Git R Done boys.......

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PassionForFire&Water; said:
Frozen Canuck said:
Indeed Heaterman:

It adds up to a lot of extra money on a longer 60-90 day job.

Customer winds up shaking their head as they get NO extra value for $100/day fuel expense. 90 day job is $9000 just to move people around & thats just the cost of fuel.

The end of the global economy .... yeaaahaaaaaaaaaa.
Back to the past, make and buy stuff in your backyard.
Or .... do I miss something?

Last time this country had a depression half of the male population still worked the land. Knew what hard work really was and knew how to garden, how to dress out a hog or chicken for supper. Back than there still was a general respect for the rule of law. You and I have a backyard that we would love to spend all day in -- taken care of our family. But I'm afraid we are going to end up back to early American history -- where we are going to have to band together in small communities and build forts to protect our families from the savages (city folk) who are starving because the drive thrus have all closed.
 
shortline said:
PassionForFire&Water; said:
Frozen Canuck said:
Indeed Heaterman:

It adds up to a lot of extra money on a longer 60-90 day job.

Customer winds up shaking their head as they get NO extra value for $100/day fuel expense. 90 day job is $9000 just to move people around & thats just the cost of fuel.

The end of the global economy .... yeaaahaaaaaaaaaa.
Back to the past, make and buy stuff in your backyard.
Or .... do I miss something?

Last time this country had a depression half of the male population still worked the land. Knew what hard work really was and knew how to garden, how to dress out a hog or chicken for supper. Back than there still was a general respect for the rule of law. You and I have a backyard that we would love to spend all day in -- taken care of our family. But I'm afraid we are going to end up back to early American history -- where we are going to have to band together in small communities and build forts to protect our families from the savages (city folk) who are starving because the drive thrus have all closed.

BINGO !
 
This all makes me glad I built my home in 2008 and have it financed at 4.6%. I need to check the paperwork though for what Frozen Canuck is saying. Everything I Googled says the rate cannot be changed, I hope he's wrong. I think I will buy the few remaining items I need to finish out my storage which isn't much. The boiler will pay itself much quicker if electric rates skyrocket.

Has anyone watched that video EndofAmerica2011.com? It ends as sales pitch for his financial products but unfortunately I do think there is a lot of truth in what he is predicating. I have bought some silver and am considering liquidating about a 1/4 of my 401k, paying the taxes & penalties to buy more gold & silver and some items that would allow me to grow my own food. My wife and I are going to plant a garden this year and I'm even considering a greenhouse tied into the boiler as well. I don't want to overreact but I don't want to be unprepared either. I have read that during a crisis they can lock down your 401k's, prevent you from owning gold & silver, and probably freeze bank accounts too. I do believe all short term interest rates (ie. credit cards, equity loans, car loans) will go through the roof. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
All caused by the financial institutions and the government they control....remove the laws of protection, I mean deregulate, and the theivery just went nuts....brought the world to its knees...and now they are all reaping recording profits and the rest of us just get by. PhD and all, it doesn't matter, we get the short end of the stick...and it is stuck someplace dark. I agree that it won't change in the US until there is bloodshed. The politicians are directly benefiting, so there will be no change from them. I can only hope that a "sensible" middle of the road "tea bagger party" will emerge and get a new round of people elected who will pass bills to regulate, place the laws back on the system, change campaign financiing permanently, and bring the nation back to the people. If only everyone, left and right, could drop their pet issues for a decade to right the nation in the proper direction, for all the people, and get rid of the massive influence wall street (all the money) has on the laws. This is why things are not as bad north of the border, the laws remained to some extent, and the raping of the people didn't happen. Look at Iceland....ignore all US politics. Deregulation came along and within 10 years the countries banks had buried themselves so deep it brought the entire small nation down. The US has done the same thing....they just had a big brother that was there to provide handouts....and now they are reaping the returns even moreso than before. It is sickening....and hopefully everyone will wake up and stop all the BS that says these corporatacries are OK, becuase they create the jobs, and blah blah blah. They all need to be reigned in, and limited, and things need to be kept under control. Amazing how our nation became the superpower it was during the 50-70's when things were held in check by a legal system...not yet succummed to the dollars of the wealthy and the banks/corporations that wanted to **** all. Not only did we grow trememndously, we truly thrived under these conditions. So what is it coming to? More wealth getting sucked to the top. I don't see how it is any differnt than the Kings of the fuedal times....just have more kings now. And all us peasants, even those that are highly skilled, educated, and good at what we do...we are peasants. The scraps falling off the Kings table are a little bit bigger than 400 years ago....peole are satiated with there big flat screens and little toys....but looking at the real statistics of securty and wealth creation, it is all going straight to the top. You can't work hard anymore and break through the barrier. And indeed, the poster above was right. With the glut of people looking for work, the corporations aren't going to spend to hire...they are going to sit on their cash. Productivity is up higher than ever, becuase people are afraid of being replaced, so they do more for less. And yet half the country says unions are the worst thing around....as we head back into the time of the Kings. It is very sad...and I do worry for my children. i really wish politicians would read the constitution and focus back on the people. Obama has indeed been a major disappointment...as he has bought right in to the status quo in DC. Most disppointing indeed!
 
