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TechnoratiThe Wicked Witch Is Dead. Why Aren't We Dancing in the Streets?
Okay, capitalism isn't dead yet. And the house is falling on us too.
But let's allow ourselves one little moment of glee at the expense of the system that's been choking the world to death for 500 years.
I know: we - that is, those of us making five figures or less, or nothing at all, or getting a social security check - we are terrified
that the demise of capitalism will be ours as well. But wasn't flourishing, healthy, arrogant, thumb-your-nose-at-the-world capitalism already killing us?
At the very bottom - the billion and a half people on the earth living on less than a dollar a day; the refugees from capitalism's violent aggressions; the victims of war zone rape and of rapacious economic interventions; the dwellers in and fleers from decimated places - the collapse of Lehman Brothers isn't the worst news they've had this year, or even this week.
And here in the U.S., most of us were living on borrowed time before the bubble burst. Every number was going up except the one on our paycheck, social security check, or social services voucher. When capitalism was strong and healthy - a couple of weeks ago - we were in a perpetual state of sticker shock: at the gas station, at the supermarket, every time the credit card bill or the tax bill or the rent or the car payment came around.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG are too big to be allowed to fail. What about the 37 million of us living in official poverty, the 46 million with no health insurance, the 2 ½ million in prison, the 3 ½ million homeless - how come we aren't too big to fail? Capitalism has already failed most of us; now that it's failing the capitalists, suddenly it's a crisis.
They are telling us we should be very scared because capitalism is in danger of disintegrating. Might we be forgiven if just for a second we are tempted to say, "Bring it on!"
Of course, there are good reasons to be scared. The failure of capitalism, in the absence of a viable alternative, presents a terrifying danger of deterioration into fascism: the merger of the masters of corporate greed with political and military leaders; the concentration of power in the hands of a demagogic executive branch; the unraveling of democratic institutions and the rule of law; the suppression of dissent; the stealing of elections; the waging of wars of conquest; the scapegoating of unpopular minorities... wait, this is starting to sound familiar. Failed capitalism sounds a lot like successful capitalism.
And so it is. We are being told that if capitalism fails, everything we thought we had (in case we thought we had anything) will be wiped out. So we have to participate in a massive life support operation -- which will also wipe us out.
Somebody is going to have to cough up that three quarters of a trillion plus, and that somebody is us. Out of our inner city and rural schools that are already punishing our kids instead of educating them; out of the miserable safety net full of holes through which the elderly, the poor, the undereducated and the just plain unlucky are already falling; out of the meager funding that already puts a college education out of reach of so many of our kids; out of our property and income taxes and rents and fees that we already have no way to pay and still eat three meals a day.
So what's good about this crisis? For starters, it has already brought strong cries of outrage from expected and unexpected quarters; more voices than ever before are demanding that social wealth be used for the benefit of all. It has provided vindication and legitimacy to voices of dissent and change.
It has opened up possibilities. It may restore a bit of multilateral balance to the one-superpower world. It may put a check on the pre-emptive, regime-changing, shock-and-awe militarism that has brought so much suffering and death. It may open up a bit of breathing space for the Latin American experiment in not being the U.S.A.'s back yard. It may encourage the growth of an alternative vision beyond the Republicrats and the Democans. It may put the brakes on some of the greed that is plunging the earth into climate destruction. It may allow, for the first time in 500 years, a global culture to emerge that is not dominated by white people.
Above all, if we allow ourselves to imagine it, if we organize ourselves to fight for it, it opens a window into the possibility of an entirely different sort of world, one based on the wellbeing of humans and the earth instead of on short-term greed and violent aggression - a world free from capitalism.
I may be out there all by myself, but I'm going to go do a hopeful little dance in the street.
57 Comments so far
Show AllThere is trouble in the economy now, and there will be more trouble ahead. That's the result of the current credit-gone-wild situation. Everyone, not just capitalists wants to make a bang for their buck. That (sadly) is human nature. If you want to live in a house, open up a business, buy a car, you will need credit. On the other side, if you save or lend money I am sure most of you want some kind of interest in return. Investors in the current financial market are working with large sum of money that most of them don't know where it is coming from. Hence, the need for better regulation (which is not a step towards communism).
