Today I had to stand up for the American people after the fiasco yesterday in their House of Representatives.  Regardless whether the bill was addressing the lack of liquidity the right way or not, some of my fellow workers have “complained” about the result of the vote…  My co-workers, said what stupid people they are in the US, don’t they understand they’re ruining our Economy?

It took a bit for it all to sink in, but in the end, I was Happy this terrible bill didn’t pass.  Why should the American taxpayers carry the burden of $700 billion USD bailout on their back to save economies and economical well being of citizens of other nations, when most of them dislike the Americans.

In a way, I’m happy most of the world finally sees were the economic forces behind the economies of other nations really exists.  When the USA “hurts” at the end of the day, many of us hurt as well.  I hope they understand that the well being of the EU and others is not just linked to the USA… It depends on the USA!  Accordingly, we are all better served if the economy of the US is running in top condition!

I hope they will understand the moral of the phrase “ do not spit in / at the well you drink from”

Just my 2 cents worth.

(I wish I had more the 2 Cents  left ,
but the losses on the market left me with no money)

Michael

Thanks MIchael for taking up for us. I think most of the world doesn't like us too much except when they need us for something. Of course I've been saying this since the early 60s since I lived in France and saw how most of the French felt about most Americans.

But something else I've also noticed -- in the past few years we've been hit hard with major disasters (Katrina, Gustov, and Ike) and no one offered any help to US. We were left to take care of our own. Guess I'm just old fashioned but I thought someone we'd helped in the past would at least call up and say, "Hey we're sending some supplies to help out those poor people who were put out by the hurricaines." That's what good neighbors do for each other.

Don't pay any attention to me -- my stocks fell to rock bottom yesterday... but my garden is doing good so I'll eat this winter and maybe my son will get a deer and we'll have meat for the freezer. I've been thru hard times before and will survive this one...

Hugs BD

Thank you Michael, you are awesome. :-*

BarbaraD wrote on Sep 30^th, 2008 at 1:55pm:

Thanks MIchael for taking up for us. Hugs BD

I don’t stand up for "you" ( yes I do)....  I do it for my wife (she is a Texan native) and my 2 boys.... how are proud Americans!

And I believe I the American way of life…..


Michael

Thank you, Michael. We do appreciate the fact that you 'have our backs', so to speak.
The fact that this bailout bill was written quickly, also poorly, made it impossible for Legislation to have approved it. I'm stunned that it lost by so small a margin, actually!
My livelihood is threatened as well in this depression (OMG! I said the D word!), but what goes down will eventually go back up, and Americans will be a bit wiser, a bit more cautious and a bit more grateful as well!
I hadn't taken the time to thing globally, but I am sure we are being laughed at by other countries right now, taunting people like you, Michael, who cares to see through the sitch. Fact of the matter is, I still believe this IS the greatest country to live in, so, like Barb, I'll stay here and weather the storm.
Of course, this is simply my own humble opinion-so don't pick on me.

Still trying to sell my home,
Cathi ::)

Oh, and Michael, my thinking is along the same line as yours, but, albeit crude, it goes like this:

Don't sh*t where you eat!

Cathi

In the short run, we can look pretty silly but history shows that in the long run, our little experiment works pretty damned well.

Legislating quickly from fear has a bad history....everywhere.

Charlie

Charlie wrote on Sep 30^th, 2008 at 2:59pm:

In the short run, we can look pretty silly but history shows that in the long run, our little experiment works pretty damned well. Legislating quickly from fear has a bad history....everywhere. Charlie

HOLY SHIT!!!  :o :o :o

I agree with, Charlie!....someone stick a fork in hell and see if its frozen!!!.....LMMFAO ;D :D ;D

Quote:

I agree with, Charlie!....someone stick a fork in hell and see if its frozen!!!.....LMMFAO

