Thanks for your well-thoughtout replies to all of us.
I gleaned this nugget from your replies:
“ - - - A think tank as I am describing would be working on a long-term basis that continues on through all politicians as they come and go. - - - “
IMHO, 1.) the National Election of 2008 was about the 30 % loss of wealth in home values caused by Sub-Prime Federal Laws;
2.) 2012 was about the majority of voters that chose to have their children and grandchildren continue to loveingly burdened with the debt from their own welfare greed;
and 3.) 2016 will be about the 40 % loss of wealth to the US Dollar due to the 2015 collapse of the US Treasury Bond Market.
Thus, the only chance that we have is the 2014 Mid-term National Election.
This is a long way around to ask you what YOU think it is that your group will probably accomplish in < 2 years?
Tick-Tock
Thanks for the question.
IMHO...
First, of course, it’s a Christian thing. Even if we are sure that we are doomed, we are called upon to persevere as we see our duty plainly before us, and thus in either case we glorify God. This is not to say that are suicidal, for unto the end we have hope. Hope with the firm assurance either of deliverance or sacrifice. And this touches a very important concept, that of “how is it that I win, or succeed ?” Subtle, yet magnificent. We are commanded to remember at all times to not trust in what we see in the enemy’s capabilities or the hurdle to overcome. Even for a moment. And not our own capabilities. We are taught that anyone can have faith when success is plausible. Confidence is hardly faith in that case, but God desires that we trust in him when our defeat looks certain.
Those in the military, forgive my presumption, but they would, I am sure, concur that the seemingly hopeless situation calls for holding until relieved. Right to the end... thinking of this bothers me... you know who I’m referring to. It makes me angry that four people were wilfully abandoned. God bless those guys and their families.
I’ll just list one more reason, the fact that non-linear changes, if we can get one started, can be difficult to estimate in terms of their growth. Businesses can go from start to billions in sales in what is a shockingly short time, trends can spread increadibly fast, etc. We simply have no way of perceiving future possible events or effects that may give us more time or perhaps quickly change the situation in a dramatic way. The WH and Congress are not in control of all events, nor can they accurately predict the actions of individual (300+million) citizens. This link
shows the CIA trying to figure out how to predict future world events - when the U.S. government is working with NGOs and jihadists to CAUSE the future events.
They don’t even try to pretend they have real jobs, by sitting still and folding their hands, now they just sit blabbering all day publicly, clearly demonstrating that it is high time for most non-military government to get downsized.
Of course, there’s a chance, given the type and size of problems we face, and the direction in which we would be focused, that we would be the critical factor that saved the day.
IMHO, this is not that kind of situation, needing to be “saved”. Congress goes to think tank experts to get their legislation written, then needs to pass it. This is at least a 1-year turnaround. To start to see the effects would be a second year. The only emergency thing they can do is just what Hank Paulson told GWB, give me 700 billion dollars.
IF things got really bad, we’ll all continue what we’re doing, we’ll just be dressed like the Little Rascals and riding on a scooter made from a broken roller skate and a peach crate.
Sub-prime lending did not cause a 30% loss of home values. Rather what it did was compel people who wanted to legitimately buy a home in certain years to bid against other "purchasers" who didn't have to spend real money. This increased the amount of money the legitimate purchasers had to pay, with much of the money being distributed among those fortunate enough to be selling at the right time. The increase in prices didn't represent a real increase in value, nor did the fall represent a real decrease in value. Those who bought at the wrong time got burned, but they were burned when they made their purchase; the market correction didn't cause their loss--it merely revealed it.