ibsteve2u's Comments (6543)

“Photoshopped or not, did somebody really think that the shark needed pointed out with the big purple arrow?”

“It is passé to call the Republicans "the party of emancipation".

They began their attempt to be the masters of economic slavery over 100 years ago.

They have had some setbacks - most notably during the Presidencies of FDR and LBJ - but they're certainly cracking the whips or "flood-up/trickle-down" economics and inequitable "free trade" in the here and now.”

“All that you have to do is cast aside all moral values and relegate all who do not have the power to harm or help you to the bulk container labeled "Disposable", and you can be one, too!

(They don't really say "Disposable"...

They say "sectors negatively impacted by globalization", or "civilian casualties", or "cost-savings resulting from down-sizing", or "human resources", or "collateral damage", or "labor", or "offsetting factors to top-line growth", or "consumers", or "potential savings in an outsourcing environment", or "payroll adjustments", or "secondary effects from blast and fragmentation", or...

I.e., anything but "us", "we", or "our people" - which are all reserved for them.)”

“There indeed is a current perception that this country exists to service the bankers.

It tends to makes us forget how the American people have bled and died for Big Oil, or how we're getting ready to buy every insurance corporation CEO a personal spacecraft.

(I'm working around to saying "They take turns, so no one segment of the plutocracy stays in the public's gun sights for too long.")”

“I wonder if Fox-types go golfing during thunderstorms on the theory that, since they've never been hit, people don't get hit by lightning?”

“That is how Wall Street and all of American finance works: A group of people working as a collective to better each others' lives.

But since it is not aimed at bettering the lives of all Americans but rather is meant to enrich the few by separating the many in America from their wealth, it is "capitalism" rather than socialism.

lollll...very Republican, that...all a matter of perspective. If the government gives many money, that is "entitlement spending".

But if the government gives the few money - assuming those few are Republicans, of course - then it is "privatization".”

“I would note that colleges and universities have been known to accept kickbacks to steer students towards particular lending institutions:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5loansmay22,0,4438054.story

http://www.aascu.org/media/pm/pdf/loan_accountability.pdf

My point being that - if usury is involved - the student faces a minefield of hazards every direction they turn. (I still remember buying textbooks, and being stunned at the number of credit card applications that fell out of a brand new book. Although at the time I was primarily thinking "What a waste of trees!")

Direct g'ment lending is the solution...but it is the solution to the bad mortgages, too, and we've not seen it there.

The banks have too much power, and by power I mean the wealth to buy members of Congress. So my conclusion is that a good first step is breaking the banks apart...and/or campaign finance reform...and/or eliminating lobbying...and/or the revolving door between Congress and [fill in the blank]".

And if I had about $30 trillion in my piggy bank, I could probably buy one of those things done. But I don't, so ya'll are going to have to vote it done.”

“What was the reason given for cutting off her aid? It is easy to sympathize with the described consequences, but inappropriate to draw a conclusion without the pertinent facts...”

“I.e., let the pot smokers go, and start imprisoning white collar criminals who negatively impact the lives of so many.”

“Oh, would I love to see a massive program to generate more doctors and nurses...

THAT would directly attack a major cause of soaring health care costs: "Flood-up/trickle-down" economics - the ability to keep more of what you make, no matter how greedy you get - driving doctors to steadily raise their fees.

And insurance corporations and lawyers, consequently, steadily raising their fees, and expecting more paid out in malpractice awards...it is a long chain of greed.

But flood the market with new medical workers, and supply and demand kicks in. Maybe we'd even lose some of those doctors who won't do medical work unless they're paid up front...”

“Although I think direct g'ment lending is a good idea, I think it appropriate to mention this factoid in order to put $250,000 into perspective:

http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-05-03/business/17202826_1_stock-options-ceo-compensation-stock-awards

"Average S&P 500 CEO pay off 7% - to $7 million"

They're overpaid at the top across the width and breadth of America, but these non-profit managers? A trivial example.”

“Do I have a problem with this? No. Why?

a) The banks have no recent history to suggest that they can be trusted any more than a non-profit

b) Being non-profit, more money will go out in loans rather than into...however bankers redistribute wealth among themselves.

c) The banks and other for-profit financial institutions urged the Bankruptcy "Reform" legislation at the first of this millennium that made it impossible to walk away from student loans, that even made it possible to seize the Social Security and Disability payments of co-signing parents and grandparents. Even as they were financing building factories and service centers offshore to ensure that the newly-indebted student could not find a job after graduation.

That last...that stank to high heaven.

Give ALL student loan business to non-profits, and I would only laugh gleefully.”

“The trolls who use nics that read like an undecided liberal? The trolls who use arguments that "sorta kinda" sound rational, but just barely conceal the fact that their only motivation is the downfall of Obama?

Borrrrrrrrring. Think I'll go do something productive.”

“Obama appears to like to make fact-based decisions.”

“Huh. Been a long time since I have associated the word "moral" with "high finance" in America.”

“Oh, c'mon. The mob doesn't go to Yale...”

“Your comments suggest that your nickname is...suspicious...as if designed to convey "I'm one of you!".

Case you didn't know.”

“It kinds of stinks, though, that we the People have to accept a certain amount of corruption on the part of the people who endangered this country as a price of saving this country from the consequence of their corruption.

'Tis enough to frustrate a voter...or change the outcome of elections.”

“You've hit everything else that is up, but I beg you not to mention viagra sales..or the intended results.”

“Yeah....I think it was more like "Let me control one Party in a Two-Party system, and I can buy the laws."”

“Out of Princeton?

Am I supposed to be shocked? That is the equivalent of expecting me to be surprised that country music is the favorite music of Waco, Texas.”

“And then Clinton made tens of millions giving trivial speeches....go figure.”

“That comes from Paulson running his fingers through it as he says "Good boy, Timmie!".

lolll...he may be on Obama's team, and Obama's team is a lot better for American than anything Republican, but I dont have to respect or like the man just because he is the lesser of evils.”

“lollll....hey, have you noticed how a lot of formerly "rightie" posters have moved to "they're all bad"?

Kind of reminds you of "Divide, and conquer!".”

“I think ANY President who must have a person with experience in how this nation's "high finance" CURRENTLY works is poked, as far a finding a candidate for Treasury.

'Cuz all roads to find that level of experience inevitably lead to or from the Fed, and the Fed is a bastion of the right.

Can't blame Obama...hard to find a good apple, in a bushel basket of apples which are all in various states of decay.

Now if we could go back in time to before Reagan...”