Meltdown

[drogulus]

     I'm not arguing for more socialism, or less socialism, or even socialism. I'm arguing for a continuation of what we are doing now, only doing it better, so for example when a stimulus is proposed and it's pointed out that it's too small, I'm in favor of increasing its size, not because I want more government, but because I want the right amount whatever the circumstances indicate that happens to be. I take the position that the escalation of practical discussions of means into abstract arguments about the size of government relitigates a settled issue.

     Let the academicians reexamine whether the Chad model of government disinvestment is appropriate for an industrial democracy of the size and sophistication of the U.S. I'm sure they will come to very interesting conclusions. Meanwhile we should find out what's good to invest in and do it. Actually we know a good deal about what that is, and though there are practical questions about the allocation of resources they don't amount to questions about whether we need government. There's no going back. If the Tea Party President gets in, he/she/it won't change things any more than Reagan did, that is a tiny course correction here or there. The size of government has remained stable for more than half a century, up a little then down a little. The supposedly big argument about government is just an inflated tussle of interests, worthwhile on its own but not a matter of high principle.

[Coopmv]

      If the Tea Party President gets in, he/she/it won't change things any more than Reagan did, that is a tiny course correction here or there. The size of government has remained stable for more than half a century, up a little then down a little. The supposedly big argument about government is just an inflated tussle of interests, worthwhile on its own but not a matter of high principle.

But what exactly is a Tea Party President?  Isn't he just another Republican who is more conservative than the average Republican who in recent years has agreed more with the Democrats in terms of big government spending?

[drogulus]

But what exactly is a Tea Party President?  Isn't he just another Republican who is more conservative than the average Republican who in recent years has agreed more with the Democrats in terms of big government spending?

     There are Tea Party members who are convinced they are bringing about a radical change in government. They are being used by the professionals, poor things. See, I'm trying to be sympathetic!

[Coopmv]

     There are Tea Party members who are convinced they are bringing about a radical change in government. They are being used by the professionals, poor things. See, I'm trying to be sympathetic!

As long as they are being used by the common folks who want the country to go in a better direction and not used by the big corporations and trial lawyers, I am all for it ...

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Douglas Coupland (author of the iconic 90s novel Generation X) offers a pessimist's guide to the future. An excerpt:

"6) The middle class is over. It's not coming back

Remember travel agents? Remember how they just kind of vanished one day?

That's where all the other jobs that once made us middle-class are going – to that same, magical, class-killing, job-sucking wormhole into which travel-agency jobs vanished, never to return. However, this won't stop people from self-identifying as middle-class, and as the years pass we'll be entering a replay of the antebellum South, when people defined themselves by the social status of their ancestors three generations back. Enjoy the new monoclass!"


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-radical-pessimists-guide-to-the-next-10-years/article1750609/singlepage/

[Coopmv]

Douglas Coupland (author of the iconic 90s novel Generation X) offers a pessimist's guide to the future. An excerpt:

"6) The middle class is over. It's not coming back

Remember travel agents? Remember how they just kind of vanished one day?

That's where all the other jobs that once made us middle-class are going – to that same, magical, class-killing, job-sucking wormhole into which travel-agency jobs vanished, never to return. However, this won't stop people from self-identifying as middle-class, and as the years pass we'll be entering a replay of the antebellum South, when people defined themselves by the social status of their ancestors three generations back. Enjoy the new monoclass!"


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-radical-pessimists-guide-to-the-next-10-years/article1750609/singlepage/

He probably referred to the middle class of the western industrialized nations, the US in particular.  While the middle class may be submerging in the western world, the new middle class is emerging in China, Brazil, India and Russia, aka the BRIC countries.  That massive transfer of wealth has been going on for the past 15 years ...

[snyprrr]

Can I have a Pat Down with a side order of Quantitative Easing?

[Coopmv]

A cruise on the QE2 can be a dream come true for many ...   

[snyprrr]

How bout them pics of Obama walking away from the Bill at the podium for some Obama Presidency MELTDOWN?!?! wow!,... see ya later, buddy



Also, what's up with all these fakey, FBI "Stings" of retar,...I mean "terrorists" And Walmart teaming up with DHS?, hahahahahaha!!!!!

And the Indian diplomat getting Ye Olde Pat Down??



Has sh...stuff gone wacky in the last few weeks???

Just look for a "failed" something or other come around the holidays,... oy this is predictable.

NUKES IN MY JOCK!







No, seriously!

[Coopmv]

So DM is now BachQ?  We have not heard from him in a long time ...

EU will probably have to bail out Spain this year or the Euro will collapse ...

[SonicMan46]

So DM is now BachQ?  We have not heard from him in a long time ...

EU will probably have to bail out Spain this year or the Euro will collapse ...

Stuart - well, can we expect some better prices from JPC & other Euro retailers?    Dave

[Coopmv]

Stuart - well, can we expect some better prices from JPC & other Euro retailers?    Dave

The weak Euro probably will have little effect on those steep shipping costs from Germany.  I only buy from MDT or Presto Classical anyway.

[snyprrr]

those steep shipping costs from Germany

c'mon, it's only @$16 per cd.

And,... I'm paying with Fairy Easing Dust.




2011: $4 gallon gas

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Welcome to another crappy year for America's middle class:

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/30-reasons-why-2011-is-going-to-be-another-crappy-year-for-americas-middle-class

[Sergeant Rock]

2011: $4 gallon gas

Only $4? Count your blessings. I live in Gemany. I paid the equivalent of $8 a gallon yesterday.

Sarge

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I live in Gemany. I paid the equivalent of $8 a gallon yesterday.

The great thing about Europe is that there are many places where you don't need a car. Americans, outside of a handful of big cities, are slaves to their cars.

This year I am celebrating 10 years being Autofrei!

[snyprrr]

Only $4? Count your blessings. I live in Gemany. I paid the equivalent of $8 a gallon yesterday.

Sarge

Soylent Green is people!!!

[Coopmv]

Only $4? Count your blessings. I live in Gemany. I paid the equivalent of $8 a gallon yesterday.

Sarge

I have been loading up on energy stocks the last two years in anticipation of those $6/gal gas.  All-electrical cars are years away from mass-market reality and is a pipe-dream IMO for probably at least the next 10 years.  I have no use for a car that requires a few hours of recharge after only 100 miles ...

[snyprrr]

I have been loading up on energy stocks the last two years in anticipation of those $6/gal gas.  All-electrical cars are years away from mass-market reality and is a pipe-dream IMO for probably at least the next 10 years.  I have no use for a car that requires a few hours of recharge after only 100 miles ...

They will be driven by the serfs.

[Coopmv]

They will be driven by the serfs.

In reality, no cities or towns on the face of the earth have the necessary power grids/infrastructure in place that can handle the simultaneous recharging of hundred of electric cars ...