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Published on Sunday, September 13, 2009 by Sanders Unfiltered
Who’s Going to Jail for This? Economic Crisis: One Year Later
Americans have suffered for a year through the worst economic decline since the Great Depression.
Millions of people have lost their jobs. We're seeing people with very long-term unemployment. We are seeing older people who have lost their life's savings and are now worried about how they are going to retire with dignity. We have seen people lose their homes, and we've seen people lose their pensions. We've seen, in many ways, the collapse of the American middle class.© 2009 Brave New Films
35 Comments so far
Show AllSanders is definitely a breath of fresh air compared to most in the Senate, but his understanding of what brought on this economic crisis is far too limited and superficial. He is trying to focus on a few bad apples within the capitalist class instead of realizing that it is the system as a whole that is dysfunctional and had little option but to create the crisis we see. His statement that by reining in a few, and punishing them for their misdeeds, this type of crisis could be prevented in the future doesn't wash. Although it might be nice and some will feel better that these bad apples are made to pay the price for the recent financial crisis, this is really no solution to the problem. The problem is monopoly capitalism and it is system that needs to be done away with if future crises are ever to be avoided.
"His statement that by reining in a few, and punishing them for their misdeeds, this type of crisis could be prevented in the future doesn't wash."
I heard Moyers give a similar disappointing answer (3min 8sec into interview in link below) to Bill Maher's question on whether or not we can get the money out of war, prisons healthcare etc.
With the kind of control we've allowed our monster market to have over all facets of our society--when it comes to succumbing to those pressures--you could be Jesus Christ and still end up being a bad apple.
"A married man with a family will do anything for money."
- Charles De Talleyrand
The idea should be a more fair and decent society where people are less susceptible to becoming bad apples.
In healthcare that means getting the for profit market out of the healthcare system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HtLQmSzVSo&annotation_id=annotation_293145&feature=iv
How dare they threaten the CEOs with jail term. Every one of the people who matter was paid in full. This is outrageous.
"It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did I believe there would a revolution tomorrow." - Henry Ford
Perhaps that's what we need to entice Congress to return some fiscal sanity to this country before we witness a complete demise of the US, complements of a privately-owned "banking monopoly" that engineers and steals our money through inflation and corporate welfare programs for the benefit of the super-wealthy global elite and government insiders.
"In 1999 the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act officially repealed the Glass-Steagall regulations, allowing large commercial banks to swing the full weight of their enormous wealth into a derivatives market that was little more than open gambling."
Are we hearing anthing from Captiol Hill about stopping the robber barons and their gambling casinos or is it "business as usual"?
The derivatives market WILL eventually bankrupt the world while the parasites who designed it and benefit by it will walk away unscathed.
Sarah Palin for vice president!
"Who’s Going to Jail for This?"
So far it's mostly been the doctors and nurses that have had the courage to speak up in "the people's house" in support of singlepayer.
It is interesting to note that in China, the CEOs of the major investment banks that caused the financial crisis would have been arrested and shot. In America, they are given the ceremonial slap on the wrist.
Hmmm... I think we need more socialists and people like Ron Paul who are willing to work together with them to get something specific done. Maybe the new political approach will be more like a patchwork quilt than a single banner?
Joe
I think you are right.
It was Bush Number one who sold Clinton on Globalization.
It was Clinton who gave us Nafta and all those other fancy
words that sold out our industrial base to China via Walmart.
During WWII people who sold out our country to the AXIS would
probably get the firing Squad. The result is that we are in a major depression and the Elected Elite are to scared of their own shadow to admit that it was Clinton and The Bush Family
who are responsible for moving some 7 million good paying jobs to China, that has led to the destruction of our Economy.
With the attitude of Congress, we may never seen the end of
this depression, it only gets worse every day..
Wake up Obama!!!
