As one whose parents had trouble finding food for us in the Great Depression, let me say how astounded I was some years ago when in the US Reagan et al dereguated and dropped many of the controls of banking and the stock markets, controls that had been put in place by the big bad Democrats after the Depression and which Reagan and his gurus in their (lack of wisdom) abandoned in the 1980’s and 90’s on the advice of their own guru of the “free market” whose name has fortunately dropped out of my register.

Now Bush and his shrubs are making the American Taxpayer, (and to some extent the rest of the economic world,) pay for their foolishness. All that has happened is that wealth is more concentrated in the hands of the already powerful and wealthy, with less fo UNO WHO. In the meantime, the entreprenuers have moved production off shore so you now owe your national wealth and soul to China.

It might just interest you that in that Great Depression and economic meltdown Canada had not one bank go under - a different system of controls than the US but nevertheless our country suffered just as much as the great engine of the economy to the south of us because of the economic overlap. It was not considered unfair that a few American moneymen jumped out of windows. 

While much of this covering-off is to keep the rich wealthy, in the long run some of it will keep your children from being visited with a catastrophe such as many my age lived (and died) through. A great argument for a mixed economy and a strong hand to restrain the likes of Bush, Rove, etc etc ad nauseum.  You guys only had one revolution, huh?

Has anyone else picked up on the complete and utter irony of this whole mess?

The “every man for himself / I got mine you’re on your own” mentality is totally organized as one profound entity of wealth, greed and power and is difinitively kicking the proverbial ass of the progressive “we are all in it together” mentality.

So it’s all right-out-in-the-open now.  The entire financial system is one big “confidence” scheme. The thing is, theamericanpeople went along slap-happily with it for generations believing they were among the con-ers rather than the con-ees.  SURPRISE!!!!

It remains true that honest persons living with integrity in organically functional communities (not the counterfeit random collections of ersatz “individuals” that’re the ubiquitous ringers for those here in these latter days) aren’t nearly so easily fooled.  “Individuals,” however, are themselves fraudulent constructs (cheap imitation plastic substitutes for free wild natural Persons)....not to mention the perfect prey for the global gangbangers using “Wall Street” to not only eat the “Mainstreeters’” lunch again this week, but to frighten and force them into intended-to-be-permanent wage/debt slavery. 

This is an accomplished fact today, tame Two-legged Sisters and Brothers….unless you get together to repudiate the debt, take the lumps you’ve got coming for your own complicity in the attempted rape and murder of our Mother Earth, and abandon the killing contraption called “civilization” for the Song ‘n’ Dance of Life Herownself.  In short, what ails you is not ideological or institutional or electro-mechanical….all nothing but various forms of UN-natural “male enhancement,” in any case.  Your near-terminal difficulties are altogether BIOLOGICAL!

So is the remedy….call it the Tiyoshpaye Way.  There are still enough of us surviving primitive Savages around to help you see your way clear back into it, too.

HokaHey!

I don’t have time to listen to something like this.

Please do your column in writing.  I can read faster than you can talk.

thebeerdoctor - yeah I have noticed. It took, what, two months before anybody could bear to utter the word ‘recession.’  Economy-types got over that hump.  Is ‘depression’ far behind?

People are guessing that these little bail-outs will cost ‘us’ $500 billion, which probably means closer to $1 trillion.  Interestingly, the FDIC has about $23 billion in reserve to cover government insured bank deposits - and I think that’s the outfit put in place to prevent individual bank-account wipe out that happened shortly after the ‘Crash.’ Pretty anemic protection if you ask me.

Time for a beer.

R word, you mean Reagan?

re: felicity

Felicity, have you noticed how the big D word is out of the bag? Back in the crash of 1987, using the word depression was the third rail of American economics. Not any more. This is surely a sign that something has fundamentally changed, and all the liquidity in the world can not reverse this fact.

re: Fahrenheit 451

Sometimes a poetic blunt object fits the purpose of the writer quite nicely. Sometimes fiction has a way of sneaking up on reality. Sometimes eclectic emotional observations are a viable avenue to express what appears to be overwhelmingly incomprehensible events. Sometimes it is necessary to forgive the internet peasant’s obtuse, silly and irreverent comments, simply by chalking it up to the fact that such rants are happily harmless.
Peace.

Dr. PhD PhD - take the hit now (depression) is certainly an option, sort of a bloodless revolution.  We had a bloody one in the 18th century, France in the same century, Russia in the 20th century.  Regimes were toppled never to rise again - at least not in the same clothes.

I wish I knew if we’re printing money in the basement of the WH.  I also wish I knew who’s profitting, and knew they would, big time by the bail-outs and who profitted big time by causing the need for the bail-outs. 

I’m not advocating the guillotine or tearing them limb from limb like Russian peasants did to their exploiters, but a nice long prison term would be just fine.

