QUESTION: How much attention are Americans paying to the collapse of socialism in Europe?
It’s been a long time since any of us have studied Europe seriously.
To be honest — we wrote Europe off completely as a failed continent about a decade ago. It became the Suzanne Sugarbaker of the global scene – formerly glorious and formidable, turned bloated, spoiled, entitled, and generally hapless from years of overindulgence and irresponsible spending. All things considered, it’s actually moved into Bernice territory — without a clue in Hell as to what it’s doing, occasionally serving as comic relief, but unable to manage its own affairs with any modicum of competence.
We would compare America to Julia Sugarbaker, but we’ll have to wait until the Palin presidency to do that. Right now, our country’s in full-on Meshach Taylor mode — and not as the reliable and trustworthy Anthony…but as fey, weak, sputtering Hollywood Montrose. Thank you Dr. Utopia and the Hope and Change Gang.
If you don’t get the Designing Women and Mannequin references, then, bless your heart, you aren’t spending enough time with us here in Boystown. Hello, Netflix, to the rescue.
We think Americans, in general, aren’t paying enough attention to the collapse of socialism in Europe. Ourselves included.
Greece is going to destroy the euro and the EU.
It’s not the iceberg hitting socialism’s Titanic…it’s a debt-fed Kraken that could prove unstoppable. It’s Oprah, on the scent of cheesey-crackers and Pepperidge Farms salami.
Nothing can stop it.
This week, we want to bone up on what’s been happening in the Mediterranean states of Europe, in particular, where we remember a general laziness and sense of entitlement driving everyone we met on the trips we took overseas to Greece, Italy, the Balkans, France, and Spain. The worst offenders were in Greece and Italy, of course, where most days we’d spot the same men sitting around, doing nothing all day, drinking coffee, playing bocci or checkers, while apparently being paid healthy salaries from their government to be loafs.
Just how big of a problem is this — and what can be done in these countries to curtail this?
What’s going to happen in the next few months and years as Europe’s socialist system collapses, now that it’s become painfully clear there is no more money floating in thin air for these countries to keep doing things the way they’ve done them for the last 30 years?
It feels like a perfect storm for colossal global financial disaster, because all of this is happening in Europe while there’s a weak, fey American president who was raised to be an acolyte of all the policies that destroyed Europe.
Dr. Utopia wants to bring socialism to life in this country, just as it’s dying overseas.
Do the American people realize this?
If not, what will it take to bring them up to speed?
For those of you who have been following Europe’s demise the last decade or so, what would you say to brief Americans on what to expect in the months and years ahead — and what should the 45th president do, once she’s sworn in, to get the world back on track?
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Paul Ryan: EU Contagion Will Spread to US
http://tinyurl.com/36byh73
Sarah Palin knows that enterpreneurs provide jobs. She believes in the free market. Most likely, she would give tax breaks.
I love Palin, but whether it is Palin or another great conservative President in 2012, it is going to take a whole lot more than tax cuts to get us out of our financial crisis. Greece’s economic collapse will spread through Europe and then to us. It will take complete free market principles and MASSIVE cuts in entitlements to get our economy back on track. I think Palin is bold enough to get this done. Look at what she did in Alaska…
I would hope Pres Palin would allow Europa to self distruct, for it’s own good. Europe is an old lazy continent thats counted on America to long for her protection. They’ve traded their faith for selfish pleasures. Drinking, sexing, traveling, more sexing, more drinking, etc. And.. they’ve allowed the enemy, Islame, to gain a strong foothold on European soil. They forgot their history! And now it’s repeating. Europe neeads to hit rock bottom and then lift herself back up.
Good luck cousins!
Agreed. And where did they ever come up with this idea that America is their giant ATM machine?
Sometimes I think Europe still believes we’re still a colony that exists solely to provide for them and their indulgences.
Time to cut them loose, and they sink or swim … Europe needs an “intervention” !
President Palin will never let Europe collapse. Europe had its big faults in the past. But Europe kept their UNIVERSAL faith to the end. Europe never believed in “black slavery” or that dark skin people are less than animals.
With the exception of nazi Germany(under Hitler) the European continent has been mostly tolerant.
The racial hate is the bastard son of the USA. The racist philosophies that came up during the 18 and 19 centuries(Leihniz, Darwin, etc) were well received by most prominent American revolutionaries.
Note the big difference between the French Revolution which was against the monarchy, while the American Revolution was more for control of their land, that came up with the twisted philosophy of “manifest destiny”.
President Palin would lead this nation on true REPUBLICAN-CONSERVATIVE principles like Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Rooselvelt and Ronald Reagan.
Caramelo,
Have you ever been to Europe? Euros for centuries have been and are steeped in hatred and racism. Even countries that have no Jews like Spain seethe with mass anti-Semitism. Black British & French soccer players have walked off the playing field in Spain when Spanish fans started chanting chongo and making chimpanzee like sounds at Black players.
Fascism appealed and had a mass following Europe wide not just in Germany.
Remember colonialist attitudes came to America from Europe not the new world. “Gente sin razon” (people without reason) a term used for centuries in Latin America for non-Europeans was invented by Euros.
It was Euros who happily operated death camps and turned in their neighbors for deportation and extermination not Americans.
Um, Carmelo are you aware that the root for the word “Slave” came from europe, vis-a-vis the term “Slavic”?
Mostly tolerant?
Ask the Anglo’s.
Ask the Normans
Ask the Celts
Ask the Welsh
Ask the Jews
Ask the………
Europe is the crucible of hatred, islam is the fire.
Ask the Irish! Millions died during the famine and n’er a finger was lifted in England to assist those families. The lucky ones had relatives already in America or Australia. The others died.
Europe has always been a hotbed of simmering hate for those they colonize. It’s why we all left and came here. When the colonialism became intolerant here, we dumped the Brits, and their tea and went to war for freedom from slavery of taxes.
You think our revolution wasn’t against the British Monarchy? I would be embarassed to be your history teacher.
trying my new gravatar: hope it works
gravatar is adorable!
That’s a cutie!
Awwww!
Oops spelled that wrong: entrepreneurs.
as the spelling police around here I am more concerned about the use of the word “tenants” instead of tenets…. ROFL…. some words are just plain hard to spell
I did the gravatar, but something went wrong,
my picture didn’t show up,
what did I do wrong—anyone?
A picture DID show up. Isn’t it the correct one? Try hitting “refresh” on the page…
just as well you did not throw a boomerang that did not come back… It has turned up
Not paying attention at all. It is a little discourging how many people are just sipping kool-aid lite, singing “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” watching the sky for unicorns, and calling anyone who doesn’t believe that unicorns exist big meanies for not clearly not wanting all of their fellow human beings to have happy, fun-filled lives completely paid for by Government, which has it’s own “stash” after all.
Ha .. same thought 1 minute later.
I had one friend post to me (and she’s a nurse and military wife) that she doesn’t understand what all the moaning and groaning is about. BO will fix things if we give him time.
Smart woman in some ways, dumb as a brick in others.
Yeah, he’ll “fix” things if we give him time.
Yep, “fix”, as in dog, cat etc.
that seems to be the mantra of these middle-aged women who drank the Kool-aid…. “give him time, he will fix it”… and they cannot see because of their own economic ignorance, that he has made things worse… around the world.
“Dr. Utopia wants to bring socialism to life in this country, just as it’s dying overseas.”
I am hoping he’ll be a day late and a dollar short and the American people raise up against him and his change.
+1
As with all other cases, LSM doesn’t want anyone to see the reality of what is going on here, or there.
Evangelizing for unicorns is their agenda. Its either purposefully to destroy their own country, or they are truly too blind to look around them.
Part of it is ignorance on their part too.
I remember on http://www.calculatedrisk.com Tanta and all trashing ‘poor Gretchen’ o fthe Times every single article because she got it wrong every.single.time.
Tanta is dead now. I really urge readers here who want to understand the mortgage debt issues to go to that site. Her collected writings are listed at the top under the Ubernerd tag.
I also recommend http://www.suddendebt.blogspot.com
He has been following the PIGS and the usa debt crisis. good stuff there, plus his allegories are very well-written. Search his site for the roman empire ones. they truly illustrate what folly keynesianism is.
There is also one more. http://www.londonbanker.blogspot.com
That is a gold mine. He stopped blogging. From what I understand he received an offer and accepted a job which made blogging a conflict of interest.
Very good info.
WOW, I’m there, too impatient I guess
So cool to learn new things—thanks all here at Hillbuzz.
Love this site
If you’re not already buying gold and silver, and I mean PHYSICAL gold and silver that is actually shipped to you and kept in your possession, you should be.
One of the reasons we’re in this mess is because what we call money is a figment of our imagination. It’s not linked to anything more than what politicians say it should be. This has given governments around the world too much power to spend to their hearts’ content.
Sarah Palin is one of the only political figures out there talking about this, according to this NY Sun op-ed on the “Obama Dollar:”
http://www.nysun.com/editorials/the-obama-dollar/86943/
OMFG RELATED!!!
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/senate-backs-one-time-audit-of-feds-bailout-role/?src=busln
They’re gonna AUDIT THE FED!!!
I mean, just the one time, but…PRECEDENT!
Also, the NYT apparently thinks this is bad, doing my read-between-the-lines thing. Don’t care.
not a real audit. Sanders was called to the WH Thursday (day of big stock market crash) and suddenly, after that meeting, Sanders gutted the bill.
The real audit was the Vitter amendment and it failed.
meh
I’m disappointed that the Vitter amendment got only around 37 votes. BOO!!!!!!
I think the major problem here is that most people are not even aware of the U.S. slipping into the abyss. My area of Wisconsin is very union-centered, and very democrat. They wouldn’t THINK of voting other than democrat. As a result they believe any and all garbage that is “fed” them by the democrat party and their “spokespeople” the MSM without question. They believe Fox News is in bed with the “right wing radicals” that are more dangerous than any “so called terrorists”. They get their news from CNN mainly, with MSNBC and CNN sprinkled in there some.
I think the main problem here is that of communication. How do you get the “blinders” off people who have been so successfully brainwashed and blinded by the democrat party leaders and the MSM- when they won’t listen to anyone else? How do we reach people to see what is happening here and how truly dangerous it is to ALL of us when they refuse to believe anyone except the ones who are out to destroy them?
I think if we could but get the answer to THAT question we’d have the answer to a lot of other questions we’re looking for also. Communication…. to those who don’t want to hear.
Oh Karen, I think about this topic all the time. If only we could deprogram them. No idea how to reach these goners. They are trained to automatically reject any effort to reach them.
they are in that same kind of stupor here in Australia. If you join the APS (Australian Public Service) it is expected that you join the union… that will do absolutely nothing for you. Some unions have quite a lot of power… and they use union money on wasteful advertising telling lies… The dunderheads believe those advertisements.
A lot of young people change dramatically when they get to university because of the brainwash effect.
Hi, fellow Wisconsinite! I’m in the Milwaukee area, so I know that of which you speak. I am also a recovering liberal.
The problem is education – it’s not only been so watered down, but turned from a means of honing critical-thinking skills to a tool of indoctrination, it will take a lot of time to fight against the tide of entitlement that pervades a lot of communities in this nation.
…Hollywood Montrose…
And I thought I was the only person on the planet who stilled watched that movie…is it weird that I totally wanted “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” played at my wedding?
I’m in the Packer area. Wait, that’s the whole state. Well, I’m in the GB area…. a bit north from you. You’re probably actually closer to the Chicago HB boiz than you are to me in terms of miles, LOL!
Waving at you from across Lake Michigan!
Waving back across the crick to MI!!!
Yes; closer to Chicago, which I LOVE, by the way…
The funny thing is, with the exception of pretty much Madison and Milwaukee, there are only small pockets of blue…lots of Wisconsin is red.
I don’t know about you, but I’m hoping for a decisive change in leadership here come November…
Willfully unaware.
I recently posted 3 things together on Facebook:
– An article about what’s going on in Greece and our huge part in their bailout, even despite the bad situation here
– A link to the U.S. debt clock (which is mind-blowing if you take literally 5 seconds to look)
–2 words: Reality. Unsustainable.
Technically, those things are not even political. They’re just financial facts, understandable by anyone who’s ever run a household. Spending exceeding income by a lot leads to an unsustainable situation.
Crickets. No comments. A majority of my Facebook friends are either liberal, low-information types, or of the type that refuse to discuss politics with anyone because potential disagreement is just too scary to face and talk through.
