Bad Dog

10 Reasons to Believe That We're in a Depression

"...if man had never mutated from the apes"?? We ARE apes!


On Nov 20 11:11 AM bobbobwhite wrote:

> The problem is so much larger than what you say. At the core of it
> all is the arrogant refusal(and perhaps innate inability) of modern
> humanity to honor, respect and follow the basic laws of nature that
> is the fundamental, underlying reason for everything that is wrong
> with its relationship with the earth. Overpopulation in lower animal
> forms is always controlled and balanced by natural forces, but humans
> no longer respect nor adhere to any natural controls that humans
> can dominate, even termporarily, knowing all the while that this
> negligent behavior will end badly for the earth and for all future
> humans, as we are now seeing occur in its initial stages. As we have
> allowed ourselves to progressively devalue all respect for anything
> other than all things human and care only for the satisfaction of
> the immediate and personal now(no true concern even for our own grandchildren!),
> that abject disregard will end our days much earlier than simple
> evolution would have done naturally, as we are now too far down the
> road of arrogance and disrespect of nature to change our ways in
> time to reverse the immense damage already done.
>
> The earth will be the final winner, and regain its former health
> in time, as it " knows" in its eternal Rock of Ages that it would
> have been much better for all living things if man had never mutated
> from the apes. But we did, and more's the pity, as we are all now
> paying dearly for our temporary moment in the sun that we all mindlessly
> thought would last forever as we uncaringly hurried it along toward
> its end.

10 Reasons to Believe That We're in a Depression

What makes you think democracy is particularly essential? Democracy is an outgrowth of a strong middle class. If you don't have one, you cannot have a viable democracy. The US middle class is going to disappear. Democracy?


On Nov 19 12:02 PM Tony Petroski wrote:

> Mr. Clark: Entertaining article.
>
> "However, in the 21st century, cheap land, cheap labor and a younger
> demographic profile, suggests that in 20 years, the reins of power
> will be in the adolescent hands of a rapidly growing Asia."
>
> Maybe. But they don't have cheap land, and their labor is getting
> more expensive, and they don't have a democratic means of transferring
> power.
>
> The 21st Century is just getting started. The U.S. hasn't gone the
> way of Rome yet and we're in the Age of Obama.
>
> We have more to contribute than military security (see how things
> go when the Pax Americana is spoiled) and entertainment. We have
> football, and the world will give up soccer once they see the alternative.

Why the Stock Market Should Crash

Greed? Isn't it logic rather? I would think that the stock market represents assets that, from a foreign perspective look cheap and from a domestic perspective are cheap if you borrowed money at zero percent.


On Nov 17 08:38 AM jimmy Turano wrote:

> CHARLES YOUR ARTICLE MAKES SENSE AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS AS WELL
> ARE VERY GOOD IN DEED.
> The Dow currently is reflecting only greed and not accurate at all.
>
> Things are getting worse in all aspects and the Dow has to collapse
>
> to a 7,000 level before things begin to get better in my opinion.
>
> In the New york areas, many stores are empty, the remaining store
> owners are suffering financially. People are asking for credit in
> stores, and in Manhattan,Brooklyn, and Queens areas, you can witness
> first hand how citizens are now taking food out of the garbage, after
> people discard what they have just finished eating for Breakfast,
> or lunch, or Diner. I have experienced an onslaught of individuals
> stopping in my place of business looking for work.
> People come in crying that they may loose their homes, or be put
> out of their apartments lately. They say the Recession is over, but
> I have stated for the past 6 months that we are in a DEPRESSION.
>
> To be ahead of the curve, the only way of complete recovery, for
> all Americans, and our Country, is a very obvious result.
> One that will take years, however the outcome won't be pretty at
> all. And Charles the answer is on the Wall. It is 'WAR'.
> LIKE YOU SAID IN THE BEGINNING, OF YOUR ARTICLE,
> MAYBE NOT TODAY, OR EVEN NEXT YEAR, BUT WITHIN 4 YEARS, THIS IS THE
> ONLY SOLUTION TO THE BIGGEST
> PROBLEM OUR COUNTRY FACES SINCE 1929!
> GOD HELP US!

What Bernanke's Comments All Mean

A huge currency crisis is emerging. I think that's why Obama is in Beijing. The Chinese currency is terribly under-valued and other SE asian countries are having to hold down their currencies too for competitive reasons. The Chinese are increasingly unhappy about having to buy US debt to keep their currency low enough to finance exports. They are trying very hard to increase internal trade but that's not enough probably. As Earl Butts said, "Things that cannot go on, don't."

The Unsustainable Lie of Inflation

I have not noticed prices going up 20%. I think your grocer is ripping you off.