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Charlie

Again, I would recommend the book, In Defense of America by Bronwyn Maddox, so people can understand the reasons other countries dislike us so much.  Believe it or not, some have valid reasons for disliking the US.  We always talk about isolationism (if Japan had not bombed Pearl Harbor, our *isolationsim* would have allowed Hitler to take over Eurpoe) and we don't need other countries.  That's a bunch of claptrap.  In 2007, the US produced $13.8 trillion worth of goods and services. Of this total, $1.64 trillion — 11.7 percent, or a bit more than one in nine dollars’ worth of production — went overseas. The figure is a modern-era record, eclipsing the old 11.2 percent mark set in 2000 and reflecting a $175 billion jump in goods and services exports. This was the largest increase ever — in real-dollar as well as current-dollar terms — and was the main factor keeping the United States out of recession in the autumn and winter.


BarbaraD wrote on Sep 30^th, 2008 at 1:55pm:

But something else I've also noticed -- in the past few years we've been hit hard with major disasters (Katrina, Gustov, and Ike) and no one offered any help to US. We were left to take care of our own. Guess I'm just old fashioned but I thought someone we'd helped in the past would at least call up and say, "Hey we're sending some supplies to help out those poor people who were put out by the hurricaines." That's what good neighbors do for each other.

Barb,
I hate to disagree with you, but in the wake of Katrina more than 20 countries, including Israel, Mexico, China, England, and the Dominican Republic offered humaniatrian and monetary assistance.  

Cuba, which has one of the best health care and disaster response systems in the world, offered substantial medical supplies and 1,600 physicians, most of them specialists. Rejected.

Venezuela offered $1 million, in addition to oil and humanitarian supplies. Rejected. Russia offered medical supplies, evacuation equipment, a water cleansing system, a rescue helicopter, and 60 persons specially trained in search and rescue operations. Rejected.

Germany sent a military plane carrying 15 tons of emergency provisions. The United States denied it landing rights.

You can thank Presidnet Bush for that.  The above information was taken from the following article (and there are numerous articles that back this one up).  About a week after Katrina hit, the U.S. began accepting humanitarian aid, but only from countries it determined were its allies.

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One for you Barb and others:

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Ought to work

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Use them.

I couldn't pass these up.

Charlie

Quote:

My co-workers, said what stupid people they are in the US, don’t they understand they’re ruining our Economy?

Seems to be the world wide think about Americans on many subjects.

Thanks for getting our back Michael
the bb

Thank-you charlie.  If you'd like to borrow the book, pm me your address and I'll mail it to you with a SASE enclosed (we shipped a book all around Texas and LA for several people to read).  Unfortunately, the finger of blame is being pointed at us by numerous countries.

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Stupid idiots we put in charge of our country are ruining it.  We will have to change it with the power of our votes on Nov. 4th, all across the board.

Melissa wrote on Sep 30^th, 2008 at 9:28pm:

Stupid idiots we put in charge of our country are ruining it.  We will have to change it with the power of our votes on Nov. 4th, all across the board.

Good luck, "The one" is just more of the same.....just worse for your wallet!  ;)

I know of the book Barb. No need to send it. One thing I don't like about puters is that it takes me longer to read books. My concentration is affected. I have a couple of them by my chair as I write this. Perhaps now that I don't have to spend so much time on ebay, I'll get back to them.

I just sent the the smiles so you can use them. These were new to me as of Tuesday. I love those Russians.

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Carolyn -- I didn't know about the aid being offered. WHY in the hell we didn't accept it when those people needed it is beyond me. That's reason enough to impeach Congress...

What the world NEEDS is a good old fashioned MOM (with some good old fashion Horse Sense) to be dictator (of the WORLD) for about a month!

That "rescue" plan is 110 pages of BS (ya'll need to READ it) and it's not going to do anything but spend our money - 5 years we'll be back in the same shape we're in right now if they don't REGULATE some stuff.

It's too early to get my BP up ... Going to go get another cup of coffee... and spray paint the walls.... (thanks Charlie)

Hugs BD

wildhaus wrote on Sep 30^th, 2008 at 1:34pm:

...don’t they understand they’re ruining our Economy?