Even the RINO Minnesota Gov Pawlenty says that it is inevitable that the US government will default on its unfunded obligations.
Historically government s have NEVER paid their debts. They inflate them out of existence. Get ready for the ride.
Buy gold and when it soars in relataion to the currency at a rate even faster then the hyper-inflation you if you have managed to keep afloat pay off your mortgage and when the dust clears in a decade or so and the socialist & statists are driven from power you will be positioned for a comeback. Read between the lines and listn to the non-reported debates in Congress Oblalbla and hius cabal are going to confiscate your IRAs TSAa & 401 Ks to finance his redistributionist spending plans and force you to take gov’t bonds for them which inflation will make less valuable than a few sheets of toilet paper.
Plunder! How Public Employee Unions are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation by Steven Greenhut.
I have not read it yet but it is on my list. I hear that it is good.
Mish at http://www.globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com posted a review and a 5 thumbs up.
Karen, you encapsulate ownership of a distinctly well used class one lever, and have successfully encountered the pinacle of a unidirectional joining device.
(you hit the nail on the head)
I’m a NY State citizen, and anyone
who lives in CA or NY and doesn’t see it,
it’s because they don’t want to.
This is a Class war happening, and it has been since I can remember. It’s bad enough
fighting for Civil Rights, but when it’s to put food on the table—-we have real problems.
I only hope I can stay young, strong and well enough when the “awakening” does happen.
my new insignia: Don’t blame me, I voted for “Palin” —- and for “HILLARY”—–
You hit the nail on the head Michelina… they don’t see because they don’t want to!! And they are in for a very rude awakening!
They can’t see because that would mean that their RELIGION is wrong. They will do anything to prop up their belief system.
They are not paying attention at all to what is happening in Europe. “Socialism’s collapsing? What’s that got to to with me?” And those on the left who consider themselves advocates of a socialist society probably think that THEY just “didn’t do it right”.
Hell, they aren’t paying attention to the collapse of Capitalism right here at home! It is so sad that so many people can’t connect the dots to how what is happening in Europe is a real glimpse into the future for us if the current policies are continued. And it will happen quickly. The impact of today’s policies will be exponential. It won’t take decades. It is truly frightening.
What seems so patently obvious to political junkies and activists like us who read sites like Hillbuzz, is an irrelevant blur to much of society. I am continually amazed at how many of the people are uninformed of and for that matter, uninterested in the dangerous impact of economic policy decisions being made every day by our government.
The Tea Parties are awakening some of the slumbering masses which is a good thing. I just hope it is not too late.
It is shocking how many otherwise ‘educated’ people do not understand a thing about money on any level. And they don’t try.
In this area everyone has everything they own in the stock market or variable annuities (also in the stock market). I’m talking seniors here, the age group that I try to do business with. I can’t believe how totally blinded just about everyone here is. “If it goes down, it’ll just go back up again”. It terrifies me how stupid these people are! I had a 90 year old tell me the other day he didn’t care if he lost every penny because he was “in it for the long haul”. The “financial advisors” out there are just soaking them for their money – making money on them even when they are losing $. These people (like the 90 year old) just parrot back what their trusted advisor tells them without really even knowing what they are saying! I see another crash coming up with Obama’s policies once they start really taking effect- people will be jumping out windows again just like the depression (sigh)….
I wouldn’t be so fast to blow off those 90-year-olds. My dad is 80 and he’s sharp as a whip. Whenever I get a little over-concerned he brings me back to reality. The economy goes up and down and that is a fact. We do need to shore up our debt situation but we are no where near the situation of Greece. We have plenty of time to fix this situation with a new administration. As the economy tanks so do Obama’s poll numbers. I don’t care if Obama has a halo around his head and dances on clouds…if the economy sucks in 2012 he will NOT get re-elected. We will turn it around and do the right things.
Bev, a lot of the market going up now is due to the government pumping money into it. There is another huge cloud ahead.. several of them in fact…. based on everything I’m seeing and reading. The market is going to have a huge collapse. Yes, the market goes up and down- when the economy is solid and the market is tied to it, it’s reliable. However, the market has gone off on it’s own now and seems to be totally unconnected to reality or anything. It is being artificially kept afloat.
And here is the biggest problem of all: the debt. Obama has put us in a hold so deep now that even reversing some of his policies won’t pull us out. The unions are destroying us,just like in Greece. The only hope I see is what is happening in NJ with Christy. He’s cutting the union benefits and pay. The unions are throwing fits; but the people there can have hope. America hasn’t reached the point where we can cut the unions like in NJ or Greece yet; but we will HAVE TO do it sometime somehow.
The old timers – if they were old enough to remember the depression years- know how quickly things can change for the worse and how long it takes to come back from that. The debt we see now, and the union problems, plus HUGE spending bills just passed that aren’t even enacted yet- all these are looming down the horizon. If we don’t put the brakes on SOON, and cut off the unions SOON, we will find ourselves in worse shape than the depression.
Our only hope is 2010 and then 2012 elections, and the new people having the GUTS to stand up to the unions and the D’s. Even then the debt is so great that we will have enormous difficulty coming back very soon after.
If the economy gets anywhere near where it was during the Carter years Obama won’t win the next election. The 80s were good years despite the crappy 70s. The 90s were even better with the Clintons. We do have to fix things…no doubt about it. But we’re not on the brink of disaster. We have time to get things turned around. If the economy did collapse that would be a guarantee lose-lose for Obama. The key is we have to get him out before the next election.
Yes bev, the market does go up and down however what the advisors never really talk about too much is time horizon.
A 30 yr old that still has not hit their peak earning years with another 40 working years can afford a lost decade and still stay in for the long haul….take my mother for the counte example.
With maybe 100k if that in the market when this downturn started and hoping to retire in the next 3 years….she does not have 40 yr horizons to recovery.
Also one big thing…everything that is goiing up…it is related to demographics and the baby boomer bulge.
When they were streaming into college, enrollments soared…when they reached the house buying stage real estate soared, as they grew older and hit peak earnings the stock market soared because of this huge generational cohort pumping money into their 401k (ha now 200.5k’s)….the leading edge of the boomer cohort is reaching retirement age.
Up until now they have been purchasing, buying, saving.
Now they will start needing to liquidate and sell.
How many planned to sell the house up north for a fortune, cash out the 401k and retire in a small southern area?
Who are they going to sell their houses to? Who are they going to sell the contents of their 401k’s to?
My generation does not and will not have the ability to absorb all that they need to liquidate.
The generations behind me? They are facing a very dark night indeed and the stock market will be the last thing on their plate.
Buy and hold for those now nearing retirement is foolish.
Rsj things will get worse, they will get better, they will get worse, they will get better…It’s a speculation game. It’s like the weather: If you believe in global warming the earth is going to be dead and we’re all going to drown. OR the natural cycle of earth will take care of itself. I’m not going to sit and worry about my retirement. I’ve got family. If we all have to live under one roof to survive I’m good with that. Bottom line…all that matters to me. If I can sit outside in the morning and have my cup of coffee, watch the birds, and talk with my kids..life is good. I don’t have to have a house in Burmuda to be happy.
So what do we in our 40s do? Do we cash out the little we have now and buy gold? Keep it in the market? Put it under the mattress? I’m sincerely asking here.
Our financial advisor tells us not to worry, but it’s so hard not to.
Great attitude Bev and I bet that helps carry you through whatever befalls.
I really suggest John Ringo’s book The Last Centurion…it is a fun read, with lots of good info in it. (He was airborne, out of Ft. Campbell I do believe
)
The other michelle i really dont know what to tell you. This is a frightening time for finance. One thing i do believe with all my heart is that Paulson and Bernanke really truly were messing their pants in terror. I dont believe a darn thing else about them, but that I do.
Some stocks will rise, even in a free fall, others are dead zombie stocks alredy just no one knows it.
I am sorry I have no advice or anything positive to offer. I would if I did.
One poster I respect at another site basically said it was time to get right with your family if you had one, (and needed to get right, some families do not need that) bunker down and lower your expectations and pray.
rsj – you absolutely hit on one of the major problems… the generational thing. We (those of us after the baby boomers) can’t afford them and it’s a given we will either work longer, get less SS, pay higher tax rates, or all of the above. And that’s just to finance the unfunded liabilities yet alone all of this current spending.
The Other Michelle – I haven’t the foggiest idea what to do either. I’m approaching 40 and the best advice I can give is diversify like crazy including putting some amount in an easily liquidated place. Maybe someone else has a good plan….??
The Other Michelle… I’d stay away from gold if I were you. Back during the depression the government confiscated all the gold. If you kept your gold when the government told you to turn it in, you’d be arrested if you tried to buy something with it. I can very easily see Obama doing that when the next huge bubble breaks. So many people are buying gold right now. He sure is NOT going to miss that is where much of the money is now. It’ll either be confiscated or else somehow HIGHLY taxed.
If I were you I’d find a really good insurance company (NOT prudential or metropolitan). One that has not just a “stable” but “strong” rating and put it in a combination fixed/index rate annuity. There are no service charges there, there are guarantees, and you CAN’T lose money as long as the insurance company stays in business. They are also highly backed up by a special fund that all insurance companies that write in that state have to have. An index rate annuity is NOT buying stocks or bonds, but is based on an index of them like the S & P. If the market goes up you get the increases of the market; but if the market goes down you stay the same with NO loss.
Stay away from anything with the word “variable” in the name; these are invested in the stock market. An annuity like this is great for a younger person. Law has it that if you draw money out of it before age 59 1/2 you get a large penalty- making it ideal to save for retirement in. It also helps that all earnings are tax deferred, saving tax money.
Other Michelle: DO NOT buy out and buy gold. Gold crashes and if it does you’re screwed. Do you listen to Dave Ramsey? I love him. He’s an extremely smart money guy, has a radio show…I love him dearly. He’s not worried. Listen to his show and you’ll feel better.
Karen!! Obama is not going to come to your house and steal your gold =) GIRL…You need to listen to Dave Ramsey!!!! Listen to his radio show a few days and I promise you’ll be a lot happier. I wish I could convince you our economy is not about to collapse so you would not be so worried. Please…listen to Dave Ramsey. Go to his website!
The Stock Market goes up and down naturally also. My financial advisor said don’t put anything in you may need inside 10 years, just in case there is a big downturn. It will always go up if you leave it. I wonder if it will in a Marxist world.(????)
Bev, just remember my words. There is much much worse coming than what we’ve seen to this point. That reaching 90% of GDP so soon? That was without paying for Greece, without paying more for Fannie and Freddie, and without having to bail out states like CA. This is all besides the bills that- hopefully- will get repealed. The problem is the DEBT. Repealing the bills won’t make the debt go away. The debt will make the economy even worse. This debt is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. You can think things will be like before… but just remember my words later. I’m not listening to any one guy- I’m looking at the debt growing by the day.
http://www.tradingonlinemarkets.com/Articles/Economics/debt_to_gdp_ratio.htm
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread555483/pg1
I just hate seeing you this terrified for no reason. You’re operating on “What if” scenarios. What if an asteroid hits earth tomorrow? What if Yellowstone blows? What is a major earthquake sinks Memphis? I have several economic advisors I go with and also I have friends who invest and watch the economy closely and NOBODY I know is predicting what you are saying. Dave Ramsey (very highly respected) does not predict what you’re saying. I have an emergency plan. I am fully prepared if anything happened. Be prepared and don’t be so worried!! Life is too short to be that afraid!!
The real problem with these ‘educated’ people, and young people in particular, is that they have been taught all through school that Socialism is a ‘better’ and ‘more fair’ system than capitalism, and that the only problem with it is just that it hasn’t been done ‘correctly’ yet, we just need the right type of leader to make it work they way it should (I guess they mean Dear Leader).
It’s shocking the amount of indoctrination that goes on in public schools, down to elementary grades now. If I had young children today, I would MOST DEFINITELY home-school, and I work in the education business!
Isn’t that funny that the only time those moonbat liberals want to acknowledge American exceptionalism is when they say that America can do socialism better than the Europeans. Heck, even the Chinese are “financing” their socialist programs with capitalist endeavors.
I think it’s even funnier that the Chinese and the Russians have told us not to adopt socialism because they know no one can do capitalism like Americans! And, it’s the only way they will be able to collect any of their debt—Europe has bred generations of lazy wine sipping layabouts–who have real aversions to work. The Chinese are fundamentally aware that we eventually will in fact snap back to our collective senses, because an economic collapse of America is a worldwide collapse.
