Danger time for America

[Lamb Boy]

Re: Danger time for America

I agree with the Greenspan bit. This country is going to be hating it real soon. It's more like the unfortunate reality more than paranoia.

"Just cuz you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!"

[Inthemood]

Re: Danger time for America

Indeed, money is easier to come by these days. When did we become such a compulsive consumer culture? It's a little nauseating.

[Anonymouse]

Re: Danger time for America

Indeed, money is easier to come by these days. When did we become such a compulsive consumer culture? It's a little nauseating.

You answered your own question when you said money is easier to come buy.

I was listening to the marketplace report and the journalist who was delivering it had lived in China for 6 years or something with his family. A mild-mannered American man. He was in awe of the Chinese work ethic, and their ability to save and live within their means. When he came to America, he recalled his son watching TV and for the first time asking him "Daddy? What's 0% APR?"

Money is indeed easier to come buy and people are misled to live lives that are not within their means, and not just individuals but this government as well which is creating record deficits as we speak!

[Inthemood]

Re: Danger time for America

I spoke to a Japanese chef a while ago. I was telling him that I am impressed by the Japanese culture and economy, there is so much harmony in their lives. He said that he'd rather live in US, because of the harmony. In Japan there is such perfection that it results in dullness. I can't say anything because I've never been there. Either extreme is not good, but the medium doesn't exist anywhere. Pretty sad.

The consumption frenzy irritates me, but I also know that I fall victim to it as well. Economy grows if there is substantial spending, therefore advertisement and an impulsive consumer dominates.

[Anonymouse]

Re: Danger time for America

I spoke to a Japanese chef a while ago. I was telling him that I am impressed by the Japanese culture and economy, there is so much harmony in their lives. He said that he'd rather live in US, because of the harmony. In Japan there is such perfection that it results in dullness. I can't say anything because I've never been there. Either extreme is not good, but the medium doesn't exist anywhere. Pretty sad.

The consumption frenzy irritates me, but I also know that I fall victim to it as well. Economy grows if there is substantial spending, therefore advertisement and an impulsive consumer dominates.

Actually that part about spending to facilitate economic growth was one of the Keynesian myths the government believes. It's amusing how even to this day there are economists (mostly government economists) and economics courses that still teach this. Actually, this whole notion of pumping money into the economy to foster consumer spending and thereby pull the country out of an economic dip, is more harmful to the economy and today's situation is in fact owed to these World War II era Keynesian policies, Bretton Woods, the 70s fiasco, and much more. Pumping more money into the economy to foster spending is only good if you want to inflate the money supply and cause an economic crisis or bubbles in the future which we have been doing admirably might I add thanks to genius' such as Greenspan!

As a note, there is nothing wrong with being a consumer, or having a consumer culture. It's part of what we call the free market. There is a problem when people live and spend outside their means. That sort of consumer culture is a red flag, and which ironically characterizes most of America.

[Inthemood]

Re: Danger time for America

I do consider "consumer culture" a malevolent state to be in. One can be a consumer, but to reside in a consumer state/culture would mean that it's exercised in excess, as a sport. People are better in consuming than they are in taking care of themselves spiritually and physically. In fact, compulsive consumption may countervail both.

As for spending encouragement I can't analyze on a economically proficient level, I am not knowledgeable enough in the matter of economics. However, I would be interested to know what is the fuel of economy if spending isn't it. Trade? Wouldn't that be in the same category as spending?

[Կարմիր Բ]

The Fall of Capitalism

The appearance of bourgeois legitimacy is all that keeps the American machine running.

Things are getting worse...and the clock is running.

It might take another 50 years or even more...but the fate of capitalist despotism in North America is sealed.

It's no longer a question of "if"...it's only a question of when.

[Anonymouse]

Re: The Fall of Capitalism

The appearance of bourgeois legitimacy is all that keeps the American machine running.

Things are getting worse...and the clock is running.

It might take another 50 years or even more...but the fate of capitalist despotism in North America is sealed.

It's no longer a question of "if"...it's only a question of when.

Capitalism is the crap coined by Marx. We are talking about free markets which you clearly know nothing of. It is precisely socialistic policies that have contributed to these crises, as opposed to free market ones.

[Կարմիր Բ]

Re: The Fall of Capitalism

Capitalism is the crap coined by Marx. We are talking about free markets which you clearly know nothing of. It is precisely socialistic policies that have contributed to these crises, as opposed to free market ones.

You're simply spoiled by the Economist.

[Anonymouse]

Re: The Fall of Capitalism

You're simply spoiled by the Economist.

That is untrue. You just don't understand economics. That is why Marxism is now in the dustbin of history, and the Marxist "economics" is nothing but on the margins and sidelines.