To the rest of the planet...

[Philly]

That is somewhat true. I did more or less grow up with my parents glorifying Clinton, and when I finally got around to thinking for myself, Bush was doing his thing.

Although I'm curious if we're going to see something like the 1930s, where a depression hits with one man in charge, so he gets blamed for the economy taking, and then a man from another party steps in and gets the credit for saving the whole deal.

 

[Omnis]

That is somewhat true. I did more or less grow up with my parents glorifying Clinton, and when I finally got around to thinking for myself, Bush was doing his thing.

Although I'm curious if we're going to see something like the 1930s, where a depression hits with one man in charge, so he gets blamed for the economy taking, and then a man from another party steps in and gets the credit for saving the whole deal.

Yeah, and by saving you mean making things worse. And I hope that's not the case if it means we have to go through WW3.

 

[YSSMAN]

Although I'm curious if we're going to see something like the 1930s, where a depression hits with one man in charge, so he gets blamed for the economy taking, and then a man from another party steps in and gets the credit for saving the whole deal.

We were pretty deep into the "S Hole" by the time Roosevelt showed up in 1932, and while times are very shaky right now, I still don't think we'll ever see anything on a scale such as that. Thankfully some of Roosevelt's ideas have worked well enough to prevent a total meltdown, but we've got at least another year (or two) of this thin red line crap to go through.

Who knows what'll happen. Hopefully not a big World War to turn the economy back on (hello Tom Clancy's EndWar!)...

 

[Bram Turismo]

Because Americans in general have spent at least the last 5 years, if not longer, being treated by the rest of the world like we are complete morons led by an imbecile. That has allegedly changed. I'll expect the world's attitude to change now that we have allegedly changed.

I've yet to meet an arrogant American. Actually, I've never viewed upon Americans as obnixious or arrogant. Although, I will admit that I'm quite annoyed with the level of patriotism some Americans show. But then again, those Americans are only those you get to see on the telly

 

[Omnis]

We were pretty deep into the "S Hole" by the time Roosevelt showed up in 1932, and while times are very shaky right now, I still don't think we'll ever see anything on a scale such as that. Thankfully some of Roosevelt's ideas have worked well enough to prevent a total meltdown, but we've got at least another year (or two) of this thin red line crap to go through.

Who knows what'll happen. Hopefully not a big World War to turn the economy back on (hello Tom Clancy's EndWar!)...

Actually, it's much worse now than it was then. The country didn't have 10 trillion dollars of debt. We're just lucky that people are still holding our dollars. Pretty much all of Roosevelt's ideas were a huge fail. That people held our dollars in reconstructing Europe was probably what saved us. You'd just better hope that countries don't start using their dollar stockpile to hand out stimulus packages. China is planning on doing this now. If they use their 2 trillion in dollar reserves for their package instead of going to their central bank, things are going to get ugly for us.

 

[TheCracker]

Although, I will admit that I'm quite annoyed with the level of patriotism some Americans show. But then again, those Americans are only those you get to see on the telly

Bram, The Dukes of Hazzard and the A-team aren't real people

 

[Danoff]

Actually, it's much worse now than it was then. The country didn't have 10 trillion dollars of debt. We're just lucky that people are still holding our dollars. Pretty much all of Roosevelt's ideas were a huge fail. That people held our dollars in reconstructing Europe was probably what saved us. You'd just better hope that countries don't start using their dollar stockpile to hand out stimulus packages. China is planning on doing this now. If they use their 2 trillion in dollar reserves for their package instead of going to their central bank, things are going to get ugly for us.

Can you connect the dots for me. I get lost in these discussions easily. Why is it bad if China starts spending dollars? (< serious statement)

We were pretty deep into the "S Hole" by the time Roosevelt showed up in 1932, and while times are very shaky right now, I still don't think we'll ever see anything on a scale such as that. Thankfully some of Roosevelt's ideas have worked well enough to prevent a total meltdown,

The research says that Roosevelt's policies extended the depression by about 7 years.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Bram, The Dukes of Hazzard and the A-team aren't real people

Fair enough

I never liked the new Dukes of Hazzard movie, whether the old one is any better, I don't know. Never liked the A-Team either, gimme KITT with the freaggin' gay guy

Seriously though, I do more often than I like hear Americans say "I think America is the greatest country in the world". Well, basically yes, someone should be proud of their country. But I don't know if it's just the camera's that focus on over-patriotic people, but I've never met anyone around here that said: "Norway is the best country in the world" or "God bless Belgium!"

Personally, I wouldn't even consider trading in Norway for America

 

[FoolKiller]

gimme KITT with the freaggin' gay guy

What gay guy? Are you calling The Hoff gay? He is a mad chick magnet (in Germany). You do not Hassel the Hoff.


Unless you are talking about the new Knight Rider, in which case I have no clue about his sexual orientation.