I guess they never get around to teaching the point that if Socialism really was a better system than Capitalism it would not be a colossal failure unless one right type of leader (or worse, one single leader) came along to make it work.
That is one of the best things about Capitalism. It does not need one “right type” of leader, let alone one leader, to make it work. It has room for everyone. When this generation of Capitalist leaders passes, there is another one right behind who will have their own great ideas that the free system of Capitalism will give them room to implement.
(Assuming O doesn’t destroy us first.)
“Hell, they aren’t paying attention to the collapse of Capitalism right here at home!”
What capitalism? The problem is not that the US is sliding towards socialism, it’s that it’s been there for a while and no one is prepared to take the necessary steps. The maniacal POTUS is exacerbating the problem as well. You’re a few years behind Europe. At most.
Lisette, I believe that is the point the previous poster was making. Capitalism is collapsing because of the likes of Barack Hussein Obama Mm Mm Mm. You and the other poster are on the same page, I believe.
IMHO: Additionally what these blinded people, and others, fail to recognize is the “present” economy being lifted and benefitted by favorable “tax positioning”. Individuals and corporations are rapidly moving and positioning capital while it is still worthwhile in advance of the looming tax consequences ahead. Things are actually much, much worse than most recognize. Obama’s disasterous tax increases are NOT being phased in over time, they are immediate upon receipt. He is doing the exact reverse of Reagan’s tax cuts. The average person does not recognize the economic lag created by tax policy that is not phased. By announcing and publishing the new tax increases Obama has created an environment where incomes, capital expenditures, inventory, and long term liabilities are being “positioned”. The true weight of these contracting revenue policies will occur over the next 12 months.
One of Reagans admitted mistakes in 1981 was his immediate tax cuts going in to effect in 1982. Companies witheld and deferred income reporting in 1981, and shifted as much as possible into 1982 (not collected by IRS til Q1 1983). 1981 and 1982 everyone screamed because tax revenues were extremely low, the economy lagged, and inflation continued. However, in 1983 the economy “took off like a rocket” by 1984 (election year) Reagan was a hero and won 47 states easily.
Obama is doing the same in reverse. Everyone is trying to shift their maximum income into the “now” and avoid the coming tax burden, that is why aggregate stocks values are stable, to modestly climbing, and things “appear” flat. The looming drop is going to be HUGE! and economists will call it a “double dip” recession. By 2012 (another election year) tax revenue will be at bottom, inflation will take hold, and the overall economy will contract further.
I predict the WH will use the cover of a conservative shift in congress, and senate, and will blame legislature for the collapse pointing out the requested stimulus spending bills that will have been stopped.
Additionally, the unemployment extensions (3 so far) when stopped (December) will take 5.2 million peoples unemployment checks away. Currently public sector unemployment is beginning to increase as local and state budgets and revenues reflect lower tax collections and federal bailout monies drying up. No more federal help to cover local gov’t payroll. This is all building to a crescendo in Q4 this year and throughout 2011 before everyone actually notices. The statistical “beginning of the spike” in governmental layoffs will be seen in Q3 2011. While this year many states public sectors overall will probably shed 1 in 7 jobs, by the fall of 2011 they may need to shed an additional 1 in 5 jobs.
During the presidential election of 2011, 2012 the exact same economic factors will be present that existed in 1979, 1980. Only with one BIG difference. THE DEFICIT IMPLOSION. This administration’s looming rocket is pointing down, and set for takeoff in Q1 2012.
Bush tax cuts expire. Capital gains rates increasing. New taxes on investment gains. New taxes on healthcare. New taxes on healthcare premiums that are now valued as taxable income. Reinstitution of the “death tax”. The new 5% “millionaires tax”. All of these tax impacts are strategically being lessened with current decisions by individuals and companies. This is part of the reason we are not seeing the extent of the problem… NOT YET.
The concierge in one of the condos in our neighboorhood is Greek..and he said their govt’s major source of money is tourism.He also said people dont pay tax,they have figured out all sorts of excuses not to pay taxes.
Wonder if those pesky little progressives will continue to look to Europe’s ever changing face back to what works? Good for the UK! What will the lazy entitled do? Dang if my gravatar doesn’t work pretty soon I’ll have to take up a new bad habit.
I had a chat with a group of Young European Leaders yesterday, who wanted to learn about America’s Tea Party movement. I have a formal opinion piece with the details being published Thursday.
My take: The representatives from Western Europe are clueless about the importance of free markets and personal responsibility. The pampered children of bureaucrats and diplomats have never had serious exposure to real business concerns. For example, the Irish delegate praised Ireland’s “free college tuition”. Huh! That tuition was NOT free — a bunch of Irish producers paid for a bunch of theory and indoctrination.
The Eastern European set was a little more keen on learning the practicalities of Tea Party activism.
There was a lot more I could say, but this gives you the essence of the experience. Europe’s chaos is going to become ours…one more time.
But we have our own chaos… doubly scary. Think of which countries’ economies are in the best shape these days.
Please post a link to your piece when it’s published.
Yes to paying attention. . .I can’t believe that we are borrowing money to lend to Europe to bail out Greece!!! WTF!!!
Impeach Nobama.
There is a Conservative columnist in Chicago, Tom Roeser — he has been around for awhile and is knowledgeable of all things Chicago/Illinois politics. His column today is one of the harder hitting — compares Nobama to Professor Hill — the con-man in the musical “Music Man.” starts in 2nd paragraph.
http://blog.tomroeser.com/2010/05/personal-aside-obamas-hollywood-style.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Tomroeser+%28TomRoeser.com+%3A%3A%29
Also reminded all of us that Nobama’s campaign still owes Springfield, Illinois $55,000+ from 2007!! Why can’t Nobama pay his bills? Can’t he just have his boss, Soros, pay for it!!???
The music man comparison is an excellent one… he came offering all sorts of goods… and it was a big lie.
There is trouble in River City….
starring Robert Preston!!!!!!
Like the rest of you I was not paying attention to Europe until this year, but only after it became obvious that Greece was about to collapse.
I have more or less followed what is happening in the U.K. for many years but never taken a whole lot of notice of events over there.
What changed me, and what changed my mind was the global financial crisis followed closely by the election of the effete occupant of the White House – a totally tragic mistake in my view. On top of that here in Australia we also elected the party whose leader was of an unknown quantity.
The things you did not hear about coming out of Australia was a scandal involving a senior minister and a Chinese woman who has connections with the Chinese government. She was giving the man presents that were undeclared and she was his landlady here in Canberra – hello, the man had become Minister for Defense and they were not worried? Instead of removing the man from his post immediately they allowed the details to bubble and bubble… the effete man who is Prime Minister would not take the necessary steps to sack the man immediately!!!! This same piece of KRUDD has wrecked the Australian economy in double quick time and then proposes a 40% tax on mining profits which is a massive grab for his socialist redistribution of income plans. Well guess what… mums and dads who have superannuation funds are going to find once again that the amount that they have in the funds will have dropped yet again.
The other reason that I am taking an interest is that if it has not already been reached, we are headed for another period of stagflation… and it will not be easy to correct the situation without there being a lot of pain.
My blog http://australianstagflation.wordpress.com/
is where I have been writing about some of these issues. I still need to find and do more articles on the situation in Spain and Portugal, and know little about what is happening in Ireland and Italy.
Keep in mind, that for more than 30 years I had not taken a keen interest in economics… it just happens to be my degree qualification!!!!
Are you saying that economics is your area of expertise?.. and that you weren’t paying attention to what was happening? If I’m understanding you correctly, I think we see why “the rest of the U.S.” isn’t. They aren’t going to pay attention until their pay is cut, their benefits are taken away, the stock market collapses and stays collapsed, and America is in so much debt that we have to declare bankruptcy just like Greece. The trillion (quad-trillion?) dollar question is this: who will bail America out when America collapses? America is always bailing out the rest of the world. Who will help us in OUR hour of need? My guess is “nobody”….. We’ve alienated our friends and tried to be buddy-buddy with our enemies since O is in power.
“who will bail America out when America collapses?”
Karen, there’s no one. China’s about to collapse itself. They’ve been artificially stimulating their own economy. No one else is big enough.
Me thinks, we are officially on our own.
…and THAT is just what I’m afraid of….
Yes, Felix is correct. China is also about to collapse because of a “property bubble”
I think India will survive it all.
But I can’t see them bailing out the US.
Cutting off ALL FREEBIES to illegals will get them to self-deport, believe me. And that will be quite a sizable start on the road to financial recovery. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars on them every year.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled circa 1981 that illegals have to be given free public education through 12th grade.
Right. Now it’s time to overturn a law that should never have been written in the first place.
Let La Raza homeschool the future ethno-separatist terrorists. Or Mommy and Daddy should pay tuition. Better yet, self-deport the entire family.
KarenWI my degree is Bachelor of Economics and Commerce from Melbourne University. The Economics was compulsory otherwise I probably would not have studied economics.
When I graduated the employment market was so bad that even graduates could not get work. There were very few jobs on offer all around the country. In the end I met and married, had my 3 sons and stayed out of the workforce for 10 years. Then we purchased a house.
I retired from the workforce for a few reasons – a second fractured coccyx, bone spurs in my heels making it difficult to walk etc. etc. plus the work itself was drying up. Besides that I hated doing credit control and having to call customers to demand their payments.
So no, economics is not my area of expertise. I actually prefer history over economics, and I prefer looking at the historical aspects rather than policy aspects of what these jerks are doing.
Aussie, I look forward to reading your blog…I enjoy your take and appreciate your knowledge of economic issues (I am economy challenged, beyond the basic knowledge that you cannot spend with no hope of repaying.)
Agreed, Aussie has good perspective. And a friendly smile.
The good news for UK is Gordon Brown is GONE. But I’m afraid even Cameron can’t prevent what’s coming there. The only solid European country that might prevail is Germany.
These people can’t learn from the Soviet Union.
Free health care and entitlement programs? you bet cha!
Germany is not as solid as you think.
I am still reading on the whole subject.
Anyway, I see that the eurozone will collapse in the future.
Cary great post! I had forgotten BO’s debt to Illinois taxpayers from ’07! Why is this not on a tv ad???? Please gravatar work…..Going to check out Tom’s column.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b180384_kristin_chenoweth_blasts_newsweek_over.html#ixzz0nbBvpeBn
Off-topic, I know, but ain’t she grand?
Kristin was being talked about on BigHollywood today and the posters Love-Love-Love that girl.
I’ve always liked her [since Pushing Daisies, anyway] but she has my respect now.
Can’t help but hope she winds up playing Dolly on Broadway.
Oh, that was fantabulous. Love her! Too bad the rest of Hollyweird are all a bunch of hypocrites. Kristin walked her talk. You, go, girl!
(I too miss PUSHING DAISIES.)
I’m finding it so ironic that as Italy and Great Britain are becoming more ‘conservative’ because their citizens are demanding it, America seems to be turning more ‘liberal’ whether their citizens want to or not!
November 2010 and 2012 is going to take care of that.
Right, on lulu!!!!
er, Right on, lulu!
In the next couple of year thousands of Eropeans will try to come here. Many new US citizens with British accent and they will not vote for Obama.
Sarah’s European tour in 2011 will be like a rock star tour. They need her there. They need a new Reagan-Thatcher to give them real HOPE.
And Sarah’s 2011 European tour will generate sincere enthusiasm, unlike Obamas ‘produced’ tour.
Our urban areas out vote us–so the rest of us have to get out the vote and pray!
In europe, there is no shame in collecting welfare. They see collecting welfare for life as part of their right being born. Most college students get on the “dole” in britain… no shame at all…
And now europe is at a point where the rich is gone, they have run out of other people’s money to redistribute to the mass who refuses to work. It is a downward spiral there and obama is leading us right into the center of it. (nationalizing everything)
Midas’s touch made everything gold, everything obama touches turns to lead, a dead weight, poisonous and should not be exposed to anything that wants to live….socialism is lead, and obama is leading it, and unfortunately there are still alot of people following it.
I have family in Europe… you are so right.
There is no shame in the dole.. NONE.
In fact. they are proud of it.. feel entiteld to it.
Europe is screwed.
We are going down the same path.. it is scary how STUPID Americans have become.
When all it takes is a pretty speech to ruin our country… that is pathetic.
