World Politics

[buckwheat]

People making 10 dollars an hour are important. They make up a huge segment of the US population and economy. They have plenty of places to live..it often involves roommates. Single family homes with taxes and insurance and saving can not be maintained on this salary level but in only a few locations in the US. releasing private emails was the a subject that many people touched on during the performance yesterday. I am sure that if emails from lots of execs and politicians were made public the word masturbation would come up a few times. Your words not mine "loose translation" and I agree with you very loose. terms about old dogs and all things French are not easy to translate,2 different ways of speaking and writing. Many times they can never be translated. Most credit counseling experts have people who are out of control use cash, so they can have a visual representation of how much money they are actually spending. Often times numbers on paper are too abstract for the financially undereducated. The 400 dollar paycheck yield minus taxes, food, savings and expenses would have gleaned an ugly reality that maintaining a car and a house is impossible at this income level. Sitting down and applying for a home loan with debt and no savings(the 10 dollar guy I described) is best done with a magician. Now that the spell has worn off, home ownership for everybody at every income level is not available with the current magic levels . 1 thing that a couple of the politicians had the courage to say was that we pay them for oversight and they let us down at every level. I just hope the over adjustment doesn't cause any more contraction. I really thought this whole blame the French guy thing was gone when Bush left..I was wrong. If the French had helped us we would have won the war in Iraq also. You can be anything you want in America..just not a homeowner at 10 bucks an hour. How much money did Fortune 500 companies make ? Why is the profit they made so disturbing?

Huh?

The actions of Goldman Sachs and the money their employees make (steal) is completely unjustifiable. Stop.

 

[AckleyBarr]

Some one has said very nice words regarding politics that "It is the rogue of Scoundrels ".By this statement it is proved that no one in politics is transparent to the people.

 

[rhubroma]

You seem very conflicted. The banks are being forced to positions that make lending a risk from not only a repayment stance but a regulatory stance as well. Stingy? Hardly.

You criticize the banks for not making "reasonable loans" to those "without responsibility", yet if those banks post a profit (from the lending) you criticize the profiteering. Then of course if the banks post losses from their lending and take public money to buoy themselves then you criticize for that. You advocate regulations, then when they don't work your solution is more regulations. Then when those regulations have unintended consequences it becomes intelluctually lazy to just heep the blame on the institutions.

Then, of course, the natural progression for you is to blame the system, government, engage in the populist class warfare rhetoric, etc., etc.

I'm bored.

What you call profiteering, I call usury...

I think I'm not the only one to criticize the banking system, which is run by what amounts to a brank of rogues, in what has been the largest public bailout manuveur in the history of civilization when most in our Nation State can't even afford decent healthcare.

And I'm at my wit's end with bored people like you.

 

[Anonymous]

It's all probably available on video. You should pay special attention to the part where GS rep is asked what he thinks cash reserve standards will do to small banks. They both have a tone like when you put a dog to sleep. Most law makers from both sides of isle know that with tighter standards there will be little to no loan origination from small institutions. The chair of the investigation spent lots of time grilling everybody about taking public money. You should also pay close attention to the part where they continue to assert that " Goldman took 2.7 billion dollars of tax payer money!!" the calm Blankfien said yes and tried to explain that he was forced to take the money. He further explained that he had insurance and a private agreement with Warren Buffett. Bulldog Levin was having no part of it. Goldman Sachs was blamed for packaging of crap and other people buying it. You should also pay close attention to most panel members saying ever so quickly and quietly that selling short is OK from time to time. Lots of them even said they had done it before.The sad part of yesterdays circus will be that the airing of how out of control the US money supply is the new more conservative/sound standards will put the services that small banks can offer to maybe some car loans or kitchen improvement offerings. The huge banks with deep pockets will only get bigger. Goldman execs were asked "Is Goldman to big to fail?" The answer was no yesterday,if the bandaid is put on the financial system the answer will be yes next time.Crack or heroine are good comparisons to free money. All the politicians are blaming Goldman Sachs for handing it out and putting almost no blame on all the people waiting in line with a dump truck to get 1st and second mortgages with 10 dollar an hour jobs,no savings,and tons of credit card debt. None of it's their fault.If our government creates another FDIC group that actually runs the banks when they go on the rocks we are all in lots of trouble. It was discussed yesterday that thus far the FDIC takes the assets of failed banks and liquidates everything never really trying to manage anything. Just an auction house that pays all the depositors and then sell the desks and equipment.