I think you do see a lot more Americans who celebrate their patriotism than other countries, but that is because it is encouraged. And then with 9/11 it brought people together to support their country even more. Then there is the fact that you often don't see multi-year waiting lists for citizenship into many other countries. So, between patriotic encouragement and just from what we hear from immigrants who come to America the people that go around saying that have it reinforced.

 

[Bram Turismo]

What gay guy? Are you calling The Hoff gay? He is a mad chick magnet (in Germany). You do not Hassel the Hoff.

 

[YSSMAN]

Can you connect the dots for me. I get lost in these discussions easily. Why is it bad if China starts spending dollars? (< serious statement)

I think he is making reference to the ammount of American money the Chinese currently hold. If they ask for some of it, its only going to make things worse.

If I'm understanding what he is saying, connecting it to some of the things I think I know...

The research says that Roosevelt's policies extended the depression by about 7 years.

I was making a reference to the FDIC, mostly, but certainly some of the programs never worked out as well as they should have. His pragmatic approach to the New Deal, at the very least, was meant to inspire confidence, not fix everything outright.

 

[Omnis]

Can you connect the dots for me. I get lost in these discussions easily. Why is it bad if China starts spending dollars? (< serious statement)

Well, it certainly isn't bad for them. They're holding like 2 trillion of foreign reserves. Most of it is US stuff-- treasuries, etc. If it does decide to use that cash, China will become a net seller of US treasuries just as the US government itself will be pushing up its issuance of new bonds. Problem is that there will be two huge sellers and not many buyers because other countries also have crappy finances. So the only reliable customer becomes the Fed. As a result, not only will the Fed monetize our own economic stimulus packages, but will also have to provide the same service to the Chinese (either outright or de facto).

Dollar flood = inflation up.

 

[YSSMAN]

Although this is spinning the thread even further off topic, we've been discussing monetary policy in my International Relations class for the past week or so and someone asked the question in class "why aren't we [the US] pushing for more savings bonds?"

Seems like it'd help a bit with our little financial crisis. Its a pretty good (and otherwise "safe") investment as well. Thoughts?

 

[Omnis]

Although this is spinning the thread even further off topic, we've been discussing monetary policy in my International Relations class for the past week or so and someone asked the question in class "why aren't we [the US] pushing for more savings bonds?"

Seems like it'd help a bit with our little financial crisis. Its a pretty good (and otherwise "safe") investment as well. Thoughts?

Yeah, these threads are getting pretty bungled up. I apologize for my contributions to it.

Oh and the US isn't pushing savings bonds because nobody has savings.

 

[Duke]

Oh and the US isn't pushing savings bonds because nobody has savings.

Speak for yourself. I could write a check today and be out of my mortgage tomorrow. But then again, I'm not an idiot.

 

[Keef]

His pragmatic approach to the New Deal, at the very least, was meant to inspire confidence, not fix everything outright.

Even solutions have unintended consequences. The way I see it, the only way anything will ever would as it should is if it never gets screwed with. Once something gets changed it won't work the way it was designed, and you'll have no idea how it will work until it does whatever it may do. And by then you've gone and messed something up.

Apparently I think this country/world should be left to fall into a dreadful depression. Then after that things will rise again. There's only so much "stuff" out there, whether it be money or matter, and when something goes away something else comes in to take its place, and not a lick of it will last forever. It's unfortunate that this mess came about in our lifetimes. But obviously whatever the outcome is it's inevitable--we just don't know what the outcome will be.

 

[Gil]

Speak for yourself. I could write a check today and be out of my mortgage tomorrow. But then again, I'm not an idiot.

By the same token, I paid my home off shortly after buying it.
"Home base" is now secure no matter what the market does to the rest of my investments.

But I see where Duke is coming from. The economy NEEDS a steady influx of cash to keep it from collapsing.

Unfortunately, no one wants to spend for fear that they'll need the money later. It's a vicious cycle. And it runs counter to what intuition says should be correct.

 

[Sureboss]

The economy in itself is like one monster business. It needs a cash flow like any business does.

 

[Omnis]

Speak for yourself. I could write a check today and be out of my mortgage tomorrow. But then again, I'm not an idiot.

That was tongue in cheek, but you're right..

 

[mindwise]

Dear World:

We did what you wanted.

Now, will you PLEASE stop taking every possible opportunity to remind us what callous, boorish, arrogant morons we all are?

Sincerely,


The United States of America

Lol, that was funny.

To be honest, after my last (and first) visit to the USA (near Boston), i in fact found i was the ignorant one.

For one, i thought Americans drank a substance called 'Bud', but my ignorance was pleasantly and tastefully washed clean by the many beers produced by many local microbreweries.

Of course, on the topic of world politics and the dirty role US foreign affairs (or is that CIA) have played are yet to be corrected

But good beer certainly helps the discussions