I am no believer of any future prophecies that predicts too far into time. Including the Communist Prophecy of failed capitalism, or the evolution prophecy of improving human nature. What I know is this, human civilization has always improved with time, there is no reason to doubt the pattern now. Obviously, if you are panicking too much and believe Jesus is coming to save us from a nuclear war, then you obviously need a chill pill.
Rome is not built in one day, so America is not going to fail or change into paradise in one night. Political and economic systems, and for that matter society, is not born straight from paper to reality. It takes aggregate effort and and everyone working together to make things happen.
Kind of reminds me of a line in a song that goes "There's fire in the hole but nothing left to burn."
This is right on the money. Pardon the pun. The fear coming out of Washington and Wall Street is real. It's all about the capitalism killing itself as was predicted all along. The only thing that has kept this monster alive all these years has been regulation. Now that there is no regulation the rape and burn capitalists are reaping what they have sewn with there bloodthirsty greed. Capitalism which is designed to fuck you and yours is in big trouble. It's time to let it correct itself as advertised. If it dies in the process all the better. VOTE NADER 2008!
Akelala What capitalism? Is it capitalism when taxpayers pitch in $700 billion, no strings attached?
No, NOT CAPITALISM … … … It's called
___ D E _ C A P I T A T I O N
___ ( when you loose your head )
Namaste
The population of the planet increases at THREE additional people PER SECOND.
Resources for all of these people are finite and running out.
Oil, water, timber, and all the other things that allow you to sit at your computer and read this, are running out.
The arguments about capitalism and socialism are spurious.
The underlying argument is this. Who is willing to define what is necessity and what is luxury? And then who is willing to enforce it?
In the meantime, three people per second arrive and want their own necessities and luxuries.
Could it be time to reconsider your breeding habits and stop pointing fingers at other people?
You said a mouthful. No one talks about the two most important aspects of all these troubles:
1. The world population is expected to double by 2050. Even if we manage to decease our per capita carbon foot print by 50%- which will never happen- the population increase will wipe all this out.
2. Our military budget is eating us alive and none of the Presidential candidates even dare mention cutting it. So great is the power of the military industrial complex.
We are doomed!
OK, I see your point about the concept of growing population and finite resources. Loud and clear. No problem.
Now, for the hard part....
Give me your view of how as a species that we should globally institute population reforms?
Forced random sterilization?
I mean, I can and have taken action on my OWN breeding capability; but what do you propose is a workable global solution to keep the poor, ignorant and dependant to stop breeding? That's not something easily forced onto others.
Seriously, I'd like to see some proposals that might work.
Oh sweet, so now we can all become good little commies and worship Lenin, right? Or perhaps we should move to China, the model of the New World Order?
". . . among the best investigative journalists money can't buy."
No. We need to be creative and come up with an alternative to both Capitalism and Communism since both systems have major inherent weaknesses and since Capitalism, even if it doesn't collapse immediately, is not a sustainable system given the energy and population crises the world is facing.
I'm a believer that a blue print for a new economic model has already been created, even if the finer details have yet to be worked out.
PROUT is an acronym for PROgressive Utilization Theory, a socio-economic philosophy that synthesizes the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of human nature. The goal of PROUT is to provide guidance for the evolution of a truly progressive human society.
PROUT is an alternative to the outmoded capitalist and communist socio-economic paradigms. Neither of these approaches have adequately met the physical, mental and spiritual needs of humanity. PROUT seeks a harmonious balance between economic growth, social development, environmental sustainability, and between individual and collective interests. Combining the wisdom of spirituality with a universal outlook and the struggle for self-reliance, PROUTist thinkers and activists are creating a new civilizational discourse and planting the seeds for a new way of living.
www.prout.org
The claim is made that this bailout nedded to free up Capital so that banks can once again loan money to individuals and get the economy going again.