bpirger said:
All caused by the financial institutions and the government they control....remove the laws of protection, I mean deregulate, and the theivery just went nuts....brought the world to its knees...and now they are all reaping recording profits and the rest of us just get by. PhD and all, it doesn't matter, we get the short end of the stick...and it is stuck someplace dark. I agree that it won't change in the US until there is bloodshed. The politicians are directly benefiting, so there will be no change from them. I can only hope that a "sensible" middle of the road "tea bagger party" will emerge and get a new round of people elected who will pass bills to regulate, place the laws back on the system, change campaign financiing permanently, and bring the nation back to the people. If only everyone, left and right, could drop their pet issues for a decade to right the nation in the proper direction, for all the people, and get rid of the massive influence wall street (all the money) has on the laws. This is why things are not as bad north of the border, the laws remained to some extent, and the raping of the people didn't happen. Look at Iceland....ignore all US politics. Deregulation came along and within 10 years the countries banks had buried themselves so deep it brought the entire small nation down. The US has done the same thing....they just had a big brother that was there to provide handouts....and now they are reaping the returns even moreso than before. It is sickening....and hopefully everyone will wake up and stop all the BS that says these corporatacries are OK, becuase they create the jobs, and blah blah blah. They all need to be reigned in, and limited, and things need to be kept under control. Amazing how our nation became the superpower it was during the 50-70's when things were held in check by a legal system...not yet succummed to the dollars of the wealthy and the banks/corporations that wanted to **** all. Not only did we grow trememndously, we truly thrived under these conditions. So what is it coming to? More wealth getting sucked to the top. I don't see how it is any differnt than the Kings of the fuedal times....just have more kings now. And all us peasants, even those that are highly skilled, educated, and good at what we do...we are peasants. The scraps falling off the Kings table are a little bit bigger than 400 years ago....peole are satiated with there big flat screens and little toys....but looking at the real statistics of securty and wealth creation, it is all going straight to the top. You can't work hard anymore and break through the barrier. And indeed, the poster above was right. With the glut of people looking for work, the corporations aren't going to spend to hire...they are going to sit on their cash. Productivity is up higher than ever, becuase people are afraid of being replaced, so they do more for less. And yet half the country says unions are the worst thing around....as we head back into the time of the Kings. It is very sad...and I do worry for my children. i really wish politicians would read the constitution and focus back on the people. Obama has indeed been a major disappointment...as he has bought right in to the status quo in DC. Most disppointing indeed!

Well said, and spot on. I too fear greatly for my kids. I truly believe another major revolution is going to happen within the next few years, and it won't be pretty. Bernanke and Co have done nothing for the average guy on the street, the only ones benefiting are the big banks and the Wall Street big shots, all by design. Taxpayers are now on the hook for another $4 trillion in just the last 3 years. When this all blows up its going to be hell !
 
