The Great Recession

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John, your ability to regurgitate political ideology is impressive.

You were warned.<!-/Quote-!>

Thank you. I'm glad to know that I can faithsomely mimic political rhetoric with minimal exposure.

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The present conception of "Free Trade" is neither "free", nor "trade" in the economic sense of the word. This system, as it is being implemented, depends on barriers being maintained that prevent the free flow of all economic factors, most especially labor, while preventing the functioning of the traditional leveling and moderating influences of regulatory agencies.<!-/Quote-!>

If it isn't free trade, there's no reason to be calling it free trade. Anyway, obviously, I would say that let's allow the free flow of all economic factors . . . or none I suppose depending on

Lol, unquenchable greed is the root cuase, everything else is an affect of greed.

Corperations are inherently greedy with the single goal of making the largest profit possible.

Corperate interests are in the pocket of every politician no matter their BS to get elected.

Corperate interests are in the pocket of the media.

Absolute Capitalism is absolutely corrupt and cannibal. Shed it or learn to farm and condision your children to be wage slaves.

Government bailed out the big banks. Government bailed out General Motors. Government is going to force people to contribute to the health insurance industry's profits. Government supports farmers, the nuclear power industry, the oil industry, General Electric, Halliburton, NPR, etc. Government regulates virtually every industry and profession.

Government needs to regulate every industry.

It's sad to say we can't trust the capitalist to do the right thing.

Very sad

Corperate interests are in the pocket of every politician no matter their BS to get elected.

In essence industry regulates government.

good luck. ;P

Government is out of control. They along with their crony capitalist friends ( GE, Google, and others) and labor unions are the ones we can't trust.

Crisis? What crisis?

If you are one of the complainers then you cant be succeeding. The rule of survival of the fittest. There are plenty of people out there doing very well thank-you. These are the ones we need to further an evolving Human race. If you're a loser, then you belong in the bin, simple, there arent enough resources for the world to support every weak link until s/he lives to 150.

Harsh I know, but true.

This wage slave concept is nonsense. In a capitalist system, workers are free to offer their services to whom they choose. Oftentimes, they choose to work for the employer that offers the best compensation / benefit combination. It would only be slavery if they were forced to work at a company.
These industrial towns sprang up because of a lack of infrastructure that existed at that time. These facilities, especially lumber mill towns and mining towns, were sometimes in very remote regions. So, the company had no alternative except to build a town since nothing was there. In my home state of North Carolina, most of the lumber towns are gone but many of the textile mill towns are cities now, and some of the old mill houses were renovated and are being lived in.

Well. America is the target of China, Russia, and Iran. It is becoming the truth that in the next coming years, Iran will reduce producing oil to the world market in order to create the high shortage of oil( Iran is one of the largest oil producer in the World). This will bring all price of the products to the sky. The strategy for destroying US dollar is finished. Now, these three countries are planning to hurt Americans by spending more money to buy things. Therefore, in the next few years, we would not have cheap products any more. If we talk about labor forces, China could provide enough workers( cheap salary) for companies. In the past years, many American businessmen could not be able to refuse PROFITS from cheap labor forces. Moving American factories to China is one of the China Government strategies. All of you can't convince American businessmen to deny MONEY.

Today we live in an interdependent world. And we live in response to our own interest (even altruism can be considered in our interest). Neither government,business, military power or the so called free market have given us the answer to how to live together where your rights don't literally bump up against mine and vice versa. We know that neither free markets or planned economies provide the answers. The current world crisis is a result of these completing interests. And now we see that the so called developed countries that for so long have been spending and commiting themselves for more than they can afford, do not have enough children to pay into the system to keep it afloat. And emerging markets are often exploited of their resources for the benefit of the few. Those with power will continue to stack the deck in their favor. Even if we throw them out, all we're doing is rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.
So, what'

@Crafty,
Most successful Americans are far from fit. Thoose with out compassion are your 'weak link', the cuase of the subject, over population, religion, and quite frankly set back the entire human race from day one.

@Danny,
The term 'wage slave' means having no choice but to offer your services for very little.

@Sima Zhao,
I believe America is more a victom of their own greed than a target. Iran has aready done this and we expect less oil in the future it doesn't take a magic eight ball to forsee that. ;)

@Parsifal,
Your answer of freedom is as easy as starting a revolution. It takes enlightenment wich is often interpeted as bellyaching. :P

Synicus, it's about being involved in the process and recognizing our complicity in what's going on. It's not just the rich guys or business or government. We all have to be accountable.

i agree with what you said Parsifal. alot of wisdom to be taken from those statements. everyone should stand and voice thier opinions or no one will hear. but on same side, stand for what is right. maybe the biggest problem politicians have is that we have all these different cultures, who all want different things. looks to me like we need someone with balls to say F**K that. this is the way it is.

Yep.

Vote for me.

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Government needs to regulate every industry.<!-/Quote-!>

Where was the regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when they were encouraging subprime loans to people who couldn't afford them, and handing out multimillion bonuses to their executives?

Where was the regulation of the big banks when they were repackaging these toxic assets?