Yet over the past weeks, there seems to be plenty of Capital around for certain banks to BUY UP the ones failing.
Tonight JP Morgan managed to buy up WaMU.
How is it they have the Capital to buy these other firms ?
And what a sweetheart deal they have. The FEDS will take the worst of the debt off the books at WAMU and transfer that onto the backs of the taxpayer. JP Morgan gets hundreds of billions in assets for a relative pittance.
These calls are laughing all the way to the bank.
Take all the credit cards you got buy canned goods and ammo then stop paying the bills and tell the creditors "BRING IT ON...!!!!!!!!"
the failure of capitalism, in the absence of a viable alternative, presents a terrifying danger of deterioration into fascism;
with an open heart and an open mind I post the following:
http://www.share-international.org/
May you find peace in the future, it is up to the people to make the changes, and sharing is the way of the future, away from the greedy ways of capitalism and noble but confused socialism.
Eight years ago I wrote a letter-to-the-editor outlining the problem and predicting this meltdown. Was Common Dreams around eight years ago?
Long Live the International Socialist Revolution!!
FREE AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY
frank scott
if i weren't happily married i'd send this woman a love letter...finally, a realistic view that doesn't treat people - in typical "wefty wibewal" fashion- as stupid, and actually criticizes capitalism...wow...
and to the brilliant critic who says it can't have been around for 500 years because it wasn't called capitalism until more recently -duh? how recently do you think we began calling ourselves humans? were we martians, or non existent, until the correct (?) label was applied?
kudos to naomi jaffe
Before celebrating the demise of capitalism, Naomi Jaffe should ask herself... what's next?
In Iraq, in Russia, and almost everywhere else an economic system has totally collapsed, the next phase was gangsterism.
Naomi Jaffe will be dancing her goofy little dance in the street, and one of the new gangster elite will drive by and blow her brains out.
But Ms. Jaffe is right that now is the time to party. In five years, none of you will even remember what a cake looks like, unless you see a cake in a movie about the lucky few.
Harharharhar!!!
(That's the sound of the rest of the world laughing at pig-Americans who stuffed themselves until their snouts exploded off their ugly little faces.)
[Editor's note: The author of this comment is a patriotic American who loves his fellow Americans just as much as his fellow Americans love grease, sugar, gadgets, and stupid-looking rags from Wal-Mart!]
Jacob Freeze
Gangster Bankster whats the diff? None.
There's usually a very big "diff," but everything that collapses must converge.
Jacob Freeze
And speaking of gangsters...
I just noticed that Naomi's byline includes former membership in the Weather Underground.
Harharharhar!!!
Everything that collapses must converge!
And here you are at the birth of a tagline. You heard it here first!
Everything that collapses must converge!
This simple principle will explain almost everything that happens in the United States for the next ten years.
Everything that collapses must converge!
Jacob Freeze
Great, now we gave terrorists forums. I wonder if Chavez would give coup plotters against him in Venezuela a forum?
Your gas guzzler is empowering Chavez, not the forums. Get lost.
Did this idiot notice that the Great Depression consolidated capitalism instead of destroying it?
Naomi Jaffe needs to read Naomi Klein.
Well, as the Duke of Wellington said, it was a 'near run thing'.
During the Great Depression, there were alternative political movements from populism to socialism to fascism all vying to be the next power if things fell apart any more.
So, you are correct in the final outcome. But it was not always a lock-cinch certainty while it was occurring.
----------------------------
"To know, and not to do, is not to know"
www.samsonsworld.blogspot.com
What struck me early on was the assertion that 'capitalism' has been around 500 years.
This puts the beginnings of capitalism some several hundred years earlier than the writings of Adam Smith, which is interesting. I'm not even sure the word 'capitalism' existed at the time Columbus sailed to America. And there was certainly not a free enterprise system in place.
Domestically, in most countries trade was tightly regulated. As one instance, there was a system of 'guilds' restricting who could participate in any given trade. And frequently licenses or charters from the King were required for some businesses.
