Protests against Wall St bailout starts

Generali

GDB2222 wrote: »

If they let the banking system collapse, they'll need to be ready to declare martial law as soon as the food riots start.

If the banks go bust, the banking infrastructure remains. Why would food riots start? The government can create money and credit - that's a big part of the point of fiat money after all.

lotto-dreamer

Generali wrote: »

If the banks go bust, the banking infrastructure remains. Why would food riots start? The government can create money and credit - that's a big part of the point of fiat money after all.

for anyone puzzled about Fiat money -a definition courtesy of wikipedia-

"The terms fiat currency and fiat money relate to types of currency or money whose usefulness results, not from any intrinsic value or guarantee that it can be converted into gold or another currency, but instead from a government's order (fiat) that it must be accepted as a means of payment.........the market demand for it is dominated by the taxing government's demand for it in payment of taxes" :eek: :eek:

so the "cash cow" is the hard working tax paying public?

mr_magoo_5

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

for anyone puzzled about Fiat money -a definition courtesy of wikipedia-

"The terms fiat currency and fiat money relate to types of currency or money whose usefulness results, not from any intrinsic value or guarantee that it can be converted into gold or another currency, but instead from a government's order (fiat) that it must be accepted as a means of payment.........the market demand for it is dominated by the taxing government's demand for it in payment of taxes" :eek: :eek:

so the "cash cow" is the hard working tax paying public?

Yup, so lets barter,
I'll swap my car for your food in your freezer, deal?

lotto-dreamer

mr_magoo wrote: »

Yup, so lets barter,
I'll swap my car for your food in your freezer, deal?

suits me..... (I assume it's a ferarri ? )

mr_magoo_5

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

suits me..... (I assume it's a ferarri ? )

Not quite , looks like this could be a tough deal!

What’s in your freezer?

lotto-dreamer

mr_magoo wrote: »

Not quite , looks like this could be a tough deal!

What’s in your freezer?

ooh...reality check.....food or car (taking into account economic meltdown)....hmmm...will get back to you

penguine

baby_boomer wrote: »

Church and state are separated. The Republicans often wish they aren't e.g. wanting to introduce school prayers.

What's wrong with people voting as they believe? I think it's called democracy. The separation of church and state was never intended to suppress religion, nor has it.

Thanks for the correcting my typo on the Senate, BTW.

Less separated than they used to be -- religion (or rather, Christianity) is seeping into public life more and more in the US. There are now state schools in the Bible belt where school prayer has been introduced, and IIRC a few state legislatures too. I don't have a problem with people voting as they believe, but I think the Republicans use religion to manipulate the voters. This is a fairly recent development, and the result of fierce lobbying by socially conservative fundamentalist religious organisations, who will also further the Republican agenda by telling their congregations how to vote.

mr_magoo_5

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

ooh...reality check.....food or car (taking into account economic meltdown)....hmmm...will get back to you

Damm, oh well, if you change your mind, give us a shout!

baby_boomer

penguine wrote: »

I think the Republicans use religion to manipulate the voters. This is a fairly recent development, and the result of fierce lobbying by socially conservative fundamentalist religious organisations, who will also further the Republican agenda by telling their congregations how to vote.

I personally think it reflects the strength of evangelical Christianity in America - which naturally uses the democratic political system like any other group of that size would. In fact, I don't think there is another group of that size since they beat trade unionists and ethnic groups out of sight. I never take any notice of anyone else when using a secret ballot. You can "tell" someone all you like how to vote, but you can't make 'em, unless they believe in what you're telling them. Fierce lobbying? Any US lobbyist worth his salt will use his numbers to apply pressure.

I also find the "pressure" argument rather patronising towards Americans. It fits too easily into our "dumb American" stereotype, IMHO. We'll probably just have to agree to differ on this.

poppy10_2