Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, October 10, 2008
How the Financial Bubble Burst
The Article.
kk
Malaysia
first, the presumption that they are self- regulating is wrong, many investment banks are driven by greed for bigger profit, they operate beyond their company objectives, instead of the normal fees- based income, they leverage their shareholding equity to dabble into high risk-high return collaterized mortgaged papers. It's like 'musical chair game', the ones caught with the last rotten apple lost the game and when the number reach critical mass, it become crisis
Michael
United States
Privatize profits, socialize risk
This is the formula which the Republicans think means "free market." They strip out the regulatory safeguards designed to keep the investment banks from gobbling up regular banks allowing the creation of financial entities so big that when they fail, they can pull the entire economy down with them. Then on the other hand they drop interest rates and pass bills forcing banks to make loans to low income (high risk) families. Not unsurprisingly, the dominos fall down, and now we pay for it!
Alfred E. Neuman
United States
There are two facts not mentioned here. First, if a central bank has total control of the money supply, problems like this are inevitable. If the US Govt needs tons of cash, they can turn on the inflationary economy to get it. It happens every war: VietNam and Iraq are worse than previous because there is no longer gold backing to help deflect problems. The other fact is that inflation encourages people to live beyond their means. I bought much less than I could "afford" and I am doing fine.
Giles Wynne
Thailand
Who created the bubble? The capitalists,gambling on the rich mans betting shop, the stock market. Don't blame the people for wanting a better life style,when offered cheap loans and credit to by commodities they need most. Housing,education for children, health care,transport, all things that government should provide,but government don't own the state, the capitalists do. Banks and investment institutions should be made to pay by taking them into public ownership with education,health etc...
kk
Malaysia
first, the presumption that they are self- regulating is wrong, many investment banks are driven by greed for bigger profit, they operate beyond their company objectives, instead of the normal fees- based income, they leverage their shareholding equity to dabble into high risk-high return collaterized mortgaged papers. It's like 'musical chair game', the ones caught with the last rotten apple lost the game and when the number reach critical mass, it become crisis
Michael
United States
Privatize profits, socialize risk
This is the formula which the Republicans think means "free market." They strip out the regulatory safeguards designed to keep the investment banks from gobbling up regular banks allowing the creation of financial entities so big that when they fail, they can pull the entire economy down with them. Then on the other hand they drop interest rates and pass bills forcing banks to make loans to low income (high risk) families. Not unsurprisingly, the dominos fall down, and now we pay for it!
Alfred E. Neuman
United States
There are two facts not mentioned here. First, if a central bank has total control of the money supply, problems like this are inevitable. If the US Govt needs tons of cash, they can turn on the inflationary economy to get it. It happens every war: VietNam and Iraq are worse than previous because there is no longer gold backing to help deflect problems. The other fact is that inflation encourages people to live beyond their means. I bought much less than I could "afford" and I am doing fine.
Giles Wynne
Thailand
Who created the bubble? The capitalists,gambling on the rich mans betting shop, the stock market. Don't blame the people for wanting a better life style,when offered cheap loans and credit to by commodities they need most. Housing,education for children, health care,transport, all things that government should provide,but government don't own the state, the capitalists do. Banks and investment institutions should be made to pay by taking them into public ownership with education,health etc...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Democracy Now! (Oct. 8, 2008)
The Show.
Study: US Lags in Compensation Payments to Afghan Victims
Yesterday marked the seventh anniversary of the US-led attack on Afghanistan. A new study says the US-led NATO occupation has killed up to 3,200 Afghan civilians since 2005. According to the Afghan Victim Memorial Project, a comparative tally shows the US is at the low end of compensation payments to Afghan victims up against other global cases.
After Denials, Pentagon Admits 30 Afghan Civilians Killed in US Attack
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is now backing off a nearly two-month-old denial of a mass killing of civilians in an Afghan village. Afghan officials, local residents and UN investigators say up to ninety civilians, including sixty children, were killed in the US attack on Azizabad on August 22nd. The Pentagon has repeatedly insisted the bombing only killed up to seven civilians and two dozen militants. But it now says thirty civilians were killed. A Pentagon investigator concluded many more civilians were buried in the rubble than the Pentagon had claimed. The reports of a ninety-person death toll have been backed by cell phone footage taken by local residents of scores of bodies, witness accounts and freshly dug grave sites.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Palin says Obama has terrorist ties
The Article.
Alexander
Norway
The barbarians are coming.. God bless the barbarians. Being elected on the grounds of national security is the weakest foundation any leader could possibly have. Have mankind learnt nothing in the past 5000 years? The barbarian invasion has been cancelled.
chris
United States
Does enyone else feel that terrorism is just a poor country/or exploited/or oppressed peoples military strategy? All militaries target civilians so really what is the difference. Rhetoric. In regards to calling terrorists cowards, what takes more bravery to inevitably harm yourself while harming others or sitting in a cockpit thousands of feet in the air pushing a botton? Hmmm.
