Reagan insider: 'GOP destroyed U.S. economy'

[Mott the Hoople]

Yes I saw that line but look at the title of the article and everything else in it.

Why do the liberals on the board like the article so much? Is it because they also agree the Democrats have destroyed the economy? Or because they agree the Democrats have destroyed the economy along with the Republicans and want the Republicans to know what they already know?

No, the authors argument is that the bitter partisans of both parties are the dupes of the politicians and special interest who have been leading a train wreck waiting to happen.

Sulla was right about bread and circus.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

The GOP were his bretheren. Trying to talk Dems out of deficit spending is like trying to talk a goat out of shitting whereever he shits. He has no control of it. Dems are going to spend lots of money. I find it really interesting that Republicans have not gone back and repudiated their stand that "Deficits don't matter if they come from tax cuts." Extending the Bush tax cuts right now will add billions to the deficit. Deificits do matter. There needs to be a republican that comes out and says, we are cutting everything. We are leaving Iraq and Afghanistan, not because WE have failed there but because we are getting no bang for our buck. The soldiers have not failed us the Iraqi's, Afghans and Pakistanis have failed us. It is time for austerity, it is time to tighten our belts. Economies are cyclic and don't always grow. When they fail to grow we have to prune them back so they start up again. Fuck sake, where is Chauncy the Gardner when you need him?

That's the problem. I any politician threatens to cut spending on any of the three golden pillars (defense, SS and M/M) then they are toast. What does that say about us? At some point in time we have to stop blaming the politicians and start looking at the people who vote for them.

You get the government you deserve.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I agree with stages 1 and 2, which is damning enough.

Stage 3 is retarded, because calling investment capitalism "unproductive" is retarded. I could say "fuck manufacturing," and it would be just as meaningless.

Stage 4 pretends that class warfare is new (its been a bedrock of American politics as long as the Democratic Party has existed, and was a huge part of 19th Century populism), and presumes that something different will happen this time that didn't happen in the past. There's absolutely no validity for anything along this point.

You don't read so well. He didn't call investment capital "unproductive" he said playing tricks, like mortgage derivatives, with investment capital is unproductive. He's absolutely right. Wall Street has went from investing in productive businesses to investments schemes based on derivative investments. Historically speaking, when great nations invest their wealth in such a manner it is indicitive of the decline of that great nation.

It happened to Rome
It happened to Spain in the 16th century
It happened to the Dutch in the 17th century
It happened to the British in the late 19th, early 20th century

and now it appears to be happening to us.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

And we would all be worse for ware, and deserving of the consequences. How exactly does the working class NOT benefit from tax cuts, btw?

You're an economic rube 3D. First, lets get something clear. Tax cuts are not the Madonna, they are not sanctified in holy water, they have not been beatified by the Pope and Jesus didn't really need a tax cut. IT'S NOT A FUCKING RELIGION!!

Regresive tax cuts severly harm the middle classes in a number of ways.

#1. It reduces the funds available to the government to use to provide resources. That in term either means austerity measures are implemented by the government where, usually, services benefiting the middle and working classes are the first to be cut and those benefiting the wealthy are the last. It can also destabilize the economy, because it creates deficits.

#2. Regressive tax cuts funnel money upwards towards the wealthy and away from the middle classes. This has two negative results. It gives a handful of people political power as they dominate the wealth and it also takes money our of circulation, particularly during economic down turns, as there are only so many homes, villas, boats and cars a rich person needs. When they suspect economic turmoil, they hide their money and pull it out of circulation. Less spending and less capitabl means less business, less growth, fewer jobs, more unemployment and a lower standard of living for the working classes.

You need to get off the crack pipe of supply side economics. It's a failed economic system and since your not in the top 10% of earners it doesn't benefit you at all unless of course you like hitting that crack pipe.

The statistic he posted about how "high-value jobs in goods production ... trade, transportation, information technology and the professions shrunk by 12% to 68 million from 77 million." is a major wake up call!!!

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Bummer, that sucks, man.

This is OT....and I don’t know if this is applicable in any way to you, but if anyone is stuck in a rut of unemployment due to a shitty economy, IMO a good strategy to ride out the storm is to enroll in school, work on a degree or get some classes under your belt....and either get training for a different career or make yourself unstoppable with the skills you already have.

The upside of this strategy is that potential employers who interview you won’t freak out as much when they hear about the length of an extended unemployment spell – you’re totally covered! You can say you were in school. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, is that being is school is an outstanding way to meet hella awesome chicks! (j/k)

Except some moron decided that if you go to school you lose your unemployment benefits and that brings up the question, how do you pay for school if you don't have a job? They aint exactly handing out student loans these days.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

We all know Trickle Down Economics destroyed the economy and the RP but we're more concerned about silly shit. Hiding our head in the sand and denying our guilt is the order of the day and yes, I'm a Republican. We don't deserve to hold office again.

You sound like me ten years ago. I cut the RP string in 2003 when that fucking moron Bush invaded Iraq. Well technically 2004 but it was the 2003 invasion of Iraq that was the final straw for me.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Ahmen Bro

It's the workers that produce America's wealth. Forgetting that is a crime that will result in serfdom for us all.

You got that right!

 

[Minister of Truth]

Yes, we should remember that all Americans have an interest in securing their property rights, and in not being overburdened by taxes (income, property, sales, utilities, etc.).

