fett on 30/9/2008 at 15:15
I don't work at all - I'm disabled. My wife has one semester left to finish nursing school and I don't reckon there's going to be any big layoffs on the hospital floors because of this (??). So yeah, rebuilding from the ground up to teach the fuckers a lesson sounds good to me.
Small businesses are fucked either way, and have been ever since tax laws changed during the Clinton administration (which is when I owned one). The tax code, worker's comp, etc. made ME want to jump out of a window. When you compare the shit small businesses have to endure compared to what big corps get away with it, it makes it hard to feel any empathy whatsoever for them (not saying that anyone here does).
I forgot what it's like to have disposable income - I think the last time I had any was around 2005. Since then I've been paying $3+ a gallon for gas and $4.50 for a gallon of milk. That eats up your disposable income when you're on a fixed income. I've been crying at the cash register while these fuckers have been laughing all the way to the bank. Just desserts as far as I'm concerned and the little guy will have to survive just like he always has. When you're already living hand to mouth, you've got very little to lose. ;)
Swiss Mercenary on 30/9/2008 at 15:20
Quote Posted by fett
I don't work at all - I'm disabled. My wife has one semester left to finish nursing school and I don't reckon there's going to be any big layoffs on the hospital floors because of this (??).
Probably far fewer then the anywhere else.
fett on 30/9/2008 at 15:27
I should also mention that in the event of the Pell Grant going tits up, her grandmother has already offered to loan us money for her to finish. Most of the semester is pretty much paid for anyway through scholarships and a work contract with a local hospital, so I think we're in the clear.
What was that terrible movie with Kurt Russell where he flips a switch at the end and sends the world back into the dark ages? That's me - I'm that guy. Where's the damn switch?*
*and how long will my i-pod battery last?
Matthew on 30/9/2008 at 16:01
Escape from LA was not terrible! It was only pretty bad, due to Bruce Campbell awesomeness raising it up slightly.
Rogue Keeper on 30/9/2008 at 16:16
Quote Posted by fett
I hope the greedy corporate fuckers go down in flames
No way, they know how to take care of their safe future. The top management and owners, I mean. They are gonna be rewarded for their failures and insolvencies. Right now they even beg the tax payers via the state to save them - the same people who trusted them with their retirement savings and insurances and mortgages... They take us for fools all the time, they are getting rich from our naive trust.
Thief13x on 30/9/2008 at 17:08
The Dow Jones jumped 260 points at opening this morning (unfortunately they say this is from talks of a refined bailout plan.) As far as I'm concerned, I would LOVE if the Dow continued to climb. It would be the biggest slap in the face to GWB and the boneheads in Washington who want us to think the sky is falling unless we sell what's left of our souls to corporate America
heywood on 30/9/2008 at 18:01
Quote Posted by Thief13x
The Dow Jones jumped 260 points at opening this morning (unfortunately they say this is from talks of a refined bailout plan.) As far as I'm concerned, I would LOVE if the Dow continued to climb. It would be the biggest slap in the face to GWB and the boneheads in Washington who want us to think the sky is falling unless we sell what's left of our souls to corporate America
Unfortunately, the bailout is still likely to pass. Wall St isn't giving up that easy and they have a lot of pols in their back pocket. The mainstream media are falling for the fear mongering campaign and will work to beat back public opinion. The plan will have some token revisions to give political cover to the House members who need to change their vote. It will probably go through the Senate first, and then the House will pass it. I hope I'm wrong, but the way the media is reacting today makes me cynical.
I wish people could see this for what it is. If you just look at the total combined assets of the institutions on the FDIC's watch list ($78b) and compare that to the proposed bailout ($700b), it becomes obvious that this isn't a rescue plan but a giant trickle-down economic stimulus package.
The big question is, when will we be ready to face up to our public and private debt burden? The longer we dig, the more painful it will be to get out of the hole.
howie on 30/9/2008 at 21:42
It's funny that everyone on wall street is so upset that the government hasn't passed this $700 billion dollar blow job, but yet there is no mention about the fact that it may not solve anything if it is passed. If it is passed and it fails.....What then? If it doesn't work will this turn into a worldwide depression? Will every paper money in the world be worthless?
Ghostly Apparition on 30/9/2008 at 22:13
Quote Posted by howie
It's funny that everyone on wall street is so upset that the government hasn't passed this $700 billion dollar blow job, but yet there is no mention about the fact that it may not solve anything if it is passed. If it is passed and it fails.....What then? If it doesn't work will this turn into a worldwide depression? Will every paper money in the world be worthless?
Well, it didn't work in 1931 when Herbert Hoover tried it.
It took FDR and the New Deal to get the nation out of the Great Depression.
I really don't understand all this all that much but over 200 economists sent letters to congress begging them not to do it.
I would hazard a guess that it will buy a few months at most. Bush will be out of office and then they can blame the next administration.
I really think though that the american public is too smart to fall for that this time.
theBlackman on 30/9/2008 at 22:17
An Economic Recovery Plan That Will Work
I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 toAmerica in a "We Deserve It Dividend."
To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend .
Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends
$25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam. But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college - it'll be there
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs
Invest in the market - capital drives growth
Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18 + including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehmann Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President. If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG - liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't. Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party !
How do you spell Economic Boom? I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .
And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest. Kindest personal regards,
Citizen of the Republic.
PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it's either good for a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!
