OT: Politics & The Economy

Way back when .... the media, et al, were all screaming pity for the American auto industry due to the high cost of union-ized labor w/in the industry and comparing American industries' labor cost w/the Germans and Japanese. I used to get so ticked off and mumble and grumble and scream "yeah, what about industries' upper echelon salaries compared to the Germans and Japanese?"

Then it really warmed my heart to see a small blurb in Time, Newsweek, US New & World Report, I don't remember which FINALLY comparing American industries' upper echelon compensation as compared to Germany's and Japan's and I REALLY saw red that no one was complaining about THAT comparison. The US was WAY WAY above Germany's and Japan's, even more out of line than the US hourly workers' compensation.

And then a couple of articles yesterday warmed my heart.

From SpiegleOnline: Has America Become An Oligarchy?

... Still, that's nothing compared to the trend in executives' salaries. In 1980, American CEOs earned 42 times more than the average employee. Today, that figure has skyrocketed to more than 300 times. Last year, 25 of the country's highest-paid CEOs earned more than their companies paid in taxes.

By way of comparison, top executives at the 30 blue-chip companies making up Germany's DAX stock market index rarely earn over 100 times the salaries of their low-level employees, and that figure is often around 30 or 40 times. ...

And from MarketWatch: Rich Class fighting 99%, winning big time

... It’s just one generation since conservatives put Reagan in office: In those three short decades the income and wealth of the top 1% has tripled while the income of the bottom 99% of all Americans has stagnated or dropped.

There are five banks in America that control about 90% of all the deposits … they control over 90% of America’s trading in the $650 trillion global derivatives casino … they control the Federal Reserve through directors and governors … their campaign payola and lobbyists virtually control the presidency, the Senate and Congress … they siphon huge bonuses from depositors, shareholders and pensioners alike.

The rich class loves war (war profiteering is a big business). Of course they often have to brainwash the 99% with fears like the mushroom-cloud lies Bush-Cheney used to get America into the $3 trillion Iraq War. Americans have a powerful love-hate relationship with war. Why else would we spend almost half our federal budget, several hundred billion dollars, on war every year? ...

Business as usual, beans for the workers that actually produce products, and more Gold Braid for the hats of top managment for doing nothing but begging the taxpayers for more money. Jim

I get it! Reading this same ol', same ol' will put us soundly asleep...

Any tips on using CPAP while "occupying" something?

Yeah, I get it. Trickle down economics means pee on the peons.

The sad part of it all is that I don't see a way out of this quagmire. Even if our legislators by some miracle developed the gonads and strength of character and honesty to TRY to do something about this situation big business and the One Percenters have a strangle hold on this country.

I'm 100% with you, Slinky... just find it easier to live in da nile! Just what are we going to do about it anyway - except be mad as h**l.

It's not just big business, it's in all the upper echelons of government as well.

In 2009, Obama rightfully and correctly chastized AIG for paying out big bonuses on the taxpayer dime.

However now, Fannie and Freddie, which was also bailed out by taxpayers, wants to do the same thing the AIG did, pay out big bonuses. But this time, the WH is silent. Regarding the Fannie and Freddie bonuses, Jay Carney said yesterday "The White House was not involved and nor should it be".

So, the 99% is also being strangled by our own government who allows this kind of crap to go on. They all feed off each other and the 99% is left paying the bill. OWS should be ODC.

As with all things, we can't correct the way our country is going. At least we can't, until things get so bad that people will step up and revolt to get the needed changes. With the state of our country now, we would be hard pressed to find enough committed people willing to do what is necessary, to rebuild our country from the ruins.

We have lived in the land of plenty so long we have gotten so soft that when if goes really bad, people won't be equipted mentally or physically to get by on their own, that's what the government has set into play with the welfare state.

As far as the Economy, look as how many families are one paycheck from broke, in past times you didn't but thing until you had the money, now it's get everything now, and hope you can pay later, most people can't, and don't even know where next weeks food will be coming from.

The question is when and how soon will it happen, our money is based on nothing and being printed with no worth, making any money we have worth less in buying power each day. Even so we still want government to provide for us and meat our needs, without realizing we are the government, and the lunch isn't free, it never was. Jim

ems wrote: Just what are we going to do about it anyway - except be mad as h**l.

Vote. (If you tell them you're a Democrat, they'll let you vote twice...)

LinkC wrote:

ems wrote: Just what are we going to do about it anyway - except be mad as h**l.

Vote. (If you tell them you're a Democrat, they'll let you vote twice...)

More than twice in Florida

But when your only choice is to vote for the lesser of two evils (to preserve your right to b*tch) ..... one side isn't a heck of a whole lot better than the other. By the time they make it as far as Congress they've sold any integrity they had along the way.

LinkC wrote:

ems wrote: Just what are we going to do about it anyway - except be mad as h**l.

Vote. (If you tell them you're a Democrat, they'll let you vote twice...)

For sure I'm gonna do that! Just might do it twice.

Slinky wrote:
There are five banks in America that control about 90% of all the deposits … they control over 90% of America’s trading in the $650 trillion global derivatives casino … they control the Federal Reserve through directors and governors … their campaign payola and lobbyists virtually control the presidency, the Senate and Congress … they siphon huge bonuses from depositors, shareholders and pensioners alike.

The rich class loves war (war profiteering is a big business). Of course they often have to brainwash the 99% with fears like the mushroom-cloud lies Bush-Cheney used to get America into the $3 trillion Iraq War. Americans have a powerful love-hate relationship with war. Why else would we spend almost half our federal budget, several hundred billion dollars, on war every year? ...

Do you understand that our government is in bed with those five banks and the military-industrial complex?

If you attack (or occupy) the banks or the military and their suppliers, you are just trimming the shrubbery. Trimmed shrubbery will put out new foliage quickly in the current environment.

This is one of the problems I have with OWS - they want to trim the shrubbery. They need to go to Washington and dig up the roots.

Have a look at Presidential primary candidate Gary Johnson. He is the only one who has the executive experience and platform to start killing the roots.

Thomas Friedman is mostly wrong, but he got something right in a column this week: "Members of Congress should have to dress like NASCAR drivers and wear the logos of all the banks, investment banks, insurance companies and real estate firms they're taking money from."

Free the Unabomber?

chunkyfrog wrote:Free the Unabomber?

NightMonkey wrote:This is one of the problems I have with OWS - they want to trim the shrubbery. They need to go to Washington and dig up the roots.

Amen, OWS needs to become ODC.