Personal income levels are excellent proxies for measuring the extent to which people are "working hard" in this sense of hard work ... In other words, our society on average consists of people who "work hard" who make lots of money and people who don't. Higher marginal taxes on high earners thus have a net effect of moving wealth from relatively hard working people to relatively lazy people.I'm going to be writing more on all of this, since we're in the middle of huge national debate over individualism versus statism. But in the meantime check out this episode from Tigerhawk TV, "Who Are These "Rich' People?" Tigerhawk, in his reasonable and eminently considerate fashion, explains how the "working affluent" not only work much harder than those at lower income levels, but are MORE PRODUCTIVE overall, and that taxing individuals and families like this will indeed put the final nail in the coffin of the current economy:
If you think about it for five seconds it's actually totally implausible that the correlation between "hard work" in this sense and increasing income is even mildly positive. To believe it is, you have to believe that highly paid high status professionals hate their work far more than working class people who are doing dangerous, physically taxing, and/or extremely boring work for low pay.
There's another point I'll mention here on all of this. The leftists have latched onto the idea that the "tea parties" against the administration's are simply about taxes and outrage "that someone else might get a bigger piece of pie than them." But's the protests and the backlash against taxing the "working affluent" are all of a piece. As Paul Hsieh notes at Pajamas Media:
America’s future is at stake. Do we want to enlarge an already-bloated welfare state that tramples on our rights and strangles the economy? Or do we want a limited government that protects our rights and allows individuals to prosper and thrive?These are the questions that the Democratic-leftists will have to address as they continue to push for the biggest expansion of government in American history.
20 comments:
Thanks for the linkiness -- you're very kind.
A bloated government that tramples our rights is exactly what these would-be dictators want, though they will never admit it.
Obama is at war with our capitalist system, the very machine that gave us our high standard of living. The affluent will now try to hide their money instead of invest it. We're going down the crapper.
You're welcome, Tigerhawk!
You're right, Shoprat, and you know, that's a lot of what bothers me the most ... the deception.
"Obama is at war with our capitalist system, the very machine that gave us our high standard of living."
Well said, Raul!
Once again, Donald, you completely ignore what I wrote and attack me for things I didn't write. How did I demonize anyone? I was insulting idiots who are clearly unaware of how our tax system works. They think they'll have more money by getting their income under $250k, which is an obvious joke which exposes their ignorance.
But I wasn't insulting anyone who ISN'T making this mistake; nor was I suggesting that all rich people are idiots. I'm quite positive that most folks in the top 2% who will have their tax bill go up realize the insignificance of Obama's proposal. It's only the rightwing loons who listen to propaganda who are making this mistake. And if they go ahead and work less, then that just means more work for the rest of us.
Oh, and how have I "bailed" on our debate? Did you post another rebuttal? Sorry if I don't check your blog regularly, but if you want a response, you should link to it at my blog. Otherwise, I'm not likely to know about it. But of course, you're right in putting quotes around "debate." Incredibly, you still haven't shown up with an argument yet, as you refuse to even understand what we're debating about. But who knows, maybe I'll look and see that you finally made some point for me to rebut.
There was a time in this nation's history when only landowners were allowed to vote.
To bad it wasn't kept that way, as we now have a situation where the 40% of the population who are the tax producers are having their pockets picked by the 60% who are tax consumers.
I wonder how many of the aforementioned 40% are going to just say to hell with it should this latest hideously confiscatory tax become law?
-Dave
Great video. "Becoming the enemy"?? How do we do that?? By producing too much, working too hard, and being too valuable to society in one's labor and profit contribution to the economy.
"Becoming the good guy"?? Don't produce. Don't work. Don't be valuable to the society in one's labor and profit ocntribution to the economy. Then, instead of recognizing that you could work and produce and be more valuable to the society and the economy in your labor and profit contribution - attack the guy who is working hard. Act like he stole your money with his labor and profit and value - and steal from him the money he earned. And call that "fair".
Brave new world, isn't it?? What a society rewards, it gets more of. What it punishes it gets less of.
Clearly, in this brave new world - we want to reward lack of production, lack value of labor and profit, self-pity, entitlement, and sometimes basic laziness by rewarding through stealing "legally". We want to punish those who produce the most because of their own drive, willingness to work, and employment of their skill, talent and ability - plus act like they are somehow "greedy" and "selfish" for receiving any reward instead of punishment.
The base is noble.
The noble are base.
We will see less nobilty that is now being punished. We will see more baseness that is now being rewarded.
The world, and reason, has been tipped upside down.
And Atlas Shrugs.
Dr. Biobrain,
You could not do other people's jobs. They will generate and create and overflow to the many as they engage my highest abilities. Or not.
You think just anyone could be Edison and invent the lightbulb?? Some folks can't screw in the lightbulb, but you think just anyone can be Edison and invent it??
But you could replace others of higher skill in specific area?? No, sir, you could not. Others do work at a higher level of creativity, design, and motivation.
What?? Are you going to get farmers to replace physicians in your society?? Assembly line workers to replace entrepreneurs??
Cooks to replace top sales professionals??
Did it ever occur to you that we are not interchangeable and the cook should cook, the farmer should farm, the doctor should doctor, and sales professional should sell, the assembly line worker should assemble, and the entrepreneurs should start businesses - and everyone should be paid according to their own contribution?? Because the farmer can't do the doctors job.
But maybe we should let a farmer operate on your brain. Then we'll see how many farmers it takes to replace 1 brain surgeon in your economy. Oh, never mind. Your economy will go flatline. So will this one.
How can you be so Doctor Bioblind and brainless as to suggest that people are interchangeable in their professions?? That efficiency and level ability will not be impacted or end result altered when we just "replace" the the greatest contributors to our society with the mediocre?? What makes you think the average are capable of doing the same jobs as those God created to excel therein??
So are you going to hire a farmer for your brain surgeon?? Ah, it might "might work out". We may just be dealing with cow manure - good ole fashioned fertilizer - anyway, "ya know for brains". Seems to me, anyone who thinks that they can play God with a free system and put "just anyone" the most qualified fill the highest skill, intelligence, and ability-level jobs and decide that people shouldn't make what they're really worth-- doesn't understand the job qualifications of God. They're trying to fill shoes that they should instead... take off.
If tigerhawk only knew the hours that THIS teacher puts in he'd be impressed. Other than that, he's spot on...
How can you be so Doctor Bioblind and brainless as to suggest that people are interchangeable in their professions??
Uh, Anonymous? I never suggested any such thing and let me tell you, that was one of the lamest strawmen I've seen in a long time. All I was suggesting was that if a lawyer starts turning down clients in an idiotic scheme to lower their tax bill, there will be other lawyers who will be quite happy to take the job. Similarly, I can't wait for conservative CPA's to start turning down clients, so I can add a few to my own business. But I suspect that even conservative CPA's are too smart to believe this nonsense you guys are ranting about. A 3% tax increase on income over $250k is punishment? What an odd thing to believe.
And btw, yes, farmers can become physicians and assembly line workers can become entrepreneurs. I'm quite sure that sort of thing has happened. In my world, we're not limited to one profession and people have been known to train for other ones. George Washington was a farmer, soldier, and statesman; God doesn't seem to have given him the limits you suggest we all have. Sorry pal, but I believe in America and that anyone can be anything they want to be. I guess that makes me a naive idealist, but so be it.
And btw, Edison didn't invent the lightbulb on his own. He had a whole team of engineers that aided him. But he was the boss, so he got the patents and the fame. But he couldn't have done it without the little people you seem to despise. The wealthy couldn't be wealthy without everyone else to support them. An individual can do little without a society to build upon and Edison couldn't have invented the lightbulb if no one had discovered electricity. Civilization was a team effort.
All I was suggesting was that if a lawyer starts turning down clients in an idiotic scheme to lower their tax bill, there will be other lawyers who will be quite happy to take the job.
Ever thought that, for some, it's not just the money ... that they are limiting their output simply because it disgusts them to see hard-earned wealth ripped from their hands and placed in the hands of others, without regard to the value those others add to society by their actions ... simply because you and your fellow-travelers think that it's right?
Talk about jamming your (faith-based) morality down our throats, Biobrain ... in the face of history that shows that attempts to address social problems through collectivism does not strengthen a society.
A 3% tax increase on income over $250k is punishment? What an odd thing to believe.
If it is not taken with the assurance that it will improve life for all ... an assurance that is hard to come by when you look at the track record of other attempts to redistribute wealth ... in an atmosphere of class envy that is stoked by the very same political leaders who are going to take the money from you ... it is not hard to believe that at all.
And, what assurance do we have that this will stop at "only" 3%? The numbers speak otherwise, if the Administration's walk of fiscal responsibility is going to match their talk, without cutting back all this spending.
No, what is driving this is simple ... a bias against those with wealth, painting them with either the broad brush of greedy, evil SOB, or the broad brush of cash cow who can "afford" it.
(Of course, encouraging dependence upon government does work to further another aspect of the Leftist agenda ... the reduction of influence of those with a spiritual worldview, who historically have been on the front lines of social justice, upon our society ... by supplanting or subordinating such as these to the "benevolent" State. This reduction of influence is a perceived benefit to those who want to scream "YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" when it comes to their pet vice ... and the "indiscriminate" safety net of government aid gives them assurance they will be taken care of -- instead of left to the justice of solving their own problem -- when their vice bites them in the butt!)
What this all comes down to, is an attempt to assure that we will "get by", by removing our unalienable, individual right to get ahead; i.e. pursue happiness.
Success from such an approach is a pipe dream, for it reinforces something that is as corrosive as greed is to a society ... mediocrity.
When the only incentive to innovate ... whether that be in a laboratory, a trading pit, or a cornfield ... is a pat on the back and warm, fuzzy feelings, you aren't going to get near the progress you will when the innovators can trade on their ideas to get ahead.
The vast majority of wealthy people got that way by such a process ... not by "greed". To think otherwise is to reveal a prejudice that is as insidious and corrosive as racism ... but still socially acceptable.
Problem is, the continual encouragement by our Best and Brightest for the rest of us to subordinate our common sense to their conventional wisdom has misled many into thinking that the wealthy are the SOB and/or the cash cow.
The question is ... can We the People afford the net LOSS of productivity and wealth creation we will see, by taking the wealth out of the hands of the productive among us and allowing a government that is structurally incapable of solving problems that require high degrees of individual tailoring to arrive at an effective solution?
Rich Casebolt - Do you or do you not believe that rich people should pay more taxes than poor people? I'm not asking about a larger percentage of income. But an actual larger amount. I bet you do. So how is this any different than what I believe?
