Brave Republic

I think serenity made balanced and cogent commentary.

No one believes this can be solved in a few days, but you need to apply a bandage to staunch the major flow of blood before you can determine the best course of action to heal.

That NY times article about how much the bailout will really cost us (maybe if at all) is an interesting one to review. Did companies take major risks (to the point of stupidity ) to bolster returns? Yes but bbecause the masses clamored for it. There were plenty of prudent banks and investment companies that didnt do that. The answer is knowing what you invest in --being aware and not being greedy.

Much of the screaming and ranting and cult- like behavior from the side that rolls toward california sounds like reactions of entitlement issues and time old struggle between the "haves" and the "have nots".

Trust me I am not wealthy either , but thats what I see happening and I don't agree with it. if you make $30 K a year you need to live like you make $30 K not like you make $80K --oversimplifcation but certainly people not doing this are creating the problem and doing most of the whining.

Maybe that big screen TV was something that should have been saved for instead of bought on credit? The fact that you can't afford it now is of course the fault of Republicans and conservatives everywhere. Geez

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detrius

If the media had any guts, they'd just let McCain play golf or whatever he intends to do to in order to improve his poll numbers and let Obama debate other Presidential candidates on Friday, like Ralph Nader and the guy who licks whipped cream off mammaries.

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Richie Waves

Wow.. I wish I was the leader of a country filled with folk like you/// be like taking candy from an armed baby..

sry, this has to be posted again:

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Oooh, Betty! the cat did a shit in the hat

Brave Republic

The country is already filled with sheep who dont want to take responsibilty for their actions. Credit cards are way too easy to get and many treat it like free money.

I tried to help people for three years and much like Trout mentions in his career, got sick of people not wanting to help themselves or do what was needed to fix their own problems-or were just plain not thankful.

Needs not wants, follow a budget, live within your means and yes I am completely aware that people can barely live at all --but what we call poverty in US would probably be considered very well off in other countries and the extreme true poor and homeless are a different issue.

I can't even begin to tell you how many people I saw that had a big screen TV and a bling mobile who weren't paying their mortgage. People who couldn't make a rent payment that went on a vacation. It's nuts.

Merovigan

No, that is not nuts. That is human behavior.

What is NUTS is that the above-described person was able to acquire a credit card. Or to keep one. That is nuts.

So too is bailing that company out for what amounts to blind greed.

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Richie Waves

Join the Credit Union.. the only way to get loans as far as I'm concerned!

Richie Waves

Poverty is Poverty.. not a relative term.

Brave Republic

Now that I released that anger I feel better now.

Oh and next time someone tries to beg money from you in the street--do what I do (I learned it from a fellow rugger) offer to buy them a sandwich or food instead. If they agree you have done them a big favor--if they yell at you then it's probably for drugs so f 'em.

Kristian

I have to agree that it's the responsibility of the company to make sure they're lending to responsible people. But the big debt's not in CCs, it's in homes that they don't need. We now have too many crappy McMansions sitting empty that no one ever really needed, just wanted.

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CrossingStyx

I think this is pretty much the crux of the issue for me. It isn't that I'm against government assistance, it's that I'm pro personal responsibility. While I don't have any idea what the exact percentage is of people who are getting hosed for living outside their means is, that group I have no symptathy for. The problem is that in America, I feel like we, as a people, have a need to shuck responsibility, especially if we can get a leg up by doing it. So I end up coming off as "Fuck the poor" when really, I want people who have bad breaks to get their safety nets, and people who make poor choices to have consequences. That's just my little corner of the universe, though. I only really appreciate my failures when they burn, and it doesn't seem like the rest of the world is all that different.

Merovigan

Empty as in no one is paying to live there, but, not empty in that poor people are probably living there.

And/or stealing the copper pipes to sell to scrap metal yards.

Humans can be so resourceful!

Hex Blackthorne

Why does Hex care if they're going to spend his money on drugs? That's what Hex is spending his money on!

Colette Meiji

I agree

there is no way to quantify people who made stupid choices with their money ..

But if they are going to lose their house - people deserve sympathy

People are homeless deserve sympathy.

The number who did not buy big screen TVs and did not go on vacation far exceeds the number Brave complains about.

Richie Waves

Worst case scenario's are a great way to make political points, like Rayguns Welfare Queens!

Colette Meiji

Make drugs legal, it will reduce the number of people reduced to poverty or imprisoned and on our dime because of drugs.

Richie Waves

But how would a privatised Prison system make money?

Dancien Graves

Manufacturing would be a good start actually. America could quit outsourcing and make more goods inhouse.

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Bard Jameson

Not sure where talk of giving to panhandlers came up in this, but just a note, as perhaps it does relate.

Placing conditions on your giving is valid, I guess - certainly it is within your right. But I don't do it myself. I simply make a choice to give or not, and leave the choice of the use of the money to the person.

I do this because I don't believe that begging places the person below me - it doesn't subordinate them to my will. To me, begging, unlike crime, is a perfectly valid way to make a living. Asking for a handout does not put them under my tutilage.

A street musician with his guitar case open gets a dollar from me without question. Did he buy drugs or alcohol or smokes with it? I don't care - that's his decision. Likewise the simple panhandler with no song or story to offer in exchange for my dollar. The exchange is completely within my power of choice - I'm not being robbed - so why would I place conditions on it?

To do otherwise is, IMO, to attempt to steal whatever last bit of personal dignity the begger may possess. That is perhaps too high a price to pay for my dollar, both for him and for me.

Just $L2

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Colette Meiji

privatized prisons are another totally lame idea.

People should not be making a buck off of the system.

Richie Waves

like you're going to buy a pair of nike (or whatever) for 600 quid.. made in the US that is what they'll cost!

Dancien Graves

Well in theory yes. However this is prison labor we're talking about so I think it would be cheaper.

Richie Waves

That would be unethical. work prisoners do should be public works type shit, cleaning up roads and what not.. for the good of everyone, not a private company.

Dancien Graves

Yeah, we had those. They were called chain gangs. Not entirely humane either.

Richie Waves

Its good exercise, dont do the crime if you cant do the time/work!!!

anyways every time I seen a chain gang on the telly they where singing, looked like great craic!

Bard Jameson

In my area, low security prisoners often work on fire lines. I consider that an excellent use of their time and my tax dollars. And prison work does not have to be inhumane, like chain gangs. But I agree that their work should be in service of the public, rather than private enterprise.