To Whom It May Concern,

So what is your suggestion. Should we just wait and put of making any decisions until we can be sure of the process and the result. I am well aware that it won't be an immediate return but we haven't gotten any immediate return with the other plans and most of them don't have any oversight at all.

The states spend some money on infrastructure but their spending will be severly impacted by the disruption of the economy. I, personally, think we are at a crux moment in our development as a country. Our economy is crashing and crashing hard. Our infrastructure is failing and failing rapidly. Our education system is turning out people who are falling behind other countries at a rapid pace. If we don't make some hard decisions and make them soon then perhaps that Russian analyst may be more accurate than we think.

Sincerely Yours,
C. David Neely

__________________

That would be a fine place to start, and it fits right in with what I have proposed.

Why don't we just end ALL income tax deductions. That would probably have a greater impact and be "fairer" than a flat tax.

Well first, he needs to send a message to the guys that hold the big cash; dividend and cap gains taxes will remain as they are NOT expire in 2010 when the Bush tax cuts expire, next he needs to send a message to the middle class besides the afore mentioned, something that hits closer to home, like again, leaving the bush tax cuts in place, you may be of the opinion that the bush tax cits are for the rich only, well that’s bunk. When BRACKETS reset everyone gets whacked, everyone over 40K, if Obama thinks giving money ala non refundable tax credits will do it, he’s nuts,. Those folks don’t have money that will drive the economy, the real middle and upper middle class do.

Bond yields are shockingly low, the lower they get the worse for us;

5-Year 1.500
10-Year 3.750

When the 10 year gets blow 3.% we are in deep shit, that means that the big money has more faith in long term survival than in growth. The 5 year coupled with trhe low 10 year yield, is already at a level that is worrying many, if this hits 1.25% we are fuking cooked. And I mean cooked.

I will predict here and now, unless something very drastic and smart occurs as to our national monetary policy, a 10% national unemployment rate by May 1st.

__________________

"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

401Ks are still worth it if your employer matches. Whatever the match is the % of interest you make on that investment. (My match is 50 cents on the dollar.)

BUT, too many people do not learn how to log onto their accounts and move money out of a failing fund into one that is not losing. A lot of funds would have failed, but people wouldn't have lost so much of their money. It just isn't that hard to manage your own 401K investments.

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And with what money will Obama be paying for all this new construction? The US Government is beyond broke. How long until our national credit card is revoked?


If Obama does what he has promised and taxes the rich capitalists to pay for this new construction, just who will invest in new business needed to utilize all this wonderful infrastructure? Who will invest capital when capital gains are so heavily taxed? Who will generate the money to pay off all our debts?


It's like the gambler telling himself "Just one more hand, and I will win back all I have lost. Just one more hand..."
a delusion, self-destructive plan, at best.

__________________
"The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit."
- Milton Friedman

"The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it."
- George Orwell

*sighs and grinds his knuckles into his eyeballs*

ahoy Imperator!

'seems that all sealanes on this particular part 'o the forum often lead to the same port. thar be alotta services provided fer by the government. a huge armed forces, lots and lots and lots 'o services fer retired old sea dogs who be scramblin' fer some sense 'o dignity in their final years, interest on all the gold we be borrowin'....thats 70% 'o the budget right thar. we're deep in hock, matey, and if taxes aren't goin' to be raised, how on earth will this stuff be paid fer?

at the same time, the nation's infrastructure, from all accounts, needs fixin'. i asks meself, "why does it need so much fixin'?" we've just come outta 20 years or so 'o prosperity...all that monies we were swimmin' in and the infrastructure be crumblin'??? how did that happen?

ahhh well...

i'd say we ought to help out the US steel industry, 'specially if what they're askin' fer is a commitment fer what mr. obama has already pledged to do.

i just don't see, though, how 1 trillion dollars be possible, even if its fer the best 'o causes.

yarrr...

arg.