Claiming that people are more important because they physically construct objects and materials of value, rather than managing resources, investing, and what not, is pretty stupid, and a backward-thinking argument. In a way, its the last surviving sentiment of Jefferson's moronic agrarian vision, where living off the land was seen as a true manifestation of wealth over industry, markets, and other alternative endeavors.

 

[cawacko]

We all know Trickle Down Economics destroyed the economy and the RP but we're more concerned about silly shit. Hiding our head in the sand and denying our guilt is the order of the day and yes, I'm a Republican. We don't deserve to hold office again.

You're a Republican and I'm black from the waist down. Oh wait, nevermind...

 

[cancel2 2022]

I loved that movie. I consider it, along with Catch-22, the best high comedies ever made. I'll never ever forget the scene with Shirley McClain.....I like to watch! LOL

It was certainly Peter Sellers crowning achievement. He should have won the acadamy award. It was a brilliant performance.

Here are some scenes for those that are unaware of this comedic masterpiece.

 

[cancel2 2022]

Here are some scenes for those that are unaware of this comedic masterpiece.

YouTube- Being There -My favorite crucial scenes

One interesting fact about Jerzy Kozinski, who wrote the original novel and screenplay for Being There. On the 8th August 1969, he was scheduled to fly from Paris to Los Angeles to join some friends for dinner at Roman Polanski's home in Hollywood. Because his luggage had accidentally been sent to New York, the delays caused him to miss the party. His dear friend Voytek Frykowski, Sharon Tate and the rest of the guests were slaughtered that evening by the Manson Family. Had he been there on the night, then Being There would never have happened!

 

[Minister of Truth]

You're a Republican and I'm black from the waist down. Oh wait, nevermind...

Yeah, I don't understand how one could miss the blatant pro-business stance of the GOP from Lincoln through the mid-20th Century. Ironically, its Nixon, who was a bit more hostile to business interests than his Republican predecessors, and transformed the modern GOP, that Augustino blames for destroying the party. I think he destroyed it too, by inviting in the Southern riff-raff, but he certainly didn't make it as pro-business as the party was under Coolidge, or Taft who took it to the unions with his famous piece of legislation from 1947.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Yes, we should remember that all Americans have an interest in securing their property rights, and in not being overburdened by taxes (income, property, sales, utilities, etc.).

Claiming that people are more important because they physically construct objects and materials of value, rather than managing resources, investing, and what not, is pretty stupid, and a backward-thinking argument. In a way, its the last surviving sentiment of Jefferson's moronic agrarian vision, where living off the land was seen as a true manifestation of wealth over industry, markets, and other alternative endeavors.

You are exasperating 3D. No one is making the claim that working people are more important and while your making that point your sublimating the fact that the reverse is also true. Those who produce wealth, weather it be a day laborer or a farmer or manufacturer are always, ALWAYS, of more value to a society then those whose wealth is derived from productive wealth. The reason for that is so damned obvious too. Derived wealth is unsustainable with out productive wealth.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Here are some scenes for those that are unaware of this comedic masterpiece.

YouTube- Being There -My favorite crucial scenes

You should tell them the plot of the movie. The main character has been kept in isolation by a wealthy benefactor all his life. The only thing he has ever been taught by that benefactor is gardening. Everything else he's learned about life has been from TV. Ultimately his benefactor dies and he is thrust out upon the world and left to his own devices. This is where the movie begins.

 

[cancel2 2022]

You should tell them the plot of the movie. The main character has been kept in isolation by a wealthy benefactor all his life. The only thing he has ever been taught by that benefactor is gardening. Everything else he's learned about life has been from TV. Ultimately his benefactor dies and he is thrust out upon the world and left to his own devices. This is where the movie begins.

I think it's best if they read some of the reviews on IMDB.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078841/usercomments

 

[signalmankenneth]

The sad part of this republican debt, is there isn't sh*t to show for it either?!!

 

[Mott the Hoople]

One interesting fact about Jerzy Kozinski, who wrote the original novel and screenplay for Being There. On the 8th August 1969, he was scheduled to fly from Paris to Los Angeles to join some friends for dinner at Roman Polanski's home in Hollywood. Because his luggage had accidentally been sent to New York, the delays caused him to miss the party. His dear friend Voytek Frykowski, Sharon Tate and the rest of the guests were slaughtered that evening by the Manson Family. Had he been there on the night, then Being There would never have happened!

Didn't he also write "The World According To Garp"?

 

[Minister of Truth]

You are exasperating 3D. No one is making the claim that working people are more important and while your making that point your sublimating the fact that the reverse is also true. Those who produce wealth, weather it be a day laborer or a farmer or manufacturer are always, ALWAYS, of more value to a society then those whose wealth is derived from productive wealth. The reason for that is so damned obvious too. Derived wealth is unsustainable with out productive wealth.

WTF is productive wealth? In fact, WTF is working class, because I sure as hell don't want to fucking work!!

 

[cawacko]

WTF is productive wealth? In fact, WTF is working class, because I sure as hell don't want to fucking work!!

I'm glad you asked because I have no idea what productive wealth is either. Not even sure I've ever even heard that term.

 

[Minister of Truth]

I'm glad you asked because I have no idea what productive wealth is either. Not even sure I've ever even heard that term.

I know what its intended to mean. Its left over from failed economic models such as agrarianism and communism, which have a prejudice against markets and modernity. Now its just a slogan invoking class warfare.

Essentially:
Joe Prole manufactures a toothpick. Toothpick = productive wealth
James Patrician invests money into Oral Health Company = derived wealth

Bankers and investors = Evil Jew Bastards. Larborers = Good Guys