equipment, every screw and nut, every wire and every swatch of fabric.

 

[PhoenixDark]

7/31/11: The day Congress hit rock bottom. This is an embarrassment. Between Boehner and McConnell being corrupt two-faced assholes, Reid totally lacking balls and being the most incompetent leader the Senate ever, and the Tea Party hell bent on advancing their agenda to the point where they're talling establishment GOPers that the public can "go to hell", I am truly fearful for what comes next.

Pinning this on Obama is ridiculous. No President in modern times has had to put up with this. Between the bad economy and the biggest joke of a Congress this country has seen, this really is the worst time to be President. No one can deal with these clowns. And certainly no living (or recently deceased) President has EVER had to put up with this kind of BULLSHIT.


That's what I mean. Congress as we know it can't get any worse. We're now officially moving into uncharted territory.

If Obama gets re-elected his last four years in office will be a living hell, but at least he'll veto anything too insane since the Senate will go back to the GOP. If he doesn't win another term, 2000-2006 will look like happier times compared to what the far-right is preparing to do to this nation.

This is without a doubt in my mind one of the absolute worst times to be an American.

Obama deserves a good deal of blame; to deny that is to deny reality. Both sides said a default was not on the table. And yet every single democratic line in the sand was erased as the deals got more and more right wing. Obama put politics ahead of policy as well, with his ridiculous concessions on Medicare and SS cuts. When he didn't get the historic "grand bargain" he folded time and time again to get something done.

I'm not excusing the pathetic behavior of McConnell and especially Boehner, but Obama's lack of leadership and spine is what led us here today. He has shown time and time again that he is willing to make short term goals that benefit him politically while harming the country in the long term. Analysts are already saying this deal will hurt the recovery. And for what, to appeal to independent voters? This is madness. This is another demoralizing defeat for not only democrats, but the middle class. For all Obama's talk of shared sacrifice, it's the middle class who will take the brunt of this attack.

This is a weak, naive president who cannot live with the fact that no matter what he says or does, a significant group of people will hate him. With each lurch to the right he expects some type of credit, and yet the right continues to paint him as a far left dictator. The GOP will run ads labeling him a tax and spend liberal, despite not spending much or raising taxes. I'm no psychologist, but it seems like this is a guy who was rejected by his father and has spent the rest of his life attempting to be accepted by others, regardless of what they think of him. That might work at Harvard but it has not worked in Washington. And yet he continues this destructive mating dance.

I'll be voting next year, but that's all the support I'll be giving Obama. I'm baffled that someone who inspired so many people could be such a disappointment, and piss away the potential/opportunities he once had. Carville was ultimately right: he's simply not tough enough to be president.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

Not only air traffic control, but all of the regulations regarding aircraft. Every piece of equipment, every screw and nut, every wire and every swatch of fabric.

No wonder I'm terrified to fly next weekend...

 

[GhaleonEB]

Here's the White House Kool-Aid on the deal:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheet-victory-bipartisan-compromise-economy-american-people

It lowered my blood pressure a little, although we're still in Bizarro World.

Does anyone seriously think that the Bush tax cuts will be allowed to expire, given the unlimited $$ that will go into "X wants to enact the biggest tax hike EVAR" ads during election season?

Remember my post about the White House declaring the shit taco to be amazing? Here it is. Also:

Stays true to the President’s commitment to shared sacrifice by preventing the middle class, seniors and those who are most vulnerable from shouldering the burden of deficit reduction. The President did not agree to any entitlement reforms outside of the context of a bipartisan committee process where tax reform will be on the table and the President will insist on shared sacrifice from the most well-off and those with the most indefensible tax breaks.

Raise your hand if you think the President will hold his ground and get one iota of tax increase on the wealthy.

Fair warning: this is a trap.

 

[RustyNails]

oh, and another thing you take for granted: No midair collisions between passenger airplanes. the FAA was established after a series of mid-air civilian-civilian and military-civilian aircraft collisions showed the need for a single centralized air traffic control system.

I wonder why in JayDubya's world, the Airline companies were not able to come up with a centralized system like FAA for guiding air traffic.

 

[Piecake]

Remember my post about the White House declaring the shit taco to be amazing? Here it is. Also:


Raise your hand if you think the President will hold his ground and get one iota of tax increase on the wealthy.