We both agree that rich people can afford to pay more taxes than poor people. The only difference between us is the specific percentage that should be taxed. So please get off your principled high horse with this nonsense about the disgust rich people have by having wealth stolen from their hands. You support the same damn policy and would never turn to a voluntary tax system.
As for the rest of your scare-mongering, why don't you just wait until something like that starts happening? All Obama is doing is proposing that we go back to the tax rates of the 90's for the wealthiest 2%; and I seem to recall that there was quite a bit of innovation and entrepreneurship happening at that time. And I guarantee you that if he ever proposes anything higher than a 50% tax, I will absolutely join you in opposition. As will a majority of America. But for now, we're only talking about a top rate of 39% for the portion of income over $250k.
And in that context, you guys are REALLY over-reacting. Even someone making $300,000 would pay less than an extra $2500. That's hardly going to cripple them. Obama totally pulled the jujitsu on this one and you guys are still walking right into his kicks.
Actually, Biobrain, I do support a "voluntary" tax system ... it is called the Fair Tax.
Re: disgust -- if the increased revenues were used in ways that I could be assured would improve our ability to live free and pursue happiness, I might be a little more sanguine about the increase.
I have no such assurance ... especially in the light of history, where such social spending perpetuated poverty across generations the last time it was tried.
Neither do I have the assurance that this increase would be the last, or that it would go above 50% ... no more so than I had any assurance that the "stimulus bill" would be targeted towards stimulus. Proactive opposition is prudent, in the light of what has happened so far with this Administration.
BTW, Biobrain ... "Little People" who apply themselves and think like businessmen become Big People ... as opposed to leaving the thinking to the bosses and just getting by from 8 to 5.
Edison's associates could always have "fired their management" and engaged new management -- or started their own ventures -- if they believed they were treated badly.
Let me inform you who is "despising the little people" in this day and age ... it is those who encourage the "little people" to remain dependent upon the Best and Brightest, even as the BB's sneer at them for lacking the academic pedigrees and lock-step compliance with "progressive" values valued by such elites ... while the BB's run this economy and Western Civilization down the road to ruin.
These people, who supposedly have the higher education to "know better", express their disdain for the "little people" in more than just sneers ... they encourage dependence, instead of encouraging AND empowering the "little people" to take charge of the decision-making process in their own sphere of influence, and assure that the solutions that are applied to their own lives are the best ones for them ... not just some one-size-fits-all attempt at a solution promoted by some "expert".
It is the Biggest Lie of All ... stated in many ways, all my life:
All you need to do is show up for work ... we have "experts" who can solve your other problems FOR you.
If you really care about the long-term future of our civilization, y'all on the Left have to start recognizing your own limitations in omniscience ... and the power of simple -- even non-pedigreed -- wisdom, expressed in 300 million problem solvers, when they are empowered and engaged in finding their piece of the total solution.
Rick - The Fair Tax is not voluntary. It merely shifts the point of taxation. But it would still be mandatory and I'm of the opinion it would seriously cripple our economy. I'm not sure why guys love sales tax so much, but I generally try to avoid it when I can. And even worse for your argument, the tax revenue collected could still be used for anti-poverty programs you disagree with. And worst of all, the rich would still pay more than the poor. How horrible!
Frankly, I've never understood the fascination you guys have with changing the tax system. Unless you cut spending, we still need to collect just as much revenue as before. And as past experiences have indicated, both major political parties have realized the futility of cutting spending. It sounds good, until you're the guy responsible for cutting it. You might think it's a coincidence that the places with the highest government spending are usually the best places to live, but I don't. I'd much rather live in America with its big government than any limited government third-world nation.
And sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there are no assurances in life. That's the whole reason conservativism is wrong: It assumes there's some basic safety net that will save us if things go really wrong. But there is no safety net except for the one we provide for ourselves, which we use the government to create. So no, I can't promise you that Obama won't raise your taxes or that his social programs will work. And if that's what you're looking for, then you're simply deluding yourself, because it can never happen. All I know is that if Obama wants his life to be easy, he'll do a good job and fix our problems. If he wants to be hated, he'll do what you think he'll do. I'm of the opinion he's a rational man who wants his life to be easy; that's why I think he'll work hard to solve our problems. But there are no guarantees.
And I disagree with your "big guy, little guy" thing. You guys are the ones who hold common people in disdain. Even the argument you make here suggests that you think poorly of the lower classes. And sorry, but we can't have a society of big guys. We need farmers, and assembly line workers, and engineers. We can't have a nation of Bill Gates. Heck, even Microsoft can't be full of Bill Gates. An idea is no good if you don't have the ability to turn that idea into reality. Bill Gates built an empire on the backs of programmers, sales people, janitors, and other lackies you scoff at. That's just the way things work.
Beyond that, I will remind you that liberals are the ones who want to educate our children, ensure that they're properly nourished, and that they have adequate healthcare to give them a better chance at success. We want them in college. We want them to be paid good wages, so they can in turn afford to properly feed their children and send them to college. Liberals believe in the American Dream. And you guys believe that the Dream only goes to the few strong enough to take it. We're not the ones keeping them down. We're trying to raise them up, so they all have the same advantages that the luckier people got.
You can pretend that these programs are only meant to coddle people and make them dependent upon us, but the world has seen centuries of the sort of the "do or die" hardships you prefer to inflict upon them. I assert that American civilization since WWII is better than the world has ever seen. And that's due to the so-called dependency that you reject. As I suggested earlier, civilization is brought to us by societies, not individuals. And individuals can only succeed where societies give them the foundation to do so. Perhaps you know of jungle-dwelling hermits who have self-educated themselves and succeeded where we failed; but I assure you that every famous inventor or entrepreneur you can name only did so thanks to a coddling society that gave them the tools to do it. We need innovators, but we also need workers. Neither works independently of the others.
I'm not begrudging Edison of the excellent work he did. But he couldn't have done it alone. That wasn't the power of the individual. That was teamwork only made possible due to the work of millions of people before him. And if all of Edison's workers had decided to be entrepreneurs, we might not be having this conversation right now. Ideas need workers too. And I'm of the opinion those workers are deserving of rewards too.
Biobrain, you know why I like a sales tax over an income tax?
Not because, by buying used capital assets instead of new, I can avoid paying a lot of taxes -- a "voluntary" aspect of such taxation.
I like a sales tax because it puts the incentives in the right direction ... lifting the burden on the production of income and its symbyotes -- savings, investment, innovation.
It is also quite progressive ... but not based upon the mere possession of wealth; instead, its progressivity is based upon how wealth is used. When a rich guy buys a Cadillac, he's going to pay more than I will when I buy a Chevy ... but when he buys a Chevy and instead saves or invests his money (which usually leads to a greater economic benefit for all), he pays the same tax as I (who might not have the resources to do that level of savings/investment).
Given that those of you on the Left wallow in class envy, I would think that you would like this aspect of the Fair Tax ... it moderates the "conspicuous consumption" that unwittingly fuels class envy.
Finally, the biggest reason I favor the Fair Tax is that it is far more transparent to We the People, when it comes to understanding the true cost of government. Withholding is "out of sight, out of mind" ... as opposed to everyone (even those who, thanks to the Fair Tax's prebate, effectively pay little or no tax) seeing what their government is costing them, every time they pick up their coffee -- whether they fill their cups at Starbucks or at 7-11.
These are called "informed voters" ... something you don't see when a majority of the people pay little or no income tax (and SocSec payroll taxes don't count ... those are supposed to be "insurance" payments, not income tax -- and the benefit certainly isn't progressive, so why should the payments be?)
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For someone who says there are no guarantees in life, y'all sure are trying to impose "guarantees" upon the rest of us by the force of law ... guarantees that history shows us often guarantee more problems than they solve.
You might think it's a coincidence that the places with the highest government spending are usually the best places to live, but I don't. I'd much rather live in America with its big government than any limited government third-world nation.
A lot of those places have been able to spend, over the years, with reduced consequences because America has carried the load of their strategic defense. They can thank my uncles -- whose farms sat next door to Minuteman silos for decades -- for the "freedom" to engage in such social folly.
Others have moved/are moving away from the socialist model you advocate, for they realize it is not sustainable.
And, the problem children of the Third World are anything but "limited" with respect to their ability to burden their people. OTOH, those who don't burden their people and instead leave them free to pursue happiness rise from Third World poverty ... South Korea and Taiwan particularly come to mind.
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Government has basically two tools it can use on social problems -- money bags, and handcuffs. These tools simply aren't precise enough to deal with the myriad of problems among 300 million people that contribute to social ills.
The only way you can effectively deal with those problems is at their most intimate level ... the intellectual/ethical/moral/behavioral choices and preparations an individual makes over their lifetime. It is about bringing a person to self-sufficiency ... not simply leaving them on the dole to get by, stuck in that rut for their lifetime, then leaving their offspring stuck for their lifetimes.
I believe you are interested in effective solutions, instead of throwing money away on ineffective solutions.
However, do you REALLY want to give government the power and access to the individual needed to deliver effective solutions? Such intrusion makes the PATRIOT Act look like a libertarian manifesto.
Private-sector efforts -- when not starved for resources and discouraged by an overreaching government -- can be efficient and effective in dealing with these problems, for they can work with individuals to deal with their intimate issues without risking a violation of their civil liberties, because the association is totally voluntary.
Keeping the Feds out of the social-services business is not "do or die" ... we are no longer social Darwinists. Don't sell the American people short.
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And if all of Edison's workers had decided to be entrepreneurs, we might not be having this conversation right now. Ideas need workers too. And I'm of the opinion those workers are deserving of rewards too.
Actually, had Edison's associates started their own ventures, we might be talking at the speed of thought instead of the speed of this keyboard, for all you or I know.
But let me tell you how it really works, as a designer and engineer myself ... even if I choose to work for another, I can still think like a businessman ... looking for ways to increase my income through added value, either to my present employer or another.
The difference is, I am not putting my life savings and financial integrity at risk, the way the owner of my firm does. Nor am I putting my reputation as an honorable man on the line, by promising to make payroll every week, in good times or bad.
If an owner chooses to increase the share of his profits going to the workers, more power to 'em ... mine does, BTW ... because they will eventually end up with better workers and be more competitive.
But to equate the contribution of the worker and owner is an error ... for typically the worker can walk away, at the end of the day or when times go bad, far easier than the owner.
The owner(s) do deserve a bigger cut ... for the worker has it easier, believe it or not.
Rich - Would you be equally supportive of the Fair Tax if you ended up paying more in taxes than you currently do? What if your tax bill doubled? I've always believed that despite the principled reasons people give for supporting these alternative tax plans, it ultimately comes down to them imagining that they'll pay a lot less. But unless spending comes down, all you're doing is shifting the burden to somebody else, who will have to pay a lot more, and if everyone does what you suggest, then we'd need to keep raising the rate and spending would continue to go down until our economy collapsed. So would you still support the Fair Tax if you realized you were paying much more in taxes than you currently do? What if you realized that it decreased consumption to the point that more businesses went bankrupt?