I'd be really surprised it is happened that soon. Most folks aren't aware of the truth, they just live with the scraps falling from the table. Bigger TV's, new phones, more texting, it just seems to appease everyone. When they start listening and paying just a little attention, they start with the BS pumped to them by the so called news people and pundits. OH, GE creates the jobs...they shouldn't pay taxes. Last I knew nearly all of the GE sites are empty with all the jobs overseas with cheap labor. Sure, a few design houses still around....but they are getting smaller too as India engineers will work for $10K a year...a very handsome salary indeed in India. Yet we give them breaks....and it continues across all the top corporations. Yet the pundits convince those who aren't really interested in reading enough, thinking enough, to dig into the truth....that they should all be exempt. Let's blame it on those high end, fancy, union teachers and govt employees. Yeah, most of the teachers I had or my kids have really are mediocre. Many should be removed. A handful should be praised. But they all target these folks as the big problem in society. So while there are no doubt some people making 85K a year pushing a broom in a factory, there are thousands who work quite hard....and if left up to the corporate top, they'd be making $10 an hour. My local GM of our high tech business calls technical employee's "cheeseburgers". Tells them to their face in fact. I can pick you for $1, or about three others for $1, so take it or leave it. Yet when we try and hire someone we can't find anyone who requires less than a year of training. Geez. BUt this mentality seems to get so much traction, on sad to say it directly, the right, that people don't stop and think and look at the real problems. Sure, there has been abuse on all sides...no doubt this is true...and no doubt people should be in prison from both sides. Today, there is NO accountability....NONE. You can rob literally billions from America and still walk free. Bernie is the rare exception....but look at all the legal criminals still sitting at the helm of their weapon, I mean bank. It is just sad. But with no accountability, when will it end? Only when the accountability returns and there is a way to hold them accountable for the massive stealing from the American people. Companies drop all pensions becuase they can't afford it, push us into 401K, which just means we now HAVE to send our money to Wall Street in hopes of being able to afford retirement some day. What a scheme that is....and then there's huge rewards for the CEOs and staff TODAY, not tomorrow, from the same wall street. No one looks 5 years in the future, nor 3, from a corporate persepective. This used to be NOT the case. Today if you look more than 12 months ahead you are likely fired, because you didn't focus on immediate return.

There's a guy here who two years ago used to be fairly hardcore right. Bought the standard BS from the pundits. Everyone on welfare should just get a job, and that is the majority of our troubles...Geeez. He bought a Kindle. He reads now rather voraciously, and it is incredible to see his transformation. The wool has been pulled from his eyes and he understands and fully sees how the American people are being robbed. Both sides of the aisle on Capital hill play along with this.....they just pander to the money. And yet we keep electing the same idiots to go and steal from us....and until we as a total nation read and think, and stop listening to the rhetoric, until the collectively we understand and move forward together....it will not end.

I think this will continue for a good long time...until some major event truly takes hold and drives the truth to everyones immediate understanding. Let's say when water becomes scarce. Perhaps $10 a gallon fuel will do this, but it is already there in Europe. No wonder the europeans are "socialist"....LMAO. People there have a bit more understanding of reality. Socialism isn't the answer....but regulation on what can be done is. It used to be the law, and yet America thrived. And now today it is gone and only the top are thriving....and thriving more then ever in history. It is actually quite sick. Yet the word socialist is thrown around and everyone just stops thinking and jumps into thoughts of the USSR or similar.

As long as those flat panels keep showing up, and new little toys, people are satiated and few rise up to understand the truth. It is very disappointing...yet it abounds in the US. Apathy. But having a few little pet issues keeps the masses happy. These politicians, in bed with the big money and the pundits, they all know how to herd the cattle. The cattle need to stand up and realize they are being headed to slaughter. I guess sheep is a better analogy....they just get sheered year after year. But rising up against it? In the next few years? Strong enough to push career politicians out and elect sensible, middle of the road people that refuse to get pulled into the hot topics of one side or the other, pass some monumental changing laws, and then step down? Used to be public office was seen as a duty, no one wanted to leave their farm to go and serve....but they felt an obligation to the emerging nation to do the work. Now poliicians are not only career long, they are family legacy. That's just sad....and yet we keep voting. Bush or Kennedy....doesn't matter....they never are focused on the people.

Phew....must stop. Going to go fell some trees now with my teeth. :)
 
bpirger said:
I'd be really surprised it is happened that soon. Most folks aren't aware of the truth, they just live with the scraps falling from the table. Bigger TV's, new phones, more texting, it just seems to appease everyone.
...
Phew....must stop. Going to go fell some trees now with my teeth. :)

Great post bpirger. You are describing Spain man.
 