Europe has been in an economic swoon since the 1973-4 Arab oil embargo and unlike the US it (witht the exception of the UK 1979-1997 under Thatcher and Major) did not get past the stagfaltion & high unemployemnt of the Carter age. Instead Europeans expanded their unaffordable statist welfare schemes and raised the vat taxes making life tougher which sent the birthrate into a swoon while fully installing the entitlement mentality. Now the piper must be paid and the continent has not one leader and public up to the task of facing its impending debacle.
Watch gold prices over the next six months. Yes the price of gold will undoubtedly go down temprarily but as the world’s fiat currencies are all failing as governments inflate the money supply ecomies will lapse into hyper-stagflation as was experinced in Brazil in Argentina in the last decade. In a year and certainly within 2 years gold will be onits waty to $2,000 an ounce.
In the Carter years gold rose from circa $46 an ounce to over $800. The Obozo administration will give us a replay of the that rate resulting in a gold price rise likely to the $5,000
range or higher.
A repeat performance of the hyper-inflation of the Weimar Republic, Brazil, & Argentina
since WW II are a distinct possibility. In those countries the only assets which survived the ravages of inflation were gold and debt free real estate.
The vast share of the American public under 50 can neither explain nor understand inflation, socialism, or capitalism and can certainly not grasp why Europe and Greece are imploding nor why those evnts thousands of miles away are likely to be visited upon them with a vengeance and fury.
I think Germany is a holdout in that regard. I go to Germany several times a year – mostly weekend trips to Munich but for a week to the Leipzig goth festival (world’s largest!) and they are an industrious bunch.
pretty speech, history erased, lies on top of lies, and protection of the media….only hope is that obama has really thin skin–and any criticism is taken to heart–even more reason to keep the conversation going.
obama cannot take ANY ridicules….this is his kriptonite—and as he continues to bend over for the saudis (literally) and bend over to the chinese (literally) all I can see is obama is cravin for a whippin….
And their birth rates, overall, are going down the tubes. The only thing generally keeping population afloat has been the influx of Muslim immigrants who not only come, but tend to have more children.
those Muslim immigrants have in fact been a real drag on social welfare. This is one aspect of what I have been writing about on my own blog.
What happens is that the Muslim men are continuing to have their 4 wives, but they set them up in separate establishments. The “wife” starts pumping out the children, and then claims the welfare benefits as well as the low-cost housing that is available to welfare recipients. Some even go as far as moving themselves into millionaires’ mansions and then demand that the local council provides the rent “because there is an entitlement due to number of children in the household”.
This is the reason that change has to come to the UK and other countries in Europe. They have to get rid of those families and send them back to their country of origin… let that country pay the welfare benefits.
they also don’t ALLOW their women to work
all women are to them are breeders for their sons
it’s amazing the attacks to Catholics and Christians are allowed to grow but ANYTHING negative about the muslims portraying the truth and the liberals attack not only the messenger but spin the messege into all sorts of lies
the media continues to harbor and protect them while Catholics are scorned for their beliefs…
I wouldn’t say that. Lead is valuable…about $1/lb. Obama’s touch is toxic.
more like everything Dr. U touches turns into manure.
cause he is manure
toxic and evil
I think the Palian Presidency should roll back ALL – or almost all – of the government programs/agencies/etc. since FDR. And bring on the Flat Tax, or Fair Tax would be even better.
Wish I could even dream of THAT happening… although SP with Bachmann and DeMint could really push it through!
I’m for no tax whatsoever except a national sales tax. Period.
As it stands now, Dystopia wants to sneak in a VAT on top of all the other taxes.
Is it November yet?
hillbuzz guys
Fiscal responsibility-and government would lead by example. Incentives for business growth and hiring, and everything not specifically in the Constitution if the government has taken it over would be sold at fair market value. This would be the start any law over 2 pages would be removed.
I have a few friends who are like money nerds. They know all this economy stuff that I have no clue how to figure out. They are concerned but they are not in panic mode. We have been in worse situations. When Jimmy Carter was president we had oil embargoes and gas shortages, inflation was 25%, interest rates were 17% and unemployment was 20%. Life surely sucked. Guess what? Jimmy Carter lost. And if our economy sucks in 2012 so will Obama. They can throw money at ACORN all day long but it won’t work.
What was our debt then Bev? Were we on the brink of losing our AAA rating as a nation?
We aren’t close to losing it yet. Some countries in Europe are, though. We’re not on the brink of collapsing. Back then we had a trillion dollar deficit. I remember the defit clock running during the Reagan years. I wouldn’t worry unless Obama gets his second term. If he gets re-elected and we can’t reverse the stuff he’s doing THEN I would worry.
I believe I had read that it was estimated that our debt would be equal to 90% of our GDP .. when? I believe it was less than 10 years away. Bev, even if we reverse the HCB, we’re still in really really deep trouble here. Reversing the HCB will help a lot; but it will not solve the problem. I think we’re going to be “hitting a wall” before 2012, if the economists I’m hearing are right. Just look at Freddie and Fannie now.. they need even more money??? We’re going to be needing to “bail out” some states, starting with California.
We are in danger of losing our AAA rating. I heard that 3 times in the last couple of months. Why is it being said if it isn’t hanging by a thread NOW?
No, this is a lot lot deeper doo-doo than we were ever in with Carter.
This is part of the problem… when even some of our own aren’t seeing how terrible the picture is, how can we expect others to see it?
Once a country’s national debr approaches 80% of GDP it becomes unmanageable and we are hovering at the 80% figure.
Inflation is spiking thanks to profligate gov’t spending hyped by Obozo and several recent auctions of T-bills were busts with the rates buyers rising.
The Us is at at the debt precipice now as is the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy & Japan.
Bev, I believe I read not long ago that our debt will be 90% of our GDP pretty soon. I don’t think that happened in Clinton’s time. Also look that we are bailing out Greece (WHY?), we will need to send MORE $ to Freddie and Fannie (WHY?), and we’ll need to bail out states starting with CA. All of this wasn’t happening in Clinton’s time.
All these things are IN SPITE OF the additional costs of the HCB and other things that (hopefully) the new congress/pres. will overturn. No, all this is much much worse than what you are seeing. And, no, I’m not a pessimist. I’m just watching what the economists are saying very carefully. Read between the lines and you’ll see a lot more “shoes to drop” that are much worse than anything we’ve seen yet.
I listen, too. I talk to friends. The economists can guess things. Nobody can predict accurately exactly what might happen. It’s all speculation. If an economist could say “This and this is going to happen and that will happen” and every single prediction came true he would be a very rich human being. There are too many variables going on. I guess I’ve been around a long time so I’ve seen the economy cycle a few times…and I do not see the entire economy collapsing. You know what? No matter how bad it gets if it does get bad as long as I’m healthy and my family is healthy and we have a roof over our heads and food on the table, I’m good. I could sit here and worry 24 hours a day and be miserable…OR I can have faith that we as a country and Americans will be just fine. I have faith =) I just refuse to spend every minute worrying to death. Life is good right now..We only have 9.9% unemployment. We need to pay off some debt but it’s nowhere near collapse.
The estimate of the soon reach of our debt reaching 90% of the GDP was WITHOUT our bailing out Greece; WITHOUT our bailing out Fannie & Freddie again; WITHOUT bailing out states like CA coming up. This is all without even figuring the plans like the HCB. I think it very likely that that estimate of when we reach 90% of GDP will be a lot sooner even than that estimate (which was soon enough by itself); and perhaps over 90% also. These things all figure in to ask “how” we’re going to get out of this mess. It certainly is NOT going to help get our economy going back up, nor is it going to bring us back to a “up and down” picture. It’s down down down – strictly based on our debt and how it is continuing to increase by the day.
Note: the estimate of our debt so quickly reaching 90% of the GDP was WITHOUT our bailing out Greece; WITHOUT our bailing out Fannie & Freddie again; WITHOUT the coming need to bail out states like CA in the near future. This is all without even figuring the plans like the HCB. I think it very likely that that estimate of when we reach 90% of GDP will be a lot sooner even than that estimate (which was soon enough by itself); and perhaps over 90% also. These things all figure in to ask “how” we’re going to get out of this mess. It certainly is NOT going to help get our economy going back up, nor is it going to bring us back to a “up and down” picture. It’s down down down – strictly based on our debt and how it is continuing to increase by the day.
when Carter was in control what you had was world-wide stagflation that was brought on by government expansionist policies.
This was also the era of the Whitlam government in Australia (we managed to kick the bastard out in December 1975) where Australian government spending went out of control. It was also the era of the former British Labour Government under Harold Wilson. The UK was turned around by Margaret Thatcher.
We also had the high inflation rates, high levels of unemployment and high interest rates.
The only difference that I see is that interest rates are being kept artificially low in the UK and the USA.
Here in Australia the RBA has been raising interest rates in an attempt to keep inflation low.
However, your true inflation rate is an unknown at this time because of the tampering in what constitutes a basket of goods for the CPI measure. The inflation rate is most likely a lot higher than you think. It will go higher if you end up with crap n tax or any of the other bloody-minded and stupid measures that the fart-sniffing elite want to introduce.
Yeah…and for that reason I think we’ll get in there and fix things before all the crap and trade and other mess can do any damage.
IMHO, What many people fail to recognize is the “present” economy being lifted and benefitted by favorable “tax positioning”. Individuals and corporations are rapidly moving and positioning capital while it is still worthwhile in advance of the looming tax consequences ahead. Things are actually much, much worse than most recognize. Obama’s disasterous tax increases are NOT being phased in over time, they are immediate upon receipt. He is doing the exact reverse of Reagan’s tax cuts. The average person does not recognize the economic lag created by tax policy that is not phased. By announcing and publishing the new tax increases Obama has created an environment where incomes, capital expenditures, inventory, and long term liabilities are being “positioned”. The true weight of these contracting revenue policies will occur over the next 12 months.
One of Reagans admitted mistakes in 1981 was his immediate tax cuts going in to effect in 1982. Companies witheld and deferred income reporting in 1981, and shifted as much as possible into 1982 (not collected by IRS til Q1 1983). 1981 and 1982 everyone screamed because tax revenues were extremely low, the economy lagged, and inflation continued. However, in 1983 the economy “took off like a rocket” by 1984 (election year) Reagan was a hero and won 47 states easily.
Obama is doing the same in reverse. Everyone is trying to shift their maximum income into the “now” and avoid the coming tax burden, that is why aggregate stocks values are stable, to modestly climbing, and things “appear” flat. The looming drop is going to be HUGE! and economists will call it a “double dip” recession. By 2012 (another election year) tax revenue will be at bottom, inflation will take hold, and the overall economy will contract further.
I predict the WH will use the cover of a conservative shift in congress, and senate, and will blame legislature for the collapse pointing out the requested stimulus spending bills that will have been stopped.
Additionally, the unemployment extensions (3 so far) when stopped (December) will take 5.2 million peoples unemployment checks away. Currently public sector unemployment is beginning to increase as local and state budgets and revenues reflect lower tax collections and federal bailout monies drying up. No more federal help to cover local gov’t payroll. This is all building to a crescendo in Q4 this year and throughout 2011 before everyone actually notices. The statistical “beginning of the spike” in governmental layoffs will be seen in Q3 2011. While this year the public sector overall will probably shed 1 in 7 jobs, by the fall of 2011 it will need to shed an additional 1 in 5 jobs.
During the presidential election of 2011, 2012 the exact same economic factors will be present that existed in 1979, 1980. Only with one BIG difference. THE DEFICIT IMPLOSION.
This administration’s looming rocket is pointing down, and set for takeoff in Q1 2012.
Bush tax cuts expire. Capital gains rates increasing. New taxes on investment gains. New taxes on healthcare. New taxes on healthcare premiums that are now valued as taxable income. Reinstitution of the “death tax”. The new 5% “millionaires tax”. All of these tax impacts are strategically being lessened with current decisions by individuals and companies.
Adding to Europe demise is the fact that they are quickly being overpopulated by fertile Muslims. Mark Steyn predicts that Europe will be 50% Muslim by 2050. Then we will see the great cathedrals torn down and vestiges of European civilization dismantled. The dimwit Europeans will submit to dhimmitude. Will there be another Charles Martel to drive the Muslims out? Don’t count on it.
The Europeans are idiots. They will be overtaken by muslims and they seem to think this is just fine. Europe, thought lovely to visit, is not a continent to emulate. They remind me of children, whenever I go there. So spoiled and entitled. And they say we’re spoiled and entitled. At least we work our butts off unlike them.
The Great Margaret Thatcher once said, “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
Europe [especially the PIIGS] has officially run out of “other people’s money.”