You might want to actually read up on that particular situation. Buffett inquired, but NEVER even came close to guaranteeing the money. In fact, he backed off pretty quickly. Blankfien was playing a game of poker, and his cards were not nearly what he presented them to be. He is full of sh!t.

 

[Anonymous]

It's all probably available on video. You should pay special attention to the part where GS rep is asked what he thinks cash reserve standards will do to small banks. They both have a tone like when you put a dog to sleep. Most law makers from both sides of isle know that with tighter standards there will be little to no loan origination from small institutions. The chair of the investigation spent lots of time grilling everybody about taking public money. You should also pay close attention to the part where they continue to assert that " Goldman took 2.7 billion dollars of tax payer money!!" the calm Blankfien said yes and tried to explain that he was forced to take the money. He further explained that he had insurance and a private agreement with Warren Buffett. Bulldog Levin was having no part of it. Goldman Sachs was blamed for packaging of crap and other people buying it. You should also pay close attention to most panel members saying ever so quickly and quietly that selling short is OK from time to time. Lots of them even said they had done it before.The sad part of yesterdays circus will be that the airing of how out of control the US money supply is the new more conservative/sound standards will put the services that small banks can offer to maybe some car loans or kitchen improvement offerings. The huge banks with deep pockets will only get bigger. Goldman execs were asked "Is Goldman to big to fail?" The answer was no yesterday,if the bandaid is put on the financial system the answer will be yes next time.Crack or heroine are good comparisons to free money. All the politicians are blaming Goldman Sachs for handing it out and putting almost no blame on all the people waiting in line with a dump truck to get 1st and second mortgages with 10 dollar an hour jobs,no savings,and tons of credit card debt. None of it's their fault.If our government creates another FDIC group that actually runs the banks when they go on the rocks we are all in lots of trouble. It was discussed yesterday that thus far the FDIC takes the assets of failed banks and liquidates everything never really trying to manage anything. Just an auction house that pays all the depositors and then sell the desks and equipment.

Again, you are sadly misinformed. All of that cheap money was the result of private capital seeking mortgages and mortgage backed securities that were underwritten based on guidelines set BY PRIVATE INVESTORS and had nothing to do with ANYTHING the government did up to and including the incredibly cheap rate the government was loaning money. Goldman was feeding crack addicts alright, but the addicts were the private entities that wanted the subprime loans and the subsequent mortgage backed securities. Most people think the government had something to do with that and they are wrong. Every time I hear someone talk about how Fannie or Freddie or CRA had something to do with the market for subprime mortgages and mortgage backed securities, I laugh. There was a problem with what Fannie and Freddie were doing, but it is small potatoes compared to the problem with the PRIVATE market for subprime loans. You might want to read up a little on the subject.

 

[fatandfast]

85 out of 100 home loans issued last year are backed by Freddy/Fannie. @ private government run companies. The government is in the home loan business anyway you look at it.

 

[Anonymous]

85 out of 100 home loans issued last year are backed by Freddy/Fannie. @ private government run companies. The government is in the home loan business anyway you look at it.

Key words "last year.". The subprime market does not exist anymore. All of those companies no longer exist, and the buyers no longer want the paper. The government never bought that stuff. Stick to what you know, which isn't this subject.

 

[Anonymous]

What you call profiteering, I call usury...

I think I'm not the only one to criticize the banking system, which is run by what amounts to a brank of rogues, in what has been the largest public bailout manuveur in the history of civilization when most in our Nation State can't even afford decent healthcare.

And I'm at my wit's end with bored people like you.

To you, all profit is usury. Your solution is more beaurocratic govt control and/or nationalization because it fits with your utopian way of thinking.

Why didn't the govt regulations and controls already in place prevent "the largest public bailout manuveur in the history of civilization"?