Ed
United Kingdom
Bush & Bin Ladin
What about Bush, he has friends called Bin Laden (the one who demolished wt centre). How about her self (Palin), it her who has a pregnant under-age daughter and a junky son, maybe she should spend time on how to save US economy instead of spreading stupid lies about Obama. Those republicans are bad losers, when they are losing they desperately use dirty and stupid tricks, yesterday it was Bush who was doing it and now them too (McCain & Palin)?!
where is freedom of speech?
"Palin told supporters Obama is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect" And now she is accusing him for having own opinion!?, wow is it me or is this woman (Palin) becoming stupider by the minute. Yes woman, America is not perfect, and it takes a good person to admit his/her nation problems.
Tammie
Afghanistan
Sara Palin is ignorant. She cannot distinguish a working relationship from being "pals". What do you expect from someone that thinks sportsmanship is shooting wolves from aircraft? Or sued the federal government to take polar bears off the endangered species list so her precious pipelines can run through their territory? Or thinks talking to your enemies is naive [sic]? Or thinks the war in Iraq is a mission from God? Shall I go on?
Byron
United States
Let's see...we can't accuse Obama of dubious ties to radicals like Ayers, The Rev. Right, the corrupt Chicago political machine, and his wife. Why must we treat this guy like he is some knight in shining armour? I hate being a Palin apologist, but I sure am not going to go blindly into the night following this straw man. Time for a real third party.
Peter Williams
United Kingdom
Obama was never a member of the 1960's radical group that Ayers was associated with. Obama was 8 years old at that time. Ayers has played no role in Obama's career. The only interaction between then comprised their being co-members on a board of an anti-poverty foundation from 1999 to 2002. Investigations by the New York Times conclude that Obama does not have a close relationship with Ayers. Obama has repeatedly publicy condemned Ayers' past. Palin's lie is a disgrace to herself alone.
Alexander
Norway
The barbarians are coming.. God bless the barbarians. Being elected on the grounds of national security is the weakest foundation any leader could possibly have. Have mankind learnt nothing in the past 5000 years? The barbarian invasion has been cancelled.
chris
United States
Does enyone else feel that terrorism is just a poor country/or exploited/or oppressed peoples military strategy? All militaries target civilians so really what is the difference. Rhetoric. In regards to calling terrorists cowards, what takes more bravery to inevitably harm yourself while harming others or sitting in a cockpit thousands of feet in the air pushing a botton? Hmmm.
Ed
United Kingdom
Bush & Bin Ladin
What about Bush, he has friends called Bin Laden (the one who demolished wt centre). How about her self (Palin), it her who has a pregnant under-age daughter and a junky son, maybe she should spend time on how to save US economy instead of spreading stupid lies about Obama. Those republicans are bad losers, when they are losing they desperately use dirty and stupid tricks, yesterday it was Bush who was doing it and now them too (McCain & Palin)?!
where is freedom of speech?
"Palin told supporters Obama is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect" And now she is accusing him for having own opinion!?, wow is it me or is this woman (Palin) becoming stupider by the minute. Yes woman, America is not perfect, and it takes a good person to admit his/her nation problems.
Tammie
Afghanistan
Sara Palin is ignorant. She cannot distinguish a working relationship from being "pals". What do you expect from someone that thinks sportsmanship is shooting wolves from aircraft? Or sued the federal government to take polar bears off the endangered species list so her precious pipelines can run through their territory? Or thinks talking to your enemies is naive [sic]? Or thinks the war in Iraq is a mission from God? Shall I go on?
Byron
United States
Let's see...we can't accuse Obama of dubious ties to radicals like Ayers, The Rev. Right, the corrupt Chicago political machine, and his wife. Why must we treat this guy like he is some knight in shining armour? I hate being a Palin apologist, but I sure am not going to go blindly into the night following this straw man. Time for a real third party.
Peter Williams
United Kingdom
Obama was never a member of the 1960's radical group that Ayers was associated with. Obama was 8 years old at that time. Ayers has played no role in Obama's career. The only interaction between then comprised their being co-members on a board of an anti-poverty foundation from 1999 to 2002. Investigations by the New York Times conclude that Obama does not have a close relationship with Ayers. Obama has repeatedly publicy condemned Ayers' past. Palin's lie is a disgrace to herself alone.
My Two Cents
This blog is a collection of commentaries left by readers on other Web sites, as well as media reports I found enlightening. I hope whoever stumbles across it learns that oftentimes one can learn more from what people say about an article than from the actual news itself.
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