Fair warning: this is a trap.

eh, Ill wait and see what happens before I torch the guy since bitching about that is bitching about nothing

 

[besada]

I'm not terrified to be an American. Frankly, I think that's sort of an idiotic sentiment. We're not being attacked on our soil. The unemployment rate is actually lower than in was in the early 80's. (And nowhere near as bad as some of our European counterparts have had it.) The government isn't -- so far as I know -- selling arms to our avowed enemies. The President isn't using the FBI as his personal bugging army. We have two wars going, but they're both clearly winding down.

Does the current composition of the government suck giant donkey balls? Yes, it does. Is that a fixable issue? Yes, it is. Do we have systemic and structural problems with the government? Yes. Are any of them particularly new? Not really. We voted in a bunch of idiots, just like we've done a dozen times before. And they did what idiots always do, which is attempt to push government into a new, bad direction so fast that it's in the process of running over them.

I know some of the people in here are young, and I know your first big political crisis always seems like the worst thing ever, but you need to get some perspective. Most of you were raised in the best economic times of the last sixty years. But that's no more normal then the 70's are the norm. The country fluctuates, both because of bad decisions made by voters and politicians, and because shit happens. We're still shaking off the psychological and financial damage of 9/11 and we probably will be for a few more years.

This is no more a permanent state than the giddy 90’s were. It's a classic mistake, and one we make over and over again -- this belief that there's such a thing as stability. There isn't. The world is chaotic, and we attempt to adapt. Sometimes we make good calls, sometimes we make shitty calls. If you want to improve that, go do something about it other than freak out, because freaking out helps no one. It makes you bitter, angry, and utterly ineffectual.

If people spent half the time doing things that they spend bitching about things on the Internet, the world could be a much nicer place. But it's esier to bitch and whine and act as if we share no culpability for the mess we're in, and to pump up the drama to give ourselves a feeling of importance. It's vanity. This time is no more apocalyptic than any other time has been. The idea that we're somehow in worse shape than, say, the Great Depression, is just a stunning admission of ignorance about what people have gone through before us.

I can pretty much guarantee that all of us are sitting in reasonably comfortable homes, next to boxes that allow us to talk to anyone in the world, nearly instantaneously. I'd bet that not a one of us is close to starving. No one here has probably ever had secret police kick in their doors and take their loved ones away. Painting ourselves as living at the end of civilization, as a few people here do, is the ultimate white whine. Get a grip and get some perspective.

 

[Plinko]

It is bothersome to me that throughout this process the GOP balked at and fought nearly every suggestion from the democrats and the democrats seemed to merely shrug their shoulders at the GOP's ideas.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Not only air traffic control, but all of the regulations regarding aircraft. Every piece of equipment, every screw and nut, every wire and every swatch of fabric.

Yep.

And when you hear about the worst earthquakes in history hitting Chile or Japan causing only a few hundred or thousand deaths, and earthquakes over 100x weaker hitting Haiti, a nation of less than 10 million people, and killing off ~250k, the difference is government. Haiti has no building codes or regulations. Chile and Japan have the best in the world.

 

[Esch]

I can pretty much guarantee that all of us are sitting in reasonably comfortable homes, next to boxes that allow us to talk to anyone in the world, nearly instantaneously. I'd bet that jot a one of us is close to starving. No one here has probably ever had secret police kick in their doors and take their loved ones away. Painting ourselves as living at the end of civilization, as a few people here do, is the ultimate white whine. Get a grip and get some perspective.

Great post. Thank you for saying what I was trying to say in sarcasm.

 

[GhaleonEB]

eh, Ill wait and see what happens before I torch the guy since bitching about that is bitching about nothing

I disagree, and said why at length last page.

Reduces Domestic Discretionary Spending to the Lowest Level Since Eisenhower: These discretionary caps will put us on track to reduce non-defense discretionary spending to its lowest level since Dwight Eisenhower was President.

Who in their right mind would boast of this?

(That's an important qualifier.)

 

[Zabka]

I'll be voting next year, but that's all the support I'll be giving Obama. I'm baffled that someone who inspired so many people could be such a disappointment, and piss away the potential/opportunities he once had. Carville was ultimately right: he's simply not tough enough to be president.

I can't even see myself voting for Obama right now. After he extended the Bush tax cuts I was at "I'll vote for him to protect the Supreme Court". Finding out the 9/11 Health Care Bill, treated as a huge victory when it was passed, doesn't cover fucking cancer made me sick to my stomach. If this goes through just the thought of voting for him makes me feel dirty. If he signs this I wish he wouldn't even run for a second term.

The way he is getting steamrolled by Republicans is pathetic and almost entirely the result of his inability to call their bluffs. I can't even blame them anymore.