Outraged,

I will ask to god, if he or she give everyone back their house and give the Wall Street people back their greed.  While he or she is at it maybe he can give me a yacht and my own oil well.

@ Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD;

You’re asking a species to stop their extinction.  Impossible!  It’s every human for themselves.  The intelligent among us will flee to obscure foreign lands.  Third world countries with ATM’s so we can access our retirement accounts; in western countries, for the little, but adequate amounts of cash necessary for a good quality life.

Would some of you who know even more than I help answer some questions I have?

1.  Is “infusing a huge amount of capital into our economic system”-(Pres. Bush and Paulsen, today) code for printing a huge amount of money?

2.  Is “faith in the American economic system” code for Wall Street and the rest of the Money World believe that our government will, indeed, act as a co-dependent to their greed and, even against gov’s. better judgement and the best interests of working people, continue to do #1?

3.  Is this yet another disaster like Naomie Klein refers to in her book and we can expect to see even more anti-worker, pro-aristocratic/corp. action from our federal gov.?

4.  Lastly, what do you think might happen if, right now, an Obama in America convinced workers that he’s running for Prez on the platform that Enough really is Enough and his first order of business in Jan. will be to call a general strike. 

Workers are now being handed a triple whammie.  First, we’ve already lost trillions because of Wall Street swindling and gov. pro-corp policies.  Second, hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars are being “infused.”  Third, this will impact the standard of living for workers for decades to come.  As Time magazine said, America will be a poorer nation.

I see one option and it’s not good and it’s not business as usual.  That is to take the huge hit (depression) now, weed out irresponsible, reckless congressional, WH and Fed economic policies and inaction and people take back their government.

I have seen absolutely nothing happen in the last 8 years that instills in me the kind of faith people living in a republic ought to have in their government and Gov. doesn’t understand that. 

What makes them think I allow them to effectively put me even deeper into debt to save unscrupulous people more irresponsible than I?  I didn’t sign anything.

One more ?:  What do you think comes just before a general strike?

Confirmed.  Fascism is alive and well in America.  Large corporations have become, actually are extensions of government.

Tony - I think I’ve figured out what constitutes greed.  It’s when the means used to acquire wealth, excessive or otherwise, are fraudulent.  (What I can’t figure out is why some acts of fraud are punishable under the law while others aren’t.)

@ thebeerdoctor;

Your comment is obtuse to the extreme.  But yes, we are the dinosaurs.  We just don’t get it!  And probably never will.  So, yes, your comment is germane to the point.  I’m crushed by the lack of passion from the very people who will go down.  We are truly too stupid to live!  I hope the next dominant species is more adaptable.  Gia will survive!

I sometimes think, as internet peasants, all we have left is outrage. Has anyone noticed how the occupation of Iraq has nearly slipped off the radar screen? Perhaps that is best. The new speak mantra of “the surge worked” need not be questioned by the cholera epidemic that has broken out in Iraq; after all those are just Iraqi children.
So now America has pocketbook issues, as they say in the modern vernacular. The absolute squander of wealth, lives and creative spirit, so a few overpaid venal patricians can enjoy their abuse of power; whether it means starting unnecessary wars or hunting simply for the pleasure of killing. “Drill baby drill” speaks volumes about the kind of mindset involved. A libertarian checkmate as it were: where unenlightened selfish interest proves once and for all that power takes precedent over liberty.
Perhaps global history does repeat itself. There is a Vico viciousness to this parable. Perhaps this time, WE are the dinosaurs, just before a falling giant meteor. And how strange to notice that this is actually a man made rock.
Peace, and good luck.

Well, from what I can see, the feds have adopted the Pollyanna solution for a very fatal flaw in the “Free Market” philosophy.  Bottom line; the rich eat the poor and the dwindling middle class (whom are unrecognizable) go on with their lives as usual (a downward spiral).  For those of us in this “class”; who cares?  Figure it out!

As one who doesn’t always agree with Scheer; I must say “YES!!!”, he’s nailed it.  I’ve been using the “F” word for years and it’s totally appropriate and relevant.  My question is and has been: At what point is it too late to save America; do we even try?  An example of recognizing “reality” is the citizens who saw the “writing on the wall” and left Germany before it was too late.  Food for thought maybe.

Again…

I’ve posted this before, but this article almost demands its reprise…

“Can’t Say We Weren’t Warned…”

(I’m currently in the process of updating some of the older links.
please let me know if you find any broken links.  hippie@aye.net)

Check it out, Ralph Nader.  Will we… at this crucial moment, be…“the society of apathetics”?  What really should we do….?  Think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6C1TgIbEVo

Re: G.Anderson

Your comment: “And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, “we the people”, are not considered to be their own.

I hear ya, I do.  What everyone NEEDS to remember are a few very basic facts.