Where was the regulation of Madoff, for crying out loud?

Why does "regulation" so often mean "bailouts", "price supports", "barriers to competition", and other things that enable business to use government as a tool towards their own ends?

Why do people have such faith in government as a solution to problems, when it so often can't solve the ones it is already empowered to solve?

you got my vote Crafty. but of course, you better have some balls. and Jojo, you have very good reasons as to why you should take your voice public. i've talked with you before Crafty. don't think i've ever spoken with you Jojo. you both have what it takes to make change happen. in fact, anyone reading this can make a difference. you only have to start with one small step, then another step, and so on.

A headline from 2000. The policy behind the mortgage crisis. I have the entire document if anyone wants to read it

HUD No. 00-317
Further Information: For Release
Or contact your local HUD office October 31, 2000
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HUD ANNOUNCES NEW REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE $2.4 TRILLION IN MORTGAGES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR 28.1 MILLION FAMILIES

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced new federal regulations that require the nation's two largest housing finance companies to buy $2.4 trillion in mortgages during the next 10 years to provide affordable housing for about 28.1 million low- and moderate-income families.

Arrest all the corrupt banksters and all their supporters and let the countries print their own debt-free money, and we will be free. We dont need corrupt old men with eugenics ideologies to rule our world, we do much better without them...

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Haha, I hope you're ready for a great many conspiracy theories.<!-/Quote-!>

I have to admit the thought did not even once cross my mind. When I ask this question, what I usually hear goes along the lines of incompetent politicians, high deficit, subprime crisis, speculation, etc. I have heard that this crisis marks the end of a system, but not quite like some put it here...

I would like to know why some consider bailouts, quantitive easing and regulation factors that favor the crisis. And whatever more you have to say regarding monetary policiy that is not included in quantitive easing.

Where to start, Laguna?

Money is a social contract.

What happens enough actors decide not to honor the contract?

I believe you know what the impact is going to be when the full ramifications of 2008 can no longer be ignored.

Money is akin to a social contract but it is not one. Money is the means by which we exchange propriety rights. In a social contract we transfer rights to a higher body.

While the public debt is high in the USA, it is not prohibitively so. It is not a problem now, but it will be in future. You all have a better chance to reduce the deficit with your economy going at full speed (~5% unemployment), than with a half-assed "are we safe, yet?" speed.

Seems to me that no matter how much you have, its never quite enough (a generalisation). If we get used to the current 'austerity' that we all have to accept, which is not a full speed ahead economy, then improvement in our financial security and standard of living will be felt and appreciated. If we were to continue as if nothing much was wrong, then we carry on regardless until the whole shebang self-destructs. The latter course of action will cause far more harm to far more people though it may not happen tomorrow, whereas austerity is hitting right here right now to most.

I think this is more or less what Laguna says, but I say the economy needs slowing, people have come to expect too much and want even more. Always expect the worst and anything good is a bonus, anything else is inviting disappointment.

"I would like to know why some consider bailouts, quantitative easing and regulation factors that favor the crisis. And whatever more you have to say regarding monetary policy that is not included in quantitative easing."


The Bailouts were not a bad thing. At least the bailouts of the Corporations that were caught in the down-slide caused by the crisis.

The Banks, should have never been bailed out. They should have been broken up. Let failing parts fail, and reviving productive divisions.

The SuperBanks like Bank Of America, the preservation of SuperBanks will perpetuate further decline in the US financial system.

If the World Market is failing, local governments would/should increase spending to sure up their base. But, quantitative easing, in the manner it is distributed is very bad, and basically useless.

The money trickles to the banks first. The banks are not lending to everyday Americans. T

CC, I don't think that there aren't a few problems. Problems that can be solved in less offensive ways to meager wage earners or students. But I do think they way problems are being presented and stressed as "OMG cut it now or we're all dead" urgency is very disingenuous to the public.

It amazes me how almost every European country, along with the United States has so suddenly realized without regard for the last 25- 30 years leading up until today, that we have 'problems' that couldn't be addressed until today, but must be addressed today, simultaneously along with most other Western Civilized governments, all have the exact same solutions to those problems.

When the only solution across the board is a reduction in Social Services, Pensions and Retirement funds, and government employment, raises in education costs, I think something bigger is going on behind the scenes. Too many complex economies and cou

It is worthy of considering Wendy, and I'm by no means a conspiracy theorist. I just find it hard to believe all the big players that would need to be involved could actually agree to a plan and pull it off, ha!

It may well have been building a while, but not that long, I'm not good on history and dates but your great depression wasnt really all that many years ago, neither was GBs great winter of discontent, the 3 day week etc etc.

Now dont get me wrong, I'm not signing up for The Coalition of Hippeh Tree Huggers, but the worlds insatiable greed and expectation of rights to be given everything is the root cause of civilizations discontent. (I'm an anti-media person, stop thrusting things we need and must have and your neighbour has and youre nobody without, and its so cheap, especially if you buy two, and anti state moddy-coddling, live like this, live like that, we know best, etc).
Grr. you've got me ra