I'm not sure I totally agree with you guys on regulation being the cause of all our problems. I was a child in the late 70's and early 80's but I remember how it cost a fortune (like $10 I think) to make a long distance call across the country. Today, it is only a fraction of that. Air travel must have been the same way. My folks never could afford to take us on a trip unless we drove the car and that was back when the speed limits were 55mph on the interstates. Today flights seem very affordable especially when compare in today's dollars. I can't believe the current cell phone proliferation would have ever occured in a tightly regulated government control like we had back then. There was just no competition, no innovation at all. We would probably still be using the old bag phones and brick phones from 20 yrs ago today. I don't think anyone should rely totally on the government for their retirement, health care, or well being. If my company pension is still there when I retire in 20 years and the government ran railroad retirement hasn't been pilfered, I will be setting pretty good. If its gone, I still plan to have enough saved on my own to survive. Same is true with healthcare. We don't need Obamacare, that won't do a damn thing to help any of us. My company started a high deductable health plan a few years ago (HDHP) and I really like it compared to the HMO & PPOs we were on in the past. They put a sizeable amount ($2600) in your HSA savings account each year and I also contribute $150/month (difference between what we paid for HMO/PPO 4 yrs ago and the current HDHP premium). My wife had an accident the first year and we did have some out of pocket expenses but I think we have close to $10k in the HSA now. The best thing is the premiums have barely changed $72, 72, 90, 90 over the past 4 years. Wife, kids, and I still have regular checkups covered 100% as part of preventive care. I also switched to generic medication which I should have done long ago but had no incentive to do so under the HMO/PPOs. It's like everything else, when you have a stake or share in paying the bill you will be a smarter consumer. This is the solution the the health care problem not some $5000 toliet seat solution from Washington. If they operated neighborhood lemondade stands, a glass would cost $10 to cover all the administrative expenses. Our medical care is the best in the world, I just hope we can keep it that way.
 
HA!! Speaking of Lemonade stands. Thought this was fitting.
 

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Good find Rick! LMAO!!

I highly recommend a book by John Mauldin titled "Endgame: The end of the debt supercycle and how it changes everything."

The guy is one of the few financial bloggers/writers who is not out there for the sole purpose of hyping whatever he is selling at the moment. Pretty straight shooter who started his career out on a path that led through seminary if that tells you anything........

What is written in there and the statistics that are shown or quoted are shall we say.......sobering, to say the least. He details the options that we have as a country as well as the options for the rest of the world and none of them are painless. There will be carnage somewhere, or rather there will be some degree of carnage everywhere. It's just a matter of when not if. I think we all know that. The bottom line is simply that at some point the bond market (people and countries that buy our debt) are going to say, "enough of this crap". Especially if they see that nothing is being done to bring down the debt held by both private parties and businesses as well as public or government instruments of bondage. What happens then will not be pretty as interest rates will soar, effectively smashing whatever is left of our economy at that point. When that happens we will truly be back in the 1930's only without the benefits of having a large percentage of the population able to take care of itself and survive in small self sufficient communities.

Here's a quote from John's book. Plain simple and to the point. It should be mandatory reading for all the creatures inhabiting our state and federal governments.

"Our leaders need to be candid with the American people. There are no magic answers, no easy solutions. The time for the blame game is over. We need to get on with the job of setting a course back to a sustainable economy that will grow and produce the jobs and opportunities that we have had in the past and we want for our children. It will mean some years of difficulty, but we can get through it if we choose to. If we do not choose to act prudently, far more difficult times will be forced on us. Let's hope we can be proactive. "


And here's a quote from another "good book"........I guess it doesn't kid around.

Proverbs 22:7....The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
 
Huskers.......I agree that it's not all regulation/deregulation nor is it all the big business and stock market people. Regular, seemingly normal people bought into the myth of creating wealth by going so far in debt they couldn't see the sun. No one made them do it but themselves. I personally know a few who have lost everything they had because it was ALL mortgaged right to the hilt while they tried to buy or build houses and flip them for a profit. No one was forced to take out an adjustable rate mortgage for twice the value of their home or business. I mean what were they thinking? New car loans? No money down, deferred payments for 90 days (while interest accrued) .....and they wonder why the car is worth less than what is owed 5 years later........
Appliances, big TV's, Kubotas and John Deeres, motorcycles, ATV's and other toys of any type. Why wait!! Get it now!!!!...........well now we know why a little patience and a down-payment is a good thing.......