* 1.  WE own this country, and WE CAN assert that premise.

* 2. WE are NOT “their own”.  We are THE PEOPLE, the rightful heirs to the sovereignty of this county. (Check out the constitution)

* 3. It doesn’t matter WHAT “they consider us”, as far as the LAW OF THE LAND goes, WE own it.  “They” do not.

STAND UP.  Get your game on, vote Nader.

Re: “Act of God” [Scheer]

Funny you should mention this, truthdig captain.  .  .  Indeed, it was only this morning that I heard on one of the religious news stations that the economic crisis was an act of God – those folks on Wall Street had become too greedy, homeowners were knowingly living beyond their means, and God felt people needed to be punished. The Bush administration along with his fellow Republicans played no role in the crisis.  If people wanted to blame someone, they would have to blame themselves.

No matter what happens this government will take care of their own.

And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, “we the people”, are not considered to be their own.

Excellent points Robert Scheer.  Thank you.

Personally, I thought the “F-word” representation fitting.  Not to be too graphic, but this IS it.  Fascism is when THE PEOPLE are screwed.  Fucked is when the someone gets screwed.

All of us endorse enjoying our love life intimacies, but only the demented want to fuck someone.  The majority of us, would rather share and share alike….no?  These things CAN be more than palatable for both sides.  What do some people NOT understand?  Demented, sleazy, and more often than not, criminal.  Only sick people covertly view things through a one way mirror and still get their rocks off.  Degenerates all of them.

Gramm, Bush, McCain, Rubin, Furman, Cheney, Obama, The Clintons, The Military/Industrial Complex, The Prison/Industrial Complex (America’s “work camps”), The Radical “Christians” ....and the list goes on.  Investigate, then investigate some more.  Read.

Face your fears. Imagine what the outcome will be if WE AS CITIZENS don’t STAND UP.  It may be scary to stand, but if you don’t stand it will be more than scary.  It will be traumatic.

Stand up America, the time is NOW. The situation is precarious, be sure-footed and travel light.  Hang tough.

Vote Nader.  Cynthia McKinney is good too. But I think the “average joe/jane” isn’t as familiar with her.  In fact, for those who haven’t seen “American Blackout” watch it, if you’ve seen it, re-watch it…..and remember. Everyone should understand the wherewithall and fortitude of Cynthia McKinney.  I have nothing but praise, an incredible person.

Still, I feel Nader, at least at this point, the more viable candidate across the board.  Nader WILL pull republican votes…. I suspect, a GREAT many.  Republicans must be shittin’ in their boots.  Don’t believe them if they say Nader will pull only “dem” votes, it’s a lie.  Non-radical republicans WILL vote for Nader, and crooked republicans KNOW this.  To be fair, so do pandering democrats.

OPEN THE DEBATES.

I call it as AIG stealing a heap of money and being reimbursed for the money they stole with NO criminal charges applied. Evidence of a complicit congress and attorney general office, but I guess a lot of people need their cut to get the deal through. I wonder if any of this will be prosecutable after the transfer of power on 1.20.2009, if that happens at all.
Truly ‘unfettered capitalism’ at work. Milton Friedman’s handy work will be rearing its ugly head for many years to come and to legally put an end to it would be to turn the majority of the house and senate over to new group that will take up the constitution’s tools and instruments of oversight, investigation and judicial proceedings to put these crooks away and get our money back. Otherwise, with the current bunch of thieves making their ‘getaway’ scott free, the same things will happen over and over again.

Americans are not free: they are the deceived; saw a commercial today: stating that in Iceland people live better & live longer: so do they in Norway, Sweden, Australia, England & most other countries folks: the Iraqi’s said we had heard of freedom but THIS IS DICTATORSHIP; it is far worse than under Saddam Hussain we wish he were alive again! Bush changed the agenda from democracy to “peace”; the “insurgents” they are claiming are quite simply fighting to stop the enslavement to the Corps which own the politicians who run this country & our country is run according to THEIR whim which means quite simply it is NOT a democracy at all. Bush leaving Japan said: we will let the BUSINESSES (Corps who have had all laws restraining them, & can’t be blamed for anything (the owners) cuz the polticians are the judges & “dept of justice” if there even IS such a thing anymore: kinda like “jumbo shrimp” right? very misleading; even according to Ron Paul the 2 parties are in total agreement; the “choice” is simply to FOOL the public; what YOU have to say is interesting but unimportant; in most instances emails are shredded & not even read; everything is for the Corps & AGAINST the people of this country & against the land & water; a great “depression” is coming our way: well designed after starting the NAU by bribing Mexico’s leader & Canada’s leader who now hobnob with criminals; and of course, can never be brought to justice cuz they are “political elites”; as has been in the USA for years; how many more millions in how many more countries have to die before the people of this nation say NO MORE?