And wouldn't this simply encourage rich people to vacation more in Europe with tax-free money? And you can be assured that lots of folks would do everything they could to avoid the 30% tax, and I'm sure there would be many unscrupulous businesses happy to oblige. And so we'd need another giant bureaucracy auditing them all the time to make sure this wasn't happening. And having had a few clients put through sales tax audits, they're not pretty. And that's based upon the 8.25% tax rate here in Austin. Add your 30% national sales tax to it and abuse would go out the roof.
As for informed voters, your plan would only make it HARDER for them to see how much they paid. Sure, they'd notice when their $1000 flat screen tv cost them $1300 (or $1383 with my sales tax added). And they'd likely just buy a cheaper TV, which would hurt sales for big ticket items. But they'd never see the full amount they were paying. But under our current system, everyone sees exactly how much they're paying in income tax at the end of the year. It's all added up on one line on their tax return. How could you have forgotten about that? I don't know how much I paid in sales tax last year, but I certainly know how much my income tax was.
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And yes, I prefer that we use the government to guarantee security that isn't provided by nature. And I have no idea why you imagine this guarantees problems. Our banking system is already collapsing even with FDIC protection. Without it, our banks would already be gutted as no one would trust their money in any of these banks; and the people in the banks that have already failed would be penniless, thus dragging their local economy down further. There's already been enough talk about my bank going under that I read up on FDIC rules to make sure I'd be safe. Were it not for that, I'd have pulled out my money by now. The only solution the free-market offers during a banking crisis is stuffing it in your mattress.
And most old folks love Social Security and Medicare and any politician who tries cutting them will suffer. And people can trust in their food, drugs, and equipment because we have a system in place to handle such things. The free market is great, but it only makes these problems worse. The government is our only tool that will ensure these things, while the free-market has a much harsher solution for collapsing banks and contaminated food: Human suffering.
And btw, I was also referring to America when talking about places with high government spending that are great places to live. I'd like to visit Europe some day, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else but here. And I'd definitely pick Europe over places like South Korea or Taiwan, or places with less government protection, like in Africa and South America. I'm sure you agree or you wouldn't be here.
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And finally, why is welfare the only government service you mention? Are community health clinics also a trap? What about the free lunch program? Is that a trick to get kids addicted to food? And stronger SEC enforcement and regulation over the financial industry would SURELY have helped avoid our current crisis. Why is it that you guys only focus on the worst aspects of government, which only make up such a small part of it? The ponzi schemes that stole billions would have been stopped with proper enforcement of existing rules. But instead, the modern SEC thought it was their job to protect businesses, instead of investors.
And I agree that there were problems with old school welfare, because it should have been used a short-term bandaid, and that there needed to be more done to get them self-sufficient. But liberals are the ones who promote college education for everyone, through student loans and grants. We believe that healthy children will be smarter children, which includes fixing the environment so our children aren't poisoned from birth. Lead poisoning in particular can be directly tied to learning disabilities and violent behavior; and liberals are the ones who most strongly demand that the government protect children from lead, while conservatives complained about over-regulation.
And while you say no one supports Social Darwinism anymore, I fail to see how that's not the natural implication of your plans. Government doesn't grow just to grow and it's only easy to talk about "small government" when we don't talk about the specific programs that it does; which is why conservatives still focus so much on welfare programs that were largely ended in the 90's. The free-market is great at a lot of things, but it's entirely amoral and provides no guarantees. The government is our best to tool in solving the more dangerous side effects of capitalism.
We're not trying to "punish" capitalism. We're just trying to fund services that Americans clearly want and need. Life provides us with no safety net, so we use the government to provide us with one. So we can trust in the food we eat, toys we give our children, and the financial statements we use to guide our investment choices.
It'd be great if that wasn't necessary, but as long as there's a system that rewards businesses for lying to investors or selling contaminated peanut butter, we'll need a government to protect us from them. We're not trying to kill capitalism. We just want to make sure it won't kill us.
Sometimes, I wonder why I bother fighting so hard for the little guy. Whats the point if they are too stupid to listen? Say that reminds me.
Amazing. The worst economic and cultural crisis of all time will go down in history horribly misunderstood. What a pathetic bunch of ignorant fools we have become. Consumer junkie credit card morons. Perfect little victims.
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1%, now hold ALMOST 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, offshore accounts, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah Winfrey acknowledged that it was near 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING SELF-CENTERED SELF-PROMOTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST ONE PERCENT HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their 'good will' ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. THE EQUATION THEY STAND FOR ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. There are serious concequences for doing so. Regardless, there is always a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the currency looses value, the middle class slip further into debt, and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to pay all the bills or sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars which have been transfered FROM US TO THEM. All over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They just keep getting richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductible crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any ‘humanitarian’ progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end very much like a giant game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. So don’t fall for any of this 'good will' 'humanitarian' BS from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductible contributions. They get richer as we speak. They absolutely will not stop. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth from poor to rich. Anyway, those other factors are related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE OBSCENE, UNREASONABLE, ILLOGICAL, AND IMMORAL DISTRIBUTION OF UNITED STATES WEALTH, THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCH A MARKET FOR SUB-PRIME AND THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A COLLAPSE IN THE HOUSING MARKET. Sub-prime did not cause the problem. It only accelerated the outcome. Make no mistake. The housing market would have been in decline by now with or without sub-prime. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MADE THEM RICHER. Along with many investors, developers, and public figures. Including three of the most greedy, disgusting, hypocrite pigs that have ever lived. The credit industry has been ENDORSED for years by Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Dr Phil. In fact, they specifically endorsed Countrywide by name. IT MADE THEM RICHER. In order to fully appreciate this, you must realize what a rotten trick Countrywide had up their sleeve to begin with. How it was ENDORSED by OPRAH WINFREY, ELLEN DEGENERES, AND DR PHIL. How incredibly irresponsible they were. How they decieved and betrayed their own loyal fans. How they were PAID FOR IT. How they contributed to the artificial rise and accelerated fall of the US housing market. Not only by concentrating so much wealth. Not only by flaunting their own extravogant lifestyles. Not only by promoting this unrealistic concept of 'bigger, better, faster, upscale' EVERYTHING. But also by endorsing sub-prime. How many middle class dreams were shattered because of their GREED. Don't believe what you've heard from them or any other filthy rich public figure. THEY ARE LIARS. It wasn't just about irresponsible lending, borrowing, local banker bonuses, or weak oversight. That was going on BEFORE sub-prime. It was actually much more cruel and calculated. Orchestrated from the top down. 'Predatory lending' is just that. Their plan was to give easy credit to millions while the housing market was still high, inflate the market even higher in the process, reap two or three years of payments from unsuspecting middle class buyers, allow them to accumulate little or no equity, lie in wait as those homes increased in value, then jack up their rates making it near impossible for those middle class buyers to make the payments on time. At which time, those middle class buyers would be evicted, their dreams shattered, and their homes forfeited. Which by then, until mid '07', would be even higher in value and re-sold for a higher price. The plan was to be executed primarily while the market was strong. Leaving all those previous buyers with NOTHING to show for all those payments made. This incredibly cruel and calculated plan was orchestrated in part by Countrywide. THE SAME COUNTRYWIDE ENDORSED BY OPRAH WINFREY, ELLEN DEGENERES, AND DR PHIL. IT MADE THEM RICHER. It also made many of their loyal fans homeless. What a rotten, disgusting trio of hypocrite pigs. What a rotten, disgusting, immoral way to turn a quick buck. To make as many people as possible love you. Then tell those people to run out and buy a product or service because you say so. Because you were PAID to endorse it. Without the slightest regard for the downside or anything but your own bottom line. Thats why they did it. GREED. Now, there are similar ties between every major industry, every Fortune 500 company, and nearly every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. It also drives up the cost for nearly every product and service on the market. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ 'humanitarian' BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT A CALCULATED, TAX DEDUCTIBLE, MARKETING PLAN TO RAISE THE VALUE OF THEIR OWN IMAGE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, lobbyist, or executive, then you’re a fool. No offense fellow citizens. But we have been mislead by nearly every living public figure. We still are. Even now, they claim to be ‘hurting’ right along with the rest of us. As if gas prices actually effect the lifestyle of a millionaire. ITS A LIE. IN 2007, THE RICHEST 1 PERCENT INCREASED THEIR AVERAGE BOTTOM LINE WEALTH AGAIN. On average, they are now worth well over $4,000,000 each. Thats an all time high. As a group, they are now worth well over $17,000,000,000,000. THATS WELL OVER SEVENTEEN TRILLION DOLLARS. Another all time high. Which by the way, is much more than the entire middle and lower classes combined. Also more than enough to pay off our national debt, fund the Iraq war for a decade, repair our infrastructure, and bail out the US housing market. Still think that our biggest problem is China? Think again. Its the one percent club. That means every big name celebrity, athlete, executive, entrepreneur, developer, banker, and lottery winner. Along with many attorneys, doctors, and politicians. If they are rich, then they are part of the problem. Their incredible wealth was not ‘created’, ‘generated’, grown in their back yard, or printed up on their command. It was transfered FROM US TO THEM. Directly and indirectly. Its become near impossible to spend a dollar without making some greedy pig even richer. Don’t be fooled by the fall of the stock market, industry losses, lower profit margins, bank failures, or the occasional loss of a millionaire’s fortune. Overall, they just keep getting richer. They do so with little or no regard for their own industries or the economy as a whole. They are obsessed primarily with a desire to accumulate more personal wealth. They absolutely will not stop. Still, they have the nerve to pretend as if they care about ordinary people. ITS A LIE. NOTHING BUT CALCULATED PR CRAP. WAKE UP PEOPLE. THEIR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO WIN THE GAME. The one percent club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. CAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Downsizing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. High energy prices. Their idea. Oil ‘futures’. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. The multi-million dollar endorsement deal. Their idea. $400 cell phones. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. $50 event tickets. Their idea. $30 books. Their idea. $400 PC operating systems. Their idea. $60 video games. Their idea. Obscene health care charges. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea. Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. Excessive medical testing. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, medical testing, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. IT WAS ALL THEIR IDEA. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. All of the above drive up the cost of living, shrink the middle class, concentrate the world’s wealth and resources, create a domino effect of socio-economic problems, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, investors, developers, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for any of their ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP. In many cases, the ‘charitable’ contribution is almost entirely offset. Not to mention the opportunity to plug their name, image, product, and ‘good will’ all at once. Which is usually done just before or after the release of their latest commercial project. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These greedy pigs even have the nerve to throw a fit and spin up a misleading defense with regard to ‘federal tax revenue’. ITS A SHAM. THEY SCREWED UP THE EQUATION TO BEGIN WITH. If the middle and lower classes had a greater share of the economic pie, they could easily cover a greater share of the federal tax revenue. They are held down in many ways because of greed. Wages remain stagnant for the vast majority because the executives, investors, developers, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, politicians, and entrepreneurs, are paid millions. They over-sell, over-charge, under-pay, outsource, lobby, re-locate, cut jobs, and cut benefits to increase or preserve their own obscene personal bottom line. They do so even at the expense of their own industries. Even after you account for the fall of the market and lower industry profit margins, the richest 1 percent still keep getting richer on average. Simply because their wealth is drawn from the majority in many ways. Not necessarily at the same rate, but still in their favor. They continue to reap more than they spend down or 'give back'. They have done so for many years. As more United States wealth rises to the top, the middle and lower classes inevitably suffer. This reduces the potential tax revenue drawn from those brackets. At the same time, it wreaks havok on middle and lower class communities and increases the need for financial aid. Not to mention the spike in crime because of it. There is a domino effect to consider. Caused primarily by a constant transfer of wealth from poor to rich. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. But our leaders refuse to acknowledge this. Instead they come up with one trick after another to milk the system, feed the rich, and screw the majority. These decisions are heavily influensed by the 1% club. Every year, billions of federal tax dollars are diverted behind the scenes back to the rich and their respective industries. Loans from China have been necessary to compensate in part, for the red ink and the multi-trillion dollar transfer of wealth from poor to rich. At the same time, the feds have been pushing more financial burden onto the states who push them lower onto the cities. Again, the hardship is felt more by the majority and less by the 1% club. The rich prefer to live in exclusive areas or upper class communities. They get the best of everything. Reliable city services, new schools, freshly paved roads, new lighting, sidewalks, drainage, upscale parks, ect. The middle and lower class communities get little or nothing without a raise in basic service charges or a local tax increase. Which, they usually can’t afford. So the red ink flows followed by service cuts and lay-offs. All because of the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth in this country. Anyway, when you account for all federal, state, local taxes, and fees, the middle class actually pay about the same rate as the rich. The devil is in the details. So when people forgive the rich for their incredible greed and then praise them for paying a greater share of the FEDERAL income taxes, its like nails on a chalk board. I can not accept any theory that our economy would suffer in any way with a more reasonable distribution of bottom line wealth. Afterall, it was more reasonable 30 years ago. Before Reaganomics came along. Before GREED became such an epidemic. Before we had an army of over-paid executives, investors, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, doctors, entrepreneurs, developers, lobbyists, and sold-out politicians to kiss their greedy asses. As a nation, we were in much better shape. Strong middle class, free and clear assets, home equity, savings, widespread prosperity, stable job market, lower deficit, ect. Our economy as a whole was much more stable and prosperous for the majority. WITHOUT LOANS FROM CHINA. Now, we have a more obscene distribution of bottom line wealth, and resources than ever before. We have a sold-out government, crumbling infrastructure, energy crisis, home forclosure epidemic, credit crunch, weak job market, weak middle class, weak US dollar, 13 figure national debt, and 12 figure annual shortfall. The cost of living is higher than ever before. Most people can’t even afford basic health care. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED. I really don’t blame the upper class in general. At least not as a group and not without exception. No economy could ever function without some reasonable scale of income and wealth. But it can’t be allowed to run wild like a mad dog. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. UNBRIDLED CAPITALISM ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK. TOP HEAVY ECONOMIES CAN NOT BE SUSTAINED. THEY ALWAYS COLLAPSE. Bottom line: The richest 1 percent will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be catastrophic. Like nothing we’ve ever seen before. The American dream will be shattered. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions more to struggle, fight, starve, suffer, and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH MAKES WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, they will jump to small minded conclusions about 'jealousy', 'envy', or 'socialism'. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its underlying cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
So what can we do about it? Well, not much. Unfortunately, we are stuck on a runaway train. The problem has gone unchecked for too many years. The US/global depression is comming thanks to the 1% club. It would take a massive effort by the vast majority to prevent it. Along with a voluntary sacrifice by the rich. THATS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. But if you believe in miracles, then spend your money as wisely as possible. Especially in middle and lower class communities. Check the Fortune 500 list and limit your support of high profit/low labor industries (Hollywood, pro sports, energy, credit, pharmaceutical, cable, satelite, internet advertising, video, and music, cell phone, high fashion, jewelry, ect.). Cancel all but one credit card for emergencies only. Call the provider and demand a lower rate. Be persistent. You may get it. If you need a cell phone, then do your homework and find the best deal on a local pre-pay. If you want home internet access, then use the least expensive provider, and share accounts whenever possible. If you need to search, then use the less popular search engines. They usually produce the same results anyway. Don’t click on any internet ad. If you need the product or service, then look up the phone number or address and contact that business directly. Don’t pay to see any blockbuster movie. Instead, wait a few months and rent the DVD from a local store or buy it USED. Then loan it to a friend or family member. If you prefer the outing, then choose a film produced by the lesser known studeos with lower paid actors. If you want to see a big name game or event, then watch it in a local bar, club, or at home on network TV. Don’t buy any high end official merchandise and don’t support the high end sponsors. If its endorsed by a big name celebrity, then don’t buy it. If you can afford a new car, then make an exception for GM, Ford, and Dodge. If they don’t increase their market share soon, then a lot more people are going to get screwed out of their pensions and/or benefits. Of course, you must know by now to avoid those big trucks and SUVs unless you truly need one for its utility. Don’t be ashamed to buy a foreign car if you prefer it. Afterall, those with the most fuel efficient vehicles consume a lot less foreign oil. Which accounts for a pretty big chunk of our trade deficit. Anyway, the global economy is worth supporting to some extent. Its the obscene profit margins, trade deficits, and BS from OPEC that get us into trouble. Otherwise, the global economy would be a good thing for everyone. Just keep in mind that the big 3 are struggling and they do produce a few smaller reliable cars. Don’t frequent any high end department store or any business in a newly developed center or upper class community. By doing so, you make developers richer and draw support away from industrial areas and away from the middle and lower class communities. Instead, support the local retailer and the less popular shopping centers. Especially in lower or middle class communities. If you can afford to buy a home, then do so. But go smaller and less expensive. Don’t get yourself in too deep and don’t buy into the newly developed condos or gated communities. Instead, find a modest home in a building or neighborhood at least 20 years old. If you live in one of the poorer states, then try to support its economy first and foremost. Be on the lookout for commercial brainwash plots on TV. They are written into nearly every scene of nearly every show. Most cater to network sponsors and parent companies. Especially commercial health care. In particular, high profit pharmaceuticals and excessive medical testing. DON'T FALL FOR IT. Get off the couch and take care of your body the way nature intended. There is no substitute. If you must see a doctor, then DEMAND that he/she give you more than 5 minutes of their undivided attention. Otherwise, dispute their unreasonable charges. Be prepared with written questions about your condition and get them answered one at a time. If they refuse, then dispute their unreasonable charges. If they prescribe excessive medical testing and find nothing new or signifigant, then dispute their unreasonable charges. If they prescribe a pharmaceutical, then ask for a generic. Better yet, concider a change in lifestyle or simple tolerance. If they still recommend the name brand pharmaceutical, then ask about any financial ties or conflict of interest. If they get offended, then dispute their unreasonable charges and consider a new doctor. If you must drug away your sniffles, aches, and pains, then at least do your homework. Be aware of the possible side-effects ahead of time. Don't be surprised to find yourself back a week or two later feeling worse. In which case, you should dispute their unreasonable charges. If you are diagnosed with another medical condition, then ask your doctor what he/she has done to rule out those possible side-effects. Otherwise, dispute their unreasonable charges. Don't let any greedy doctor treat you like a number, make you wait an hour, or rush you out of their office. Otherwise, dispute their unreasonable charges. Don't fall for this CRAP that doctors have no choice but to over-book their time or over-charge their patients because of high overhead. ITS A LIE. YOUR DOCTOR IS MOST LIKELY A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE. So don't fall for their CRAP. Demand their undivided attention and respect. Afterall, they took an oath. Do all of the above regardless of your coverage. Don't force your employer to cover the obscene and often fraudulent charges of a corrupt health care industry. By doing so, you make the problem worse. Keep your guard up when watching ANY talk show. These people are not your friends. They are not your advocates. They are paid actors hired to get your attention and your money. Some of them are also executive producers (Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, and Dr Phil.). Nearly every word, smile, and stupid joke is rehearsed ahead of time. Including those which take place during what appear to be 'technical oversights' (Today Show). Its all fake. Its all calculated. Nearly every segment is about marketing some over-priced product or service. They will use any excuse to plug a gadget, fashion item, travel destonation, drug, movie, TV show, book, magazine, song, website, ect. Almost all of it over-priced. Almost all of it resulting in higher profits for their sponsors, partners, and parent companies. DON'T FALL FOR IT. Big business is fine on occasion depending on their ethics, profit margins, and profit sharing. Do your homework. If you want to support any legitimate charity, then do so directly. Never support any celebrity foundation. They spend most of their funding on PR campaigns, exotic travel, and high end accomodations for themselves. Thats right. Filthy rich public figures have been jet-setting the world in the name of 'humanity' for years. Riding in personal jets, staying in super-exclusive resorts, and living it up in exotic locations around the world the likes of which most people could never afford even if their lives depended on it. They bring along agents, advisors, publicists, hair, make-up, wardrobe, lighting, and photo crews who are also in it for themselves. They are paid six or seven figures for their part to schedule, manage, document, showcase, praise, and publicize the 'good will' of said public figures and their respective industries. Every possible expense is passed of as 'incidental' or 'necessary' and billed right back to some 'foundation' named after said public figure and/or respective industry. Every possible tax deduction is claimed. Which are incredibly vague and diverse thanks to our sold-out government. Deals are cut with major networks who agree to praise the 'good will' or 'humanitarian' effort of said public figures and plug their latest commercial project around the same time. Others from around the world pick up the story and save these industries billions in advertising every year. Resulting in higher profits and paychecks for the 1% club. When its all said and done more wealth is transfered from poor to rich. NOT the other way around. So don't support any charity named after a living celebrity. Don't be fooled by any affiliation or inspired by any short term short sighted progress report. Instead, go to Charitywatch.org and look up a top rated charity to support your favorite cause. Its all there. For example: 'Habitat For Humanity' is a top rated charity. They operate with a low overhead, volunteer workforce, and donated materials. They have built homes for the less fortunate in nearly every city nationwide. Including New Orleans. They do so as we speak. No similar effort can match their progress hour for hour or dollar for dollar. So there is no legitimate reason to support a slower, less efficient effort represented by a filthy rich Hollywood actor who flies in on a personal jet, takes most of the credit, and makes a deal with a major network for plugs just days before the premier of his latest film or DVD release. By doing so, you support not only the effort, but also the filthy rich actor. Concentrating more wealth and dumbing down our society further in the process. Instead, support 'Habitat For Humanity'. Its not perfect. It is affiliated with some big business. However, it is MUCH more efficient, effective, and less corrupt than 'Make It Right'. The difference is profound. In general, support the little guy as much as possible and the big guy as little as possible. Keep your own greed in check. Don't play the lottery and don't invest only for profit. If you do come into a fortune, then give away the bulk of it to others who have far less. Find the courage and do it. STAY OUT OF THE 1% CLUB. Encourage others to do the same. Their standard is obscene, unjust, illogical, and immoral. There is no excuse for it. Do your part to reverse the transfer of wealth away from the rich and back to the middle and lower classes. Otherwise, there will be no economic recovery EVER. Unfortunately, there is no perfect answer. Jobs will be lost either way. Families will go cold and hungry either way. Innocent children will starve and die either way. But we need to support the largest group of workers with the most reasonable profit margins. We need to stand for a more reasonable distribution of income, bottom line wealth, and resources. We also need to support LEGITIMATE charities (Check that list at Charitywatch.org). This is our only chance to limit the severity or duration of the comming US/global depression. In the meantime, don’t listen to Bernanke, Paulson, Bartiromo, Orman, Dobbs, Kramer, Pickens, Larson, O'Reiley, Limbaugh, Bruce, Inghram, or any other public figure with regard to the economy. They are all plenty smart but I swear to you that they will lie right through their rotten teeth. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These people work for big business. The ‘experts’ they cite also work for big business. They are motivated primarily by their desire to accumulate more wealth. THEY WILL LIE RIGHT THROUGH THEIR ROTTEN TEETH. So don’t fall for their tricks. Instead, look at the big picture. The economic problems we face have been mounting for well over 20 years. All of them caused or aggrivated by a constant transfer of wealth from poor to rich. Soon, it will cause the first ever GLOBAL DEPRESSION. Its not brain surgery. For the mostpart, Its simple math. Like I said, you are welcome to copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Ask them specifically about the link between distribution of wealth and economic stability. If thats not good enough, then look up what Albert Einstein had to say about greed, excess, extreme wealth, and its horrible concequences. I speak the truth. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
