Recent comments

  • Daily Topics - Wednesday - March 17th 2010   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Oops - I meant the WEEKLY blog page.

  • Daily Topics - Wednesday - March 17th 2010   15 years 8 weeks ago

    @Loretta - sorry for the delayed reply - been arguing with a troll over on the Wednesday blog page -

    http://www.thomhartmann.com/2010/03/13/highlights-on-the-show-march-15-1...

    Just wanted to say that your statement may not be funny, but it does seem to be the kind of incentive that their side just might be responsive to. :D

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Hey, artlo is confused also and needs some help...
    Who is going to help him out?
    http://www.thomhartmann.com/board/./viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4015

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    The Tax Cuts for the wealthy Ron, passed by reconciliation.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    @wRONg Rutherford, re: "The one time that {I remember} the Republicans working so hard to get something passed “in the night” was ANWR and that never did pass even when using the same techniques Pelosi is using now

    Jeez - guess you forgot all about Medicare Part D, huh ... passed around 2 AM, by waiving their OWN rule regarding how long votes may remain open.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Sorry Ron, I know the Patriot act wasn't passed in the middle of the night, but it certainly wasn't allowed enough time to read to being voted on.

    Look that one up Ron.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    @wRONg Rutherford, re:"Just ridiculous to tie work output to consumption."

    I've been working on the bleeding edge of the electronics industry for the past 33 years, creating non-consumer products that make most people's eyes glaze over when they ask me "What do you do?" You ARE correct that nobody here gets paid well enough to buy our products - then again, nobody who works here would WANT one ... kinda like an Aircraft Carrier. However, pretty much everyone who works here IS paid well enough to buy a 3 GHz computer or a 48" Plasma TV ... if they do want one.

    So - your statement, copied above, seems to indicate a belief that wages (consumption) should NOT be tied to productivity (work output). Enlighten us fools in here then, Professor, to what SHOULD wages be connected?

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Apple inspected its plants in the Far East and found wage, hour and child labor violations. From a news report 3/1/2010:
    More than 60 of the 102 facilities visited by the company's inspection teams were found to be working their staff more than Apple's stated maximum hours - itself a pretty high figure, at 60 hours per week. Many were also paying less than the minimum wage, or depriving staff of basic benefits such as sick pay.
    Three suppliers tried to fiddle the books to hide underage working or excessive hours. Apple isn't revealing which suppliers were breaking the rules.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Well Ron if that’s how you feel about pass then read bills, join me in calling for the repeal of every piece of legislation that the Republicans passed in the middle of the night mere hours (or less) after putting their gregarious bills on the table.

    BTW, how long do you have to sit and think before coming up with your (dubious) zingers… looks like at least a 1/2 hour to me. Do you have to call someone to get ideas?
    O brother.
    Do you have something in specific to point to or just vacuous innuendos? Anytime I missed that affected 1/7th of the economy? The one time that {I remember} the Republicans working so hard to get something passed "in the night" was ANWR and that never did pass even when using the same techniques Pelosi is using now.

    Timing now. You really do not have a life. I actually thought the next 1/2 I would look for and read the bills...

    godknows
    all

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    @mstaggerlee, well said.

    I love Ron's Aircraft Carrier comment. So Henry Ford was building a product for the average man, but it was just a side effect that he paid his quality workers enough to buy a product made for the working class. If his workers could produce as many Aircraft Carriers as they could cars per day, well then perhaps they should be paid enough to buy their own Carrier.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    For those who don't have the time or energy to waste on reading RR's reply to my post, I'll summarize ...

    BAH! HUMBUG!

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    @Nels - There ARE NO ideas on that side ... he has to call someone for the correct talking point.

    @Ron - If _I_ can read "Atlas Shrugged", _YOU_ can read the bill!

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    HEY, RUTHERFORD! – you wanna sincerely exchange a viewpoint or two? Here’ are a couple to chew on …

    1) I’m sure that even YOU can accept the notion that in a healthy economy, there is some kind of a balance between SUPPLY and DEMAND. For the past 30 years (since your namesake was President), the pendulum has been getting pushed exclusively towards the SUPPLY side. Now, for the most part, DEMAND is collapsing – GLOBALLY!, because the people who comprise the greatest global market for consumer goods are systematically being put out of their jobs and their homes.

    2) The whole concept of the “Ownership” society is beginning to collapse, as the investor class (e. g., YOU!) sits by the pool waiting for your dividend checks. You demand GROWTH, above all, from your investments. THAT is why, for the past 30 years, productivity has increased annually while wages have flattened.

    Ever hear of a guy named Henry Ford, Ron? I have some grudging respect for the racist bastard, because he knew something about how to SUSTAIN a business by taking the LONG view. Ford recognized that if he paid his workers enough that they could afford to buy the products produce in the factories they worked in, he’d CREATE a market for himself. Do you think the 9-year-olds in Singapore that BUILT your 48″ Plasma display & 3 GHz computer are making enough to buy those items? Do you think they can even DREAM of making that much?

    Enjoy your private little “micro-economy” while it lasts, Ronny-boy. It’s all gonna come tumbling down around your ears, far sooner than you expect. Don’t be lookin’ in here for a soft place to land when it does.Sure, why not a "sincere exchange of viewpoints"? But so far I have not seen any and your talking points don't help your cause.