In foreign trade, the general term applied to the time before Adam Smith was mercantilism. This was for instance the description of the British system with the American colonies at the time of the Revolution. Again, trade was tightly regulated. For instance, the American colonies were generally denied the ability to develop their own industry. Instead the system wanted the colonists to buy British industrial goods. The colonies were restricted into providing raw materials And the King granted 'charters' to companies like the "East India Company" that granted them a monopoly on trade.
----------------------------
"To know, and not to do, is not to know"
www.samsonsworld.blogspot.com
I heard someone say on the radio this morning that the rich are a good source of protein.
EVIL and UNAMERICAN people who run Wall St did this to America.
Hard fact. Do YOU know who/what they are???
If we haven’t got anything, how can we lose anything? I am ready to “dance” in the streets too. Laughing all the way.
I heard someone say on the radio this morning that the rich are a good source of protein. :) :) :)
And an immense source of saturated fat.
Eat the Rich
(Can be nutritious as part of a balanced economy)
Turn your backyards into barnyards. City halls are going to have to change their covenants to serve the peoples needs.
If we haven’t got anything, how can we lose anything?
But seriously lets stop and think. This is just a little too reminiscent of the steps that led to the war on Iraq. The first step in the war was to convince everyone of imminent danger and a need to act immediately.
This coup worked then and it's working again.
Everyone but everyone but everyone agrees there is a crisis(imminent danger) and that we must act(war).
The only question is what kind of war, isn't there only one kind of war?
The step taken to convince the American people that this wall street crisis is real, ergo the main street must pay for it, had more to do with the outrageous demand that the bad guys get off with "golden parachutes" and "blank checks" with no "oversight". How about the bad guys pay to fix what they broke, which is the American economy, because they are really the only ones with the money to fix it?
Once enough anger was stirred up over the infuriating request, getting the request through was easy.
The debate switched to "the terms" of how to spend the 700 billion. This is satisfying the majority. Except me and........ I'm sure there are others who have not bowed to this insanity.
They should not use our tax money to fix this period. That money should be used on the taxpayers not the taxearners, who pay only a pittance of taxes. We don't have the money to pay for this and giving a few people mortgage bail outs, and promising congressional oversight(something that should be a given not a deal maker) while we all know that we can kiss education, health care, jobs and everything else that we really need goodbye. Who consents to this????
Yes dance in the street if you want an ugly end to corruption, but dancing because we are going to have an ugly end to our constitution???????
If they want seven hundred billion to bail out the market, I think the market it's self should be plundered. If that means all those wealthy investors and ceo's end up living like the rest of us, then that is divine justice, and that is democracy.
This is the next master swindle and I'm afraid no one is going to get what the real swindle is, and how the masters will have executed it.
I cannot believe that the heads of our states are bowing to the idea of stealing from the poor to feed the rich. But making sure that the poor get thrown some of the bones from the grand banquet because in the past we only got the garbage.
Oh what has become of us? I can only think that the market and the government merged long ago, and that incestuous marriage is breeding a monstrosity that we have all been slowly but surely accustomed to. The final offspring being an abomination that will be given congressional approval after it has been scrubbed down and dressed up for it's public presentation.
Oh lets dance in the street, wall street has been merged again with main street? Hahahhaahahah.
Ok I wasn't scared, but I am now. ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH
Manatee, sorry for the bad tone I used with you. But really your assessment of past attempts at a planned economy versus capitalism has you measuring capitalism way too rosy than it actually has been. And your confusion that capitalism is democracy misses the mark, too. Many would consider capitalism to be the antithesis of real democracy in economic life. Under capitalism people are given orders all the time by owners and have no democratic say at all. You are saying that it is the other way around though.
I cannot go into much more other than to say that capitalism really has not improved life for people that much. Many would like to think that it has though. But life is in danger on this planet right now, is it not? It is not 'communism', that is destroying our environment, but capitalism that is doing so.
Actually, I wasn't confusing capitalism and democracy. What I was saying is that democracy has many flaws. It is not a perfect system, even though it is portrayed as such. You have have a dysfunctioinal democracy where real power is not with the people (like the US right now, which I would describe as an oligarchy). But what is the alternative? For all its flaws, it's probably the best shot we have.