Its already underway. A massive campaign to divert our attention. Trump, Buffet, O'Reiley, Dobbs, Winfrey, Pickens, Larson, Norris, Branson, Bohannon, Limbaugh, Coulter, Clinton, Bloomberg, and several other well known filthy rich public figures have been running their mouths about the economy. Finally admitting a hint of severity after almost 2 years of denial. They even have the nerve to FINALLY acknowledge the possibility of a US/global depression. Still, they refuse to acknowledge the single greatest underlying cause. GREED. Instead, they focus on policies, procedures, and circumstances that were born FROM the underlying cause. GREED. They ramble on about 'sub-prime', 'toxic debt', 'junk bonds', and 'risky investments'. As if somehow all of this could have been avoided if those transactions had never taken place to begin with. What a joke. Those factors don't represent the underlying cause of this global economic crisis. They represent the effect of a shrinking middle class and massive consumer debt. CAUSED BY GREED. A MASSIVE TRANSFER OF WEALTH FROM POOR TO RICH. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. The debt wouldn't have been 'toxic'. The bonds wouldn't have been 'junk'. The investments wouldn't have been so 'risky'. By focusing on such factors, they attempt to divert our attention, limit our hindsight, disregard the OBSCENE concentration of wealth and capital, that shrinking middle class, the high cost of living, and the particular form of evil responsible for almost all of it. GREED. Dancing their way around the big picture. DON'T FALL FOR IT. Remember: Our national debt was way up BEFORE sub-prime. Consumer debt was way up BEFORE sub-prime. The cost of living was up BEFORE sub-prime. Wall Street profits were obscene BEFORE sub-prime. The middle class were loosing free and clear assets BEFORE sub-prime. Our infrastructure was in bad shape BEFORE sub-prime. Loans from China were taken out BEFORE sub-prime. The dollar was loosing value BEFORE sub-prime. So don’t let these cowardly, hypocritical, filthy rich public figures divert your attention or limit your range of thought. THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY A SINGLE POLICY, PROCEDURE, OR ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS CAUSED PRIMARILY BY A MASSIVE TRANSFER OF WEALTH FROM POOR TO RICH. THIS ALSO REPRESENTS A MASSIVE CONCENTRATION OF CAPITAL WORLDWIDE. OTHERWISE, THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCH A MARKET FOR SUB-PRIME AND THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A GLOBAL CREDIT CRUNCH. MONEY DOES NOT GROW ON TREES AND IT DOES NOT JUST FLOAT AWAY. IT ONLY TRANSFERS FROM ONE PARTY TO ANOTHER. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
A word for those who respond with the usual ‘I know more than you. I spell better than you. I talk like an economist. Look how smart, knowledgable, and articulate I am’ crap. Let me say this in advance. I don’t claim to be an expert in this field. But I did go on record with these predictions long before any public figure uttered the word ‘recession’. I've done so 'on the air' and 'online'. Millions of you already know my voice. My first call was in September of '05'. I tried to explain that we will never have world peace without world prosperity and that we will never have world prosperity without a 'fair and reasonable pay-scale'. I also tried to explain the link between 'extreme wealth' and 'extreme poverty'. My call was immediately followed by attacks from so called 'patriots' who felt that my cause must have been to promote 'socialism' or 'bring down America'. Not warn her citizens. You may also remember me from chat rooms criticizing the 1% club and Hollywood humanitarians in particular. If you search long enough, you will find my early postings online from ‘05' and ‘06'. At first, they were written specifically to fit within a few hundred characters. Including the first draft of this rant. It started with one short paragraph predicting a 'total collapse of the US economy'. Others included phrases like 'game of Monopoly', 'recession is inevitable', 'global recession', 'greed kills', and 'the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time'. Some of which were eventually included here. From day 1, I have tried to explain the link between extreme wealth, poverty, and economic instability. My internet account was eventually cancelled for posting 'spam' in response to articles about the economy. In December of '06', I predicted market instability by spring of the following year. I did so 'on the air'. In January of '07', I called another morning talk show and spoke with a guest host who was filling in for a well known public figure. Again, I specifically predicted growing market instability, the current US recession, and the subsequent US/global depression.Which by the way, will be the worst of all time by far. In February of '07', Allen Greenspan acknowledged a 'one in three' chance of a US recession. I immediately called another talk radio show and guranteed AGAIN that it was iminent. I criticized Greenspan and tried to explain that it was not about 'odds' but instead a very simple equation with regard to distribution of income and wealth. I also gave credit to Albert Einstein who went on record with similar views in 1949. As far as I know, he was the first to do so. By late spring of '07', the market was rattled and the economic 'stimulus' in the works. Which turned out to be around $160,000,000,000. THATS ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY BILLION DOLLARS. Well over 1% of our GDP. Deemed appropriate at the time by our leaders. In fact, Bush went on record with a claim that it was based on a mathematical formula and proven strategy. They said it would work. I immediately predicted that it would have little or no effect. By summer of '07' the stock market was more unstable. The housing market in decline. Again, I predicted that it would get MUCH worse. In September of '07', I predicted that our government would have no choice but to acknowledge a US recession by October of '08'. I also assured the audiance that our economy would "go down in a ball of flames" because of greed and that no recovery would EVER take place without a more reasonable distribution of wealth and resources. I have made these predictions 'on air' and 'online' literally hundreds of times. The first call was in September of '05'. Made to a well known public figure with a large audiance. The first blog post a month or so later. Prior to that, I had never even seen one. In fact, my very first post to a blog was written specifically to warn my fellow citizens about the comming US/global depression. Which I was already convinced at the time would be SEVERE within a decade. That was in October of '05'. At the time, there were literally only a few of us worldwide posting any such prediction online. I'm talking maybe a dozen searchable links. This particular rant began with one short paragraph in '06'. Like the others, it was originally intended to fit within a few hundred characters. At the time, I was unaware of any blogs which allowed for longer entries to be posted anonymously. This paragraph was first written in early-mid '08'. Its been updated several times. There has also been a running debate on iVillage.com which began in October of '07' (don't click on their ads). In February or March of '08', I refered specifically to the bank failures of the Great Depression and predicted that it was about to happen again. At the time, I was one of only a few worldwide to go on record with any such prediction. This was still several weeks to months before Greenspan, Paulson, Bartiromo, Orman, Kramer, O'Reiley, Larson, Bohannon, Dobbs, Celeste or any other well known public figure had acknowledged even a hint of severity. It was also several weeks before Fanny May and Freddie Mac made the news. I also predicted in March that our markets would end the year much lower than they began. Which was still contrary to what we were being told by any public figure. I was allowed to post but when my predictions came true, the site operators went back all the way to October of '07' and deleted nearly every one of my previous entries (they missed a few.). Their motive was obvious. They wanted to 'erase' my credibility. IVillage.com is directly affiliated with NBC, GE, Universal Studeos, Countrywide, CityBank, Capital One, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Ellen Degeneres, Dr Phil, and others who I persecute by name. All of which depend on the constant dumbing down of society. All of whom are partially responsible for the current economic crisis. None of which or whom have the GUTS to acknowledge the single greatest underlying cause. GREED. In fact, those who epitomoze it (all of the above) want my big mouth SHUT. For 3 solid years, I have been ripping on the 1% club for their incredible greed and hypocrisy. From day 1, my call has been for a more reasonable distribution of income, wealth, and resources. My warning that without it, we would face the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. Since then, I’ve gone on record against people like Greenspan, Bernanke, Paulson, Laffer, O'Reiley, Bartiromo, Orman, Kramer, Larson, and Dobbs. So far, my predictions have been accurate. The public figures DEAD WRONG. Afterall, not one of them acknowledged even a hint of severity in '05', '06', or '07'. When they FINALLY did this year, they all said something to the effect of "None of us saw this comming.". LIARS. There were a few of us typing our fingers to the bone trying to warn people. There were a few of us calling talk radio shows almost daily trying to warn people. I was one of them. Again, I don't claim to be an expert in this field. But I do understand simple equations, basic economics, and cultural trends. I also realize that mainstream views are DEAD WRONG and based on LIES told by filthy rich public figures who will say whatever it takes to serve their own interests. GREED. Afterall, what kind of incredible MORON could even glance at the numbers and somehow think the equation could work? What kind of incredible MORON could possibly hope to sustain an economy based on a constant transfer of wealth from poor to rich? What the hell did they expect to happen when the middle class finally ran low on money to spend on over-priced crap like everything that I mentioned in that first long paragraph? What the hell were they thinking of? I'll tell you what. RICHES. FILTHY STINKING RICHES. Thats what. Now, they are spinning themselves dizzy trying to divert our attention. Mark my words: They will never acknowledge the downside of their own incredible greed. They will all come up with one campaign or strategy after another to blame the other guy, the other administration, the other politician, the other party, the other policy, the other industry, the other country, ect. Whatever it takes to dumb down our society. They will NEVER have the GUTS to acknowledge the single greatest underlying cause for this global economic crisis. GREED. Its not their knowledge I question. Its their character. GREED. Like I said. This is not brain surgery. For the mostpart, its simple math. When you concentrate the world’s wealth, you also concentrate its capital, and shrink the middle class along with the potential market for every major industry. Homes go unsold. Bills go unpaid. Jobs are lost. Banks fail. More products go unsold. More jobs are lost. More banks fail. and so on. and so on. and so on. It happened 80 years ago. It will happen again. This time on a catastrophic global scale. Throughout the cycle, the rich will panic and tighten their grip. Concentrating the world’s wealth and resources even further, getting richer in the process, and ensuring the collapse of every major economy worldwide. Think it can’t happen? Think again. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
Another thing. I don’t want credit for any of this. Otherwise, I would have given my full name a long time ago. I havn't. IT DOESN'T MATTER. I'm not selling a book and I'm not looking for any notoriety. At least not yet. I do have a plan to go public when my parents die. In fact, I have BIG plans for my inheritence. Every single penny of it. In the meantime, I don't want them to know about it. I also don't want them punished for my big mouth. Which is why I've gone out of my way to remain anonymous for 3 solid years. When I do go public, it won't be for profit and it won't be for popularity. It will be for a legitimate cause and NOTHING ELSE. In fact, I hope to be just one of many. A face in the crowd. In the meantime, I don't care who gets to say "I told you so." IT DOESN'T MATTER. As far as I’m concerned, you can put this entire rant in your own words and take credit for all of it. I don’t care. Just spread the word. Otherwise, the greatest injustice of all time will go down in history unchecked.