In this day and age we are being brain-washed into believe that socialism is all warm and fuzzy and cozy and you can take care of the world and the planet if you just believe hard enough.
Bottom line, feeling all warm and fuzzy and cozy because you are taking care of the world costs money. Liberal Americans don’t mind it costing money as long as it is “other people’s money.”
I totally admire Thatcher!
To many American’s Greece is a place, represented as a pie shaped wedge on the Wheel of Fortune spinner. Land on it, and a photo shot of the Acropolis will be on screen for about two seconds.
In the dumbing down of our education system, many (if not most) graduating HS seniors would think a Euro is a Volkswagen brand.
We need NOT look across the ‘big pond’ in my humble opinion. No…Americans should look westwardho…to Kalifornia to see what confluence of predatory taxes; enviro insantity; multi-culti BS; sanctuary cities; and a run away (ie, leave the sate) business base; plus swelled government boundaries; public service union giveaways (retirement at 53 anyone???); combined with social welfare programs run amuk has wraught.
Kalifornia IS our Greece. To BIG to fail, yet everything that is supposed to SAVE US ALL is EPIC FAILING in the Golden Gate State due to the idiocy of all I mentioned above. Liberals cannot see the damage they cause…they just think their programs have gotten big enough yet.
Greece IS Kalifornia.
Yes, and it is too bad Arnold became more of a Kennedy then the Fiscal-Conservative he promised he would be to get elected. I know he tried and was turned down by the voters BUT — a leader should never quit trying to do the right thing!
Seems like Maria Shriver helped to make him governor but seems gher Progressive-Lib influence has now been his undoing!
Hopefully Whitman will get a chance to try and turn around that state!
As someone else mentioned recently, it will be an interesting summer. California does seem to be about to hit a wall in the not too distant future.
Sort of makes you wonder why those who are running for it WANT to be CA governor…. I sure wouldn’t want the job….
Me neither!
BTW, get ready, I’m reading up on Katla, the OTHER volcano in Iceland. It looks like there may be a chance she’s gonna blow.
It is the last thing Europe’s economy needs.
If that happens, get the Victory Garden going and stock up on ammo!
(I really do have to stop reading bad news and posting during Happy Hour…)
Felix, whether or not Katla blows, I think people would be wise to get start planning for a rough patch, anyway. There used to be a lot of chatter about stockpiling food, water, etc. after 9/11, but I’m not hearing so much any more, although I know a lot of people are just quietly going about building a survival kit. They don’t want to advertist the fact.
I’m very concerned about stagflation hitting, driving up the costs of everything, so I am stockpiling as much as I can. It will be bad enough when items we can’t buy ahead, like gasoline, go through the roof.
Also, on the list of anxiety/possible panic factors are the other pots still simmering on the back of the stove that could boil over and send things into a panic.
The trouble with this administration is that every day there is some new dumbass distraction from the WH, so people forget that Iran is still working on their bombs, Hellcare is on its way and on and on.
I’m afraid it’s going to get ugly.
You guys have heard of the acronym “BLOAT” before, haven’t you? It stands for: Buy Lots Of Ammo Today
I guess I ran out of room for replying to you all, but….
I’m growing my own veggies and fruit and stockpiling everything. I’m even thinking about getting a bee hive kit.
I thought I was being an alarmist but, seriously, it all makes you wonder.
However, if Katla blows, trust me, Europe will be falling a lot quicker.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one on the list thinking the same things.
(Back to Happy Hour)
Moonbeam stuffed Kalifornia last time he was governor and he was recalled. Now he wants another shot to finish what he started.
I am betting that he is hoping that the voters will not remember that he was responsible for so much of the fiscal mess in the first place.
Also, I would like to add, there could be nothing worse for Obama’s socialist agenda than for Europe to be imploding right now. It is not really a ringing endorsement of the policies he wants to institute, right? How can he push for us to do what Europe did when they are falling apart? Americans aren’t complete idiots. They can see the writing on the wall. Even the rich liberals have enough common sense to know that if this country goes broke that means them, too.
I definitely would not go so far as to say that I’m rooting for more collapse in Europe, and quick… but it may be the only thing loud enough to wake up the sleeping Americans who are not hard-core idealogues. IF they even hear about it as it happens!
Between the union thugs and the new ACORN organizations, Obama is getting ready, but as he said, he will use a presidential decree to stop the election if it becomes necessary. We must stay engaged to win the battle.
Margaret Thatcher summed up Socialism’s demise when she stated “that it survives as long as there is access to other peoples’ money to sustain it”.
BTW…Plato (yep, Greek) in his Republic stated that pure democracy (socialism of the masses) could not work due to the fact the have-nots would be a majority that would always vote to expropriate the wealth of the haves, who would be a minority.
Nothings changed in over 2000 years…..
“Nothings changed in over 2000 years…..”
Yep, and counting.
Those who want will always turn to those who have.
I see on people’s blogs that they are paying tons and tons and tons of attention to it.
Most say it has only begun – this is only the start of the down fall.
What is of interest and I have been watching for an outcome over the past week has been the election in the U.K. There is no doubt that the Labour Govt in the UK had led the country back into a moribund situation.
At the end of the reign of the Labour Govt PC had become out of control. Christians were not even allowed to wear a cross with the nurses uniforms, yet Muslim nurses were allowed to wear the hijab!! That is so very unhealthy in lots of ways.
The situation with their schools has been out of control for a very long time.
I never liked Gordon Brown, even though he is from my ancestral home (my great grandparents came from Fife, which is where Brown is from). He made a deal with Tony Blair and then he pushed for Blair to leave so that he could become Prime Minister. Brown was never very strong and his ideas were just too socialist.
The Labour Party in the UK suffers from the same delusions about retaining power as one finds amongst the Democrats in the USA as well as ALP in Australia – encourage the type of immigrant that will give votes, even if that is detrimental to the rest of the country… that is how we end up with this horrendous situation with the welfare state and the drain that it becomes on taxpayers.
Here in Australia you only pay school fees if you send your children to Catholic and other alternative schools to public education. Actually the parents are asked to pay something like $100 per year at those public schools but it is not compulsory. Usually it is the pommies who will refuse to pay any form of fee and kick up the biggest stink about the wearing of school uniforms. The uniforms may not be cheap but at least it keeps down the cost of buying new clothes all of the time.
We have all been dealing with aspects of a welfare state for a very long time.
A welfare state makes people lazy and demanding.
I encourage any and all to wade into deep and difficult waters: Read Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged.” I helped get two people to read it recently–one is 43 and male; the other, 25 and female. They do not know each other. Both say they feel as though they are reading current events–in a novel written over 50 years ago.
Capitalism is tough. And it isn’t perfect. But it works. Although it doesn’t appear so, it is the most compassionate form of economy.
Socialism sucks the soul right out of you. Producers see no point in producing. Why work hard? The government is going to take it away from me. The loafers, who get the handouts, begin to demand more and more from the producers. And the looters, i.e., the government, steal more and more from the producers.
Eventually, there is no more to steal. And everyone is miserable–except those who have positioned themselves in power, like Barack Hussein Obama.
Exactly. And always note that in every socialist society, the people at the top in power, and their friends and associates, have theirs. Oh, yes, my friends. If those people were willing to live the government guaranteed life of poverty that regular people live, I could almost go along with it.
Where’s the part about how they developed a romance over reading Ayn Rand???
One the man is gay; the woman is married already. Sorry.
Hahah! I was waiting for the “rest of the story” too. Hoping it would be a nice romance.
Oh well…
A meeting of the minds at least.
You are exactly correct. Communism, socialism and liberalism share the slogan “From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs.” It is obvious to most people that in such an environment, it makes more sense to be needy than to be industrious. It’s simply where the incentives lie, and the rational person follows the incentives. This line of thinking is apparently a mystery to Obama.
Dr. Utopia & pals think only of the votes.
and rigging the system
they are socialist,
socialists are born liars,
and liars like them have no morals to means of achieving and keeping their power.
this explains how this bozo won
I just wanna add one little thing…if you can, read Rand’s ‘Fountain Head’ first, then follow with ‘Atlas Shrugged.’
Atlas Shrugged could be written today, real time. And Mr. Galt’s invention…(no spoiler) but prophetic or what???
cause when Rand wrote the book–communists then were growing in numbers—they were using the depression era to pass their lies about the virtue of socializing everything—but thank god the U.S. saw right through them—the difference now is the socialism package has changed but the evil inside the pretty wrapping is the same—it is means to control and stifle the masses from any individual freedom and growth–this is socialism, this is communist rule book….unfortunately with the unions controling the schools and teachers now—nothing of this sort is taught truthfully…
this is a translation of an article from a blog called “rebelles.info” on the european mess :
Quote
“Greece and the Euro have been “saved” by the emergency plan of the EU and the IMF this past week-end. For how long ?
The support fund of 720 billion euros has calmed the markets, on Monday, even if it does not change the insolvency of Greece who will have to repay its debts. It is hoped that the dreaded domino effect will not reach Portugal, Spain and Italy, not to mention France similarly weakened by its debt. It remains for policy makers, who have not demonstrated foresight in ignoring the repeated cheatings of Athens, to properly analyze the crisis that still threatens the euro area, although the deadline was extended. But this disturbance of Europe is not the fault of speculators, who only reveal the weakness of a construction described as exemplary. It is even less “the bankruptcy of liberal Europe” as stated by L’Humanité (communist newspaper). The euro crisis reveals the bankruptcy of the welfare state, promoted by the European social democracy and socialist ideology. Obviously, this diagnosis will be hard to swallow as it contradicts the dominant discourse on the merits of the nanny state and gouvern’maman (government mother). But it will emphasize the necessary cuts in public spending. The systems division will probably not withstand the brutality of the evidence, which requires the reduction of the scope of solidarity to the more disadvantaged and those within the french citizenship. Restrict welfare and call to the private market for pension funds or social insurance appear to be inevitable tracks. As it will become necessary to conduct official research on the real cost of immigration settlement and its future, with the latter, it seems, largely at the expense of the community (up to 30 billion by year in the most optimistic independent studies): all subjects openly unspeakable, but the politically correct will not be allowed to ban them anymore by necessity.”
Unquote
Will America learn anything from Europe failures ?
obama will only praise what is happening in europe—you will never hear obama saying any negative about the fall of the european finacial downfall because this is what he wants for us….the media spins and avoids as much as possible this story cause it will only bring light to the destruction that obama has brought to us in such a short time in office…media is as much to blame as they continue to protect this communist hog.
Interesting. Several thoughts. First, I dated a Bulgarian girl for several years (yes, she was goth and spoke 4 languages). She lived in Sofia. I visited a few times. Ugh. Talk about depressing. She admitted communism sucked (though she was born in ’83) but said that at least the Soviets allowed/encouraged women into professional jobs, like doctors, engineers, etc. I can’t begrudge that, but that’s not really the doing of the communist economic system so much as a reaction to an entrenched social dynamic. Second, I do get your Designing Women references. Watched it a few times when it was on. Actually a pretty good show. Third, notice the “regime change” in England just now? Fourth, ironically, Germany may end up saving Europe in the sense of becoming the model it needs to be. Now, I wasn’t around Germany in the bad old days, but I’ve never gotten a sense of anti-semitism or Naziism, etc., any time I’ve gone there. Hard-working people who actually are friendly if you give them a chance. The PIIGS should never have been let into the EU, but the EU was simply a cover for one-continent government.
Doesn’t the Bible say, and the Hillboyz shall lead them?
those women that work as doctors and engineers are paid as much as a store clerk…salary caps—sounds familiar?….didn’t our dear leader appoint a salary czar?
we might not be wearing the same grey jump suit as the communist did in china during their revolution but obama is determined to make us all the same, but diluting us to numbers and masses to control while him as his cronies stay in power.
controling our financials ( regulating banks) controling our life ( healthcare ) controling our food (m.obama’s food rules ) controling what we drive ( gm ) controling our use of energy ( cap and trade )
obama has the lowest of opinion for people—he puts himself above all—he lied his way to the top and now he’s laughing his a$$ off while scheming to stay in power…this is how socialist think, this is how they are to their stinking soul…this is why communist were kept on the outs during the early industrial years when America was growing—cause socials goals are to stifle growth, stifle new ideas and stifle individual freedom….
the proof is — watch what obama is doing with his other hand…while he shakes and greets with one, the other hand is holding on to your enemy.
I absolute agree about reaind Atlas Shrugged – it’s amazing the parallels to today.