Criticize the banks who made bad decisions. There are many, many banks run by very bright people who could see the folly in the consumer real estate market and chose not to participate in it. To paint them all as a "brank of rogues" further illustrates your laziness. And that's what I'm bored with.

 

[Hugh Januss]

To you, all profit is usury. Your solution is more beaurocratic govt control and/or nationalization because it fits with your utopian way of thinking.

Why didn't the govt regulations and controls already in place prevent "the largest public bailout manuveur in the history of civilization"?

Criticize the banks who made bad decisions. There are many, many banks run by very bright people who could see the folly in the consumer real estate market and chose not to participate in it. To paint them all as a "brank of rogues" further illustrates your laziness. And that's what I'm bored with.

Chose to take advantage of it, you mean?

 

[Anonymous]

Chose to take advantage of it, you mean?

As it turns out, yes.

The bankers who did the right thing when the Wamu's of the world were gorging themselves are probably the laughing stock in some circles right now.

 

[Anonymous]

As it turns out, yes.

The bankers who did the right thing when the Wamu's of the world were gorging themselves are probably the laughing stock in some circles right now.

Probably so: http://www.thestreet.com/story/1073...ss-taint-bank-of-america.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI

 

[Anonymous]

"Don't confuse tyranny with losing"
Jon Stewart.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/w...sive---ken-blackwell-extended-interview-pt--1
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/w...sive---ken-blackwell-extended-interview-pt--2
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/w...sive---ken-blackwell-extended-interview-pt--3

Rarely have I seen an interviewee so ill prepared. Jon Stewart needs to host Meet the Press. Tea Baggers, here is your ignorance put to the test...and it wasn't even hard to completely destroy it.

 

[Oncearunner8]

President Obama ....environment ...back burner.

"President Obama has ordered his staff to the area to "aggressively confront" the spill that is now much larger than expected".....

This has been over one week and the President just now understands the magnatude?

No clue unless he wants to fill some pockets. What a lack of understanding on the administrations part.

 

[rhubroma]

To you, all profit is usury. Your solution is more beaurocratic govt control and/or nationalization because it fits with your utopian way of thinking.

Why didn't the govt regulations and controls already in place prevent "the largest public bailout manuveur in the history of civilization"?

Criticize the banks who made bad decisions. There are many, many banks run by very bright people who could see the folly in the consumer real estate market and chose not to participate in it. To paint them all as a "brank of rogues" further illustrates your laziness. And that's what I'm bored with.

Your capitalist conformism and mistifying portrait of bankers as intelligent people demonstrates an acute form of mental atrophy, which you probably will never recover from. It has utterly wiped you out, Scott SoCal.

Whereas your boredom is the result of your weak mental state, probably because you were always too lazy to not be a capitalist conformist and to not portray bankers in a mysitfying way, I've thought, who, in addition to being a brank of rogues, are all sharks, that's the truth, preditory creatures which swim all together in a sea of greed.

 

[ChrisE]

Your capitalist conformism and mistifying portrait of bankers as intelligent people demonstrates an acute form of mental atrophy, which you probably will never recover from. It has utterly wiped you out, Scott SoCal.

Whereas your boredom is the result of your weak mental state, probably because you were always too lazy to not be a capitalist conformist and to not portray bankers in a mysitfying way, I've thought, who, in addition to being a brank of rogues, are all sharks, that's the truth, preditory creatures which swim all together in a sea of greed.

WTF does that mean?

Have you had too much wine today while sitting around your sidewalk cafe, not contributing to society, making up farked up metaphors, while criticizing the mechanisms that you hypocritically take advantage of every day?

 

[rhubroma]

WTF does that mean?

Have you had too much wine today while sitting around your sidewalk cafe, not contributing to society, making up farked up metaphors, while criticizing the mechanisms that you hypocritically take advantage of every day?