By the way. The bailout won’t work. IT WON’T WORK. The plan fails to address the fundamental problem. The middle class don’t need more credit. They need a reasonable share of the economic pie. They also need a lower cost of living and a chance to catch their breath. They need a break from all of the psychological marketing tricks and mass market BS. Most of all, they need to wake up, see the truth, and take a stand. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
10.01.08
To my surprise, two public figures have found the courage to acknowledge this problem to some degree. On 11.07.07 former presidential candidate Ron Paul mentioned the massive transfer of wealth from poor to rich. He also hinted at the possibility of economic collapse. He did so on 'Face the Nation'. He was blacklisted almost immediately for doing so. On 9.28.08 former secretary of labor Robert Reich refered to the obscene levels of income inequality as part of a "recipe for disaster". He mentioned the richest one percent in particular. He did so on 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien'. As far as I know, Albert Einstein was the first to explain the link between extreme wealth and economic instability. He did so in 1949. He explained how the first Great Depression was actually caused by a massive transfer of wealth from poor to rich. He predicted that it would happen again. He also predicted much greater levels of economic instability proportional to much greater levels of income and wealth inequality. He was right. Amazing. The prosperity of an entire world is about to be compromised. Almost entirely because of greed. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
Another word about the Great Depression. It really was a perfect storm. First, there was unprecidented economic growth. There was a massive building spree. There was a growing sense of optimism. There was a growing obsession for celebrities. The average American became a pathetic, brainwshed, consumer junkie, moron. All of this represented a MASSIVE transfer of wealth from poor to rich. Executives, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and share holders. When the middle class finally ran low on money to spend UP, DOWN, and ACROSS, the rich did what they felt necessary to maintain their disgusting profit margins and ill-gotten obscene levels of wealth as long as possible. They cut jobs. The small business owners did what they felt necessary to survive. They cut jobs. The losses were felt primarily by the little guy. This created a domino effect. The middle class shrunk and the lower class expanded. With less wealth in active circulation, banks failed by the hundreds. More jobs were lost. Unemployment reached 25% in 1933. The worst year of the Great Depression. The recovery involved a World War and higher taxes on the rich. With so many men in the service, so many women on the production line, and those higher taxes to help pay for it, the lions share of United States wealth was gradually transfered back to the middle class. This redistribution of wealth continued until the late seventies. At the time, the richest 1% reaped about 10% of all private income and held about 20% of all United States wealth. Far less than previous levels. The middle class had home equity, free and clear assets, and money in the bank. The tide began to change. Jimmy Carter was blamed for a recession that was caused by a number of global circumstances including greed. Then a short sighted pig by the name of Arthur Laffer came along. He convinced Ronald Reagan to grant massive tax breaks to the rich and their respective industries. His half-baked theory was that by doing so, unprecidented levels of economic growth could be achieved. He was right. Unfortunately, he failed to see or acknowledge the big picture. That 'economic growth' and 'actual prosperity' are two different things. Jobs don't 'create' wealth. They only transfer it from one party to another. The devil is in the details. Reaganomics, gave the rich and their respective industries the incentive to 'expand' and 'create jobs'. But those products and services were over-priced and then sold or billed right back to the people. Often, without their knowledge, understanding, or consent. Certainly without a clue about how the economy REALLY works. All of this resulted in higher profits for those at the top and stagnant wages for everyone else. So with Reaganomics, the transfer of wealth from poor to rich was kicked back into high gear. Here we are 27 years later. Another perfect storm. The big one. Not only have we become a nation of consumer junkie credit card morons. But we have also become fat, stupid, and programmed to live by drug and doctor. We spend most of our spare time on the couch getting brainwashed by public figures. Even worse, those public figures have re-defined any logical standard we ever had for 'good will'. Mother Teresa is dead. America's favorite 'humanitarian' is now a filthy rich multi-media pig who reaped a billion dollar fortune from the middle class by making damn sure they stay on that couch long enough to watch her show and read her magazine. Transforming them into pathetic, naive, love-sick fools who turn around and buy any product or service endorsed by their idol. The same goes for Ellen Degeneres and her respective audiance. In fact, every filthy rich well known public figure and every major industry have followed suit with a similar marketing strategy. Dumbing down our society and cashing in on bogus promises to make the world a better place. Amazing. EVERY big business, EVERY big celebrity, EVERY billionaire, and damn near every multi-millionaire on the planet have all taken up 'philanthropy' or 'good will'. Those with the most money, also have the most power, and influense by far. They own or influense every government, manage every major industry, and the lion's share of life sustaining resources. They literally rule our world. Still, every major problem of modern society gets worse by the day. The world's wealth is more concentrated than ever before. Her life sustaining resources are in high demand, more expensive than ever, and squandered by the rich on extravogant living. Meanwhile, families loose their homes, retirees loose their pensions, heroes loose their lives, crime is up, and red ink flows in nearly every community. The global economy is in a state of crisis. The prosperity of an entire world is about to be compromised. Still, those with the most power, money, influense, and 'good will'. promise to make it all better. If only we continue to support them and buy any product or service with their name on it. IT IS A SHAM. GOOD WILL HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS.
The point about our government printing up more money was that it can't be done "on a whim" and that there are serious concequences for doing so (weak dollar, higher gas prices, inflation). I never said that it can't be or hasn't been done at all. Afterall, those loans from China weren't infused in the form of Chinese currency. They were infused in the form of our own. Not given to the middle or lower classes but instead to the banks in the form of credit. Its done nothing but perpetuate the problem. It never has been and never will be the answer. Sorry if I wasn't explicit enough the first time. The original draft of this particular rant was written over 2 years ago and intended to fit within 300 characters. I've been updating it weekly for the last year or so. Responding to a constant line of BS from the media and inserting those updates where they seem most appropriate. Which is why I jump so often from one issue to another and back again. Anyway, I'm no English major. I don't think in paragraphs and I find it difficult to write in paragraphs. So if any of you want to re-organize or re-word this post, feel free to do so. Whatever it takes to make people understand.