One thing most people don’t realize is that America has already flirted with socialism in it’s earliest days, with the original Pilgrim colonies. Those of you who are new to listing to Rush Limbaugh may have never heard his annual show about the “Real Thanksgiving Story”. Here is the transcript from last year (sorry for the length, but it is important stuff that we were NEVER taught in school):
Well, I pasted it, but it might be caught up in moderation because of it’s length. Here is the link for anyone who is interested:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_112509/content/01125113.guest.html
Hell, even Mormons couldn’t make socialism work. We have an abandoned town here in Utah named New Harmony. Every other town in this desert flourished, in spite of the lack of water and vegetation but the socialists couldn’t make a go of it.
How many of you know about the story about the real Utopia? Have you ever thought about why we constantly talk about Utopia in such a way that it is like a slur or a smear?
There was an experiment in South America and the experiment failed…..
If you do not know about it, then I suggest that you find out.
utopia is sold as an end to socialism—everyone is the same, everything is the same we are all equal, we will all eat the same food, dress the same way think the same way, live in all the same houses (al sharpton)….utopia is sold as an end to cult followers….
UTOPIA does exist—IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM…..obama is treating us as animals, to be trained, to be herd, to be controlled.
Definition # 1 is from whence I personally derive my frame of reference for utopia:
Main Entry: uto·pia Pronunciation Guide
Pronunciation: yüprimarystresstomacrpemacronschwa
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
Etymology: from Utopia an imaginary country with ideal laws and social conditions (from Greek ou not, no + topos place) described in the book Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More died 1535 English statesman and author — more at TOPIC
1 : a place (as a region, island, country, or locality) that is imaginary and indefinitely remote
2 often capitalized : a place, state, or condition of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions — often used without article
3 : an impractical and usually impossibly ideal scheme especially for social improvement
4 : a romance or other work describing a utopia
credit line:
“utopia.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (12 May 2010).
And this is why I refer to the Prez as Dystopia:
Main Entry: dys·to·pia Pronunciation Guide
Pronunciation: diprimarystressstomacrpemacronschwa
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
Etymology: dys- + -topia (as in utopia)
1 : an imaginary place which is depressingly wretched and whose people lead a fearful existence
2 : a work describing a dystopia
- dys·to·pi·an \-emacronschwan\ adjective
credit line:
“dystopia.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (12 May 2010).
ACK! I meant to say that it’s the etymology (More’s work) that is my frame of reference. I think that’s true for most people.
My. Eyes. Hurt.
RUSH: It’s time for the traditional true story of Thanksgiving, as written by me in my second best seller of 2.5 million copies in hardback: See, I Told You So. “Chapter 6, Dead White Guys, or What the History Books Never Told You: The True Story of Thanksgiving — The story of the Pilgrims begins in the early part of the seventeenth century (that’s the 1600s for those of you in Rio Linda, California). The Church of England under King James I was persecuting anyone and everyone who did not recognize its absolute civil and spiritual authority. Those who challenged ecclesiastical authority and those who believed strongly in freedom of worship were hunted down, imprisoned, and sometimes executed for their beliefs. A group of separatists first fled to Holland and established a community.
“After eleven years, about forty of them agreed to make a perilous journey to the New World, where they would certainly face hardships, but could live and worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. On August 1, 1620, the Mayflower set sail. It carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by William Bradford. On the journey, Bradford set up an agreement, a contract, that established just and equal laws for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Where did the revolutionary ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact come from? From the Bible. The Pilgrims were a people completely steeped in the lessons of the Old and New Testaments. They looked to the ancient Israelites for their example.
“And, because of the biblical precedents set forth in Scripture, they never doubted that their experiment would work. But this was no pleasure cruise, friends. The journey to the New World was a long and arduous one. And when the Pilgrims landed in New England in November, they found, according to Bradford’s detailed journal, a cold, barren, desolate wilderness. There were no friends to greet them, he wrote. There were no houses to shelter them. There were no inns where they could refresh themselves. And the sacrifice they had made for freedom was just beginning. During the first winter, half the Pilgrims – including Bradford’s own wife – died of either starvation, sickness or exposure. When spring finally came, Indians taught the settlers how to plant corn, fish for cod and skin beavers for coats.
“Life improved for the Pilgrims, but they did not yet prosper! This is important to understand because this is where modern American history lessons often end. Thanksgiving is actually explained in some textbooks as a holiday for which the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Indians for saving their lives, rather than as a devout expression of gratitude grounded in the tradition of both the Old and New Testaments. Here is the part that has been omitted: The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belong to the community as well. They were going to distribute it equally. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community as well.
“Nobody owned anything. They just had a share in it. It was a commune, folks. It was the forerunner to the communes we saw in the ’60s and ’70s out in California – and it was complete with organic vegetables, by the way. Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first harsh winter, which had taken so many lives. He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace. That’s right. Long before Karl Marx was even born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what could only be described as socialism. And what happened? It didn’t work!”
“It never has worked! “What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation! But while most of the rest of the world has been experimenting with socialism for well over a hundred years – trying to refine it, perfect it, and re-invent it – the Pilgrims decided early on to scrap it permanently. What Bradford wrote about this social experiment should be in every schoolchild’s history lesson. If it were, we might prevent much needless suffering in the future. ‘The experience that we had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years…that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God,’ Bradford wrote.
“‘For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense … that was thought injustice.’ Why should you work for other people when you can’t work for yourself? What’s the point? Do you hear what he was saying, ladies and gentlemen? The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive. So what did Bradford’s community try next? They unharnessed the power of good old free enterprise by invoking the undergirding capitalistic principle of private property.
“Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products. And what was the result? ‘This had very good success,’ wrote Bradford, ‘for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.’ Bradford doesn’t sound like much of a Clintonite” I wrote then “does he? Is it possible that supply-side economics could have existed before the 1980s? Yes. Read the story of Joseph and Pharaoh in Genesis 41. Following Joseph’s suggestion (Gen 41:34), Pharaoh reduced the tax on Egyptians to 20% during the ‘seven years of plenty’ and the ‘Earth brought forth in heaps.’ (Gen. 41:47) In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves.
“Now, this is where it gets really good, folks, if you’re laboring under the misconception that I was, as I was taught in school. So they set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Indians. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London. And the success and prosperity of the Plymouth settlement attracted more Europeans and began what came to be known as the ‘Great Puritan Migration.’” But this story stops when the Indians taught the newly arrived suffering in socialism Pilgrims how to plant corn and fish for cod. That’s where the story stops, and the story basically doesn’t even begin there. The real story of Thanksgiving is William Bradford giving thanks to God for the guidance and the inspiration to set up a thriving colony. The bounty was shared with the Indians. They did sit down and they had dinner, and I think they had a turkey, but it was not the Indians who saved the day. It was capitalism and Scripture which saved the day.”
HB: I agree with all that Mary QC said in her juxtaposition of Greece and Kolliefornia. I’d go so far as to say that events here at home are paralleling those in the United Kingdom.
And that’s why, given that I (like many) have to be judicious with what little free time I have, I’ve been concentrating on events in the UK.
I, like Simon Cowell, was rooting for David Cameron, the Conservative candidate. As I understand it, because none of the three candidates (Brown, Cameron, Clegg [aka Eurobama])got a clear majority, the person with the most votes, Cameron, had to form a coalition with either Labor or the Lib Democrats or take the prime ministership but then be subject to gridlock by the other parties.
To me, the UKIP (UK Independence Party) is a kind of equivalent to the Tea Partiers. My favorite UKIPer is Nigel Farage, a member of the EU. He’s all in for sovereignty of nations, screw the EU, clamp down on illegals, stop pandering to Muslims, screw the euro…and like that.
I *think* the reason Cameron didn’t get the needed majority of votes is because…brace yourself…he’s not a true Conservative. (Echo, echo, echo…)
Had a UKIP candidate been running for PM, I’ll bet he or she would have won.
Anyway, I think the people of the UK are fed up in much the same way we are. I just think that, being the freaking wonderful pioneers and patriots that we are, Americans will stem the spread of socialism before Britons have had a chance to take it down in the UK.
If you want to begin to spread the word about what’s going on in England, then check out Nigel Farage on YouTube. I still say that the scene of his airplane accident is eerie in its absence of the kind of EMT coverage we’d get here in America. I posted something about it on an earlier thread. I’ll hunt it down if you want to see it.
Others here thought I was misperceiving it. I’m not so sure, though.
Anyway, with regard to awakening the sleeping masses here, I contend that visual images, stories in pictures, will go a much longer way to jogging the psyche than will words in most instances.
Of the uber-Lefters I know, they’re just not ready to be approached. I have to sneak in hints here and there.
We all must keep slogging along, which, of course, we already know.
Everyone should vote in their primaries, and I think we should do a money bomb for select Tea Party approved candidates in key states (like mine in NJ, where in my district there’s a GREAT Tea Party approved candidate for Congress, who can unseat career pol Frank Pallone (uber-Lefty).
If we don’t get the very liberal states moving in the right direction, we won’t get much traction in the long run. Think ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
Gotta run.
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cameron formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and is now the new PM in the UK.
Re what to expect here in the States: gird your loins, because the Socialist Demoncrats are going to fight back every attempt of ours to effect change (dump the old guard, dump Socialists, nix corruption, streamline govt, cut taxes, etc.).
It’s happening here in Jersey. Carla “Slut” Katz is representing the firemans and policemens unions against Guv Christie, over his changes to public-union contract terms.
They are WRONG. HE is RIGHT. And douchebag RAAAAAACITSTS in the State House are going to block hearings for his nominee to State Supreme Court. (Christie did not award tenure to the WORST justice in NJ Supreme Court history. He’s responsible for many, many terrible things in this state, none the least of which is releasing the disgusting cop killer Thomas Trantino, who tortured, humiliated, and murdered two really nice cops at the Angel Lounge in my hometown of Lodi when I was 8 (Sgt. Andy Voto and Rookie Gary Tedesco). It’s an infamous case; has made it on 60 Minutes, 20/20, etc. Dirt bag uber-libtarts have supported this creep all along. Justice John Wallace being key among them.
That cold-blooded murder shook our little town to the roots.
Anyway, libs will continue to make what I like to think of as their last stand. They’ll be litigating like banshees. We can’t back down.
Ugh, sorry about the many typos in my posts. Working on a deadline on a book by Alan Fine. My. Brain. Hurts.
(Good book, though.)
“…working on a book…”
Are you reviewing, editing, copyreading — what?
I only ask because I have been trying to find some way to get into copy reading/editing on line (much as medical transcriptionists do)– but am having a problem figuring out the hows, wherefores, who to go to for instruction/consultation, etc. – and, most importantly, finding some outfit that isn’t a ripoff or scam.
If this is what you’re involved in, I’d appreciate some advice.
(Sorry to be off-track like that.)
Solatarov: I am copyediting a book for Penguin. I’m a publishing professional who has worked in the industry for 30 years. The major book houses only give freelance work to those who have previously worked on staff and know the ms-to-bound-book process. (I’ve been a managing ed, copy chief, senior ed, etc., in-house.)
And we old timers are not getting enough work now that people who have worked in-house very recently are getting laid off.
To date, the only reputable online editing source I know of is Demand Studios. They pay a pittance, though, and the articles (which will be published on their E-How site & others) take much longer to fix than they’d have you think.
Also, again, you have to have had experience and know the reference standards (THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE, 15/e, etc.) inside out.
I do not recommend–at all!–trying to freelance in book or magazine or even online publishing; especially not now. Too little work for too many professionals.
Thanks for the information.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/deep_cover_at_organizing_for_a.html
This is very interesting.. Time to infiltrate???
http://marathonpundit.blogspot.com/2010/05/teabagger-attends-organizing-for.html
I’d thought about going to one about 70 miles away, but it looked like a multi-day thing – too big of a commitment for someone who has to work for a living.
Already doing it.
Two things to be concerned about the Europocalypse: Rusia and China.
If you don’t know China owns billions of our national DEBT…and Rusia…well, Mendevev will not be Puppet President for long.
If Obama is not stopped in 2012, Russia will cut the gas oil supplies and become the only economic superpower in the world.
The Obama-Biden-Clinton? regime will do NOTHING.
Europe will RGRET kissing this “Black President of Change” ass!!!
The Europeans were warned 20 years ago by Both Thatcher and Reagan to make sure they had other sources of gas and oil than Russia. But of course they ignored us, thought they knew everything….
Agreed. And in addition it proves (at least to me) the vision of Reagan/Thatcher when they warned against a European currency.
