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Please don't confuse Cuprus with Cypress whis is a conifer of northern temperate regions.
Left or Right...To a Capitalist - such as KEND or Dick Chenney - life is cheap, and money trumps everything.
As for religion...I find the New Testiment to be full of good ideas worth practicing. Further more, when one does practice the teachings of the New Testiment he is in fact practicing the principles of fundamental socialism...Definitley no Capitalism being preached about by Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John...Ouite the opposite!
It is unfortunate though...Man can't seem to help himself with his greed for power and quest for control, and capitalizes on these "good ideas" by turning them into belief systems; aka Religion or Law, and instead of practicing being a good person (humanitarian) to others and ourselves, we try to be a "brand", which in turn makes us tawdry as a society.
What's more queer is that most Capitalist consider themselves devout Christians - "Capitalist Christians"?!?!? ...talk about your oxymorons!!! Yet they [capitalist] mock Socialist as being Godless heathens looking for a handout. To which I say; How ignorant!
The American Dream has become the American Nightmare. The Grand Experiment is on the verge of failure. The New Deal is over and The Raw Deal is back.
Thanks for the apologize but I was kidding being as far right as I am you have to have thick sick. I am not very well liked on this blog so I get picked on a lot . I do get people talking though.
Akunard. My grandparents immigrated from Ukraine To Canada, thank god. That poor country has had the crap kicked out of it forever. I get a hard time for telling everyone to stop whining in America. You have all the opperatunity in the world what would they do if they lived in a place like Ukraine.
akunard ~ Thanks for the education!
PIIGS= Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain, all about to default debts and leave the Euro zone. Odessa, Ukraine.
Kend ~ Why thank you for that wonderful vote of confidence. USA USA USA
I apologize if I hurt your feelings. You are right! I have no business judging anyone other than myself.
As for your question as to weather or not I'd loan them money; well, that's a bit of an insulting question as well. The answer of course is no way! I wouldn't even consider it. However, there are contingencies that may make a small loan possible.
Namely, I want to see Bankers get jail sentences. I want to see all parties guilty of gross negligence and fraud brought up on charges and held accountable. I want to see regulatory agencies put in place to prevent such abuse from ever occurring in the future. I want to see strict laws passed making this type of nefarious activities punishable if even attempted with jail sentences that would discourage anyone from even thinking about it.
After that is accomplished and the guilty parties are in jail, then you can ask me for a loan. However, I'll still say, "No!"
akunard ~ I'm having a hard time following you. Could you clarify what is PIIGS, and where is Odessa?
If I read what you are implying I have to say that I can assure you Socialists countries are not the only ones that would love to be at our poverty level. I just returned from Mexico and believe me I couldn't wait to get back. Ironically, St. Thomas Aquinas once wrote a book for the King of Cyprus where he elaborated extensively on the structures of government. To make a long story short he concluded that government structures aren't what make a government good or evil. It is the character and intentions of those who run the government. Greed being the main factor in an evil government. Essentially, any government can change its tone in the blink of an eye with a leadership change.
This is my big issue with Revolutions. They rely on the misconception that changing a government's form will make the problems go away. More often than not Revolutions only result in a worse government. Fearing their own overthrow, the next government is usually militaristic and paranoid. A dangerous combination. That is why in my opinion, a Revolution, should only be considered as a desperate last resort after all other contingencies are exhausted.
I guess I walked right into that one. The fact is you don't know me if, if you did you wouldn't be so mean. You hurt my feeling.
You are right DAnne , it is because of Greece. Because Greece mismanaged their finances horribly. Does that remind you of anyone? They spent way more than they had. So now they have loan conditions as well.
I will ask you. Would you loan them your personal money. Or for that matter should the Us or Canada loan them money As risky as it would be? I think you know my answer.
The global epidemic is happening because Americans ran out of money. Americans buy 50% of the worlds products, when they are not buying the world goes into a recession. We are all cheering you on.
USA. USA. USA.
Don't look at the PIIGS to see socicalism. Visit Odessa, they have been at IT much longer. All there but the top 2% would love to be at our poverty level. To be a TRUE socialist you need to have lived it not studied it, that goes for you Thom!