11/05/08
A new president will be taking office soon. Backed up by a heavily democratic congress who have all campaigned on a promise to raise taxes on the rich. Unfortunately, this will be too little too late. Nowhere near enough to compensate for the incredible corruption of both major parties. Nowhere near enough to pay for the bailout. Nowhere near enough to stop that runaway train. There will be no change for the better. Obama's financial advisers are pigs. Warren Buffet is a pig. Oprah Winfrey is a pig. Obama himself is a multi-millionaire politician married to a multi-millionaire attorney. He has already run the most expensive political campaign in history. Some of it squandered on a $400 lobster feast for his wife. Financed for the mostpart by ordinary people who can't even afford a $400 lobster feast. It happened on Obama's watch. Probably more than once. He even had the nerve to ask those ordinary people to help pay off the campaign debt of another filthy rich multi-millionaire politician PIG (Hilary Clinton). I will admit that Barack Obama seems to have more character than most of his colleagues. Certainly more than Clinton, Gore, McCain, Palin, Bush, Cheney, Romney, Schwarznenager, Palosi, Kerry, Guliani, Kennedy, Bloomberg, or Edwards. He was probably a very good down to earth man at one time. The same goes for Joe Biden. Not anymore. Afterall, John McCain was also a very good down to earth man at one time. A true American hero. NOT ANYMORE. Now, he is a filthy rich politician pig married to a filthy rich big business pig. SOLD OUT. Mark my words: Obama and Biden will do the same. Whatever moral character they may have left, will be lost or heavily compromised while in office. Like the others, their administration will be riddled with scandals of greed and corruption. Like the others, they will succumb to the greatest epidemic ever faced by modern man. By far, the most intoxicating element of modern society. Greed. Simply the desire to get as rich as possible. It has the potential to blacken any heart. Break the will of any human being. Influense any government. Corrupt any society. Those who succumb to it are lost forever. You can not get through to these people. You can not make them understand. No matter how bad it gets for the little guy. No matter how many families loose their homes. No matter how many people go cold and hungry. No matter how many innocent children starve and die. No matter how much blood is shed. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. The rich will ALWAYS blame the other guy. They will ALWAYS say or do whatever it takes to secure their own extreme personal wealth. When they 'give back', its only because they expect more in return. They will NEVER compromise their own bottom line. They will NEVER jeapordize their position in the 1% club. They will NEVER stand for a more reasonable distribution of wealth and resources. They will NEVER acknowledge greed as a form of evil. They will NEVER acknolwedge the potential it has to ruin EVERYTHING. They will NEVER admit the simple truth. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
Ford, GM, and Dodge are begging the current admistration for some type of 'bridge loan' in order to avoid bankruptcy. The unions are begging for it. The people are divided. All because of a LIE. Again, we have been mislead. I'm not disputing their need. Its legit. I'm disputing the underlying cause. Competition my ass. China my ass. Japan my ass. Those factors are real but not fatal. They are also concequential. Not primary. Again, its GREED and CORRUPTION. Not only that of the auto executives and celebrities who demand millions to endorse the product but also within the health care industry. Thats right. Health care. The average doctor is a millionaire several times over. The average health care executive many times over. Both on average, are members of the 1% club. AGAIN, ITS THEIR FAULT. If it weren't for the OBSCENE health care charges, brainwash plots, and artificially inflated market, then the financial burden placed on Ford, GM, and Dodge wouldn't be anywhere near as high. They could easily match the labor of Honda, Toyota, and Hyndai who's workers are younger on average and not so demanding when it comes to 'health care'. In this case, the little guy is partly to blame for their incredible ignorance. They smoke, drink, get fat, fall for the most OBVIOUS health care scams, live by drug and doctor, kiss greedy doctor ass, drive up the cost of their own health care, demand full coverage, and then strike if they don't get it. Retired US auto workers on average are now causing their former employers to incur several hundred thousand dollars PER RETIREE in health care expenses over the span of their retirement. Those in the current workforce are partly to blame as well. Not for greed. Their wages are reasonable. But their health care demands are well in excess. If they would simply open their eyes, acknowledge the incredible greed and corruption within the health care industry, get off the couch, get off the pharmaceuticals, and take care of their own bodies, then their own cost of living would be lower, their health would be better, the market for their product would be higher, and the financial burden placed on Ford, GM, and Dodge would be MUCH lower. I'm not discounting other factors like gas prices, competition, and the US product line. But greed and ignorance wreak havok like no other elements of our society. They cause or allow the cost of living to rise and the middle class to shrink along with the potential market for every major industry. In this case, they also raise the financial burden placed on US auto makers. Mark my words: One or two US automakers will go bankrupt. They will do so regardless of any 'bridge loan'. Other well known foreign auto makers will follow. The entire manufacturing industry will become a shell of its former self. Millions of retirees will be cut off entirely. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED, CORRUPTION, AND IGNORANCE. The ripple effect is profound. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
12/16/08
The feds have reduced their interest rate to an all time low. IT WON'T WORK. The same goes for any potential bailout for the US auto industry or any other. IT WON'T WORK. IT ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WILL NOT WORK. I would bet my life on it a hundred times over. Again, our own leaders refuse to acknowledge the single greatest drag on our economy. The single greatest underlying cause for the global economic crisis. GREED. They all refuse to acknowledge the downside. That idiot pig Arthur Laffer refuses to acknowledge it. Greenspan, Bernanke, and Paulson refuse to acknowledge it. Bush, Clinton, Kerry, Gore, Obama, and Kennedy refuse to acknowledge it. Lars Larson, Tammy Bruce, Lou Dobbs, Mike Gallagher, Suze Orman, Bill O'Reiley, Maria Bartiromo, Jim Kramer, Rush Limbaugh, and Jim Bohannon refuse to acknowledge it. Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, and T-Boone Pickens refuse to acknowledge it. The same goes for all of their filthy-rich billionaire friends. All of the above are hypocrite pigs who don't have the guts to admit the simple truth. This is not brain surgery. For the mostpart, its simple math. WE ARE IN THIS MESS BECAUSE OF GREED. The world's richest one percent are now so incredibly rich that there simply isn't enough wealth circulating beneath them to sustain the global economy. Its on the brink of collapse. IT WILL COLLAPSE. We are now entering what will go down in history as the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time by far. You think its bad now? YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET. NOTHING. Trillions more in wealth/capital will be concentrated (Not lost. Concentrated.). Many more banks large and small will fail. Tens of millions will loose their savings (Transfered from poor to rich.). Even FDIC accounts will be forfeited (Yes they will. Yes they will. Yes they will.). Every major industry will become a shell of its former self. Unemployment will reach unprecidented levels. Millions of retirees will be cut off entirely. The lower class will become dominant. The financial aid system will fail miserably. The vast majority of those in need will have no access. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. There will be riots and random acts of violence at banks, hospitals, and government buildings. The next generation will be left to fight in the crumbling streets over a shattered American dream. The rest of the world will have it even worse. So don't blame innocent people from other countries you idiots. Blame the rich. Blame the government. Blame the health care industry. Then blame yourselves for being so stupid for so many years. We have allowed a particular form of evil to grow out of control, intoxicate our society, consume our government, wreak havok on our own economy and culture, RUIN any chance we ever had at world prosperity, and jeapordize the very foundation of modern society. At the same time, we have allowed those who epitomize it to get away with calling themselves 'heroes' or 'humanitarians'. Putting a happy face on greed and dumbing down our society further in the process. THAT MEANS YOU. So wake up fellow citizens. Grow a spine. Don't fall for all of this 'good will' 'humanitarian' BS from the rich. IT IS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP. Instead, look at the bottom line. IT'S F#@&#%$ OBSCENE. NOW GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULLS YOU IDIOTS. WE ARE IN THIS MESS BECAUSE OF GREED. AMERICA'S RICHEST ONE PERCENT NOW OWN ALMOST 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. THE WORLD'S RICHEST ONE PERCENT NOW OWN OVER 40% OF ALL WORLD WEALTH. THATS WAY TOO MUCH. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT HEROES. THEY ARE NOT HUMANITARIANS. THEY ARE DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOBS. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH THEY GIVE BACK. THEY STILL KEEP WAY TOO MUCH. IT CAN'T WORK THIS WAY. IT ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. IT NEVER HAS AND IT NEVER WILL. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
1% CLUB PIGS: I've said it many times and I will say it many more. Greed is not the desire to break the law or intentionally oppress another human being. Greed is simply the desire to take more than your reasonable share of wealth or any limited resource. By doing so, you reduce the value of currency and raise the cost of living worldwide. You shrink the middle class and the potential market for every major industry. You expand the lower class and the need for financial aid. You cause a domino-effect of socio-economic problems. You literally cause innocent people to suffer and die. YOU MAKE WORLD PROSPERITY MATHEMATICALLY AND PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. It does not matter how much you 'give back'. It matters how much you KEEP. This is why I will go to my grave with nothing but bleeding and burning hatred for all of you. Thats right. I hate you and I'm not afraid to admit it. Afterall, its OK to hate a rapist. Its OK to hate a terrorist. I do. But I also hate wolves in sheep's clothing. THAT MEANS YOU. In fact, I consider the equation you stand for to be the greatest injustice of all time. It makes my f$#@&$# blood boil. Jealosy my ass. Low self-esteem my ass. Self-pity my ass. Anyone who still thinks that after reading all of this is a F&#@%$# MORON. You disgusting hypocrite pigs. I've noticed the little shots you've been taking at me, a few others, and the cause we stand for. The psychological stunts. Thats right Will Smith, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Today Show pigs, Regis and Kelly, Ellen DeGeneres, Dr Phil, Oprah Winfrey, Lars Larson, Bill O'Reiley, Lou Dobbs, Ann Coulter, Tammy Bruce, Laura Inghram. I've noticed the crafty elusive statements you've been making about greed and subtle insults directed at those very few of us who stand against it. I also know that you're well aware of this campaign and that you're trying to shut it down. You've even gone out of your way to specifically attack 'anonymous' bloggers in general. As if we are somehow less credible without a registered account. I'm not the slightest bit intimidated by any of it. YOUR TRICKS WILL NEVER WORK ON ME. Mark my words: No matter what you say or do, I will spend the rest of my life persecuting all of you for the disgusting, obscene, unjust, illogical, and immoral equation you stand for. I won't break any laws. I won't harm one hair on your rotten heads. Its not that I don't wish you were gone. I do. But I would never jeapordize such an important cause with a criminal act. NEVER. My only realistic goal is to make as many people as possible understand. Including future generations. I hope they look back on these words and spit on your graves. Afterall, they won't achieve any degree of world peace or prosperity until after they acknowledge GREED as a form of EVIL. Not until they acknowledge it with a number or some type of material standard. In the unlikely event they ever do, I hope they FINALLY come up with a system that works for the vast majority. One with a reasonable pay scale and caps on personal wealth. Otherwise, their system will fail over and over again. Just like the one you stand for. It can't work this way. It never has and it never will. NEVER. NO WAY IN HELL. So mark my words: I will not make excuses for a single one of you. I don't care how smart you think you are. I don't care how talented you think you are. I don't care how pretty you think you are. I don't care what you think you've done to earn up to fifty thousand times the pay of a firefighter, soldier, farmer, teacher, cop, truck driver, or garbageman. You're not worth it. I don't even care if your personal fortune fell out of the sky. If you're rich, I hate you. I don't care how much you 'give back'. I care how much you keep. Therefore, I will do everything within my power and within the law to expose your incredible greed and hypocrisy. If you want to break my will, then you're going to have to break my neck first. and if you pull a stunt like that, then a lot of people will know what happened to me and why. I've planned in detail for it. Most of you have no idea. Regardless, you pigs will not go down in history as 'heroes' or 'humanitarians'. Not if I can help it. We're in this mess primarily because of you. Its going to get MUCH worse primarily because of you. Thats what I believe and thats the message I intend to spread for the rest of my life. DEAL WITH IT.