Being in the construction trades I was right in the thick of it and I remember saying to a very good friend who was going gangbusters buying properties left and right that it was all just a house of cards waiting to get blown over. I'm no genius when it comes to innovative financial shenanigans but when I saw families with combined income of $50K or less and 2, 3 or 4 kids, building houses that cost $300K and up, I started thinking that things weren't adding up the way they should. Go figure.

Pirger man.......you need to take care of your teeth. Ease up on the trees. ;)
 
For what it's worth frozen Canuck insulation for some reason is cheap now. OSB is 7 bucks for 7/16". I did talk to my plumber and was one irritated guy. He can't believe how much pex and " those stupid fittings" went through the roof. Scrap prices!!!!!!! WOW! A few years ago I got 2 cents a lb. for a cast iron tub. A month ago it was 10 cents. Last year I got 5 cents for scrap steel, last week I got .15 cents, 70 cents for cans. This tells me inflation is on it's way and like never before. I don't think it was like this in 1979. FOOD, my wife is mad ( and not the cute mad) when shopping for food. I won't even go with her anymore, and those road kills in the ditch all winter are bringing back memories of 1980. I don't exactly blame "O" but he didn't help at all. We need to drill our own oil, we need to work hard for cheap. Cut gov. spending ( a real pissing match debate here in Wisconsin) We can do it but it won't be pretty. Us here are a much tougher breed, the rest are in for tough times they can't imagine.
 
RE: Wisconsin. What Walker is doing there is highly unpopular and even painful, but absolutely necessary. It looks to me like the governors in several states are going to lead the way. That is, if they can just grit their teeth and fight through all the nay sayers and negative hyperbole generated by the media and the unions involved at the moment. Those are the kind of things that are going to have to be done, along with higher taxes for everyone of us if we are going to get out of this mess.
 
heaterman said:
Good find Rick! LMAO!!

I highly recommend a book by John Mauldin titled "Endgame: The end of the debt supercycle and how it changes everything.

Here's a quote from John's book. Plain simple and to the point. It should be mandatory reading for all the creatures inhabiting our state and federal governments.

"Our leaders need to be candid with the American people. There are no magic answers, no easy solutions. The time for the blame game is over. We need to get on with the job of setting a course back to a sustainable economy that will grow and produce the jobs and opportunities that we have had in the past and we want for our children. It will mean some years of difficulty, but we can get through it if we choose to. If we do not choose to act prudently, far more difficult times will be forced on us. Let's hope we can be proactive. "


And here's a quote from another "good book"........I guess it doesn't kid around.

Proverbs 22:7....The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.

AMEN!
 
Yes indeed....if we dont deal with the mess we got ourselves into now....well we are going to get steamrolled by it later.

Perfect cartoon Rick.....wonder how many wallstreet/bankers recognize themselves in that very accurate satire.
 
The city and state governments are going broke too big time not totally the fault of the unions but they account for some of the blame. Nobody should be able to get full retirement at 45 and have it based on the highest 12 month period in their last five years, especially when you could spike your pay working all the overtime you could get and not taking any days off during that 12 month period. The latest police union contract here supposedly ended the salary spiking for retirement purposes and raised the age for retirement to 50 for new hires and employees with less than 20 years. Those with 20 years or more still retire at 45 with full benefits. They get 72% of that highest 12 months when they retire. One guy that was making $55,000 spiked his last year up to $125,000 and will get a $90,000 retirement, way more than he ever made working. The average salary is $63,000 and most are boosting their retirement base way above that figure. It's true they have a dangerous job but so do many of us. This has city bankruptcy written all over it. Totally unsustainable, just like the federal government spending.
 
Dang....and I thought I was avoiding the Ash Can quite succesfully....
 
Just my 2 cents. We need to get rid of the Federal Reserve and get back to the Gold standard. Then the monies regulate themselves. Just printing monies whenever we need it is what drags us down. The billionaires are the federal reserve and they love when goverments need money. Yes that money has to be paid back and it's paid back with tax payer money.
 
bupalos said:
I run a foreign language translation business, so I see a lot of the U.S. export market and have a lot of exposure to international conditions. It's interesting to me to see how much in the US we focus on what we do wrong and see it as internal failure and even moral failure and discount what I see as much more potent factors. The prices of energy-- and by extension steel and food and just about everything-- are determined almost completely by factors external to behavior by or within the U.S. China and India have so much more to do with our real world conditions than some supposed decline in the quality of our people or their willingness or ability to work or desire for flat-screens or what have you.