Like everything else…the Obots will not recognize this; and if the dollar tanks, can the soon-to-fail Amero be far behind?
Look also to how they are dealing with the Gulf oil spill…why today…no less an oil ‘expert’ than Sam Waterson ‘testified’ (ie, read, like a good actor) a prepared statement before Congress saying ALL US Gulf drilling should be HALTED IMMEDIATELY.
Whoa.
I guess our cars/trucks/public transporation will all run on those piles of Skittles the unicorns are pooping.
Me…I am not so sure I am sold. I am waiting til Pam Anderson weighs in on platform drilling.
(Insert any Tommy Lee joke you wish).
MQ-C
north koreans and the russians are working together to get a nuclear power “plant” set up in syria….
and no one can stop them, obama has bent over backwards to all the dictators of the world, and inturn no one really respects him, they are all laughing at him, obama has turned our presidents office into a joke….
Implosion is happening, will happen.
They speak of contagion, preventing contagion, containing contagion….misnomer in many ways.
Healthy economies would not ‘get sick’ from greece or ireland, or spain…it is the result of a global liquidity ocean, massive risk layering, living beyond means, promising the moon and pushing the debt further out so our children and grandchildren have to deal with it.
the major problem is the time horizon is speeding up and the bill is coming due far faster than the powers that be planned for or expected.
Also another thing to consider. They overestimated their intelligence and level of control over events. They meaning the financial and political wizards.
Consider our debt and china. It seemed really good to sell our debt to china, so they could make us cheap stuff, so we could buy it, then ship more jobs and business over there, then they had excess to invest so bought more of our debt, so we could borrow and buy more stuff and so on and so on.
What could go wrong? wait, what’s that? a Security risk? being in debt servitude to the biggest communist country remaining? Why, that’s craaaazy talk. Perfectly safe. If they endanger us in any way we will just threaten to default or devalue the debt. They cant risk losing trillions of dollars, so we are safe. we are the dominant one in this relationship.
meanwhile if they stop buying our debt, stop funding our good times, our jobless consumer society we stopt. shut down, no more money. Bam. Living on a budget.
So I have said previously here that we have china by the throat, but they have us by the balls. That is what I mean.
They are not buying our debt to keep us buying just because they like us…it is not a financial decision but a political one. They are putting those trillions on the line in order to pull the peasantry out of their poverty and jump start the road to the middle class. Once they have reached a point they feel they can do that they will cut us loose and love every moment of it.
Now I know this thread was started about europe, the pigs, socialism….but it is all connected. Bonds.
Banks and investment houses and brokers sold bonds. To pension funds, foundations, other banks, wealthy individuals. If they go down, if their are sovereign defaults it will cascade and the banks will have to publicly admit their insolvency along with the countries.
I am glossing over lots….this has been my hobby since 2005. watching the housing bubble and waiting for the collapse…which happened…watching it be ‘contained’ snort.
It is all interconnected,china being our debt pusher, us being debt junkies, the world flowing with cheap funds…everyone searching for yield.
Holding down interest rates was one of the most evil actions of this new century, so far.
Everyone searching for yield, needing yield, from pensions to countries to communities….layering risk upon risk upon risk…
U.S. exposure to EU bailout is $50 billion and counting:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/37084075
What’s the difference between bailing out banks and bailing out Greece?? With banks we get our money back with interests. With Greece we aint getting sh%%%t
greece has been allowing their government workers retire and collect pensions at the age of 50, and believe it or not—they allow the pension to be passed on to their kids!!!!!…. our bailout money is going to greece to keep the greeks at home sitting pretty and eating and living for free….
I don’t think Israel is in trouble like many other countries are, but interesting article anyways:
Welfare system could cause Israel to collapse, economist warns
http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/topofthetimes/topstories/la-fg-israel-idle-20100511,0,6313284.story
http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/the_failure_of_the_unfree_mark.html
“Times Up: Every 72 Years Is A Collapse
What we have here is the failure of the unfree market. That means the failure of Greece. And the other PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain). And Europe. And it means the U.S., too. It even includes the Great Recession. The modern welfare state is collapsing around us.
If you had believed in the 72-Year Rule, you would have seen this coming. The 72-Year Rule says the lifetime of any social order or governing paradigm is about 72 years. For example, how long was it from the adoption of our original Constitution (1789), which sanctioned slavery, to the Civil War (1861)? Call it 72 years. And from then until the New Deal in 1933? Another 72 years. How about from the Bolshevik Revolution (1917) to the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)? That would be 72 years again.”
“U.S. Debt Shock May Hit In 2018, Maybe As Soon As 2013: Moody’s”
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=532490
I haven’t BEEN to Europe since 2004 {WAHHHH! Sniffle! Ok, wank over} – most of my experience was within the Czech Republic, which, for a recent-former-Communist-satellite, seemed to be doing very well – they had NOT adopted/integrated the euro {it was used, but not mandated} – the city of Plzen was clean, people were friendly & helpful {sometime I’ll tell y’all about trying to find men’s suspenders in a country whose language was NOT Latin-based
}; of course, there was SOME degree of holdover from the Communist era – there was a guy who would stop in the pensione EVERY MORNING for his ~ 6 oz glass of no ice, no water Becherovka {their legal version of white lightning} on his way to work ……………. I had the opportunity to spend a week in Graz, Austria & fell in love with it – visited Munich for a couple of days – the Germans weren’t NEAR as open/friendly as the Czechs or the Austrians, but they were still pleasant.
One way to figure out how an economy is doing is via currency conversions {I use XE, they’ve been pretty accurate} – back in 2004, it was running ~ 30 Czech Koruny to USD $1.00, one Euro = ~ USD $1.50 – NOW, the Czech Koruny is ~ 20 to USD $1.00, while the Euro is ~ USD $1.26 {pretty good exchange rate re: Mexican pesos right now, too, FWIW}.
In our travels in Europe, we saw ‘cafe society’ {taking the TIME to enjoy one’s lunch/dinner, with good conversation an integral part}, but it seemed MOST folks had SOME kind of work they did, unlike Morocco, where I visited in ’95 – THERE, it seemed the vast majority of men spent their entire days in coffee houses, just yakking, exemplifying HillBuzz’ observations of Mediterranean cultural mores …………………. BTW, TRY finding a women’s restroom in Morocco ……………… AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!!
Semper Fi’
DM
I’m trying to remember, but many of the eastern European countries have a flat tax, and it’s relatively low (comparatively speaking).
cause there isn’t much to sell or buy
To the contrary, @ least in the CZR, I NEVER had problems finding items, whether groceries or luxury items {but, you DON’T want to try Czech ‘pizza’ – think matzos with cheese & a LITTLE bit of tomato sauce ……………. }
Semper Fi’
DM
I don’t recall any onerous sales taxes in Europe, FWIW.
I mentioned to a friend the other day about a ‘flat tax’ {in reality, I meant a consumption tax}, based STRICTLY on what one consumes/purchases – meaning abolition of the IRS & various other ‘tax collecting entities’} – he LOVED the idea, and wondered why it hadn’t happened before – illegals would pay it, same as everyone else, thereby putting SOMETHING back – I told him, because the IRS is yet another means of government control ……………
Semper Fi’
DM
Times Up: Every 72 Years Is A Collapse
What we have here is the failure of the unfree market. That means the failure of Greece. And the other PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain). And Europe. And it means the U.S., too. It even includes the Great Recession. The modern welfare state is collapsing around us.
If you had believed in the 72-Year Rule, you would have seen this coming. The 72-Year Rule says the lifetime of any social order or governing paradigm is about 72 years. For example, how long was it from the adoption of our original Constitution (1789), which sanctioned slavery, to the Civil War (1861)? Call it 72 years. And from then until the New Deal in 1933? Another 72 years. How about from the Bolshevik Revolution (1917) to the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)? That would be 72 years again.
http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/the_failure_of_the_unfree_mark.html
According to David Asman on FNC, the US will be liable for 200$ billion for the Greece debacle. If Greece defaults, which is highly likely, the sky’s the limit on how much we will be in for. In addition, this is money we are PRINTING. A year and a half ago, we had $850 billion in circulation. Now with this, we will be at $2.5 TRILLION that we have printed. Of course, the Greeks aren’t happy to give up their government retirement at 53 and their 14 months of paychecks per year. Government workers make far more than private sector workers, and private sector workers can’t retire until 64 years of age. And they’re killing people to keep that ability to retire at 53. Nice, huh.
make that government retirement at age 45 for some of them.
Two more things.
It wont be inflation or deflation we are facing. It will be both. Deflation in things you do not need and inflation in the things you do.
Jetskis….cheap on craigslist or parked in front of a house with a 4-sale sign
Electricity to run your food storage? expensive
Boat or Rv…..repo’s or 4 sale cheap signs
food ……expensive
Think of all the toys home equity bought. Cheap cheap cheap.
Food, energy, transportation,healthcare …expnesive
2nd thing is this. This debt implosion and cascade event will lead to absolute fear,chaos and stupidity on many many many different continents. Plus it will offer an incredible opportunity for those thinking they can succeed.
Prepare for war. Low level civil conflicts, large mult-border yet regional conflicts, to large scale invasion and surge nation v nation.
Oil producers being taken, liberated, fought over.
Muslim v every other relgion
Productive v loafers
Iran china and russia, with their puppets and sattelites, alone or together will have lots to gain.
Then figure in the fools who will think a nice world war will help save the economy. they never heard of the broken window fallacy i guess.
Then also the deflection of the anger of the populace too. Get them turned against a designated outsider and avoid the wrath of your electorate.
Oh and one more thing to consider. Chinas prior birth policy of one child. There is a dearth of females for marriage,dating, sex. Picture a cohort of young men aged 14-30, millions upon millions strong, with no hope for a wife or family or …well my guess is a cohort of cannon fodder was born.
Crazy times ahead.
My friend and I were in a long chat via posts on FB about the economy of Greece. Both of us surmised the economy was due to a bloated economy and even peosted links to back up this from NYT and WSJ. However no one else joined the thread. We even gave a shout out for other opinions. No takers.
Americans aren’t paying enough attention because the collapse is across the pond, not here. The reality that we are on the path to this same destruction hasn’t hit them.
For those who are frustrated with this ‘regime’ there is something we can do. Turn our frustrations into the energy we need to vote out the problem and vote in the solution in November.
The Democrats economic plan is clearly not working. It’s time to try the Republicans plan.
Exactly. We’re not in danger of collapsing. If we get Obama out we’ll be just fine. We’re well on our way to doing just that!!
Getting Obama out and repealing Obamacare won’t cut it Bev. I love your optimism here and upthread but unless we end the entitlements we remain in a most perilous place.
Our current fiscal position is unprecedented and unsustainable. Ramsey’s a good guy but he’s also a cheerleader because there’s nothing individuals can do about the approaching fiscal death spiral.
America is at the Mall, not paying attention to anything but buying new stretch pants and halter tops for the summer…Jug Ears is driving the US down the same train track that ends in a collapsed bridge, headed there full speed ahead.
Gold hit a record high today, and it will continue up. The Euro is going to tank against the dollar, and then, when the Yuan bubble in China bursts, all bets are off. The riots in Athens will sweep the continent like 1848. Inner City US will not be far behind when we figure out that worldwide, everyone is broke with the current system. After that…who the hell knows.
My recommendation….buy precious metals: gold, silver, and copper jacketed lead.
My dear, you forgot bullets and canned goods. It’s going to be a long ride.
By the way.. Has anyone thought of the old fashioned “emergency plan”? For example, if there was a fire in your building, where would you go and who would you rely upon?
Remember the old Fire Drills? Well, it’s time to revisit those old fashioned fire drills. Practice makes perfect. Have a list, batteries, disposable cell phones, canned goods, sterno, seeds, planting soil, a generator, AM radio and portable TV. Oh, and Monopoly…
Think of it as a hurricane party. Down here we’re always prepared. Just make ready. If the worst passes you can always donate your canned and non perishable foods.
“…copper jacketed lead.” as in : 230gr JHP 45ACP or 175gr HPBT 7.62NATO (M118LR) or 124gr 7.62×39 FMJ (Russian)
That would be “bullets”, better known as “ammo”.
Call me crazy, but I believe that one of the smartest protective investments anyone can make right now is a supply of… Non-Perishable Stuff They Need, at today’s prices.