1.21.09
A few more words about our new president and how certain public figures are using him to divert our attention, dumb down our society, shut my big mouth, and discredit the cause I stand for. I said it during the presidential campaign, I said it again in November, and I will say it again now. Our new president has more character than most of his colleagues. Much more. In fact, he puts Bush, Cheney, Rice, Clinton, Gore, Palosi, Reagan, Carter, Romney, Schwarzenegger, Bloomberg, and Kennedy to shame. He also puts nearly every living public figure to shame. Including those who claim to support him. By politician, public figure, and 1% club standards, he is an angel. That being said, he is still a politician. Still a public figure. Still a member of the one percent club. Just a man. Like any other, he is a product not only of genetics but also of his environment. Like any other, he is intoxicated by certain elements of modern society. Including three of the worst. Fame, fortune, and power. All three have the potential to corrupt the mind, the heart, and the will of any human being. I can name only one who resisted the influense of all three. Mother Teresa died in 1998. The amazing standard she set died with her. Since then, an army of public figures and false heroes have sold out the very concept of 'good will'. Capitalizing on bogus promises to make the world a better place. The vast majority, on day one. The rest, along the way. Obama will do the same. Its just pathetic human nature. Put any man or woman on a stage or throne and something about them is different. Make any man or woman rich and something about them is different. I said it in November and I will say it again. Barack Obama was probably a very good down to earth man at one time. That was before the corrupt influense of fame, fortune, and power. Now, something about him is different. The same goes for Michelle Obama. They have already begun to sell out. Not only as necessary during the campaign because of our ignorant society and the fact that we won't elect ANYONE unless they look a certain way, dress a certain way, talk a certain way, kiss our babies, cut our taxes, tell us what we want to hear no matter how unrealistic, believe in God, follow a certain religion, support a certain industry, and show up on our favorite talk show with a fake smile, stupid jokes, and lame dance moves. That was bad enough. A sell-out necessary to get elected by a pathetic, ignorant, naive, short sighted, half-wit, couch potatoe, love-sick, celebrity junkie society. But also for profit before, during, and after the election. I already mentioned the $400 lunchtime lobster feast. Paid for mostly by ordinary people who were willing to cut into their modest bottom lines in order to help get their hero elected. SHE ATE IT. That was bad enough. Another sign of the times. As expected, its already getting worse. I have no problem with the armor plated presidential limo, the extra security, the inauguration, or the speech. I have no problem with the concept of a public celebration. But I do have a problem with the $35,000 ring, the $150,000 dress, the exotic crystal, the exotic food, the coorporate plugs, NBC, MTV, BET, Beyonce, LL Cool J, Miley Cyrus, and every other filthy rich big business/big money/big celebrity hypocrite pig who had the nerve to fly in on their personal jets, stand there lavished in gold, and jewels, and fur, and $10,000 suits and pretend as if they and Obama share a desire to make the country and our world a better, more stable, more peaceful, and more 'just' place for all its people. Once again, promoting their own interests, dumbing down our society, and dancing their way around the single greatest underlying cause for the global economic crisis. GREED. The single greatest threat to modern society. GREED. Filthy, rotten, disgusting, self-centered, self-serving, black-hearted, hypocritical GREED. By doing so, they divert our attention AGAIN at a crucial time when we need more than ever to finally acknowledge GREED as a form of EVIL. At a time when we need more than ever to understand how it burns through moral character, spreads like wildfire, jumps from one industry to another, one person to another, and wreaks havok on society worldwide. IT ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY BEYOND ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. All of this happened on Obama's watch. I understand that he didn't plan most of the details. But he did know about many. He stood by and watched that event sell out to the highest bidder. He also bought the ring. He didn't even have a word to say about the double standards or many ethical contradictions. Afterall, he got elected. It was no longer necessary to kiss so much big business, big money, big celebrity, 1% club ass. SELL-OUT. Now, that army of filthy-rich, self-centered, self-serving, self-promoting, hypocrite pigs are using Obama's hopefull words against those very few of us who know better. They even have the nerve to belittle and villianize people like me simply because we don't float around with happy uplifting thoughts and a smile on our face. They pretend as if our message can't possibly be legitimate if its expressed with anger, contempt, hatred, or fear. As if a 'positive' attitude is any match for that domino-effect of socio-economic problems caused almost entirely by GREED. I understand that Obama could never go on record with views anything like mine. He has no choice but to be tolerant of other filthy-rich and powerful public figures. I can even forgive the affiliation to some extent. I also believe that he truly does want some degree of government reform, ethics, accountability, peace, prosperity, stability, opportunity, and economic justice for all people. Like I said, by politician standards he is an angel. Which is probably the nicest thing I will ever say or even think about a rich and powerful public figure. I find it near impossible to hate the man. He is literally the only rich and powerful public figure on this planet that I don't hate. I also understand why he gave the uplifting speech. I really don't blame him for a single word of it. But I will not pretend as if a smile or 'positive' attitude is any match for that particular form of evil consuming our world. I will not choose 'hope' over 'fear' just because it feels nice. Of course, I want things to get better. Of course, I will try in vain to help make things better. Of course, I want something legitimate to celebrate. Something that we could all be a part of. Of course, I desperately want Obama to succeed. Of course, I desperately want all of my predictions to be proven wrong. I just don't see it happening. With or without Obama, we are still stuck on that runaway train. Its not going to be any better. Its not going to be alright. Not for the vast majority. Its going to get much worse and stay that way for a very long time. I fully expect to die knowing that I devoted myself to a cause which was lost from day one. Greed will always triumph over good will. The people will never take any real stand against it. The vast majority are pathetic, ignorant, naive, short sighted, brainwashed, pharmameutical, medical-testing, couch potatoe, credit card, love-sick, celebrity junkie, powderpuffs. Perfect little victims. I hate to say that about my fellow citizens but its the truth. Afterall, they didn't see this comming. I tried to warn them and they still didn't see it. Others tried to warn them and they didn't see it. Albert Einstein tried to warn them SIXTY F$#&#$# YEARS AGO. They didn't listen. They didn't see it. They did NOTHING to stop this or even slow it down. Even now, when the problem is so much more obvious. Even now, when the futures of their children are at stake. Still, they do NOTHING. Sometimes, I wonder if they are even worth fighting for. What the hell is the point? They will never listen. They will never wake up. They will never do simple math. They will never take a stand. There will never be economic justice. There will never be a more reasonable distribution of wealth and resources. Therefore, there will never be any degree of world peace or prosperity. Its only going to get worse. A LOT WORSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
The stimulus won't work. The new money won't work. The new budget won't work. There may be a short term revival later this year or next but it won't sustain itself. It absolutely positively will not work. Obama will have no choice but to acknowledge a severe US depression by the end of his first term. There will be no economic recovery without a more reasonable distribution of wealth. There will be no economic revovery. Not one of us will live to see it.
3.04.09
We are being fed a constant line of BS from the media about 'lost' market wealth. Similar to the line of BS we have been fed for years about wealth 'creation'. NBC and their panel of paid 'experts' (liars) recently took a question from a viewer about market 'losses' and 'gains'. Their answer was downright vague and misleading as usual. Stock values don't represent our collective 'productivity' or 'hard work'. Otherwise, Ford, GM, and Dodge would be doing fine. Afterall, the cars got built. If their answer had been true, then we could all just work a little harder, produce a little more, and revive our own economy. We can't. Its not that simple. Their answer was CRAP. That panel of 'experts' (liars), also refered to stock values as 'phantom' wealth. Thats not exactly true either. Otherwise, those shares could never be traded for any actual product or service (They are. They always have been.). So what did NBC and their filthy rich trio of paid 'experts' (liars) leave out? The ugly truth as usual. Corporate stock values are not 'phantom'. They actually represent past profit margins, current profit margins, accounting scams, bailouts, and the potential transfer of more dollars FROM US TO THEM. The only 'phantom' elements involved are the shady speculation and accounting scams. Which usually result in a transfer of dollars from one party to another. Otherwise, those fluctuating values are based on real world events. In the meantime, they are traded like an alternative form of currency. Eventually cashed in for market value. Just like gold and silver. Like any other form of currency, the richest one percent hold the lion's share. They currently own about 1/2 of the entire US market. The upper class own around 1/3. Foreign investors own around 1/8. The lower 90% of us own the scraps leftover. This equation has contributed to a constant transfer of wealth from poor to rich. Its been accelerating for decades. Stock values have fallen on average by about 50% in the past two years. They are down worldwide. Which may lead one to believe that America's richest 1% are taking a loss. They are not. Those values are down because so many people are running out of money to give them. When the filthy rich pigs (Bill Clinton, Jean Chatzky, Bill O'Reiley, Jim Kramer, Suze Orman, Maria Bartiromo, Lars Larson, Lou Dobbs, ect) talk about 'lost' market wealth, what they are actually refering to is lost 'business'. There is a HUGE difference. Actual wealth doesn't just float away. It only transfers from one party to another. Unfortunately, that transfer of wealth has been in favor of the rich for too many years. THEIR CURRENT PROFITS ARE DOWN ON AVERAGE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY OWN THE LION'S SHARE OF UNITED STATES WEALTH. A SIMILAR RULE APPLIES WORLDWIDE. MARKETS ARE DOWN BECAUSE THE WORLD'S WEALTH AND CAPITAL HAVE BEEN CONCENTRATED. AMERICA'S RICHEST 1 PERCENT NOW OWN ALMOST 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. THAT IS MUCH MORE THAN THE ENTIRE MIDDLE AND LOWER CLASSES COMBINED. THE WORLD'S RICHEST ONE PERCENT NOW OWN OVER 40% OF ALL WORLD WEALTH. THAT IS MUCH MORE THAN THE LOWER 90% WORLDWIDE. PROFITS FOR THE RICHEST 1% ARE DOWN ON AVERAGE BUT NOT GONE. THEY STILL GET EVEN RICHER AS WE SPEAK. THEIR INCREDIBLE WEALTH WAS NOT CREATED, GENERATED, OR GROWN IN THEIR BACK YARD. IT WAS TRANSFERED FROM US TO THEM. NOT ONLY THROUGH CORPORATE PROFITS BUT ALSO THROUGH INDIVIDUAL PROFITS. THE WORLD'S WEALTHIEST 1 PERCENT ARE NOW SO INCREDIBLY RICH, THAT THERE SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH CURRENCY CIRCULATING BENEATH THEM TO SUSTAIN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. ITS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE. ANYONE IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMICS WHO STILL WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE SINGLE GREATEST UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR THIS GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS IS EITHER A MORON OR A COWARD. ITS NOT BRAIN SURGERY. FOR THE MOSTPART, ITS SIMPLE MATH. THE RICH ALREADY OWN TOO MUCH OF EVERYTHING. STILL, THEY WANT MORE. IT CAN'T WORK THIS WAY. IT ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. IT NEVER HAS AND IT NEVER WILL. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL.
Mr. Anonymous, what you forget is that the greatest inventions and discoveries in history, even in the 20th century, WERE NOT MADE BY CORPORATE DOUCHEBAGS but by some of the greatest scientists of all kinds motivated more by the awe inspiring potential of their discoveries than by any carrot at the end of a stick. Do we need to cite examples here or is it obvious enough?
Imagine that - the greatest discoveries in history not being motivated by capital? How appauling! In contrast, one could argue that in today's age of corporate control of intellectual property, society hasn't seen the type of spectacular scientific discovery that we were accustomed to witnessing in the past.
Case and point - Look at the pharmaceutical industry today? They are so busy fighting each other for patents and the race to discover the next greatest penis enlargement/ viagra pill has taken precedence over the potential discovery of crucial treatments for serious illnesses.
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