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The Austery Program has hit the Detroit area. WDTW radio AM is shut down. We lost another progressive radio station. No longer Stephany Miller from 9AM to 12Noon, Ed Schultz from 12 noon to 3PM, and Thom Hartmann from 3PM to 6PM...
We, the collective, the society OR democratically controlled government are much better at choosing what to do with your money in excess of your first million or so.
We, the collective, the society OR democratically controlled government are much better at choosing what to do with your money in excess of your first million or so.
That's right, there are NO CARS in France. Everybody just "tours" it on their bike.
I hitch hiked across France several times and those musta been super billionaires in disguise that gave me a lift. Actually, I've known relatively poor people in France to have cars, although in Paris or other bigger cities you don't need a car and might not want one as they are congested. Especially now as economic refugees from more "austere" countries have poured on in.
The Democrats were paying down the federal debt, the Republicans do anything but. The difference between Democrats and Repubs is that Democrats spend - but moderately by comparison - however they also TAX in order to pay for it. Repubs spend MORE than Dems - mainly on the military - while they CUT TAXES.
That's because Repubs are the party of big business and they have dollar signs in their eyes salivating over the departments of government they want to privatize and take out of the hands of the people. Repubs are the deficit spenders and they do it because when government is in debt and deficit that forces it to privatize.
Why we have the federal debt and deficit so high now is because of two unfunded wars that were off the books under the Bush Administration that Obama put on the books.
If Romney was elected there'd be either a mass exodus of money or if he got it so that he could bring it back without putting it back in the economy - i.e., keep it without paying taxes on it - it might come back some but then it wouldn't be doing anybody any good but him anyway - just like it does now.
You're right Kend, you are missing something, again. The IMF , EU and other lending authorities are very erroneous and/or fraudulent in their insisting on cuts to the social sectors of a government's spending. A greater likelihood of the loan being repaid would come if that wasn't required as their economies would more likely prosper.
In the case of the IMF, that body seems to be just an agent of the multinationals its lending seems to be a neocolonial ruse in which the economnies are further weakened by the required austerity and are then easily taken over by American and European transnational corporations. When they can't get 'em to sign the free trade agreements (NAFTA, GATT, FTAA, etc.) and sign over their resources that way they try another way.
The EU may be a bigger problem. I'm not so familiar with the case but it might be that the European economies, being merged, are less like independent countries economically but like states of a union like the U.S.. That is especially true if they are using the Euro as they can't print their own money and thus can't run a deficit.
When governments- and the hyper-wealthy corporations and hyper-wealthy people who own governments- want to control people, they create all sorts of "emergencies" to distract and confuse the people. Of course their favorite distraction is war, because it not only gives us lots and lots of "enemies" to hate and fear and want to kill in spite of the fact that our religion says don't kill people, but it also make trillions of dollars for war profiteers. And now we have the added confusion that the media informs us that even though we are against the war, we "support the troops" who are the ONLY people who make the war possible. I mean, seriously: what if those rich old white men tried to start a war but all of us regular, non-rich citizens said, "Nope. Not going to do it. I don't like war. I like peace." What are those rich old white men going to do? Go over there themselves and start shooting foreign people? I kind of doubt it.
Another of our government's favorite "emergency" distractions is to steal peoples' pensions and blame the theft on the people whose pensions were stolen. It's a fine and pleasant weapon of mass distraction, a way to get people so poor and so worried that all they can do is scramble around trying to find food, so they don't have time to go after our own government, which, under Bill Clinton as well as under republican presidents, de-regulated banks and investment houses so they could steal peoples' pensions.
Outsourcing manufacturing jobs to slave labor countries, and blaming the outsourcing on Americans who don't want to work for slave wages, is a fine weapon of mass distraction, because if people don't have work they don't have money, and if they don't have money it's an emergency and they're too distracted to realize that this whole thing is a big con game courtesy of the rich thieves who purchased our government.
Dumbing down our schools and pricing higher education out of the reach of middle class and poor Americans, is another fine weapon of mass distraction, because if there was no one in America except for educated thieves, and uneducated people who can barely write their own names, it would take the uneducated people much longer to understand what our government is doing to them.
And finally, we have our current congress and white house, which create an "emergency," and say that it's a terrible emergency and oh my God what's going to happen to us, and then FINALLY they get off their lazy asses and sort of more or less kind of solve that emergency, and then they immediately tell us, "Due to our heroic efforts, that emergency is sort of solved, but OH NO! LOOK!! There's ANOTHER emergency coming!! Oh, what will we do? Run and hide under your bedd, another emergency is coming and there's nothing you can do about it!!
Give me a break. There's something we can do about it. We can get rid of almost everyone in congress and the white house, and replace them with patriotic Americans who actually want to help America be a better country. Not pretend patriots who have made a lifestyle out of illegal war, but real patriots- people who will LEAD America back to prosperity, rather than elected officials who blame us for not forcing them to make the right decisions.
Yes, granted Kend! However, your estimation is based on the economy by today's standards; not the standards of when you grandchildren are 18.