Bush Sr didn't sell "Clinton on Globalization"; the ruling financial and corporate "elite" [ruled] and he obeyed. Bush Sr is certainly and very connected to them, but the Clintons also are. Plenty of U.S. politicians are.
And the deregulation crap started prior to the Bush Sr presidency. It began earlier, even much earlier, but Pres. Reagan was very guilty for what happened during his terms and that was a lead-up to what happened in the 1990's and since. See the documentary film referred to in my prior main post. Actually, I'll provide the links for Parts I and II ... of "The Money Masters", of www.themoneymasters.com.
Part I (1:43:15)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6076118677860424204
Part II (1:45:37)
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7336845760512239683
Americans have something to lament about with this economic crisis, but shouldn't complain much. Instead, people should seriously learn about the bankers' racket called the U.S. Federal Reserve. See the documentary film entitled "The Money Masters" for a real examination of the nature of this beast that President Woodrow Wilsom later expressed regret over having allowed to become a private bankers' racket operation.
Monetary policy needs to be under the direct authority of the U.S. Congress; NOT private industry bankers or financial "elites". If this had been the situation, then there might or would still be some economic crises, but not as severe. They'd be easier and quicker to correct, as the film explains.
It's around three and a half hours of history, eventually focusing mostly on 20th century U.S.A., and concluding with saying what needs to be done about this beast, the bankers' Fed. Reserve racket. There are two clips at Google for parts I and II for the full film. Or get it at www.themoneymasters.com .
This is also a highly recommended movie: "Zeitgeist Addendum".
Another is THE EMPIRE OF "THE CITY"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4675077383139148549
Has Senator Sanders viewed this film? He and all other U.S. policy makers should. He surely realises the Fed. Reserve must not be in private industry hands, though. So what does he say about this? Probably nothing, I expect, but will be glad to learn otherwise.
Posting problems: I'm still having difficulty with making within-limit (for words) posts, so have to post short bits separately. The above paragraph prevented making the above post, so the paragraph was moved to a separate post. And the problem is not only at CD, but maybe it's common, for known or not yet known reasons. Web searches turned up information about this happening with Twitter users around a month or so ago, maybe in July, and it was related to Twitter then having been hit with a DoS, Denial of Service, attack. Some posts about this described very much the same experience I've been having; inability to post at multiple websites, but while being able to make very short posts. Doing a search on "can't post", quoted, provides links to posts I read about this.
I wrote, "So what does he say about this? Probably nothing, I expect, but will be glad to learn otherwise". And so I have, after having viewed the video. Senator Sanders barely mentions the Federal Reserve near the end of the clip, but he states some good news about this; saying that his and Rep. Ron Paul's amendment is likely going to be passed and that it's for auditing the Federal Reserve.
However, there are a couple of concerns. Firstly, the U.S. Senate and Congress have multiple important committees and these don't seem to have amounted to any real good at all. Secondly, the Federal Reserve should be wholly removed from private interests and made fully part of the U.S. government under the authority of the U.S. Congress. After all, it is simple to understand that monetary policy should only be governed by The People through their government and that The People should not be foolish enough to leave management of such policy-making in the hands of private industry parties. So while what Senator Sanders says about the audit amendment sounds good, i wonder what good The People can realistically expect of this.
bush and cheny and the rest of the despot republicans who watered down wall street deregulation measures should go to jail together with those who supported them
No. First, pillory them, then stage a nice vote - execute or not - what do you think will be the result?
Mme Lafarge, polish up your knitting needles!
"Nice" little piece of whitewashing propaganda you posted, hamorabi; "nicely" whitewashing, covering up the deregulators preceding the Bush Jr-Cheney administration. Way to go, dude!
Meee thinkee Mikeee wokee upee on the wrongee sideee of the bedee todayee...
It seem'ee's that NC'ee Tom'ee is dream'ee and should've woken up'ee earlier today'ee. Ee.