No Chris E. that is where you are wrong. I have never invested in anything, nor do I participate in capitalism, being a teacher, which is why we are so ill considered, when not outright loathed, in this capitalist world, in this capitalist universe. Such mechanisms I have never taken advantage of, as you say, because such mechanisms aren't really mechanisms at all but the annihilators of civilization. Just look at the ratings financialists: there isn't a lower breed of more mendacious and rapacious hooligans anywhere to be found. 93% of the titles these so-called financial sovereigns clasified as AAA, subsequently have been classified as junk. And they went about their annihilating ways with political approval, even though the conflict of interests inherent in the system was obvious to all with even a modicum of sense! This is why the world today is so caotic, everywhere we turn all we see is caos, a caos of which the financial bankers have more culpability than anyone else, even the politicans. Today's politicians who been reduced to a spineless class of mean slaves to the bankers and the religion they preach.

Bankers are among the educated classes the basest and most dangerous people, who were once only on par with politicians, though now have dramatically superceded them--remember that. I have discovered this not just hundreds but thousands of times. No banker and no politician can be trusted as far as you can throw him. Without scrupple or cumpunction they daily destroy many of the existences that are thrown upon their mercy, being motivated by base caprice and a disire to avenge themselves of their miserable, twisted lives--and they actually get paid obscene sums for doing so. Yet the supposed objectivity of bankers is a piece of shabby mendacity, which makes them even more hypocritical than politicians, as the recent ratings industry scandal has demonstrated. Talking to a banker we soon discover that he is a destructive individual with whom no one and nothing is safe, and the same is true when we talk to a politician. To put it baldly human beings count for nothing to bankers, only how much profiteering can be made from them. Everything to them is reduced to a question of money and it is the only topic of conversation they know. And money doesn't sleep.

 

[fatandfast]

Key words "last year.". The subprime market does not exist anymore. All of those companies no longer exist, and the buyers no longer want the paper. The government never bought that stuff. Stick to what you know, which isn't this subject.

Sorry my mistype. I should have said 85 out of 100 in the last 12 calendar months to date. You should read those pesky newspapers..may I suggest WSJ or LA or NYT financial sections. Most of the numbers that they try to spin are rec'd from government institutions.

 

[Anonymous]

Your capitalist conformism and mistifying portrait of bankers as intelligent people demonstrates an acute form of mental atrophy, which you probably will never recover from. It has utterly wiped you out, Scott SoCal.

Whereas your boredom is the result of your weak mental state, probably because you were always too lazy to not be a capitalist conformist and to not portray bankers in a mysitfying way, I've thought, who, in addition to being a brank of rogues, are all sharks, that's the truth, preditory creatures which swim all together in a sea of greed.

I can only imagine your more intelligent students catching up on their sleep during your lectures. Hopefully the snoring isn't too much of a distraction for you.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry my mistype. I should have said 85 out of 100 in the last 12 calendar months to date. You should read those pesky newspapers..may I suggest WSJ or LA or NYT financial sections. Most of the numbers that they try to spin are rec'd from government institutions.

Again, I quote "85 out of 100 in the last 12 calendar months." The subprime market for loans ended over 2 years ago, and the bottom fell out well before that. Again, stick to what you know: writing statements about newspapers you obviously do not read.

See, the difference between you and me is that I was in the industry. I actually understand the secondary market for mortgages and mortgage backed securities because I was involved in them. You on the other hand know the words "Fannie" and "Freddie" and think that makes you an expert. You still don't seem to understand that there were two markets, one for conforming (Fannie and Freddie) and one for non-conforming (private market) and that the biggest offenders in this were engaged in the private market. In reality, Fannie and Freddie got collateral damage in many instances. Sure, they loosened their standards too much, that those loans are EXTREMELY TAME compared to the loans underwritten and purchased in the private market.

Just quit talking about this, because to people who do know what they are talking about, you look like an ignorant rube who listens to too much Beck and Limbaugh.

 

[Anonymous]

No Chris E. that is where you are wrong. I have never invested in anything, nor do I participate in capitalism, being a teacher, which is why we are so ill considered, when not outright loathed, in this capitalist world, in this capitalist universe. Such mechanisms I have never taken advantage of, as you say, because such mechanisms aren't really mechanisms at all but the annihilators of civilization. Just look at the ratings financialists: there isn't a lower breed of more mendacious and rapacious hooligans anywhere to be found. 93% of the titles these so-called financial sovereigns clasified as AAA, subsequently have been classified as junk. And they went about their annihilating ways with political approval, even though the conflict of interests inherent in the system was obvious to all with even a modicum of sense! This is why the world today is so caotic, everywhere we turn all we see is caos, a caos of which the financial bankers have more culpability than anyone else, even the politicans. Today's politicians who been reduced to a spineless class of mean slaves to the bankers and the religion they preach.