That’s the most basic, minimal reason you’d need a source of valuable currency in some sort of crisis economy anyway, so why not do what you can to cover those needs directly, especially when it’s so simple to do? I know that my kids’ feet will continue to grow, and I’m starting to build up to having sneakers in the next several sizes to put aside. We will need supplies for cleaning, food, etc.
Marian, I don’t think you’re crazy at all. I’ve been stockpiling food for a while now, and it’s reassuring just knowing it’s there.
call me crazy but you do not sound like you are living in the greatest country in the world…..I guess obama is winning —he has turned this country into chaos,
the fact that we have to start to ration as we are unsure of our future with this obama is proof that he is leading us to our demise.
I am late to the thread (working trying to save a school from going under) but, Glenn Beck called it a few months ago-yes, sometimes he is good and sometimes over the top as we all know. He does have some facts and can connect the dots to the right stuff or should I say the Left. I could never understand how my 2nd cousins in France got a the whole month of August as off for vacation….oh, yes, they were/are Socialists in name only to get it. In Greece, do you really get to retire at 53 yrs old???
Government workers sure can…not private sector. Read this. There’s more around the web. Just google it.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/economy-watch/2010/05/greek_debt_bailout_concessions.html
while we work and pay taxes til we are 72 to collect….
Never give up on Who and What We Are. We Are Americans. Americans don’t give up. Ever. Under any circumstance. When we take the House and Senate in 2010, the House can take up Articles of Impeachment. The Senate will prosecute and enforce.
But this can ONLY happen if Conservatives (not a dirty word) recapture both the Senate and the House in 2010.
Republicans are the same as democrats. The Conservative movement could care less about anyone’s personal social beliefs (except partial birth and late term abortion which should be abhorrent to any thinking mammal).
Choose wisely, America. Our future is at stake, Either you keep the Progressive Agenda in full march, or you study your candidates and choose a Conservative.
Conservatives stand for fiscal responsibility, free markets, free people and small government. Really… that’s all we stand for.
Vote wisely in 2010.
For some strange reason, your post reminded me of the classic motivational speech that Bill Murray gave in Stripes:
John Winger: We’re all very different people. We’re not Watusi. We’re not Spartans. We’re Americans, with a capital ‘A’, huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We’re the underdog. We’re mutts! Here’s proof: his nose is cold! But there’s no animal that’s more faithful, that’s more loyal, more loveable than the mutt. Who saw “Old Yeller?” Who cried when Old Yeller got shot at the end?
[raises his hand]
John Winger: *sarcastically* Nobody cried when Old Yeller got shot? I’m sure.
[hands are reluctantly raised]
John Winger: I cried my eyes out. So we’re all dogfaces, we’re all very, very different, but there is one thing that we all have in common: we were all stupid enough to enlist in the Army. We’re mutants. There’s something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us – we’re soldiers. But we’re American soldiers! We’ve been kicking ass for 200 years! We’re 10 and 1! Now we don’t have to worry about whether or not we practiced. We don’t have to worry about whether Captain Stillman wants to have us hung. All we have to do is to be the great American fighting soldier that is inside each one of us. Now do what I do, and say what I say. And make me proud.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37097991/ns/politics-capitol_hill
Here’s some happy news. A Dem in WVA lost in the primary because he voted for O-Care. The tide is turning my friends….
I just saw that…and came here to post. Well done Moutaineers doing the House cleaning!!!
Now…has anybody seen Robert Byrd in the last year or so??? Meaning…is he still alive??? Honest. I find the Democratic Party of today THAT lacking in ‘truthiness.’
Now…Boyz…a Sugarbaker reference, on socialism and NO reference of the ‘working class’ CHARlene??? (I loved how Dixie prounced it!!!). According to the pandering Dems…CHARlene and Anthony were ‘oppressed.’
Could anything be further from the truth???
not fast enough–we are still stuck with obama for 2 more years after November…..
not only does obama need to be made into a lame duck, he needs to be exposed so he and his commie cronies can never show their faces in America again….that is why he bent over so low to the saudi king….obama will need his protection under his tent
http://www.daveramsey.com/
Dave Ramsey is a financial expert and he has a radio show. He’s from Nashville. He is also on Fox a lot. I’ve been listening to him for years. He has programs all over the country where you can go called “Financial Peace University”. I live by his principals. I have complete and total 100% secure mind about my money and future. No matter WHAT happens. Anyone who is worried, concerned, fearful…I recommend you check this guy out. He will ease your mind and if you have questions about what to do he has the answer. He debunks a lot of things. I’ve heard scary things at times and have gone to him to separate the truth from fiction. I’ve been following his program ten years and he has never given me bad advice or been wrong about what to do.
German feel they are the “Schmucks” of Europe. Serves ya right Merkel for listening to Obama.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1277393/We-schmucks-Europe-German-medias-verdict-anger-Greek-bailout-swells.html
Short the EURO. I am.
http://tinyurl.com/ShortEuro
An economist from MIT was speaking on the program “The World” on NPR (I know, I know) today about Greece and the larger implications for Europe and the U.S. She echoed much of what Mr. Kohlmayor wrpte in a piece over at American Thinker yesterday. The short version is: Yes, we are headed down the same path and if we don’t take drastic measures to avert it, it will be here in 5 years, 10 at the most. Ain’t those golder years just looking better and better? (Not!)
Debts, welfare state and cost of immigration are the reasons all member states of Europe are failing. Does it ring a bell ?
I think that the welfare state actually precedes the other two conditions… first they start making the changes to pensions and the like… then the migrant influx begins… followed by the mounting debt because too many are sucking at the govt teat…
The migrant problem in Europe is huge… they should have sent a particular group of migrants either back home or to Saudi Arabia where they would fit in better……
great comment from you, thank god i am not alone on earth ….
Sounds very familiar!
It’s looking more and more like California will be the first of our states to fail. It is a big welfare state, has huge debt (even though it has a high tax burden), and illegal immigration is a big problem there.
“16 Reasons Why California Is The Next Greece”
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-california-is-the-next-greece-2010-05?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CS_COTD_051110
From what I’ve read about the situation in France, the similarity with California (or is it the other way round?) extends to the great number of gated communities to be found in both.
The truth is, half the country has their fingers stuck in their ears and are singing “lalalalalalalala.” They don’t see what’s happening and, if they did, they wouldn’t care as long as “Dancing With the Stars” was on.
Unlike we attentive patriots who can multitask. DWTS is an hour or two of relief for us.
That’s my take except I think it is more like 60% that are clueless, and another 20% are actively on the side of the Socialists. So few people pay close attention to politics it sickens me. In any case the party is over, though few people realize it or are willing to admit it yet. These “bailouts” are just shuffling debt around and never address the real problem of the accumulated debt and continued deficit spending. There is going to be massive unrest when people in the middle class finally get hit over the head with reality and see their standard of living falling rapidly, which will make the last two years look like good times.
Those that see it early, like people on this site, may be able hold on and avoid total catastrophe. At least it won’t be such a surprise when it happens. However, for most people who spend their time watching the MSM “McNews”, American Idol and ESPN there is a rude awakening in store for them.
One British paper I read last night, said a German paper came out with front page title: “We are the schmucks of Europe”…referring to Germans.
Further down in the story, it stated that there is a rumor going on within Merkle’s party, that a coup is being planned against her.
What a lovely word, “coup” is…when it is needed!
I had a great education on Socialism when I was an exchange student in France at 17 years old. I purchased a pack of cigarettes, and everyone in my host family asked for one. I cracked a soda, and took a sip, then my host sister took it, sipped it, and handed it to one of her friends. By the time it got back to me, it was empty. Nobody seemed to care that I was a student, traveling on a very limited budget. The fact was, I had something they wanted, and they were not ashamed to take it and leave me with the empties. When I asked why I was expected to give away most of what I bought, I was told (with the characteristic French Shrug), ‘C’est la France. Nous partagons.’ Translation: ‘This is France. We share.’
That didn’t feel like sharing to me. I bought something for myself, and everyone else took without giving back. It was a very tactile lesson in wealth redistribution, shown to me in examples I could easily understand as a young person with an aversion to economics and math. That experience will stick with me for life, and now we’re all getting a bitter taste of it on our home soil! *anger*
your story and experience needs to go viral.
Indeed it does! I see a YouTube reenactment in someone’s future. Maybe Machosauce, together w/the Breitbart folks, will act it out for you in a vid.
I’d love to distribute the lesson I learned to a broader audience, but I’m technologically challenged. If it resonates with you, please feel free to copy/paste into other blogs, turn it into a YouTube video or whatever you like! People need to realize that under socialism, ‘sharing’ only goes one way: out of your pocket.
are you sure they were french ? how french ? Where from ? they spoke french, fine, so they were french ….. Are you sure they hosted you out of friendship or just to earn money (which happens …). Obviously, they were rude and had no manners. I’ll tell you a story now. I went to college in the usa a long time ago. People were so nice with me (sometimes too nice, just because i was french i am afraid …), so friendly, showing me different areas, inviting me to their homes with their families. I had the most interesting and worthy experiment. I met so many friendly, great people with whom i still have close relationship. Just as some sort of payback for the excellent memories and experiment, when i could, i hosted in my home an american student, for no payment, as a guest. I got the student registered in highschool with my own child, which was not easy, considering her level of education. The experiment was to last a school year, from september to june. I am sorry to tell that after only two months, i had to ask the exchange student organization to find another home for the student. Why ? she scared us, she was so weird with everybody, she turned my daughters off. Her parents would send her huge parcels full of candies every week, and she would never offer anything, she would place huge yellow tape NO TRESPASSING, like on a crime scene, across her private bedroom door, etc, etc, just weird, rude, unfriendly, i guess just to bug me. During the discussion we had with the head of the exchange student organization, she said loudly to me with resent :”you are the boss here”. After she left, i found that she had hidden books she got from the school (books she should have kept clean and given back), the pages were all covered with strange drawings with flying bullets, gun machines and nasty comments. Enough with my story. I would never talk about the american people as a whole from this nasty experiment. This young woman had nothing to do with any of the wonderful people i had met in the us
I am English and lived in England from 1955 until 1996 when I moved to the US. I visited France many times as well as lived there for a while and never, ever had that experience. The French people I knew were always kind and giving. Your experience is yours to share of course, but I personally don’t find it an accurate one. Things may have changed since my last visit but I still meet a number of French peolpe every year and my opinion hasn’t changed so far.
I do have a story about the UK though. Before Obamacare was passed I was exchanging emails with my big sis who has been a doctor in the National Health Service in the UK for the last 30 years. I was telling her what a terrible thing it woud be to pass here in the US. She said that she didn’t find the NHS all that bad. It was the government that was the problem. If they’d just get out of the way it would be fine. Left me speechless. The NHS IS the government but she didn’t even realize it.
Nationalized industry has been in the UK so long that people don’t even realize it means the government owns it. She can’t be alone. It has been there so long it seems normal. Labour gets in power and nationalizes and the conservatives come back into power and sell it all off again, except for the NHS which is such a huge monster, employing a third of the workforce in the UK, that is impossible to dismantle.
Growing up in that environment, you’re just glad that you can go to the doctor when you need to. You think that because you pay UK social security tax, you are entitled to that. That is what the tax is supposed to be for. It was 15% of my salary when I worked there last so why wouldn’t I feel entitled to it if I had paid for it? I don’t think that is wrong. What you don’t realize is that the government is spending that money on something else. Even when I was in my 20′s there were horror stories of people left dying and dead in the hallways of the ER, waiting for attention. The unions had become so powerful even then that if a nurse dropped a soiled bedpan on the ward, she was not allowed to clean it up because that wasn’t in the job description. The cleaning staff had to take care of it. Filth would be left until somebody was available. There is no doubt in my mind we are heading in that direction at an accelerated rate in America. But past experience doesn’t matter. Liberals only look forward to Utopia. They want to blaze a new trail. They never look back because they are not those people who failed before, so what culd they possibly learn from them. They are intelectual elites and they know best.
Easy answer: we’re going to bail out Europe.
I’m married to a Brit–now a naturalized U.S. citizen. But, as they say, you can take the boy out of England, but you can’t take England out of the boy. Over the years, I have watched as he keeps returning for visits to his home country, vainly searching for the England of his youth. There are isolated pockets where we can play “Lets Pretend” that things are not falling apart, that England could actually protect itself in case of invasion–all those past glories. But 60 years of socialism have hollowed it out, and the multi-culti indulgence of its (now) domestic enemies threatens its very existence. I wish Cameron all the best, but I’m not optimistic.
I’m guardedly optimistic.