Kend ~ The Bank of Cypress needs a bailout because of ties with Greece. The tax isn't being imposed on the Bank itself but innocent depositors. Responsible Bank customers are being robbed to pay the collateral on the loan bailout to rescue the irresponsible Bank Lenders.
Extraordinary National Debt isn't a result of Socialism or any other government form. It results from financial mismanagement of public funds and improperly budgeted spending. It is a global epidemic that was spawned in the 80's by the economic misdeeds of the Reagan Administration. The legacy of President Reagan's infamous financial mismanagement and the fact that he was never held accountable for his actions led to others copying his habits.
I agree that running out of both money and credit is what is behind the current world financial crisis; but lets put blame where it belongs. Moreover, let's realize that by not prosecuting the original 'criminals' for their trend setting crimes, We the People, in fact, encouraged subsequent leaders to copy the crime. As they say, Monkey see, Monkey do.
PS The comparison of you to Mr. Montgomery Burns from the Simpson's Show fits you Kend to a tee!
I would do a progressive "Wealth Tax" by zero at 1.5 times the median worker annual income, and then start at 5% at the next multiple of the median income, 10% at the following, etc. This follows Thos. Jeffersin's Idea on taxation of the wealthy but not quite exponential. Everyone with savings or bank accounts equal to a 1.5 times themeduan year's incomel would not be taxed on this amount but each incremental multiple of the mediad income would be taxed at higher rates in an ascebding manner. I would allow a rebate of taxes on amounts which are invested in manufacturibng facilities that put unenployed members of the nation to work. Planning would not be enough, om;y actual plants put into operation within the national boundaries actually enploying the presently unemployed citizens of the country. I woiuld tax at a higher rate any withdrawal from the bank accounts subject to removal from the country.
Wow I think you have confused with Mr Burns. Read what Thom or Louise is saying. They only have to tax deposits if they what to borrow more money. It is a loan condition. would you lend them money? I have been saying for four years it was going to come to this. The problem with socialism is sooner or later you run out of other people's money.
... not that i know anything about anything but as i walk down old roads of the past and recall the way it was it seems odd to me that the world now has so much horded wealth that with relative wages flat forever it could all be solved pretty easily, you know. Oh thats right when we ask the boss for one of the golden egz we lay they blow a bunch of smoke up or butts about how costly it is just to make payroll and meantime we're suppose to turn our cheek when they go to europe five times a year and drive 3 jagz. by the way who the hell can drive three cars at once? Yup, GREED kiiled the dream and like all us working stiffs know we are a stones throw away from the street. Even with sizable retirement accounts every day we wake up is a crap shoot someone else is taking with the money we trusted them with. hm, twisted indeed...
i like that ending, yup...
2950-10K ~ No offense taken whatsoever with anything you said. I didn't know you were a Socialist. No problem there either. I don't know too much about the philosophy to judge it either way. I'll just say I'm for anything that works. Ironically, the very Capitalists that you complain about are doing their damnedest to forward your Political Agenda--essentially by sabotaging Democracy to the point that it is doomed to fail. Like I've said before: 'Sometimes your worst enemy's can be your best friends.' It is quite amazing indeed the mental dysfunction brought about by greed. People who have everything yet want more intentionally soil the very foundation of what made their wealth possible in the first place.
When I see references on Thom's blog to the European Cental Bank, the IMF, and finance ministers from European countries, it awakens the hatred I have for free enterprise capitalism. Yes I'm a Socialist and as far as I can tell the only one who bothers to post on this particular blog.
I see comments by folks like Kend and want to scream. He whines about the uncertainties of Govt. in relation to his business. He mentions that he wants to expand and hire a couple new staff. Then he goes into an apprehensive rant about losing his or more likely the banks money on his so called gamble. NOT ONCE does he mention a humanitarian concern for the well- being of the desperate souls who may be looking for a job and he happens to take advantage of .. What happens when the money making gamble he's so worried about fails? What happens to his employees who end up jobless and distraught because his scheme didn't pay off? They still have kids to feed and clothe, a mortgage to pay, a car payment, etc. etc. I've seen too often the callous attitude, can't make money off em, so to hell with em ,not my problem. WELL MY FRIENDS AND FOES I DON'T ACCEPT THIS AS A BUSINESS MODEL. A job and living wage should be a human right and greed should never be allowed to interfere with this.