Perhaps what Senator Sanders says in the video is good, but the article with the video makes me laugh and sick to my stomach, because the article sickeningly reflects American selfishness, narcissism, disregard for other peoples and countries, AGAIN. One year of economic crisis and we have Senator Sanders lamenting for the general population of the U.S.; after only one year.
What does he say about the far worse crimes the U.S. is directly responsible for against Iraqis, Afghans, Haitians, and many other people; and the indirect, but very, very high or strong responsibility for the extreme crimes directly committed by Israel against Palestinians and the people of Lebanon? After all, these extreme crises having been going on for 8, 6, 5, over 60, and so on, years.
Does Sanders ask who in the U.S. government and in U.S. corporations is going to prison for these far worse crimes; or do these above populations (and governments) not matter even a quarter as much as "Americans"?
I guess every time someone criticizes the behavior of the United States they should recite the entire litany? How far back should they go? Civil rights? How about slavery or mistreatment of the indigenous population? Maybe he should expound on the evils of colonialism every time he opens his mouth. If your going to criticize someone for NOT saying something... Well, just think about the implications of that attitude.
Oh, shoot; sorry. i thought the international crimes of the U.S. that I referred to weren't far past; having believed they were [ongoing] and with basically no end in sight. I'll have to try to keep up with current events a little more studiously. And I thought they were far worse, but I guess being economically and environmentally destroyed, killed, etc., makes it not as bad as the economic crisis in the U.S. So I'll also have to do some studious analysis to see how being economically hit, but not militarily, is worse than both combined.
One problem at a time, Mike! Just stick to the topic set out in the article. Lawdy knows that's enough to chew on.
Sanders has been critical of US economic policies for far longer than this past year. Also, he's picking his battle - this is the issue he's working on. His focus on the economic crisis doesn't diminish the importance of EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S WRONG IN THE WORLD. People are finite, as are their resources.
You also need to recognize that this economic battle has been waged since the early 70's. probably even earlier than that, so it's not as recent as you think. (Maybe you're too young to realize that.)
It's a good thing to have somebody like Sanders express the issues around this crisis as clearly and directly as he does. It's high time. We could be critical that no one said it soon enough.
So in your mind, a young problem is not a valid problem? (though it really isn't so young) What is your criterion for the appropriate age of a problem before it gets dealt with? For how long do you want Americans, hard-working Americans, to die in ditches before you deem the crisis severe enough to agree it needs to be addressed?
Or are other world problems so much worse that this crisis deserves no attention at all until the others are solved?
Everyone is angry and scared right now. I believe people share your sense of despair and urgency about all that is wrong in the world, but your emotion is messing up your reason. It reduces your posts to a serial hissy-fit - understandable, but hysterical. And that puts people off; that's the reaction you're getting.
I understand your exaggerated interpretation of my post. It was mainly a strike at "Americans' hearts" for nothing serious has been really done to bring the wars to an end, and justice and reparations to the MANY people Americans owe a hell of a lot to; and Americans generally being focused on themselves and not the rights and lives of others is a general perception world-wide.
The "economic battle has been waged since the early 70's. probably even earlier", you say; and much earlier it really is. See the documentary film I provided links for in this CD page. And as for it being "a good thing to have somebody like Sanders express the issues around this crisis as clearly and directly as he does", I agree that what he says sounds good, but see my post in this CD page wherein I refer to "a couple of concerns". You stated, "So in your mind, a young problem is not a valid problem?", which is an example of your exaggerated interpretation of my post. You jump to conclusions. See the "couple of concerns" I briefly explained.
No.
No, what? No you don't wish to consider the concerns I referred to in another post in this page, or are you saying you want to cheerlead for blind following or support?