By similar logic, capitalism is not a perfect economic system, even though here in America, it is portrayed as such. That was the comparision. I wasn't saying anything more about how they relate to each other.
How is my assessment "too rosy"? What I pointed out was that in similar areas (a divided country) more people prosper under capitalism. The pie is larger, even if it is less evenly divided. I think that is a fact, though I haven't got he data right off hand. West Germany was certainly wealthier than East Germany. Now, you can argue that is not a "good" thing, but it is true.
Yes, I do agree that capitalism has played a destructive role in the environment. But communist china is not a bastion of eco responsibility either!
Actually, I wasn't confusing capitalism and democracy. What I was saying is that democracy has many flaws. It is not a perfect system, even though it is portrayed as such. You have have a dysfunctioinal democracy where real power is not with the people (like the US right now, which I would describe as an oligarchy). But what is the alternative? For all its flaws, it's probably the best shot we have.
By similar logic, capitalism is not a perfect economic system, even though here in America, it is portrayed as such. That was the comparision. I wasn't saying anything more about how they relate to each other.
How is my assessment "too rosy"? What I pointed out was that in similar areas (a divided country) more people prosper under capitalism. The pie is larger, even if it is less evenly divided. I think that is a fact, though I haven't got he data right off hand. West Germany was certainly wealthier than East Germany. Now, you can argue that is not a "good" thing, but it is true.
Yes, I do agree that capitalism has played a destructive role in the environment. But communist china is not a bastion of eco responsibility either!
Actually, I wasn't confusing capitalism and democracy. What I was saying is that democracy has many flaws. It is not a perfect system, even though it is portrayed as such. You have have a dysfunctioinal democracy where real power is not with the people (like the US right now, which I would describe as an oligarchy). But what is the alternative? For all its flaws, it's probably the best shot we have.
By similar logic, capitalism is not a perfect economic system, even though here in America, it is portrayed as such. That was the comparision. I wasn't saying anything more about how they relate to each other.
How is my assessment "too rosy"? What I pointed out was that in similar areas (a divided country) more people prosper under capitalism. The pie is larger, even if it is less evenly divided. I think that is a fact, though I haven't got he data right off hand. West Germany was certainly wealthier than East Germany. Now, you can argue that is not a "good" thing, but at it is true.
Yes, I do agree that capitalism has played a destructive role in the environment. But communist china is not a bastion of eco responsibility either!
Capitalism will never die as long as the US electorate continues to support the fascists that are rapidly turning the US into a third world nation.
Dang after reading the title I thought this was a Hillary Clinton post.
Ding, dong. You're wrong!
I am not sure that things will be okay. This bailout is microcausmic compared to the larger storm on the horizon: credit-default swaps. This mega-casino enables gamblers to bet against financial institutions including banks - their failure and collapse. Apparently, the value of these credit-default swaps amounts to $62 trillion. Yes TRILLIONS. So, if Wells Fargo suddenly goes under, some folks will become quite wealthy while other people lose their savings, jobs, and perhaps everything else.
Step right up! Place your bets!
No, you have it wrong. The System was regulated and was controlled capitalism. The problem as always is that controlled capitalism is UNBRIDLED capitalism as it is always the Big Business wolves that regulate the themselves and make the sheep follow them to slaughter, manatee. For you to think it could ever be otherwise is naive and confused Ayn Rand Thought.
Maybe it's best if you laid down your little book of The Virtue of Selfishness now? This brand of 'philosophy' looks more and more like a form of pro- capitalism Mao Zedong Thought. It's Moonie stuff in short, that wants us all to substitute a demand for a fictitious fantasy capitalism for the real thing! That just cannot be done.
Well, I disagree. After the Great Depression, regulations were put in place and they worked fairly well. Unfortunately, they were dismantled and now we have an orgy of greed. If you compare side-by-side East and West Germany, North and South Korea, and even the two halves of Yemen, during the time they were half communist and half capitalist, the capitalist side did better. More people lived in prosperity without exception.