In the land of opportunity, wanting and buying more than a person can afford, and selling more than there is actual available funds for to profit is short-sighted.  Greed is pretty universal and doesn't consider others much, many in our country included.
 Whatever it may contribute to our own present economy, the bailout seems to say we need to continue lending credit fluidly despite these lenders doing extremely well but going under now and taxpayers will have to pay 700 billion of capital now to do so for a lot of business continuation, selling the deal though as security for the American families (Mr. Paulson).  

If one is looking for security at this point, it would be a word to use with an influencial fear, the unemployment rate is pretty uneasy now and not an easy fix.  Pretty certain changing a dozen votes in the House is being worked on with small additions to the package, so far being, raising FDIC insurance from $100,000 to $250,000 and a tax break for alternative energy.  

How these changes increase security more for struggling American families is not within comprehension much with the coming increase in natural gas this winter although the crude oil price has dropped.  

Just throw money at the problem, big problem, big money.  So it all makes sense when using other people's money.  

wrote on Sep 30^th, 2008 at 9:58pm:

Melissa wrote on Sep 30th, 2008 at 9:28pm: Stupid idiots we put in charge of our country are ruining it.  We will have to change it with the power of our votes on Nov. 4th, all across the board. Good luck, "The one" is just more of the same.....just worse for your wallet!  ;)

Balance Jonny, balance.  Put as many independents and republicans in Congress as possible. :)

Thanks Michael

I am Canadian and the USA is our neighbour and they are the best neighbour any country could ask for.

[smiley=heart.gif] to the USA

The solution is simple.  Elected as many from this board as possible.  A ticket of charlie/jonny (either way) and the country should be just fine.

Sadly, neither party cares a lick about working together to make this country work better.  EVERYTHING is party politics.  The Dems want the most liberal person they can and the Rep the most conservative.  This means we get the most popular party pansie from each side to vote for.... YEEHAW.

I say all Republicans should vote in the Dem primary and vice-versa.  That means each party would have the most middle of the road person as their candidate AND any politician in office would have to try and be palatable to both sides of the aisle and maybe then would just focus on what is best for the country and not their party/future employment.

Ok, no way that will happen or work.  It would just be nice if politicians would focus on the country and not their party.  My hope is that McCain wins and realizes he wont want a second term (he would be 80 by end of second term) and thus goes back to his old self.  I doubt it happens but McCain for years ago would be perfect for this country in this time.

With that said, go green...... watch the incredible hulk every chance you get.

Melissa wrote on Sep 30^th, 2008 at 9:28pm:

We will have to change it with the power of our votes on Nov. 4th, all across the board.

Really?  Is there a candidate running in the general election that has the best interest of the American people at heart?  I hadn't heard of such a person.

Another change added to get it passed, banks can relax fair market value of assets and adjust them to what they think they are worth.




George wrote on Sep 29^th, 2008 at 6:48pm:

Why $700 billion dollars? "It's not based on any particular data point," a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. "We just wanted to choose a really large number."

Wow, this is becoming an accounting standard!  I feel more secure already.

Agostino Leyre wrote on Oct 1^st, 2008 at 9:03am:

Melissa wrote on Sep 30th, 2008 at 9:28pm:  We will have to change it with the power of our votes on Nov. 4th, all across the board. Really?  Is there a candidate running in the general election that has the best interest of the American people at heart?  I hadn't heard of such a person.

Didn't know you had to vote on one of the 2 partys.... Hell, Ron Paul withdrew but I'm going to write him in anyway.  Isn't that our right?

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I don't usually dis the GOP but I was skiming through the Senate tax relif bill and it actually contains an excise tax exemption for the makers of certain wooden arrows for children.

WTF!!!!!

It's 450 pages long.  Title 3, 4 & 5 have some strange tax stuff.