On Nov 09 02:16 PM dick streich wrote:

> You are absolutely right. The sad thing is that most americans believe
> what they here or read. Unfortunately, with the exception of the
> Wall
> Street Journal, it's impossible to get the facts regarding issues.
> On top of this, the government keeps telling us that there is no
> inflation.
> If that is so, how come prices on almost everything have increased
>
> 20-50%
> Hope you will continue to make people aware of what's going on.<br/>
>
> Dick Streich
>
>
> 5

Gold and the Worldwide Flight from Paper Currency

I guess that would be why gold is down today and the dollar is up? If you look at the rise in gold since it was around $300, it doesn't look like it has been responding to paper money supply. It really looks like a whole bunch of other factors are playing as significant a role. Gold bugs have an idee fixe. Everything that supports their belief is lauded; anything else is ignored. Ultimately, there can be no "major flight" from paper because it is an essential medium of exchange. Gold just isn't. So Gold may go up but that doesn't automatically mean that it's due to a flight from paper.

Era of Unprecedented Inflation Just Around the Corner

Damn, but that's crap! The FDR era massively increased people's ability to save. People of the post-depression era were incredible savers. It was the 1970's, Imperial America that started the rot as workers's wages began to stagnate, women were forced out of the home into work in order to keep the household income up, then both husband and wife had to work longer hours, and then they went into debt. This is so well known, but you don't know it. Interesting.


On Oct 19 09:30 AM Mark Hagerman wrote:

> "The illusory decade of excess and living beyond our means with a
> complete lack of savings..."
>
> It isn't just one decade; this situation is a direct consequence
> of FDR's mismanagement. We've had three quarters of a century of
> government intereference, and the endgame is now in sight.

What's Next for Gold and the Dollar?

It has nothing to do with the "regime in the US". This is a historical trend that would be happening no matter what. The US has, for 40 years, established policies that turned it inexorably into a debtor nation. Chief among it's failures has been the dominance of a culture that is self-indulgent, ignorant, selfish and brutal. The US is now paying the price as China now makes this the Chinese Century and there basically are no political fixes to the debasement of an entire culture, never mind the currency.


On Oct 13 09:03 AM User 353732 wrote:

> The falling dollar and rising gold and oil are of course, manifestations
> of the same phenomenon: the vote of the discerning world on the behavior,
> policies and tropes of the Regime in the US.
> The world knows and is increasingly insistent in telegraphing via
> changes in the exchange rate of the dollar and real assets(esp, proto
> or substitute currencies such as oil and gold) that the only way
> the Parasitic economy of the US can grow is at the direct and terrible
> expense of the Productive economy. The world knows what many Americans
> still refuse to accept or fathom that the only way the Ruling Troika
> of WashDc, Wall St and MSM can increase is for the ordinary American
> to decrease.
>
> The current Bosses of US politics, money and mass communications
> have already shorted the US because it is in their interest to do
> so. The world sees this plainly; the majority of Americans do not.
>
>
> It is not that much of world wants to demote the dollar or degrade
> the global stature of the US or compress the wealth and job creating
> capacity of America as ends unto themselves...They do not; the sane
> part of the world knows that a strong dollar, a vibrant American
> economy and a powerful global presence by America are a gift...An
> asset to be monetized. It is the US Regime that wants to and is debasing
> the currency, the economy and the Nation.
>
> The sane world, with no great enthusiam, is merely responding to
> the tragic fading of American exceptionalism and the willed termination
> of the American experiment.

U.S. Dollar: The Investment that Might Be About to Bottom

Take a look at Zoellick's comments in today's paper. The USD is weakening simply because there are choices of other currencies that offer a path to somewhat lower risk. The USD has to be perceived as a slightly higher holding risk today in view of the significant debt overhang in the US both public and private. To the extent that Americans have to tighten their belts to pay off their debts, the USD will reflect that. Of course, having a slightly weaker USD is useful to that end up to a point. The weaker USD makes US equities that much more attractive to foreigners.

U.S. Quantitative Easing Has Just Begun

Oh and you are full of crap. Forgot to add that one. "Full of marxists" indeed! If only they were!! At least they'd be on the right side of the barricades!! Nitwit!!


On Sep 23 01:36 PM Socialism cannot compete! wrote:

> If Bernanke and Obama were truly concerned about preserving jobs,
> they would have allowed bad banks to fail, and supported businesses
> and consumers with real, substantial tax cuts...along with accompanying
> large cuts to government. China's economy didn't rocket out of recession...they
> were NOT IN one. They went from double digit growth down to mid-to-upper
> single digits for a while. That's not recession...merely slower
> growth.
>
> But the Obama administration has gone the opposite way -- endorsing
> continued fiscal insanity, continuing the errant Bush policy of propping
> up the failed banks...and that can only cause more job losses and
> further strain on the taxpayer.
>
> It's not that the White House completely ignores job losses. It's
> just that the White House is full of Marxists who see the opportunity
> to "never let a crisis go to waste." At present, that means expansion
> of government and an opportunity to impose conditions and control
> over businesses that further restrain capitalism. I can imagine
> the Europeans, as they are very familiar with 10% unemployment on
> an ongoing basis, wondering what the heck America is doing. America's
> focus on personal responsibility is waning, and we are becoming like
> the socialist European nations whose national defense and general
> economies our prosperity has subsidized for decades. Extending our
> already generous unemployment compensation *entitlement* will only
> further strain the nation's finances and lead to reduced personal
> incentive. Will Europe subsidize our national defense and general
> economy, as we have done for them, now that we've fallen out of the
> role? They can't afford to. The stimulus plan will either expire
> and the propped-up U.S. will fall sharply...or it will be expanded
> until hyperinflation forces a complete reset -- what should have
> been allowed to happen to begin with.

