Posted on 10/10/2008 8:23:43 AM PDT by bmweezer
Where are our rational leaders?
The great, big, far-reaching government that President Bill Clinton declared dead following GOP congressional gains in the mid-1990's is back and back with a vengeance. Thanks to government interfering through the likes of Freddie and Fannie Mac, which offered up policies to guarantee any working and non-working America a home of their own, the chickens, as one pathetic Reverend stated on another matter, have unfortunately come home to roost. The Great Expansion of the past fifteen years, in one months' time looks increasingly like the Great Depression of the 21st Century. Today, the stock market is nearly 45 percent off its all-time high of just one year ago, and a recession is likely if not already here. Unfortunately, policies that had much to do with putting us in our current state are the same policies being advocated by the team ahead in the presidential race. In 3 1/2 weeks rational Americans that typically seek leadership that looks center-right, will likely elect a president that could be our closest to the policies of communism that we have ever experienced, which means further government intervention and likely more economic woes. Quite frankly, we've got us one hell of a perfect storm heading into 2009.
The same government that got us into this lot will be the one that tries it hardest through increased regulation and excessive nationalism to make our problems go away. Of course, we GOPers know that more government in the face of national problems has rarely made the situation better for most Americans. Whether it be the New Deal which gave us increased social programs, or the Great Society which nearly backrupted our nation's cities, government programs have typically had the effect of doing the exact opposite of the stated goal. The spring stimulus package, it appears anyway, did nothing to get the economy out of its funk and the 'bailout' package touted just two weeks ago as being the only answer to stop the steedy decline of bank bankrupcies and mortgage defaults, at least in the short-term have caused further erosion as brokers and everyday-American alike have said that they've had enough and taken more money out of the stock market. Unfortunately, many of what some would have considered 'conservative' leaders from President Bush to John McCain are pushing only-slightly different plans themselves. No matter, more government control is coming.
These are desperate times and unfortunately decisions in Washington and in American living rooms are being made based on nervousness and fear, thanks to the upcoming election, rather than on tried-and-true principals of limited government and individual responsibility.
The question is this: Where have all of the rational leaders gone?
They got the boot in the primaries because they didn’t habve important things like name recognition. [/sarc]
Two things the people actually desire: break and circuses — Juvenal
break = bread
So...what is YOUR answer?...would you like Bush et al...to just say and do nothing? Do you have a BETTER plan...if so, please put it forth.
Haven't you heard? The financial oligarchs, lawyers and propagandists are in charge now. / 1/2 sarcasm
The supremacy of finance capital over all other forms of capital means the predominance of the rentier and of the financial oligarchy; it means that a small number of financially “powerful” states stand out among all the rest. The extent to which this process is going on may be judged from the statistics on emissions, i.e., the issue of all kinds of securities. - Vladimir Illych Lenin
Speculation lends itself to the irrational. Lawyers give credendence to and defend the irrational. Propagandists camouflage the irrational.
One thing that is becoming clear..........People on Wall Street and the average stock holder are pulling their money in fear that Obama will be elected. Democrats, other than those in Congress, just don’t see this. They have been lied to by their own representatives and they fell for it hook line and sinker. But..........we are beginning to see more and more Democratic voters realizing that Obama will be a big danger to this country and they are change how they will vote. I am not saying that some Republicans in Congress are not guilty of using the American people. They also need to be replaced. This country of ours need representatives that care about this country and stop looking out for themselves.
Adam Smith had a better plan. How about those who made bad loans lose their money. Those who can't pay their mortgages lose their homes. Those who were responsible don't have to give up their money to pay for the (usually) obviously foolish decisions of others. As for commercial paper, it's not a bad thing if that market disappears. I can't get excited over companies having to prove that they can afford each loan they take out instead of just borrowing whenever they ask and without the lender checking their finances. My solution: the free market.
My long-term solution? Figure out what went wrong (the details) and reinstate regulations (but only as needed) to prevent it from happening again. It's not a crisis, nor is it an emergency, just an unpleasant learning opportunity. The alternative is to go overboard in trying to prevent those who made bad decisions from experiencing the consequences of those decisions, and that course could lead to another Depression.
Now, Obama would love to expand a government he leads, so I expect him to show "Irrational exuberance" for the biggest expansion of his power that he can pass. I don't think McCain could win if he favored doing nothing because that would sound heartless when the media explained it. The best political choice: a committee to study the problem and analyze all possible solutions, reporting back when their work is complete ... in 2-3 years.
Absolutely agreed! Government is the ugliest elephant in the room, but the people cannot see this. I still fail to understand why so many cry for a solution from the very people that caused this mess in the first place.
Part of the problem was brought home to me this morning when I read that two realtors had been convicted of mortgage fraud and two more have been charged in my county. Jackson county Michigan isn’t a big urban county. It’s a small mostly rural county with somnething like 130,000 people. The fact that we have 4 known cases of fraud here tells me that it must be rampant.
The fact that you think the commercial paper industry should be allowed to disappear...means that you clearly don’t understand the impact to the economy....and are willing to throw out the baby with the bath-water. Now THAT would ot us in an immediate depression. Proves to me that you really don’t understand the structure of the monetary system
Sorry...you’re in way over your economic head on this one.
LOL - Great comic.
That's okay. The fact that the commercial paper industry allowed itself to get into this situation proves to me that they don't understand what they're doing either. I don't believe it would actually disappear, but I believe it should be modified to follow more prudent guidelines. A federal bailout would eliminate their incentive to fix their problems, and I see that as a bad thing.
Who is John Galt? The idea behind Ayn Rand’s masterwork, “Atlas Shrugged,” is creeping into present day reality. The best, the brightest, the gifted, the risk-taking capitalist, the business magnate, the patriot and the LEADER whom we have all depended on during challenging times has shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Why should he help those who steadfastly refuse to help themselves? Our leaders are cowering before the greatest challenges of my generation and leaving us to our own devices. This will either be the crucible that produces new leaders, or it will finally doom the great American experiment. Like others, I am looking inward to see if I have what it takes to lead — I’m sick of talking a good game, it’s time to step up to the plate. What about you? How much broken glass are you willing to walk over to save your country? If you have no leaders, lead yourself!
Your are correct. Be prepared to take care of yourself. I am not willing to give up on the American Experiment. Our forefathers gave up too much to let that happen. I also believe that there are many people in this country that feel the same way and will not allow our gutless Congress to drag this country down. At times it take something like this to straighten things out. Could get ugly but our people will prevail......one way or another.
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