Melissa wrote on Oct 1^st, 2008 at 9:31am:

Really?  Is there a candidate running in the general election that has the best interest of the American people at heart?  I hadn't heard of such a person.Didn't know you had to vote on one of the 2 partys.... Hell, Ron Paul withdrew but I'm going to write him in anyway.  Isn't that our right?

Absolutely.

But the two major parties have discovered that they can utilize strong third-party candidates to assure the election of their own candidate.  Here's how:

Directly or indirectly supporting or contributing to a strong third-party candidate who is philosophically closer to the opposition candidate can split the vote for the opposition major-party candidate, resulting in a plurality that favors one's own candidate.  It's actually more effective than raising one's own candidate a couple of ticks in the polls.

Campaign folks have taken this into account--it's how you get oddities like Republican-leaning contributors donating to the campaign of Ralph Nader, or Democrat-leaning contributors contributing to the candidacy of Ron Paul.  Not saying there's anything bad or particularly unexpected about this--just that it's a factor.  

For more on this, and a proposed method of creating a fairer and more representative election process, see William Poundstone's book--"Gaming the Vote".  It's a bit mathematical, but very interesting and enlightening.

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Best,

George    

Melissa wrote on Oct 1^st, 2008 at 9:31am:

Agostino Leyre wrote on Oct 1st, 2008 at 9:03am: [quote author=5945474F5E43474F592A0 link=1222796097/0#13 date=1222824488]  We will have to change it with the power of our votes on Nov. 4th, all across the board. Really?  Is there a candidate running in the general election that has the best interest of the American people at heart?  I hadn't heard of such a person.

Didn't know you had to vote on one of the 2 partys.... Hell, Ron Paul withdrew but I'm going to write him in anyway.  Isn't that our right?

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I was being a little sarcastic.  Of course I will NOT be voting for a major party candidate.  However, if you only follow the media, you would not know that there are other "choices".

Things have got to change.

The fact that that damn bill was voted down on Monday gives me hope.  It's a teeny tiny start.

I (want to) believe the “fiasco” in the house of representative was a honest vote, I am realistic
and have the distinct feeling there was more then just genuine and honest ----- for the American
nation, economy and most important of all the people of America…. this was B movie style politics….
and even so the bill was not the cream of the crop, if voted in it would have given a re start chance
for the crippled economy, and a sign that the (so called) representatives do care for the people.
the way the vote went leaves a taste of, we care for our self, and you the people you have just to
do what we say, you just don’t know what you want any way………..

For us Europeans….  I have to say, some head lines today in some of the news papers (in Switzerland)
did again anger me, but then what can I do…. naïveté is human…..  and seasoning it with (what seems)
stupidity…… and you get journalism….. that is just good for serving (the old way) fish and chips
in England…..

Michael

wildhaus wrote on Oct 1^st, 2008 at 1:48pm:

if voted in it would have given a re start chance for the crippled economy, and a sign that the (so called) representatives do care for the people.

Michael, the fact it was NOT voted in, WAS actually representative of the American people.  We did not want to bail out these investment banks who made bad decisions for their companies and our representatives were flooded with phone calls and emails telling them NOT to vote it in.

Basically, it was a bad bill and it did not address the root of the problem, which, on top of many things, had to do with the falling home prices in the housing market coupled by forclosures.  (correct me anyone if I'm wrong)

I could go into how the federal government shouldn't even be involved in this whole mess, but I won't...

No doubt something will get passed. I understand why but nobody really wants to sign on because of the elections. Nothing new there but no matter the outcome, this thing has begun a serious recession for some time to come. Perhaps that because so many of these gumballs are retiring it will affect the vote. I dunno.....

For now:

Wanna sell a house...lotsa luck....buy house, car, restock stock shelves for your business, get a student loan...and on and on...lotsa luck. This thing is monstrous and we're stuck big time. There isn't any assurance that this is the right solution anyway. Sometimes it works like the Chrysler bailout which in the end worked pretty well but not so well with S&L, if I read things right.

Wouldn't it be nice if the rest of us could simply determine fair market value? What deal.....

Charlie