For all the storm and worry over our national debt and budget deficit, it really has very little to do with the overall strength of our economy. And people domestically and internationally still want to lend to the US government more than just about any other entity, I think for pretty good reason. The budget deficit is easily eliminated and turned back into a surplus with fairly slight age and income adjustments to SS and medicare. And these only became problems in the first place because of tilted demographics, incredible advances in medical technology, and lowering tax rates way below historical averages, especially on the wealthiest citizens -- in other words, they are problems that came from the fact that our lives are better. Or just reset the tax rates to the Clinton years. Or trim the military a bit. This thing isn't nearly as fragile as people seem to think, and there will be political cooperation when there is a real need for it. We aren't bankrupt. We've got assets and a way of life and ethos that are the envy of the world, and can be made more sustainable with just a little common sense. And while we look nutty and politically paralyzed from time to time, when push comes to shove I think we'll show we've still got that common sense.

The world is way different than it was in the 50's, but what 50 year period can you not say that about? We'll continue to change and adapt and probably for the most part get better. Just like we always have.

Just wanted to sound a note of what I think is more realistic optimism amidst some of this vague doom. And agree with the original poster that you should get your boiler now. Burning wood cleanly makes you a better citizen and the U.S. a better country.

With all due respect, a country that has to borrow 42 cents of every dollar it spends, borrows over $4 billion dollars/DAY just to stay afloat, is over $14 TRILLION dollars in debt, has unfunded liabilities of over $70 TRILLION dollars, has over 44 million people on food stamps, has REAL unemployment of almost 20%, is a country that is in REAL trouble.

As far as other countries buying our debt, like China and Japan (who won't be buying anymore due to the disaster there), many of these countries buy our debt to keep the value of their currencies low, so they can keep on selling us cheap junk we don't need, and to keep THEIR people employed, and ours unemployed. It amazes me how the talking heads on Wall Strret consider US Treasuries as "safe haven" assets, when it is clear to me that Treasuries are the biggest Ponzi scheme the world has ever seen. There is no way the holders of these "assets" will ever be paid back with dollars that are worth anything, assuming they even get paid back at all.

There is really no way you can compare the US today with that of 50-60 years ago. We were a manufacturing powerhouse then. There was virtually no debt anywhere, people lived within there means. One of the main reasons why the US has lived so well for the last 50 years is because we have the worlds reserve currency, and it allowed us to borrow and spend like drunken sailors. Credit and debt has fueled much of the growth over that time. The bills are coming due now. The debt has become so enormous, that it requires more and more debt to just keep the ship afloat. Imagine what would have happened if the Fed had not pumped trillions into the economy over the last 3 years, and it really hasn't done much for the average guy, only Wall Street and the Banks. The Fed has destroyed the value of our currency, and they aren't done yet. This is going to end badly, just a matter of time.

We are broke and bankrupt. I only hope when its over, those responsible go to jail or are swinging from ropes in Times Square ! More than likely however, is that not a single one of these crooks will ever be prosecuted, and they will all have somehow managed to "get the hell out of dodge" relatively unscathed. Tough times are coming, no question in my mind on that !
 
AH, I nice cold glass of lemonade! Well done Rick!

Regulation of the ilk that controlled essentially how monopoloies could run their business....indeed, breaking them up into pieces allowed for competition. Not to mention a very healthy dose of technology. This is all good...agreed.

Regulation that removes the rules on these banks which allows them to gamble, and to build an enormous system to cover the betting, is not good. When people get rich from creating and adding something to society, it is likely a good thing, and a good idea that they worked for. When people get rich effectively from stealing from others, this is NOT a good thing....and not good for society. It is pretty simple....and I'd think most of all people would agree on this.

No doubt there are people who borrowed too much, too much house, etc. and so forth. I actually don't know any who did....but I'm a recluse. LMAO The way I see it though, is everyday the banker signed a hundred papers, knowing full well what was going to happen to each one of those individuals. The banker collected his fees, and by the end of the day, he was no longer responsible for the paper, becuase it was packaged and sold to someone else. Based on a AAA rating from the rating people, who then testify "it is just our opinion". DUH! So why not ask me for my opinion then AIG?