 

[GaimeGuy]

I can't even see myself voting for Obama right now. After he extended the Bush tax cuts I was at "I'll vote for him to protect the Supreme Court". Finding out the 9/11 Health Care Bill, treated as a huge victory when it was passed, doesn't cover fucking cancer made me sick to my stomach. If this goes through just the thought of voting for him makes me feel dirty. If he signs this I wish he wouldn't even run for a second term.

The way he is getting steamrolled by Republicans is pathetic and almost entirely the result of his inability to call their bluffs. I can't even blame them anymore.

they're not bluffing.

 

[Piecake]

I'm not terrified to be an American. Frankly, I think that's sort of an idiotic sentiment. We're not being attacked on our soil. The unemployment rate is actually lower than in was in the early 80's. (And nowhere near as bad as some of our European counterparts have had it.) The government isn't -- so far as I know -- selling arms to our avowed enemies. The President isn't using the FBI as his personal bugging army. We have two wars going, but they're both clearly winding down.

Does the current composition of the government suck giant donkey balls? Yes, it does. Is that a fixable issue? Yes, it is. Do we have systemic and structural problems with the government? Yes. Are any of them particularly new? Not really. We voted in a bunch of idiots, just like we've done a dozen times before. And they did what idiots always do, which is attempt to push government into a new, bad direction so fast that it's in the process of running over them.

I know some of the people in here are young, and I know your first big political crisis always seems like the worst thing ever, but you need to get some perspective. Most of you were raised in the best economic times of the last sixty years. But that's no more normal then the 70's are the norm. The country fluctuates, both because of bad decisions made by voters and politicians, and because shit happens. We're still shaking off the psychological and financial damage of 9/11 and we probably will be for a few more years.

This is no more a permanent state than the giddy 90’s were. It's a classic mistake, and one we make over and over again -- this belief that there's such a thing as stability. There isn't. The world is chaotic, and we attempt to adapt. Sometimes we make good calls, sometimes we make shitty calls. If you want to improve that, go do something about it other than freak out, because freaking out helps no one. It makes you bitter, angry, and utterly ineffectual.

If people spent half the time doing things that they spend bitching about things on the Internet, the world could be a much nicer place. But it's esier to bitch and whine and act as if we share no culpability for the mess we're in, and to pump up the drama to give ourselves a feeling of importance. It's vanity. This time is no more apocalyptic than any other time has been. The idea that we're somehow in worse shape than, say, the Great Depression, is just a stunning admission of ignorance about what people have gone through before us.

I can pretty much guarantee that all of us are sitting in reasonably comfortable homes, next to boxes that allow us to talk to anyone in the world, nearly instantaneously. I'd bet that not a one of us is close to starving. No one here has probably ever had secret police kick in their doors and take their loved ones away. Painting ourselves as living at the end of civilization, as a few people here do, is the ultimate white whine. Get a grip and get some perspective.

nice post. And I really do hope that we fix some of these structural problems since I think that is at the root, or at least a major root, of our problems. Basically, I want to see primaries eliminated or radically changed and the filibuster eliminated (or actually make those bastards actually stand up their and speak for the whole freakin time). I am sure there are other and more important structural changes to be made as well

 

[Xdrive05]

The only reason I will vote for Obama is because of the Supreme Court. That notwithstanding, I would probably even vote for the Republican challenger if they actually nominated a moderate Republican (I know, not gonna happen). He or she would probably be less of a disappointment.

 

[zero_suit]

The way he is getting steamrolled by Republicans is pathetic and almost entirely the result of his inability to call their bluffs. I can't even blame them anymore.

Indeed, they know he'll fold like a lawn chair every time.

 

[quaere]

This is no more a permanent state than the giddy 90’s were.

Get a grip and get some perspective.

Do you consider concerns that the American middle class may never recover to be unfounded?

 

[ToxicAdam]

I want to see Obama win in 2012, but what on earth is he going to run on? What possible campaign can he run that will re-inspire his base and not scare away right-leaning moderates?

I guess he can hope for the Democratic machine to try to label his opponent as a crazed Tea Party supporter, which has enough negative connotations to scare some moderates away. But I don't think you can hang something like that on Romney. It would be a waste of time/energy.

 

[TacticalFox88]

they're not bluffing.

Regardlesss he needs to say OUT FUCKING LOUD, "This plan is complete bullshit, and here let's break it fucking down." I'm tired of him taking their opinions and input seriously. At some point he has to say "Well...fuck you guys."

 

[Zabka]

they're not bluffing.

How do you know if they don't ever get called on their bluffs?

 

[Xdrive05]

Indeed, they know he'll fold like a lawn chair every time.