Its the same mistake home buyers make when they refuse to pay on their mortgage because their house is--by today's standard--under water. It is irrelevant that when they signed with the bank promising to pay 5 times what the house is currently worth that they in effect agreed that the house was worth 5 times the current market value. That was by the standards of only 5-10 years ago. Yet they are also giving up on the value the house might be worth 25-30 years from now; or, even further in the future when they might have decided to sell it. That is the important value not the one today!
Our national dept is not the dept of our children, it is, by definition, the dept of our nation. Please don't jump on the myopic bandwagon who's slogan is 'as it is today, it shall forever be.' That is ridiculous. We are a nation that lacks both hope and foresight.
Gentlemen, instead of condemning the future of the next generation of people, I suggest we focus our efforts on taking the necessary steps to insure that the future of our children--and our children's children--is solvent and prosperous; and in effect, reject any other possibility.
This is our problem! We need to solve it!
I don't know I think if Romney was elected those trillions of dollars sitting in offshore accounts might have came back to US shores.
Congrats on the first grandchild. I have 2.2. My point is spending more doesn't work is just lowers the standard of living for your future grandchildren. Do you know the day that baby is born it owes over $50,000 in federal debt. Doesn't that scare the heck out of you.
No buddy. Actually I can't complain. Kay got under my nerves big time yesterday with her 'screw you' attitude. Like I told you before I have a bit of an anger management problem. It's a constant struggle to keep in check. It's why I'm scared to death to own a gun. LOL
In the end, I guess I'm my own worst enemy. Hope I didn't offend!
Kend - If that criminal Romney had won, it would have been worse. He would have moved the Billionaires into some of the bedrooms in the White House SO he could kiss their a__ each morning and get his orders for the day....
Kend - I understand what you are saying. But show me where there has been any significant job growth during the time the Wealthy Billionaires and Millionaires paid the lowest taxes in the last 12 years. And now they are crying alligator tears because they got a 5% increase in Capital Gains. You and I know the show is almost over and the Billionaires and Millionaires like Romney have simply off- shored the factories that actually paid a living wage. The Only Jobs being created in this country are low paying service sector jobs. The American Government even admits the days of production are over and with the inability of our workforce to compete with the slave labor wages of the Chinese, we are screwed. Hey, I am about to be a grandfather for the first time and I am not very happy about what I think this country will or has become. At this point the Government is the only entity that is actual producing jobs! Half of the jobs created in this quarter were created by the local federal governments. Get rid of the Tariffs and special tax benefits that make it more profitable to move off shore and maybe our kids and grandkids will have a place to call work and actually earn a living wage! There simply are not enough high tech jobs that are coming online to sustain the job numbers we need to grow. Until we actually get an increase in good paying jobs in our country the Government has to help build the job base. Again my friend, do not just give me the same rhetoric you hear from the Republicans guarding the wealth of the wealthiest, while trying to impose Austerity on the backs of the retired, poor and middle class. Social Security is solvent, Medicare represents what is happening across America and that is health care costs shooting upward. So what do we do next, cut food stamps from the destitute population or stop funding our school system. Or perhaps you favor cutting out more teacher, policemen and firemen! Austerity, as I commented to another gentleman, simply is not working in Europe. The only entities benefiting from Austerity are the Banks and Wall St. who created this mess to start with. They demand the Governments enforce Austerity on their citizens so they can get paid for their crimes they hoisted on citizens around the World. If we enforce Austerity on our Nation, our kids and grandkids will have nothing to look forward too. I guess we will have to see whether the Banks and Wall St. wins their way and heaps Austerity on us or whether Obama grows a set of balls and stands up for the poor and middleclass or he see if he caves in again like he did on the Sequestration problem and gives in to the Republican crooks..i AM STILL WAITING FOR TO TELL ME WHICH CITIZENS THAT WERE FORCED TO ACCEPT AUSTERITY FROM THE BANKS, BENEFITED FROM IT..
DAnneMarco - Hey lighten up dude, it was meant to be a joke! If you have ever read any of my comments you would have seen I am the last one to fear the Government! Hey, your taking on my old aggressive attitude! Ha! Had a bad day?
I too agree with you Scott! Don't listen to Ken. The Feds are too busy with monitoring the plethora of lunitics their policies have created to bother with a small fry like you. Write your petition and Ken and I will be privaleged to be the firsts to sign it!
ScootFromOZ - I agree with what you have said. But be careful if the governmental spy guys see that you want everyone to "press en masse", they might think your plotting something and the Gestapo, formally known as the F.B.I., might end up pounding on your front door at 3 a.m. in the morning....have a good one.
I must agree with Ken, Gary. If we cannot compete with China's manufacturing production costs, we cannot produce anything ourselves that anyone would want to purchase. Who exactly will be the "new" owners of the manufacturing industry that can not and does not exist? And please, in detail, explain to us how that is supposed to improve the economy?
