sharonsj

Holiday Boom or Economic Doom?

Cut taxes--the typical Republican cry for everything. We cut taxes on the richest Americans--how's that working for the rest of you? All talk of spending cuts means that Republicans call for cuts in social programs but never want to talk about our bloated military budget. Stopping the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would mean money for Main Street, perhaps even paying for our health care. Not that I like the spineless Democrats either. A pox on both their houses.

U.S. “mass lay-offs” at RECORD high

I'd rather have Progressives, who actually care about people, than greedy Republicans who only care about their pocketbooks. Just look at the town halls where people in wheelchairs and people who are dying are booed.

As for our economy, the average American knows it is in shambles. These jobs are not coming back. And the government has no real plans for dealing with our many problems--other than helping Wall Street find new ways to screw us. The answer is to not play the stock market but put your money into something of real value.


On Jun 25 02:48 PM Whippet wrote:

> Jeff, I usually agree with you- but to think DEMOCRACY is a better
> choice is completely INSANE. When we actually operated as a Constitutional
> Republic, the country was in decent shape. Things like direct election
> of senators, universal suffrage, and media-accessible politicos were
> supposed to be Progressive Improvements. They are an unmitigated
> failure. The IQs of our Congress and Presidents have steadily deteriorated
> since around 1900- when the first Progressive Socialist Pigs arrived
> in DC. When states decided who could vote, usually landowning males,
> times were better. Don't get me wrong- women and all races should
> be able to vote; there is nothing sexist or racist here. BUT ONLY
> STAKEHOLDERS. This is the problem. When someone on the government
> take gets to have a say in the allocation of tax dollars, you have
> a major CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Social Security would not be the Third
> Rail, if you had to cede your voting rights to receive it...

Why the U.S. economy CAN'T “recover”

I agree there is no recovery for the average American. What I see is a mushrooming of second-hand stores and flea markets and yard sales as we try to unload our junk or buy what we need at a reduced price. I have given up buying certain things made in China because they will only break down in a short while anyway. But the problem is that everything is made in China. So why buy it new? What a cycle our policies have created.

Now I'm faced with another choice. I'm coming into some money in the next few years. My friend is trying to get me to invest it, but I am adamantly against giving the investments banks and stockbrokers a single penny. I'd rather buy rental real estate since here in the Northeast we need to live indoors....

Job Losses Are Not the Problem

I don't agree with the numbers. I don't think allowances have been made for the annual increases in: population, graduates looking for jobs, older people who can't live on their current retirement income, etc. Otherwise you wouldn't have many hundreds of people applying for a single job. I read about some new company that needed to hire 500 workers and got 15,000 applications. Oh, and the unemployment statistics are manipulated; true unemployment is probably closer to 15% or more.

Study Shows Commodities Speculators Aren't Causing Price Spikes

I have read other financial websites that show speculators definitely affect oil prices. Since I am not interested in "he said, she said" news, may I refer you to Enron? This company, through manipulation of energy (electricity), was solely responsible for nearly bringing down California. Enron did not produce nor use electricity, it merely traded in it in various ways guaranteed to make it rich while bankrupting homeowners. Sort of like what's happening in today's market.

Consumer-Led Economic Recovery? Think Again

Actually I have been in Sears lately. I get a lot of appliances and tools there because I still have a working credit card with them. But the store is fairly empty--as are the other stores in the Scranton, PA mall.

This article is right on. The author is one of the few to say what the mainstream media will not: you cannot spend what you do not have. This country is toast and you cannot have a recovery if there are no jobs.

Housing: 'We're About to Have a Big Problem'

I'm one of those 50%ers who have no mortgage. However, my property/school taxes keep going up (25% this year), as do all utility and heating costs (25-60% over the last few years). I can't afford to maintain my home on a stagnant income (Social Security). I'd like to sell but probably can't during this recession--which I say is really a depression--not because of falling prices but because a lot of people have no money to buy. I've heard of numerous local oldsters in the same position whose homes are up for sale. This country has become a banana republic with no concern for Main Street. Oh, and by the way, make sure you don't get sick either.

The Tipping Point: Stimulus Needs Credibility

Spending certainly can be cut. We have an extremely bloated military budget--talk about pork and giving money to your friends! They've wasted so many billions they can't even keep track of it all. I do not want to hear any crap about cutting social spending since the result is more dead people. Apparently big business has no ethics and never cared about blood on their hands anyway. While we're at it, tax the really rich, both people and corporations; they've gotten enough government welfare at the expense of the rest of us. If you think most comments are negative, wait until the economy gets worse--after all, this is a world-wide recession, sliding into a depression, and several countries are already close to bankruptcy. All government statistics are a lie, so unemployment is probably 14% and that doesn't include those who have given up and those who can only find part-time work. Ditto inflation. My hope is that when things do fall apart, the sheeple will finally pick up their pitchforks.