-MeadHallPirate

*waves to Eagle7*

matey, i don't deny what yer sayin'...i been askin' meself the same questions, yet here be 'nother thing i don't quite understand;

the current president and his vice president agree that this bailout money needs to be spent.
the incoming president and his vice president also agree that goverment coffers need to be opened.

here is me question;

what is it that so many folks on the good ship USPOL know that the leaders (from both parties) of our nation don't know? why are the folks on this here forum right, and what is that we know and understand that makes us right, and the leaders 'o our nation wrong?

be it possible that maybe they know somethin' that folks here don't?

aye?

*bows*

-MeadHallPirate

much as with those levees in NOLA. money allocated was diverted to sexier vote buying programs.

its always the same answer mate, the government buys votes and rewards cronies. f we're lucky, they protect us from them what would see us dead.

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

motivation matey. You assume much if you believe they have our best interests at heart.

what they know is who owns them and what payment is expected and when.

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

To Whom It May Concern,

If we don't spend some money on repairing the country it seems to me that America as a national entity has pretty much run its course. Let's look at it like a house. We're in debt and we can't pay our bills or make headway on our loans. The house where we live is falling apart and we don't have the money to spend to fix it. The land where we have our house is polluted and contaminated with a lot of dangerous chemicals we can't clean up. Many of the people who live in the house are in danger of losing their jobs.
Its getting to the point where I am beginning to agree that we are simply fucked. We don't have any money and people are starting to stop letting us borrow money. We don't have good roads, rails and supply systems. If things keep going how long do you think it will be before we dissolve into chaos.

Sincerely Yours,
C. David Neely

__________________

I don't think our future is that bleak yet. If you haven't already, you really should visit some other places. People survive and so do nations under some very adverse conditions.

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*shudders readin' mr. David's post*

matey, it grieves me to see one 'o the upbeat voices on this vessel to speak in such dire terms...but aye, so be it. if ye thinks that this be the start of a real collapse, would it not be wise then to stop spending entirely, allow unprecedented fiscal suffering descend upon the nation, and then begin anew?

granted, that means every member 'o USPOL is going to see their hopes whither and fade...yet perhaps that might bring a change we need for a rebirth, many generations down the road.

i agree with what the mighty HighForrester posited, that a "marshall plan" be needed fer this battle, yet fer various reasons, i don't believe we have the mettle to undergo such a transformation. we're too fat...too lazy...and too bloody selfish (i'd be willin' to bet that the lads'n lasses here on USPOL also hold the vast majority 'o populace's intelligence in contempt, so you could also add too stupid, to the mix).

aye?

-MeadHallPirate

ps - i may take shore leave from USPOL fer a few weeks after today. imma contemplatin' expandin' me business (whooO! i qualified fer a commercial loan this past friday!!!!). i need to be in a positive frame 'o mind this january, and this forum, whilst it informs me, also makes me sad.

To Whom It May Concern,

I have been other places. Nicaragua, El Salvador, Columbia and I know what people are capable of living in. I hate to think about children living the way they do in those countries but that future might be coming.

People in those other countries are Americans. American's suck at sacrifice. In general, we are a nation of spoiled people used to getting their way without any real sacrifice. How many people in this country can grow any food at all? How many people in this country know how to purify water? I think this country will get hit hard and a lot of people are going to die because we aren't, in any way, ready for real problems. How many people are going to be willing to knuckle down and live at subsistence levels? I think that this country will dissolve in miliant chaos if things keep going the way they are. Do you have any idea how many miles something like water is pumped in the western states to simply keep farms. lawns and people going? Imagine the chaos if money to keep that going simply dries up.

Sincerely Yours,
C. David Neely

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Venice is still in business and far further down the crumbling to dust road than we are. Europe would kill to have infrastructure like ours.

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand

pirate, its like you've been hearing for some time, we spend too much on the wrong things. this wreckless spending is the problem, not a solution.

best of luck on your new venture ! spend wisely and think everything through and I trust things will go your way !

now if we could just get Congress to do that !

__________________
Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats. It drains the lake and teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.

Jesus loves you, allah wants you dead

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others."

Ayn Rand