Please don't mention the service industry's contribution. I'm a part of our US service industry and I can assure you that it does nothing to stimulate the economy. If anything we are merely parasitic entities that are used to support and aid a manufacturing base that only exists in foreign countries. In addition, I can assure you that unless the economy is stimulated in a big way, shortly, through domestic manufacturing, the service industry we tout so proudly is doomed.
How do you respond to that Gary?
Sorry it is sold already in October 2012
Austerity doesn't help the economy but it doesn't saddle our children and grandchildren with massive debt. What is going to happen when interest rates go up. I believe about a 25% of the taxes collected go just to service the debt. To me America needs tio find a way to get people with money to invest and spend it. Here we gave tax breaks if you did home improvements for example. I put new windows in my house. Instead down there your Government scares investment away by telling investors they want more and more of there profits. Making investments more risky. We have to remember these millionaires and billionaires don't need more money. We need them to invest more for us then them.
For Sale - One White House in Washington D.C. It comes complete with a large frontal landscape and Gardens. Lavish quarters with enough room to house several offices. Bidding starts a $400 million or the cost of running a Presidential Election. Comes fully equipped with a politician willing and able to accommodate any required fraudulent "Deals". Also at no extra cost we can "throw in a multitude of politicians to do your political bidding". Only those who are worth at least $1,000,000,000 need apply. Hurry this deal will only last for the next four years. Please contact our agent at WWW.POLITICIANS FOR SALE.COM
Gary Reber - I have read what you have written in your comments. And I agree that ownership is a principle problem in resolving the inequity of wealth we see here in America and across the World. I have one question and I apologize if my question is not as eloquent and precise as yours. The question I have is, as long as no nation at this point and this includes America, the Nation of Japan or any European Countries is capable of competing with the cost factor in producing goods here versus in China, what does it matter who owns the tools of production? It has been noted that Japan who once was the production power house of the World and now is unable to compete with China in its production of goods. Because we no longer have any Tariffs to offset the cost of producing goods here, how can Americans, regardless of who is in control of production, compete with China and still retain our standard of living. We have very little production left here in America. The capital that is generated by the Chinese production of goods initially goes back to China and the Corporations that have move their operations off shore and not to the pockets of the consumers here who fuel our economic growth. The profits go to the Wealthy to be stored in off shore accounts, not to the American economy. Basically what I am asking and I hope I have not gotten bogged down in my drawn out question, is if we do not have the jobs here to generate revenue to invigorate our economy what does it matter who owns the companies? No ability to compete economically, due to the cost of production means no jobs to generate revenue. Please let me know if I have missed something. Obviously you are better versed in this subject than I.
Kend - could you please show me where Austerity as has been enforced in Europe and it appears it will happen here, has solved any of the economic problems plaguing these countries? It appears that the only beneficiaries of Austerity have been the Banks and our own Wall St. I am not being sarcastic; I would like to see an example that has benefited the citizens of the countries that have initiated these programs. From England to Greece I have not read any articles stating this economic program has benefited anyone but the Bankers who originally were responsible for these debt swaps that created much of these problems, not to mention the fact that Wall St. peddled toxic financial instruments that helped create this whole problem as well. I realize these governments probably spent too much and allowed themselves to be coned into buying these unethical debt swaps that have also crippled many principalities here in America, but the solution pushed by the Banks in the form of fiscal austerity has not born the fruit the Banks and Governments run by the banks has purported they would. So in all honesty, please show me where these programs have benefited the citizenry of the fore mentioned countries. Thank You. I truly hope you do not find this question to be too aggressive in nature. P.S., It is apparent in our country the Wealthy and the Banks have once again shown their ability to buy or frighten our President and Legislators in both bodies of Congress. So much for truth and fairness from our capital in Washington. Here in America wealth is the only common denominator when it comes to our Democracy. I am ashamed to say the American voters actually voted these criminals into public office. I am proud to say I did not vote for the present President nor the Republican who also tried to buy his place in Washington.
I heard one computation of the cost of the debt ceiling fight was $18 billion.
The estate tax was raised compared to the temporary tax rates in force, but lowered relative to the permanent tax rates that were to be in effect.
I finally listened to Thom's podcast from Dec 28 hour 2. He sounded like Abraham Lincoln. He said Obama should mint platimum coins with a face value of 1 trillion dollars and use them to pay off the debt. Thus, he would remove Boehner's main source of power.
I like Lincoln's other thing he actually did with respect to the economy. He introduced the income tax and only the top 1% paid it.
Kend,
You are so right on the mark! We cannot spend our way out or austere our way out or tax our way out. We need ALL of these combined to get back on a sound economic model. Thom - Where are you coming from????? For pets sake, can no one see the writing on the wall....DC is full of children kicking cans down to my grand kids....STOP IT NOW. We/me/you/anyone over the age of 45 is to blame for where we are now. Take from "them" but NOT MINE!!!! GE pays no tax, loop holes everywhere. Obama is a weak pig of president and both houses of congress are corrupt as Venezula.
Regarding the VAT...
Let's assume we end up with a 16% VAT on a US made car. As I understand it, if I (a US citizen) were to buy that car I would also have to pay the 16% VAT on the car. How is that progressive?