And at the same time he's an unstoppable socialist radical against which we must all bear arms together! Or something.

 

[Piecake]

Who in their right mind would boast of this?

(That's an important qualifier.)

I think this is mostly a point made in rebuttal to crazy tea party nut jobs who think spending is out of control and Obama is the reason for it. Of course, it wont matter since tea partiers are crazy nut jobs who don't listen to reason

 

[Kusagari]

If you don't want to see the craziness that a Republican government in complete control can cause, then you have to vote Obama. There is no chance that the Democrats are keeping the senate and the chances of retaking the house are slim at best.

And Romney, the only sane Republican with a chance, would easily fold to whatever the Tea Party wanted when in office.

 

[Piecake]

The only reason I will vote for Obama is because of the Supreme Court. That notwithstanding, I would probably even vote for the Republican challenger if they actually nominated a moderate Republican (I know, not gonna happen). He or she would probably be less of a disappointment.

a moderate republican? Those exist?

 

[Averon]

The only reason I will vote for Obama is because of the Supreme Court. That notwithstanding, I would probably even vote for the Republican challenger if they actually nominated a moderate Republican (I know, not gonna happen). He or she would probably be less of a disappointment.

With Obama being so weak now, what incentive is it for the GOP to nominate a moderate? I think Obama being this weak hurts Romney's chances to win the nom.

 

[Xdrive05]

a moderate republican? Those exist?

I suppose if you go back enough decades. :-/

Goddamn. American politics is so depressing if you're paying attention and you're not at the extreme right.

 

[besada]

Do you consider concerns that the American middle class may never recover to be unfounded?

Yes, I do. Particulary because I've heard the same thing quite a few times in my lifetime. The problem with these sorts of arguments is that they're always based on projections that things will continue on the way they've been going. Which is never what actually happens. The middle class has been doomed every election season since I was born, excepting a handful of years when the middle class was going to grow forever and we were all going to be rich.

Things suck right now. They suck really badly. And in the future, they'll probably suck in other, completely unexpected ways. No one knows what's going to happen, and if they tell you they do, they're trying to sell you something.

Maybe this is the final countdown, but if it is, sitting around and whining about it isn't going to change anything. Change requires people getting up off their asses and doing things. Fighting for what they believe in. Educating themselves so that we can make better choices.

I've spent more than two decades working with people to fix what I consider one of the worst systemic problems with the country. We're nowhere near achieving it, and I'll probably be dead by the time we do. Or maybe some other solution will make all that work completely wasted. Until then, all you can do as an individual is to find the problem, and do what you can to fix it. That means voting, it means working with like minded people, it means getting out there and getting in their faces. There are no guarantees it will work, but it's a damn sight more effective than hanging out in a room and muttering "a pox on both their houses."

 

[SoulPlaya]

Wait, have they cut subsidized stafford loans?

 

[Zabka]

Unfortunately we are at a point where popular legislation is not just unable to pass Congress, even the hint of it is enough to prevent a bill from being brought to the floor for a vote. The worst part is that there hasn't been a peep from either party or the media on reforming the system, and I don't see it coming up in the next election.

 

[Renji_11]

a moderate republican? Those exist?

Obama?

 

[jamesinclair]

So when will the corruption and insider trading investigations begin?

The debt crisis was artificially created.


Im sure Goldman and their congress friends shorted to profit off a falling market and then bought when they knew what was the bottom (since it was artificially created, there was no question when the bottom was going to be). They had their friends at S&P and Moodys issue ominous warnings to push the selling, all while knowing the warnings were false (the ratings agencies have no interest in kamikaziing their country, they know their ratings are complete bs)


The result?

A massive transfer of wealth. Johnny--main-street-casual-trader watches the news, hears all the warnings, panics and sells.

Then the few privileged elites swoop in, buy up the bargain stocks, and make massive profit.

Johnny is left with nothing, the elite are left with everything.


Just another day in america.

eagletear.jpg

 

[SlipperySlope]

Excessive spending by Obama? Thats pretty ridiculous considering that if we got rid of the bush tax cuts and 2 wars we would still have a yearly deficit, but not an insane one, and that being mostly contributed to the recession and the lower tax revenue that comes from it

Not an insane one? The yearly deficit would still be over a trillion dollars if we did those things. How is that not insane?

The problem is a lot bigger than you think...

 

[ToxicAdam]

Im sure Goldman and their congress friends shorted to profit off a falling market and then bought when they knew what was the bottom

Alex Jones, get off GAF. You have a podcast to do.