Bankers are among the educated classes the basest and most dangerous people, who were once only on par with politicians, though now have dramatically superceded them--remember that. I have discovered this not just hundreds but thousands of times. No banker and no politician can be trusted as far as you can throw him. Without scrupple or cumpunction they daily destroy many of the existences that are thrown upon their mercy, being motivated by base caprice and a disire to avenge themselves of their miserable, twisted lives--and they actually get paid obscene sums for doing so. Yet the supposed objectivity of bankers is a piece of shabby mendacity, which makes them even more hypocritical than politicians, as the recent ratings industry scandal has demonstrated. Talking to a banker we soon discover that he is a destructive individual with whom no one and nothing is safe, and the same is true when we talk to a politician. To put it baldly human beings count for nothing to bankers, only how much profiteering can be made from them. Everything to them is reduced to a question of money and it is the only topic of conversation they know. And money doesn't sleep.

Really? Do a little digging on the origins of your income. The money you get paid was generated, at some point, from profit.

Educators are loved worlwide, except for those in the minority more interested in indoctrination than education. Stick to the three 'R's and leave the politics to those who know better.

When you over generalize you are demonstrating how shallow your argument is, which again, is boring.

My guess is you have not talked to anyone in private industry (i.e., outside your circle of academics) in a very, very long time. You really should get out more.

 

[Anonymous]

"President Obama has ordered his staff to the area to "aggressively confront" the spill that is now much larger than expected".....

This has been over one week and the President just now understands the magnatude?

No clue unless he wants to fill some pockets. What a lack of understanding on the administrations part.

Nobody understood the magnitude any better than they. See, the leak is 5 times bigger than they initially thought, but it took some time to figure that out because, believe it or not, things at the bottom of the ocean are kind of hard to study.

Anyway, DRILL BABY DRILL!!!!!!!!!!!!! And in reality, this is a failure in the system of private enterprise, and the government shouldn't be putting their grubby little hands in the mess because government has no business mingling in private enterprise. Let BP figure it out... Oh wait, you guys always come runnin' beck to papa when you screw up royally.

I for one almost wish they would just pull Federal funding from everything for a year so you market cultists could see how stupid your ideas are.

 

[ChrisE]

Nobody understood the magnitude any better than they. See, the leak is 5 times bigger than they initially thought, but it took some time to figure that out because, believe it or not, things at the bottom of the ocean are kind of hard to study.
.

That's not true. BP was being coy, while the "expert" coast guard lady was on TV telling everybody it was ok. She doesn't know her a$$ from a hole in the ground.

In reality, there is a "spigot" open to a vast reserve of oil, under pressure, with a valve that cannot be shut because it malfunctioned initially and now it is really farked up because IMO of the twist/turn of the riser as the rig sunk. If the valve had shut we would not be having this conversation, and I think BP was hedging their bets it would shut vs sounding the alarm. BP knew this potential was there.

There is blame to go around, and it is easy to Monday morning this thing. That's not important now....I'm particularly concerned that this thing will exceed Valdez, because trying to directionally drill and stab a hole and plug it from a mile up doesn't seem like the easiest thing to do. I think this is really gonna get bad.

 

[Oncearunner8]

Nobody understood the magnitude any better than they. See, the leak is 5 times bigger than they initially thought, but it took some time to figure that out because, believe it or not, things at the bottom of the ocean are kind of hard to study.

Anyway, DRILL BABY DRILL!!!!!!!!!!!!! And in reality, this is a failure in the system of private enterprise, and the government shouldn't be putting their grubby little hands in the mess because government has no business mingling in private enterprise. Let BP figure it out... Oh wait, you guys always come runnin' beck to papa when you screw up royally.