The Federal Reserve [does] need to be removed from private interests. It must be part of the government, as it's only the government that should make monetary policy decisions and rules; while of course listening to both the private industry chiefs and the public in order to govern over monetary policy in fair terms. And thinking that auditing the Federal Reserve will be a guaranteed solution is dreamy when committees of the U.S. Congress and Senate have done hardly any real good at all. Auditing the Fed is good, but this needs to be fully, strongly done, and shouldn't be the last step in correcting this situation. And politicians, many are millionaires and got this way through either inheriting it and/or investments in private industry; and they don't plan on not continuing to enrich themselves. Some will accept, but there'll surely be plenty who won't.
No. I won't read your attachments, I won't tell you what I think, I won't indulge more of your tantrums. I gave you too much credit as it is.
My mistake. Now sod off.
Sod off yourself, whatever the heck it means. If you can't give a couple of minutes to consider other people's legitimate concerns based on [reality], then you do need to sod off. Just because I'm a "wise-cracker" now and then doesn't mean that I can't have valid concerns based in reality. As for your credit, keep your it for yourself; i certainly don't need it.
Mikey...you are on the right side, but your hysteria diffuses the point made by Saunders. The film was only 5 minutes, man. It covered two issues already, and neither completely. In this era of soundbite journalism you want everyone to read about twelve books. Won't work.
No time...we got to go look for jobs, dingbat. Get with the program. i got to make some new resumes, referring to my great fantasy jobs at now-defunct corps that can't be checked out. Yeah, i was Lehman Bros. Everyone there knew me, and how. i made them sing!
You know, i just know, your representative has no clue about the FED. None. and here you are yelling at the like-minded. nice.
call your congressman every day.
i assume you know who that is.
Mikey...you are on the right side, but your hysteria diffuses the point made by Saunders. The film was only 5 minutes, man. It covered two issues already, and neither completely. In this era of soundbite journalism you want everyone to read about twelve books. Won't work.
No time...we got to go look for jobs, dingbat. Get with the program. i got to make some new resumes, referring to my great fantasy jobs at now-defunct corps that can't be checked out. Yeah, i was Lehman Bros. Everyone there knew me, and how. i made them sing!
You know, i just know, your representative has no clue about the FED. None. and here you are yelling at the like-minded. nice.
call your congressman every day.
i assume you know who that is.
What you describe for yourself is junior, entrant level; besides the singing for Lehman Brothers. It's laughable that you speak of needing to make resumes. Do you have any more jokes?
However, while there was no hysteria in what I posted, and I'd never undervalue the lives of victims of international U.S. policy, as you do, I just viewed the video with Senator Sanders and find it very good. What he says, however, MUST also be applied with regards to U.S. wars of aggression (for natural resources and expanding and strengthening geopolitical power). That happens to also be related to the Wall Streeters, Federal Reserve, the racketeers Senator Sanders speaks of in this video, "Ripping Off America". Otoh, it seems most people still don't see the connection, which needs to be busted up, etc., like Sanders says about Wall Street power and Federal Reserve corruption needing to be ended for the economy in the U.S.A. And the Federal Reserve is as it is because Americans never did anything about this hijacking of U.S. monetary policy control, manipulation, fraud, ..., which I'm sure all or most members of Congress are aware of.
Senator Sanders is a giant in a government overrun with moral and mental runts.
Thank you, voters of Vermont, for preserving this last champion of truth and decency.
I hate to hear that Sanders is the 'last champion of truth and decency' as that would surely indicate when he is gone there will not be any more, but what I know him to be is just one of the very few truthful members of congress that we elected and I very much look at as better than what my state's 2 senators are along with my representative who are totally in it for the money and for protecting the criminal status quo.
Another thing, I would have thought obama wouldn't have made it to inauguration day being a black man, well actually half white and half black from what I have read, but he is still going only because he does what his handlers dictate, now Senator Sanders would definitely be hard pressed, if by some miracle he was voted into the white house, to make it because the evil criminal elite would have him knocked off the day after the election just to prevent his taking office because no matter how worthless the american dollar is, it is still what counts to those frauds that don't want a person like Senator Sanders calling the shots.
Sanders for President in 2012!