Bottom line is greed. Money. Sure, I'd like more and I've learned I have to play the corporate game to get what I should get.... But I'm not going to fire my employees so that I can have more. I'm not going to ask my employees to work twice as hard for 5% more so I can get more. But I'm not quite as greedy as others, that's why I'm not in the business side of business, and it is really criminal (to me) that this continues like this.

As for healthcare, just to chime in a bit, I agree ObamaCare isn't going to help the cost. It will cover more people with care. I guess, to me, in the America that I like to think I live in, if you are sick, you should be able to obtain health care. The bill helps in that direction. It forces people to buy insuance from the insurance company....bad idea. But it also provides care to millions who don't have it. Is that saying to much? We are the only western country that operates the way we do....I think perhaps that is saying something. We also recycle the least and consume, by far, the most. That also says something. Are they related? Eh, I think so.

When is it going to change? Not until people wake up and pay attention. I marvel at the power of the tea party. They almost got a nail polish expert elected Senator in Nevada, and a crazy nut elected in Delaware. Imagine if a sane group of people, across the isle, who really wanted to see America return to focus on the majority of Americans....can't they just come together for a decade to make the right decisions? Geez, that is all it would take.

One thing I think we all agree on. The future is based more on technology than grunt labor. Cutting our nations education, in exchange for tax cuts for the wealthy, doesn't make much sense to me. Sure, helps the welathy today...and they fund the politicians. But how does that help America? How does that return in our economy down the road in 10 or 20 years? As other nations soar past us in their education levels, as we send back all the brightest with PhDs so they can create in their own countries, how is that helping us? Unions have abused...no doubt. Many have exceeded their initial purpose and goals. Agreed. But rest assured, without them, all of the excesses of Wall Street in the last 20 years would have been commonplace across all business on the backs of the workers. Remove the unions and there will be widespread abuse. Public unions....I get the point...I agree to some extent...but there has to be limits and protections.

I was just told that I have to "play the game" regarding my salary every year. It is just "expected" that is how it will be done. Corporate decisions are made, lowballing everyone, and studies show that 98% of employees won't speak up. 2% will.....some will get what they ask for, others won't, but in the end, the corporation has deemed this their strategy becuase it is financially best for them. They don't care about the countless hours lost in employee griping. The bad will. The lack of willingness to chip in during a peak demand. ALl of these other factors, they don't care, it is what they determine is best for their bottom line. OK, call me naive, but is that right? Is that the way America should be?

When some folks get rich by holding down others....that's the problem. Good ideas, hard work, a just reward indeed. But intentionally pushing/holding others down to benefit one's self? Might as well sell that cracked rod tractor in the auction as good as new. Or might as well dump the toxic fracking water in the river. Or sell that rotten meat. Or install that sh!tty boiler, or hook the copper up to the steel pipe in an open system. Why not? Why not save the few dollars and push down the dumb homeowner who doesn't know any better? Why not violate the trust? Just becuase you won't be in business long? Or because it is unethical? Perhaps that answer describes the direction of America.....
 
Getting this back on track........
This is a quote from an e-mail I got from a manufacturer a couple days ago.............

"We’re up about 9% on the residential models and 13% on the larger models. This was a tough call as we have been proud to hold the pricing for 3 years. But as you well know the costs of steel are soaring sharply. The odd thing is that the 10-20% industry increases on the steel (and metals) market is not taking the rebuilding of Japan’s infrastructure into account. I fear there is still a long way to go."

So. What are your plans people? Need I say more?
 
raise taxes!, er I mean close the loop holes, same thing really. If in fact corporations are having their most profitable years ever, buck up, no more incentives, or tax free deals for the wealthy corps. Same for farmers it's time to stop paying tens of thousands to be non productive. Have the farmers raise organic products, not the genetic stuff that is killing us, and the bees. Even WalMart started selling organic food products at a healthy price increase.

Stop making fuel from corn and food, nations are starving, sell the food, don't use it to fuel 300+ hp SUVs. The uprising in Libya started over the lack of food and jobs under a repressive dictator. They have oil we have corn and grains that they cannot live without.

Start closing down all the Swiss accounts that the wealthy shelter their money in to avoid taxes. Tax the ultra rich, most said they would not mind, even Bill O Riley, they always figure out a way to make more when you take some of it.

Enough with the wars. Prosecute some of the wall streeters that are continuing to scam the people, that alone would boost moral in the country. The answers seem so simple.
 
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