Let's Talk.........I mean REALLY Talk.......

[Centinel]

So you don't think that people can effectively govern themselves?

I thikn they do just fine on the federal level.

So let's be clear what you want. You've lost all the key arguments on the federal level- gay marriage, abortion, and so on. So what you want is some corner of the country where you can be free with your racism and homophobia and not have the man bug you.

Why only at the federal level?

 

[ChrisL]

I can tell by your response that you know I am right on this. And while I agree with you that "speculation" in the markets isn't helpful, it's beyond juvenile, asinine, and absurd to say "unchecked". How the fuck do you regulate opinion? How the fuck do you regulate rumors? Only an oppressive dictatorship like Saddam Hussein's could even begin to attempt to do something like that. If that's the world you want to live in - get the fuck out of the U.S. winger. Because we're not allowing that here in our country.

It wasn't Wall Street that started the collapse. It was the housing market. And that was the result of government intervention implementing socialism. When the banks were on the line for the money, they didn't make risky and reckless loans. When government was on the line for the money, the banks went crazy because it was free money falling from the sky for them.

That's what happens with idiot government intervention. It's the same reason why college costs have skyrocketed and why healthcare costs have skyrocketed. When the consumer and the business aren't the people paying or assuming the risk, then they become reckless. It is why the true free market is so flawless. As the consumer paying, I'm not going to pay too much or pay for what I don't need. As a bank with my ass on the line for the loan, I'm not going to make risky loans. I'm going to make very safe loans for small amounts of money to people with incredible credit history. It's only when socialism enters the picture and the consumer isn't paying and the business isn't taking the risk that everything falls apart. History has proven it and now Dumbocrats have proven it right here in the U.S.

It was speculation in the housing market. I saw the value of my house rise from $160,000 to almost $400,000 in a matter of months
People borrowed against this new found wealth and houses were repeatedly flipped for huge profit

It was greed not lending to poor people that caused the collapse

I think the whole thing was that people were unable to pay back their loans, MANY people, who were also encouraged to spend more than they could actually afford in reality. Not to mention the skimming off the top by the higher ups (and with that goes government kickbacks to turn their heads).

Let's follow the money

Somehow, conservatives blame the economic collapse on the 40% of the population that only controlled TWO TENTHS OF A PERCENT of the wealth in 2007

It was their greed that caused the Great Bush Recession of 2008

Color me skeptical

Who exactly do you "think" I'm blaming the recession on? Look friend, your side is just as guilty of crony capitalism. It's the democrats and the republicans who are responsible. That's why I refuse to vote for either of them.

There are always many causes of a recession. However, most economist pin it on the banks and financial institutions. Government polices, home buyers who take on debts they couldn't pay, lack or regulations, Wall Street, and the federal reserve probably played a part but I'll go with the banks.

The banks simply created too much money. Every time a bank makes a loan, new money is created. In the run up to the financial crisis, banks created huge sums of new money by making loans. In just 7 years, they doubled the amount of money and debt in the economy. Then they used that money to push up housing prices and speculate in the housing market. Eventually, the debts became unpayable. Lending large sums of money into the property market pushed up the price of houses along with the level of personal debt. With debts rising quicker than incomes, eventually some people become unable to keep up with repayments. At this point, they stop repaying their loans, and banks found themselves in danger of going bankrupt. This caused a credit crisis in which everyone was afraid to make loans. Businesses cut back, sales fell and then the layoffs started. Thus, you have the great recession.

That makes sense but Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (both government loan institutions) played a big role in this. They were found to have been skimming off the top and we all know that both democrats and republicans are corrupt and also played a role in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It's documented fact.

 

[Centinel]

Now we are getting closer to the real answer. The accumulated wealth of poor people had little to do with the collapse

It was the unchecked corporate greed of the financial sector that led us to the brink of depression

Nope. It was government regulation that led us to the brink of depression.

 

[Unkotare]

I see waste and malfeasance with our tax dollars.
For example 100 billion a year is collected in various taxes and fees that are supposed to be earmarked for infrastructure upkeep

tell me where the fuck does all that money go?

Keeping up the infrastructure, dumbass. The problem is, 100 billion isn't enough to cover the needs.

Is some of that money wasted on a big Red State with no people in it and a Senator who sits on an influential committee? Yup. But the real problem is we are looking at infrastructure that was largely built back in the 1950's and it's all crumbling now. Mostly because we had leaders who think it's more important to give tax breaks to rich people and fight wars in the Middle East.

Bullshit

It would be enough if it wasn't wasted on bike paths, stupid staues and other useless projects and actually used for what it was meant for

It would be more than enough if we weren't resettling refugees.

"We"?

 

[Divine Wind]

You are a mindless drone. I work for a large company with over 200,000 employees. My salary has increased every year for the last 20 years in a row, I make 571% more than I did when I started. Full benefits package, 2 retirement plans one fully funded by the company, 34 days off a year vacation plus holidays, unlimited sick time, short and long term disability, tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees, the list goes on and on. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Are you claiming that is average for Middle Class Americans?

The middle class screwed themselves voting for these fucktard establishment candidates. Dem establishment politicians destroy businesses and jobs with taxes and insane regulations. Rep establishment politicians destroy businesses and jobs by flooding the country with cheap labor illegals and starting wars we can't afford. Government has spent over $30 trillion dollars in the last 10 years alone, well what do we have to show for that? Crumbling infrastructure, a $20 trillion dollar debt we can't pay off, and more people than ever not working. We are Rome in its end days.

That's a pretty big flip-flop from your initial post of how great your life is and condemning others for bemoaning the state of the Middle Class in America.

 

[ChrisL]

ChrisL, now that u here in open thread....how bout dem Viagra commercials? Blonde bimbo checking in hotel lobby (man get key!) She gaze blankly about lobby........or my favorite girl literally up in tree house, sundress, flower in hair, Christmas lights all around........I just have to get it off my chest! As they say....