U.S. Quantitative Easing Has Just Begun

At the very least, have government representation on the BOD of banks receiving bailout money! When you buy a big chink of a Company you get a set on the board, but taxpayers got nothing. So the banks can continue to lie, cheat and steal, and we are paying for it. And they sent Bernie Madoff to jail! He's an amateur compared to B of A.


On Sep 23 01:36 PM Socialism cannot compete! wrote:

> If Bernanke and Obama were truly concerned about preserving jobs,
> they would have allowed bad banks to fail, and supported businesses
> and consumers with real, substantial tax cuts...along with accompanying
> large cuts to government. China's economy didn't rocket out of recession...they
> were NOT IN one. They went from double digit growth down to mid-to-upper
> single digits for a while. That's not recession...merely slower
> growth.
>
> But the Obama administration has gone the opposite way -- endorsing
> continued fiscal insanity, continuing the errant Bush policy of propping
> up the failed banks...and that can only cause more job losses and
> further strain on the taxpayer.
>
> It's not that the White House completely ignores job losses. It's
> just that the White House is full of Marxists who see the opportunity
> to "never let a crisis go to waste." At present, that means expansion
> of government and an opportunity to impose conditions and control
> over businesses that further restrain capitalism. I can imagine
> the Europeans, as they are very familiar with 10% unemployment on
> an ongoing basis, wondering what the heck America is doing. America's
> focus on personal responsibility is waning, and we are becoming like
> the socialist European nations whose national defense and general
> economies our prosperity has subsidized for decades. Extending our
> already generous unemployment compensation *entitlement* will only
> further strain the nation's finances and lead to reduced personal
> incentive. Will Europe subsidize our national defense and general
> economy, as we have done for them, now that we've fallen out of the
> role? They can't afford to. The stimulus plan will either expire
> and the propped-up U.S. will fall sharply...or it will be expanded
> until hyperinflation forces a complete reset -- what should have
> been allowed to happen to begin with.

Outlandish CEO Pay: How to Fix the Problem

Having sex with young teen girls is not as immoral as the government determining wages, huh? Because nothing - NOTHING - is more immoral than that. Murder, arson, grand larceny - none of those are as bad as the government determining wages. Not that I am advocating this, but you are a loon.


On Sep 23 07:07 AM CLH wrote:

> I cant think of anything more immoral than govt. determining wages
> and salary. Both minimum and maximum pay should be determined only
> by the owners of the corporations and not the govt. who know nothing
> about anything.

More Trouble Brewing for Banking Sector?

But they are tolerating huge unemployment and will continue to do so.


On Sep 21 10:14 PM highlarche wrote:

> This government will not tolerate huge unemployment. They will spend
> spend and spend to fight it. I say buy gold and silver.

Capacity's Comeback Strongly Indicates Recession's End

You can't forget about healthcare reform because healthcare is eating our economy. In a few years, it will eat 25% of GDP. Compare that to about 9% in Europe and any other part of the world where they have more sense than God gave lettuce. The US economy is being screwed by an insane system that doesn't deliver good healthcare, where the incentives are upside down, and innovation is lacking. Forget about it? Hah!


On Sep 17 10:17 AM Ferdinand E. Banks wrote:

> I'm an optimist. I not only think that things will get better, I
> know that they will - assuming that Mr Obama forgets about health
> care for a couple of years. After all, nothing succeeds like success,
> and for the time being he can forget about a health-care success..
>
>
> Some of the above comments make a lot of sense - especially the one
> by Mike (from The City). The people who are planning the recovery
> - Larry and Ben, and perhaps their foot soldiers - should forget
> about their interational economics textbooks, and take a close look
> at what 'internationalism' has done to the US economy. The 'outsourcing'
> of industrial production is insane, and that is barely the half of
> it.. .

The Great Unwind

You cannot, by definition, prevent the inevitable. The US is in decline for the same reason that the British, the Spanish and Portuguese empires collapsed - massive indebtedness to foreigners.

The curse of the victor is hubris. You come out of a huge war extremely rich and powerful. You build a massive army. You get involved in war after war because your army needs something to do. Your institutions, your very system of government become profoundly corrupt because of the vast amount of money sloshing around. You permit the massive expansion of debt because you know that you will be the first empire in history on which the sun shall never set. Right. Ask the Romans about that one.