I'm also fully sensitive to the fact that there are those who are quite religious on this blog. DAnne being one of them. His Matthew quotes are great and I believe Jesus was a progressive socialist who set a standard so high that most of us in moral contrast still linger in primitive darkness. However I like anybody that is truly honest with themselves can't accept the mythology component of the Old Testament. Sorry if I offend anyone.....D
I give full credit of my abject hatred for capitalistic free enterprise to 17 years spent in a non union printing company. 70 hour weeks with little break in between. 15 years ago my wife made me quit and I simultaneously started my own screen printing business and got a state job for benefits. I shared the wealth to say the least while running my own business but got out do to the toxic nature of the work, inks and solvents.
Yes I was a pretty good athlete 30 some years ago, and still am for my age, and yes I played in blues rock bands for about 10 years. But there is something else you need to know about me, I don't have a fart machine buried in my back yard.
You may ask why bother to bring all of this up? Well my answer to that is, this info gives anyone who is looking to agree or disagree with my comments an honest frame of reference as to who they are addressing.
I might suggest we all monitor this story closely--especially if you have a dime or two to rub together in a bank. Unfortunately, what happens in Cypress doesn't always stay in Cypress. Call me a conspiracy nut; but, realistically, for so many high finance officials from so many key financial organizations to publicly announce such a hair brained scheme it smells to me like a global financial conspiracy of Biblical proportions. I hope I'm mistaken; but, I'd advise everyone to watch and hold fast to that which you have!
Outback ~ Point well taken! However, rest at ease :) I have no desire whatsoever to learn what may lurk behind that news print. Thanks for the warning though!
So they want to impose a "tax" on depositors in order to keep the bank solvent? Sounds a lot like Wall Street and business as usual to me. And it also sounds a lot like "someone" has already absconded with the money. Isn't a bank a place where people put their money to keep it safe? How long is it going to take before these predator banksters start getting hunted down like Nazi war criminals and relieved of their plunder and their freedom? Of course, there's always the United States to flee to; we have no extradition treaties when it comes to financial crime.
On an unrelated topic, DAnneMarc, please don't reach behind that newspaper. Gawd knows what you might find :-(
$5,943,216,000 - That's what the U.S. Military bases are costing us to maintain, staff and operate. We do have a budget problem, but why in the world do we need 4700+ military bases around the globe. "In the order above a small installation costs $828 million more or less, so the total cost each year is approximately $3,893,256,000,000 (4702x 828 million).
"For the medium facilities, which cost $1.553 billion, more or less, the total is approximately $1,879,130,000,000 (121×1.553 billion). For large facilities, the cost is equal to or greater than $170,830,000,000 which means, the cost is likely greater.
Steve Ybarra wrote an article for laprogressive.com which contains information that quite frankly is staggering. It can be seen in full at http://www.laprogressive.com/defense-budget/
I wish one day you would invite Mr. Ybarra on your show to discuss this abomination more fully.
Seriously! Taxing bank deposits is the stupidest idea I've ever heard of. What a way to cut your own throat. Rob responsible people's savings to pay the credit cards of the irresponsible?
Are these people insane, a bunch of crooks, or an insane bunch of crooks? Leave bank robbery to the professionals--namely, bankers. The European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the Finance Ministers of Europe need to be rounded up and sent on a very long vacation--preferably to another Planet!
The absolute worst thing those banksters could dream up. The worst. So what are they going to do when they have zero money in the banks. Banksters are gready, corrupt and stupid, and they proved it. Black market economy, here we come. Russia in the bad old days. Their plan makes no sense. They could have cooked the books or just lie or take the fifth like the rest of their ilk.
That explains it! A wee lad he was. A pint of Guinness in the cup and a pot of gold behind the paper. You can't fool me! He's a Leprechaun! Quick, tickle his belly and make a wish!
So thats what happens when you borrow and borrow until no one will lend you money anymore. I wonder if that could ever happen to us
I always thought that little green dude reading the paper might be Irish. Now I'm a wee bit more sure of it.