I have no idea what you're talking about. Sorry.

Well? Are you going to tell me what you're talking about? What do Viagra commercials have to do with anything?

 

[kaz]

Now we are getting closer to the real answer. The accumulated wealth of poor people had little to do with the collapse

It was the unchecked corporate greed of the financial sector that led us to the brink of depression

Nope. It was government regulation that led us to the brink of depression.

It's incredible how leftists think that only government can solve the problems that government created, isn't it?

 

[kaz]

ChrisL, now that u here in open thread....how bout dem Viagra commercials? Blonde bimbo checking in hotel lobby (man get key!) She gaze blankly about lobby........or my favorite girl literally up in tree house, sundress, flower in hair, Christmas lights all around........I just have to get it off my chest! As they say....

I have no idea what you're talking about. Sorry.

Well? Are you going to tell me what you're talking about? What do Viagra commercials have to do with anything?

He's following the old adage if you can't dazzle them with your wit, baffle them with your bull shit

 

[Divine Wind]

How did the 40% of Americans that controlled 2/10 of a percent of the wealth manage to crash the economy?

By voting Democrat and/or Republican?

 

[rightwinger]

Now we are getting closer to the real answer. The accumulated wealth of poor people had little to do with the collapse

It was the unchecked corporate greed of the financial sector that led us to the brink of depression

Nope. It was government regulation that led us to the brink of depression.

It's incredible how leftists think that only government can solve the problems that government created, isn't it?

Capitalists created the problem....government looked the other way

 

[ChrisL]

ChrisL, now that u here in open thread....how bout dem Viagra commercials? Blonde bimbo checking in hotel lobby (man get key!) She gaze blankly about lobby........or my favorite girl literally up in tree house, sundress, flower in hair, Christmas lights all around........I just have to get it off my chest! As they say....

I have no idea what you're talking about. Sorry.

Well? Are you going to tell me what you're talking about? What do Viagra commercials have to do with anything?

He's following the old adage if you can't dazzle them with your wit, baffle them with your bull shit

Well, it is the 4th of July. Maybe he's drinking.

 

[ChrisL]

We keep voting for these two parties, and what do we get out of it? I'd like to know. If I absolutely HAD to vote for one party or the other, I would have to put my vote with the republicans only because of 2nd amendment issues. Also, 1st amendment issues have been attacked by democrats. They are the anti-rights party. I'd prefer to get both scummy parties out of power though.

 

[Divine Wind]

Well, it is the 4th of July. Maybe he's drinking.

I just started. In a few hours I"ll be letting children play with explosives. Woot!

 

[Divine Wind]

We keep voting for these two parties, and what do we get out of it? I'd like to know. If I absolutely HAD to vote for one party or the other, I would have to put my vote with the republicans only because of 2nd amendment issues. Also, 1st amendment issues have been attacked by democrats. They are the anti-rights party. I'd prefer to get both scummy parties out of power though.

Agreed on all points. This November we're faced with the most repugnant candidates in my lifetime. Rather than keep doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different result, I'm voting a straight Libertarian ticket.

 

[Divine Wind]

If he was white it would be 67%.

Based on what? Your racist ideology?

 

[Flopper]

There are always many causes of a recession. However, most economist pin it on the banks and financial institutions.

They do not, you're full of shit. Why do you people make up crap like that?

Sorry, but they certainly do. So what's your explanation?

 

[ChrisL]

Well, it is the 4th of July. Maybe he's drinking.

I just started. In a few hours I"ll be letting children play with explosives. Woot!

I was supposed to go to a cookout today but my poor bunny rabbit is really really sick and I don't want to leave him alone.

 

[Divine Wind]

I was supposed to go to a cookout today but my poor bunny rabbit is really really sick and I don't want to leave him alone.

Sorry, sweetie. My wife is under the weather too. We have two grandkids, but were supposed to have her two sons and their wives come over. Instead, it'll just be the four of us. I'll grill chicken, corn on the cob and squash with onions then blow shit up near sunset.

 

[BluesLegend]

You are a mindless drone. I work for a large company with over 200,000 employees. My salary has increased every year for the last 20 years in a row, I make 571% more than I did when I started. Full benefits package, 2 retirement plans one fully funded by the company, 34 days off a year vacation plus holidays, unlimited sick time, short and long term disability, tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees, the list goes on and on. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Are you claiming that is average for Middle Class Americans?

He is claiming to be a corporate drone.

Go have yourself a good cry Target shelf stocker.

 

[BluesLegend]

The corporation I work for treats me quite well thank you. But then I work hard I'm not some lame slacker.

It has nothing to do with being a slacker. The fact is that wages, job security and jobs themselves are not what they used to be. Besides, personal anecdotes don't count. Most of you people probably lie anyways.

I see so you broad brush corporations proving you know jack shit about corporations, typical 1970 left wing talking point. I give you an actual example of a modern corporation that treats their people like family and you choose denial because it doesn't fit your stupid talking point. Americans 100 best companies to work for, heard of it? Yeah I didn't think so. Here have one of these /EYEROLL

What example is that, the ones you make up in your head? Big multibillion dollar corporations are not your friend.

You are a mindless drone. I work for a large company with over 200,000 employees. My salary has increased every year for the last 20 years in a row, I make 571% more than I did when I started. Full benefits package, 2 retirement plans one fully funded by the company, 34 days off a year vacation plus holidays, unlimited sick time, short and long term disability, tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees, the list goes on and on. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Does anyone believe this guy?

You see my new BMW avatar don't you. I started life as a dumb Democrat then became a conservative, left the Democratic party plantation and my income skyrocketed. There now you have a road map to follow.