But even if I am wrong, then what is the alternative? You still don't say. Winston Churhill once said something like "Democracy is the worst sytem of government, except everything else we've tried." So it is with Capitalism.
Also, why does your reply have such a hostile tone? Just because I don't agree with you, I am suddenly a disciple of Ayn Rand? That is just silly.
The capitalist side did better only because they had access to the rest of the world and it's resources. The other side was basically blockaded and of course they faired less well.
Put back in place the laws that Bush has tampered with. Establish a USA bank from which the government can borrow, and dump the Federal Reserve, it is the architect of most merican woes.
What is the alternative? Communism? I think it is important to distinguish between controlled capitalism as a concept and UNBRIDLED capitalism. What we are seeing is a result of unregulated, rigged systems.
If you want to throw out the capitalist system all together, then what will it be instead? Why not a hybrid capitalist/socialist system along the lines of some European nations?
Such a hybrid might work, if it were allowed to, but the duopoly political system we have will never permit it. This is all the result of allowing hypercapitalism to proceed as if ordained by God. To say, "what's the alternative? Communism?" is an echo of Margaret Thatcher in the early '80s--There Is No Alternative (to capitalism) and we know how thoroughly she and her protege over here, Ronny Raygun, laid the important groundwork for the current debacle. So if there's no alternative, then this is all we're going to get: permanent powerlessness, having handed over all power to Wall St. sharks and thieves, and their support staff on Capitol Hill.
The alternative to rapacious capitalism doesn't have to be Stalinism, and to suggest as much is sheer obfuscation. It's not a toggle switch. But even faint-hearted liberalism of the Obama variety, essentially rushing to the aid of Wall St. and the entire capitalist class every time they make major trouble for everyone, even that gets tarred as "socialism" or dangerous leftist populism by the corporate media and the political hacks of both wings of the Business Party. Hence, the mantra that "there's no alternative" never sleeps. If there's no alternative to this world- wrecking system, then I suggest everyone cease at once complaining about its inevitable consequences, like the lies and fraud now going on at Treasury and our insufferable, unelected "leaders" in the White House. Just live with it, because they'll never seriously do anything to regulate it FDR style. The neo-cons grabbed power precisely to tear all that apart. They ARE capitalism, not some daydream about how basically good and just it "really can be." This is actually existing capitalism. Get rid of it or be happy with it.
REALLY FANTASTIC!!! I feel SO exited that I have been dancing FOR DAYS! YES! They are hanging themselves, after having gotten ALL the rope! Now the financial managers at last WON the game, they were playing. and we can play a new game!
I declare this day a JUBILEE!!
Imagine your accountant calls you from VEGAS, "I lost all your savings, your house, the college fund, all of it, BUT I CAN WIN IT BACK! (I gotta good feeling about this one slot machine, it's HOT) Send Money!!"
Would you support him?? NO! LEt them FAIL! LET THEM LEARN!
SET AMERICA FREE!!!!!
Great article.... I'm sending to everyone I know.... Toylit
The greatest myth of all is that capitalism has created the great wealth and improvement in quality of life that has been seen over the past few centuries. The variables are too many and the interrelationships too complex for any such conclusion to be drawn with confidence. Another interpretation of the facts could be that science, technology, and trade have produced all the wealth, while capitalism and capitalists have been the parasites that have naturally grown to feed off of the wealth.
There are an infinite number of possible political/economic/social organizations for groups of human beings. It is not a certainty but it appears more and more likely that shifting to an organization other than corporate capitalism will be necessary for humans to continue improving their quality of life, and quite possibly such a change will be necessary for humans to continue at all.
Thank you __ K I V A L S __
Very well said, and the contrasted stark light of individual choices illuminated, that WE are no longer teamed under the lash and bridled harna$$ of a failed collective illu$ion -- is wonderful and something to definitely _ d.a.n.c.e _ and _ c.e.l.e.b.r.a.t.e _ about.
