As many of you read this post, it will become obvious that it is not as structured, researched, or probably as good, as my typical style. But time constraints and lack of patience for our current national leaders has left me no choice but to do a 'ranting-post'. So my apologies.
With my disclaimer out of the way, I can continue on with my thoughts. President Obama went on his, what I'd like to call, "Outrage Campaign" last week. His outrage is in unison with the majority of American's who are outraged with Wall Street's actions, government bail outs, etc. One remark summarized his thoughts, "How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?" I would like to rephrase his statement, hopefully without changing the meaning, but proving a bigger point:
"How dare AIG continue doing business as usual?"
What did the government expect? They give hundreds of billions of dollars to a failing financial institution, which is failing because of horrific business decisions, greed, and lack of regulations; put zero, ZERO, restrictions on how the money is spent, and they are shocked that they are continuing on as usual? Those of us who were opposed to government bailouts from the beginning could see this coming. And yet, they are still "too big to fail". The Federal Reserves is now discussing using trillions, trillions, of dollars to buy "toxic assets" to bailout suffering institutions. The Treasury Department is also considering similar plans. What does this excessive, ridiculous spending mean for us? The Middle Class?
President Obama's entire campaign revolved around restoring and uplifting the middle class. "Oh yes, we can!" How does his latest actions affect those who got him elected? I believe that the trillions of dollars that the government is spending to "stimulate" or "bailout" or "rescue" our financial foundations will inevidibly and absolutely result in massive inflation. The government is counting on this. If the dollar inflates, than in 5 years or 10 years when the taxpayers are expected to pay of this blackhole of endless debt, the trillions of dollars won't seem as much, because the dollar is worth so little. Who does that hurt the most? In my opinion, the middle class. We are the ones putting money away for savings, retirement, college education, etc. And when the value of the dollar decreases, which increasing the money supply without the assets will do, it will be worth less. I see all of these "rescue efforts" as tipping the first donimo, and President Bush and Sect. Paulson started it. The domino's that will inevitably follow are massive inflation, increased unemployment, higher taxes, all of which could turn this deep recession into a depression.
8 comments:
I was listening to Dave Ramsey the other day. He has so much common sense when it comes to finances. He said that we are "stimulating stupid" I though he was dead on. If you had an irresponsible brother that kept coming to you for money, would you keep giving it to him or would you finally have to say, OK you need to figure out how to be a big boy and do it on your own. What do we expect when we stimulate stupid!?!?!?
OK, so let's pretend for the fun of it that we are the rulers of the world. What is a better solution? I have thought and thought about it, and I can't think of a better solution. Doing nothing is not an option, so what would be better then what is going on now?
And Jen- how is that baby of yours doing? We need another update!
To Ben and Christina: You really need to rethink your previous statement. Have you NEVER been told NO in your life? Were you always given what you wanted even if it was poisonous, wrong or otherwise dangerous to you? Things fail in this life. . . it's called reality! This economy will fail and it will fail badly because the idiots in Congress, Obama & Bush brought in on by not saying NO. You do not keep throwing good money after bad. Take an economics course,grow up and face reality.
I find it simultaneously humorous and frustrating listening to all of you recite your favorite political commentators and summarize your favorite news broadcasts with such confidence and authority. The bottom line is that none of you have the slightest understanding of the tangled mess that is the world's financial system. Indeed, very few if any do. Nobody likes bailing out these banks, not even Democratic congressmen, if for no other reason than their own elections next year are at stake. The issue is that these mortgage backed securities have been so chopped up, subdivided, recombined, and re-sold to the highest bidder, that when these banks fail, ordinary citizens, ethical business people, honest municipalities, school districts, etc, etc all go down with them. Entire towns went bankrupt when Lehman failed. Honest, responsible people have put their life savings and their institutions' future into stocks and bonds and we all stand to suffer much worse than inflation if these banks go through un-managed failure. Now, if you have a better solution than those currently being discussed in Washington, London, and Berlin, then you are ten steps ahead of the brightest financial minds in the world. We have bigger and mutual problems to solve before we play the blame game. Now grow up and go take an introductory finance course!
Christina, my first step would be to put the regulations that should have been there during Bush's 8 years on the financial institutions, to prevent this catastrophe from happening again. Second, I would have made AIG file chapter 11 bankruptcy, their contracts (including the hundreds of millions of bonus money, which the members of congress now admit they knew about before the bailouts) would have been void. I absolutely believe in the free-market system, and that includes irresponsible companies failing.
Gross Clan, I have taken an introductory finance course, being a voracious reader, graduating in history and political science, I feel I have a slight understanding. (Definitely not more than slight, and would never put myself ten steps ahead of the "brightest financial minds in the world). And the first finger of blame would be pointed directly at Bush. If you have followed this blog, you would remember my adamant opposition to Bush's financial policies. It has nothing to do with politics, all I have to offer is nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense...(Thank you Thomas Paine)
"Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil."
My point, the more power you give government, the more you corrupt the people in government and take the sovereignty from the people. The government should be the protector of the people, not the provider. These companies should have been regulated, and in Paine's opinion, the government should "punish" them, not feed their addiction. And if you look at those who are in London, Berlin, Tokyo, who are at least 6 months deeper into this crisis than us, have their bailouts worked? No. Japan's finance minister has stepped down, UK's is now saying they have no more money to give. Rewarding bad behavior, no matter the consequences otherwise, is never a good policy.
And is the golden rule of arguing a conservative is to assume we are blind followers of "political commentators"? I wouldn't assume Christina or other liberal's who comment on my blog are Obama brainwashed victims who fall in line with their fearless leader.
Sorry OkBushman but I must add to your last comment, there's a big difference between liking your president of the United States - a man clearly trying to make his best decisions for the good of the entire country (whether you agree or not with what he's doing, it can be said at least he's doing something,) and liking a big fat guy that sits behind a mike all day with no credentials whatsoever.
Not that you like Rush or his copatriots, but ALOT of mainly conservative men do. These men clearly control your party right now. These are the men (and a few women - the fact that only 24 percent of conservative women tolerate the guy speaks volumes for our sex) who actually vote in the primaries effectively weeding out the moderates. They worship these radio shows in a way that liberals never will. Liberals tend to worship their causes rather than people.
I'll now retreat back to the darkened liberal hole I came from before your friend's fury is unleashed because I dared speak on your blog.
Hope the baby bump doeth well.
Your sister-in-law tells me your other sister-in-law doesn't like me much. Surprise, surprise.
Lula, welcome back to the eternally damned zombies who worship the gluttonous Rush and any cult leader who labels themselves conservatives! And I will give you the fact that a lot of conservatives are listening to Rush. As far as idol worship, I would argue that the percentage of those who "worship" Rush is the same as those who "worship" President Obama. But the wide majority of those of us who pay attention to politics, don't blindly agree with everything our "side" says.
But, lets get back to the issue presented. When will the govt say enough is enough with these companies? And how much power do we dare give the govt? Especially the federal govt?
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