Bail Out Plan

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Honestly, I'd love for them to feel the degradation that so many poor americans, who are financiing this bailout, do.
 
so if i understand all this......the banks and finance companies have totally screwed the
world's economy, having lost trillions of dollars. at the same time they are giving
themselves billions of dollars in bonuses --- taken as management fees out of millions
of small investors' accounts --- which have on average lost 50% this year. at the
same time, the us government (and others) are giving these same banks and finance
companies billions of dollars in free money with little to no oversight, money which was
essentially taken at gunpoint from the salaries of the small investors who've already
lost most of their retirement savings, if not their jobs and homes and health insurance.
the few executives who are forced out are punished for their poor management skills
with hundred-million-dollar severance packages, and given millions in stock options, thus
diluting (whatever is left of) the value of the small investors' stock.

i'll take socialism.

i've read somewhere that the current cost of the bailout is $7,000 per taxpayer.
that's the current cost, not including the $900 billion plan about to pass, and the
billions more yet to come. loaded with pork, and little that will actually stimulate
the economy, i.e. programs to increase consumer spending. but at least it
limits executive pay to $500,000. i'm sure most of us are concerned at how
draconian that seems, but fortunately there are no limits to compensation in
other forms, such as stock options and severance packages.

so how about we try something different. instead of giving more money to people
who have proven they can't handle money, why not try some direct stimulus. i know
the argument is that cash given directly to consumers will be saved rather than spent
in this economy, but there are ways around that. how about every taxpayer with an
AGI under $250k gets a debit card with a face value of $10k from the US federal
reserve bank. the cards are designed like "gift cards" that will expire in 180 days. any
money not spent will be forfeit. so there you go. money is pumped into the economy
that will all be put in circulation within six months. and as it turns out, its not a gift.
the people getting the bailout money, taxpayers, are the ones who will be responsible
for paying it all back.

(ed. cartoon from international herald tribune online edition)
 
hope and change?

sure, i hope it gets better, but i'm afraid the only change you're
likely to see is what's left over after you spend your unemployment on
day-old bread and clothing from the thrift store.
 
Yes, that's exactly what it means unfortunately, for a lot of people. It also means that my husband, and myself, my children, and possibly the next generation, will be paying for it. I certainly DO NOT trust these thieves with MY MONEY.
 
Kathy McCain said:
...and possibly the next generation, will be paying for it.
Click to expand...

possibly???? try the next next next next generation. i'm not sure where
to find the info, but i doubt the vietnam police action has been fully paid
for yet. now we've got iraq (estimated at $3 trillion and counting) and
afghanistan (now being upsized) - not just the upfront expenditures, which
don't appear in the budget, but are 'emergency' measures.....seven years
into the war, but then there are the follow-on costs of v.a. health benefits,
lifetime treatment for injuries, rebuilding the military, and on and on and on.
not to mention a lot of pissed-off natives who've had their wedding plans
ruined by 2000-lb bombs.

and at the same time the financial crisis that just keeps sucking in more
recovery funds. final cost will probably be in the tens of trillions. and way
back when, as lehman brothers was collapsing, and we had the last chance
to prevent the worst, congress had to take a week off because of a holiday
in israel. let's hope they appreciate that when they decide whether to
bomb iran and get us into yet another multi-trillion dollar debacle.

but we're just guessing about the cost, because even if they print the
money, there may not be any money to spend. that's because all of
this is predicated on china, saudi arabia, russia, dubai continuing to buy
us government debt. if they realize the dollar not worth the paper its
printed on, they'll look elsewhere to park their spare cash. after all,
most governments are now selling massive amounts of debt to finance
their stimulus packages....why buy dollars if euros or dinars or pesos
or sheckels or rockbucks are more credible investments.

we're doomed.
 
My life was spared so that I could live through this! And I intend to.
Things will get better and I believe sooner then folks think.

I operate a recreational marine business and I can tell you that there is a pulse out there. It's hard to look past the realities we see on the news every night, but there is still some very good going on right now. I am optimistic for our future.

Rob
 
Well, I think your 're probably not far from the mark. I was trying to be a little more positive. (ha!) I really don't see how we can continue like this. Let's face it, there's always been greed, and corruption, but this is unpresidented ! I hate to get on a morale soapbox, so I'll be brief, but it all comes down to the lowering of morale standards, and integrity. It's infiltrated into just about every aspect of our society! It's rather scary. I really don't know just what is left for the American people to do. It seems no matter who you vote for, it's just about all the same !

Best regards, Kathy
 
Count me among the optimistic. We will pass a great debt to succeeding generations, but if we do this correctly, we can also pass on a strong national infrastructure. Which of us would find our present circumstances more onerous than those confronted by the generation that faced Pearl Harbor, and watched Europe fall to a maniacal dictator?

We live in a country where we choose our leaders. Tonight I watched our President be quizzed and challenged by members of the media. They were able to do so free from any fears of government retaliation, and we were able to watch the whole thing without any concerns that the proceedings were being censured in any way. This experiment called democracy has worked pretty well so far. And it is the democratic system that has (in the past) and will (in our present times) make the best choice for the leadership we need. I am confident that we are going to find our way through the present problems.
 
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