! ! ! ! __ W h o o o p e e e e e __ ! ! ! !
May all the munchkins in the all of the LAND, follow the new "yellow brick road to peace, happiness, well being, and prosperity"
Namaste
We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Toto!
Greed has destroyed Kansas and the rest of our Republic.
We only try to survive in a ChristoFascist Dictatorship now.
It is going to be OK! Take a good hard look,,,,,, in a nice elegant room of elitists sitting around the fireplace. They, as you know it well, would sell out any member of their family or best friend. And for what? We seen it, greed. They are not only enemies of themselves, but will turn on each other like cannibalistic creatures. For what can a man do, but gain the whole World of more than you can need in a thousand life times, and shun humanity, a soulessness man with no pity who deserves none.
WE, will unite..... my brothers shall knock, and they shall eat at my table in my stead. WE, will become the oppressed. But they will run scared for the remainder of their days, losing their touch not only with reality, but be propelled and hidden from most of the World. We shall be free, they will think they are.....
Coffeelover,,,,,,,,
yes, I get the feeling that we're being hood-winked and intimidated into believing that the whole world is going to collapse if Congress doesn't approve a bail-out package. I grew up very poor in the 60's and 70's. I think that served me. I think I have been mezmorized by all the hype that capitalism was supposed to make things better for me and I swallowed the propaganda until I realized that it was all just that....bullshit. Somewhere in my 30's I caught on- I was tired. I too believe that things will ultimately be OK. It's the folks that don't know how to pump water to drink and grow some of their own food OR cooperate with the ones that do that will have a big problem. I am hopeful that this supposed "crisis" will wake some folks up. Pay off any debt you have- my parents didn't know what a credit card was. They paid off their mortgage and struggled to keep me fed but they did it. There was always work somewhere- the corporations think they have a stranglehold on us but people just need to realize that they don't and won't if we get back to some basic but improved smaller economies of scale and some basic golden rules (not religious based bullshit- religion divides). Maybe this is just what we needed. Suffering has a purpose...Only problem is, rich folks don't think they should have to suffer..why not? Because they believe they are too "valuable" to suffer and that the megar, stupid poor people should. That is exactly what this whole mindset behind this bailout is about and it's been going on since humans started civilizations. Evolve or go extinct.....this is the perfect opportunity.
“Of course, there are good reasons to be scared. The failure of capitalism, in the absence of a viable alternative, presents a terrifying danger of deterioration into fascism”
OK, you lost me here. Why are you scared? Because CNN and Bush says you should be? Shouldn’t you ask the opinion of maybe, economics professors that aren’t “on the take” like the corporate media and government?
And it isn’t “capitalism” that is failing, it is a small subset of the economy, deregulated financial firms. It they go bust, people like Warren Buffet will swoop in and take over. There is no need for corporate wellfare from already financially strapped taxpayers.
Of course, the decision to pay off wall street has already been made. The only input the public will have is with regards to how the mother of all pork barrel projects will be marketed. That is where all your phone calls and emails to the Dems/Repugs come in handy. They will dress up the give-away, any way you like.
Did you notice, there are people running for congress, and president, that are against the bail-out?
Do you think those very same people will do anything about it after the election?
Sophie Scholl-The Final Days
for those who don't know about Sophie, her brother Hans, et.al.: Hx and a nice photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose
Sophia Magdalena Scholl (May 9, 1921 - February 22, 1943) was a member of the White Rose non-violent resistance movement in Nazi Germany. She was convicted of treason after having been found distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich with her brother Hans. As a result, they were both executed by guillotine.
Since the 1970s, Scholl has been celebrated as one of the great German heroes who actively opposed the Third Reich during the Second World War.
The choice of the Wicked Witch is the wrong one from fiction in this instance. A more appropriate one is the Hydra. Until a heroic figure like Herakles (Greek spelling) and shows enough ingenuity to bring fire along with a sword, the monster will always come back.
So much robbery that the robber collapsed to his knees. Or has he yet? There's still a lot more of the planet to loot!