I for one almost wish they would just pull Federal funding from everything for a year so you market cultists could see how stupid your ideas are.

You have no idea what you are commenting on. BP / Transocean knew what was happening the entire time. The Coast Guard had someone speaking for them that should have kept their mouth shut until a true assessment was made.

I am not sure why you think I am some type of market cultists. The Federal government and State governments have a responsibility to protect the environment. That is why there are such things as (state and federal) permits to drill etc. The Federal government would not be putting their hands into private business it would be a response to an environmental disaster of potential EPIC proportions. The President and his administration along with the national media have basically ignored the situation for the past week. This has been brewing for an entire week and everyone is to busy to notice. What a load a **** when the President finally acknowledges this as a “significant” event???????

This is the same region that was ignored during Hurricane Katrina, that time it was a different President and administration. The media’s reaction is totally different why is that? This has the potential to be MORE devastating than Hurricane Katrina, both economically and environmentally.

 

[Anonymous]

You have no idea what you are commenting on. BP / Transocean knew what was happening the entire time. The Coast Guard had someone speaking for them that should have kept their mouth shut until a true assessment was made.

I am not sure why you think I am some type of market cultists. The Federal government and State governments have a responsibility to protect the environment. That is why there are such things as (state and federal) permits to drill etc. The Federal government would not be putting their hands into private business it would be a response to an environmental disaster of potential EPIC proportions. The President and his administration along with the national media have basically ignored the situation for the past week. This has been brewing for an entire week and everyone is to busy to notice. What a load a **** when the President finally acknowledges this as a “significant” event???????

Really?

Hey, check the date on these: http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/wrsnews/us-pledge-help-after-swiss-oil-rig-sinks.shtml?18789
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7105935.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093
http://gantdaily.com/2010/04/23/obama-orders-all-out-effort-for-gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill/
http://whitehouse.blogs.foxnews.com...eral-agencies-to-assist-with-oil-rig-efforts/ (Fox News...on the 22nd of April.....dang)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iRa44SlWkrKOJPnc89FUUYVt2c1wD9F8DN7O0
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/04/22/world/international-uk-explosion-transocean-bp.html
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/291024
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jFEMEcan-6k8RSxCeOo8Lq6KWkig

Want more?

Heck, BP said it was under control. I guess BP was not quite as aware as you suggest (again, check the date): http://www.examiner.com/x-40861-SF-...Gulf-of-Mexico-oil-rig-fears-about-leaks-ease

Care to change your narrative? I doubt it, your side isn't really concerned with honesty. I mean, yea, the Coast Guard guy was stupid, but can you really blame Obama for that? I mean, seems like the people ON SCENE were blowing sunshine up everyone's a$$, and sorry, but you seriously expect the president himself to go down and assess the leak at its source? National media ignored? Really??? I knew about it. Heck I saw pictures.

Here is my guess, nobody knew the exact situation until they could actually get there and assess it properly, and the statements made prior to that were the opinions people had at that time, and stated when asked questions by reporters. It kind of works that way sometimes.

Hey, maybe it was all a big conspiracy to create more green jobs? You leader thinks so.
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201004290038

Maybe Obama could go drink it up himself? No, he wont do that because he hates the Gulf coast and oil and birds and fishes and stuff. He wants the economy of the Gulf coast to take a hit. He is evil like that.

I am obviously WAY better at Google than you are, you want some lessons?

This is the same region that was ignored during Hurricane Katrina, that time it was a different President and administration. The media’s reaction is totally different why is that? This has the potential to be MORE devastating than Hurricane Katrina, both economically and environmentally.

Yea, I knew that was where you were going. You guys are still sore that your trained monkey ignored people dying because of Katrina.

 

[buckwheat]

WTF does that mean?

Have you had too much wine today while sitting around your sidewalk cafe, not contributing to society, making up farked up metaphors, while criticizing the mechanisms that you hypocritically take advantage of every day?

I don't have anything good to say regarding your commentary, so I will not comment myself.

Just an observation. The first sentence contains an insult or what is also know as a personal attack.

You were previously criticising personal attacks directed at you.

Carry on.