    1. Not sure what straw man argument you want to pursue but I am clearly a Keynesian and more specifically a "structuralist Neo-Keynsian".
    2. You don't know me, so I understand the labeling is much easier than addressing issues. While I have shifted more of my equities to higher paying dividends, that was mostly to diversify my holdings and to pick some less volatile stocks in the mix.

    2a. Fordism as described by Liberals is vacuous at best. He paid them an amount above the prevailing wage to ensure the highest quality workers in the industry. If he had been building Aircraft carriers would he have paid his workers each enough to afford one also. Just ridiculous to tie work output to consumption.

    2b. You do understand that Singapore is a HIC and there are no 9 year olds in sweat shops??? Right? or did Thom say something today on that subject.

    3. It may collapse but since I have been reading the same for decades then I will not hold my breath waiting for it to happen. As long as the Demos and Obama do not mess with the economy and create structural rigidities in our economy then our economy will adapt as it has always done before.

    godknows
    says carry on...

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    @Ron, 'pass then read" bill ?!?
    If the Republicants haven't been able to read the Senate bill since it was passed last year or before they sat down to talk about it with the President last month or even since then shouldn't they lose their job? The job of a legislature is to deliberate and vote on legislation. If they can't be bothered to read it that is one thing - to complain that they haven't had the time is to say either 1) they cant read at all or 2) they wont read it. Job avoidance pure and simple - cause for firing in ANY job. Maybe you should work to recall the Republicant non-readers in Congress instead of spamming in here eh, Ron?

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Well Ron if that's how you feel about pass then read bills, join me in calling for the repeal of every piece of legislation that the Republicans passed in the middle of the night mere hours (or less) after putting their gregarious bills on the table.

    BTW, how long do you have to sit and think before coming up with your (dubious) zingers... looks like at least a 1/2 hour to me. Do you have to call someone to get ideas?

  • Here's a 1967 Flashback: "Gov. Romney Would Quit Church For Social Justice"   15 years 8 weeks ago

    The truly bizarre thing about the whole 'birther' movement: it is an established fact that McCain was born outside the United States.
    I don't believe the 'birther' myth about Obama but by their logic Ralph Nader should be President now... Rofl

  • Daily Topics - Wednesday - March 17th 2010   15 years 8 weeks ago

    sorry that'snot very funny considering where stuff like that has landed us.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    "I’m not happy with the bill. Some parts really disturb me. That said, I think it is essential to pass it now, before we’re down to passing nothing.

    (Still want to vomit when mandates are mentioned)"
    Yes, we should always have "pass then read" bills. We must pass it to know what is in the bill...Then you can be just as happy with the clowns on Fridays.

  • Daily Topics - Wednesday - March 17th 2010   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Hi,
    Myself Jimmy from Canada. Your blog really have useful information. I apprecaite your thoughts.

    Thanks
    Jimmy
    personalized dog tags

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    They have a name for the throw aways... Peasants. Unfortunately there are a lot of peasants out there that believe if they whole heartily support the ruling class that they'll achieve a better title. Tea Bagger doesn't seem to be a better title to me, but that the badge of honor they seem like to tout now.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    That's a very familiar song you are singing there, Mr. Phillips - but I'd far prefer to have my health care claims handled by a GOVERNMENT bureaucrat, whose wages are NOT dependent upon his claim-rejection ratio, than an INSURANCE COMPANY bureaucrat, who job DEMANDS that he reject as many claims as possible.

  • Daily Topics - Tuesday March 16th 2010   15 years 8 weeks ago

    "The dentist claims that brushing your teeth twice a day help prevent tooth decay, my thoughts are that one should rub chocolate on your teeth. I say we teach the controversy." ~John Stewert

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    Well Ron, you seem like a clown to me, and I don't think anyone here finds your dreck enlightening.

  • Highlights on the Show...March 15 - 19, 201   15 years 8 weeks ago

    HEY, RUTHERFORD! - you wanna sincerely exchange a viewpoint or two? Here' are a couple to chew on ...

    1) I'm sure that even YOU can accept the notion that in a healthy economy, there is some kind of a balance between SUPPLY and DEMAND. For the past 30 years (since your namesake was President), the pendulum has been getting pushed exclusively towards the SUPPLY side. Now, for the most part, DEMAND is collapsing - GLOBALLY!, because the people who comprise the greatest global market for consumer goods are systematically being put out of their jobs and their homes.

    2) The whole concept of the "Ownership" society is beginning to collapse, as the investor class (e. g., YOU!) sits by the pool waiting for your dividend checks. You demand GROWTH, above all, from your investments. THAT is why, for the past 30 years, productivity has increased annually while wages have flattened.

    Ever hear of a guy named Henry Ford, Ron? I have some grudging respect for the racist bastard, because he knew something about how to SUSTAIN a business by taking the LONG view. Ford recognized that if he paid his workers enough that they could afford to buy the products produce in the factories they worked in, he'd CREATE a market for himself. Do you think the 9-year-olds in Singapore that BUILT your 48" Plasma display & 3 GHz computer are making enough to buy those items? Do you think they can even DREAM of making that much?

    Enjoy your private little "micro-economy" while it lasts, Ronny-boy. It's all gonna come tumbling down around your ears, far sooner than you expect. Don't be lookin' in here for a soft place to land when it does.

  • Here's a 1967 Flashback: "Gov. Romney Would Quit Church For Social Justice"   15 years 8 weeks ago

    @Ron Rutherford

    Wait you still think he's religious?

    @John Brewster

    And lo Jesus saith verily "the rich and powerful are the chosen few and if you ain't them well f@^% you".

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