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Can Obama and friends get the ship turned around?


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#1 Mr. Roboto

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 11:42 AM

I'm very optimistic about the future, what say you?
"It was like I was in high school again, but fatter."

#2 Timothy

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 11:54 AM

Went with 18 - 24 months. Though I think it will start in more like 12.

#3 Rim Job

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 04:10 PM

I think things will be looking much better at the end of 2009 than they were at the beginning. Recovery will be slow but hopefully steady.

#4 Gomer Pyle

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 10:28 PM

I think we'll see mild improvements in the coming year, but I do think you've gotta point regarding the "lost decade". Some like to blame Bush for this mess and some like to blame Clinton for it. However, its not such a clear cut partisan hack issue. The things that led to this near total collapse were from policies enacted by both presidents. Its not going to improve overnight either. We're gonna need plenty of smoke and mirrors to provide an illusion of recovery so the markets can stay afloat. I can tell ya one thing with absolute certainty.... This country will never truly recover until a manufacturing base is reestablished here. We simply can no longer function as a debtor nation running a service economy. Not only does the outsourcing have to stop ASAP, but all those jobs previously outsourced have to be brought back here. I don't care if blank check incentives have to be handed out to CEOs. Those jobs must come back or you can just nail our coffin shut now. Middle/upper middle class people losing their jobs are being forced into working at Mcdonalds or Walmart, and in worst case scenarios, no job while living in a "tent city". There's no middle ground anymore. Clinton and Bush were fucking idiots for destroying that.
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#5 Mr. Roboto

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 10:29 PM

Those tent cities are amazing, in an extremely depressing way. It makes me thankful for every little effin thing I've got.
"It was like I was in high school again, but fatter."

#6 Gomer Pyle

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 10:46 PM

Those tent cities are amazing, in an extremely depressing way. It makes me thankful for every little effin thing I've got.

What makes those "cities" even more mind boggling is that its not poor people living in them. Local news had a special about these a couple weeks ago(there's a tent city in Sacramento). People assume that its welfare mothers who spent their check on too much crack and got thrown out in the streets. Nope. Its people who owned $250,000-$750,000 homes when the collapse occurred. They went from living in luxury dining on caviar to eating pork and beans out of the can at the drop of a hat.

This is what I mean by no "middle ground" existing anymore. This crisis never would have occurred in the 50s-80s because there was a real economy in place. Lose your insanely paying job and risk losing your house? No worries. Simply go get a job at a factory making 15-20 bucks an hour and you'll stay afloat. Cant do that anymore. Chico and Yan has those jobs in Mexico and China, so you get to live in a tent instead.
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#7 freedom78

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 10:48 PM

People assume that its welfare mothers who spent their check on too much crack and got thrown out in the streets. Nope. Its people who owned $250,000-$750,000 homes when the collapse occurred. They went from living in luxury dining on caviar to eating pork and beans out of the can at the drop of a hat.


I don't know that I'd call those living in $250K homes the luxury and caviar crowd (or $750K, in Cali).
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#8 Gomer Pyle

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 10:52 PM

People assume that its welfare mothers who spent their check on too much crack and got thrown out in the streets. Nope. Its people who owned $250,000-$750,000 homes when the collapse occurred. They went from living in luxury dining on caviar to eating pork and beans out of the can at the drop of a hat.


I don't know that I'd call those living in $250K homes the luxury and caviar crowd (or $750K, in Cali).

Doesn't disprove my point. I've eaten caviar and I don't even own a home.

Lets call them the "Grey Poupon" crowd for this discussion.
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#9 Mr. Roboto

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 11:11 PM

Lets say a crowd that has (Err...had) plenty of discretionary income.... So many things were tied to housing. People used their homes like ATM machines, so disposable income skyrocketed. Trips to Vegas, Skiing, big dinners, new cars etc. People FELT rich, and people sat around and talked about how much money they now had. By the time they refinanced the house for the third or fourth time the party was ending and they were stuck with a shitload of depreciating liabilities, and credit card bills they could no longer refi to the back burner. Then....the value of their home cut slashed in half and soon there after they lost their job. Bye bye fantasy land, time to wake the fuck up.
"It was like I was in high school again, but fatter."

#10 LISA

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Posted 10 April 2009 - 06:27 PM

Went with 18 - 24 months. Though I think it will start in more like 12.

I'm not American but I am hopeful for you peeps!

#11 lynn

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Posted 11 April 2009 - 12:17 AM

I'm optimistic, too!

#12 Mr. Roboto

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Posted 11 April 2009 - 02:24 PM

Went with 18 - 24 months. Though I think it will start in more like 12.

I'm not American but I am hopeful for you peeps!



That's one thing I don't recall hearing about, our hat! How are things up there???
"It was like I was in high school again, but fatter."

#13 LISA

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Posted 11 April 2009 - 02:32 PM

same old same old..just a bunch of Obama lovers

#14 Mr. Roboto

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Posted 11 April 2009 - 02:34 PM

same old same old..just a bunch of Obama lovers


hahaha, what do you expect from a group of socialists!

So seriously though, economy is same or what? Our economic collapse has not had a ripple effect at all?
"It was like I was in high school again, but fatter."

#15 LISA

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Posted 11 April 2009 - 02:57 PM

All I can speak from is personal experience. People are losing their jobs here as well. No where on par with the U.S though. People keep saying 'recession' ..'what recession?' In my immediate scope, I know of not one person who has been let go,laid off,fired for economic reasons. Again personally, my situation has not changed at all. My spending habits have not changed at all..nor most of who I know. I think on the whole people are being a little more conservative but you certainly would not think so if you went downtown shopping or to Sprawlmart or any of the big box furniture stores, Ikea...places are always packed, good deals to be had to to entice and encourage people to spend. We have alot of public service announcements on TV and radio encouraging people to spend, to buy Canadian etc..most of them well done and chest thumping if you know what I mean. I am uncertain how it works in the US state by state but here, especially in Ontario we have an absolute glut of Social Programs to help people. To help you get a new job, to reschool you if that is what you need, basic help with interviews and resume building. Everything you need to secure another job. Not to mention the programs it has for the working poor and their families. They will give them 'X' amount of dollars a month to pay rent, groceries etc, called Social Assistance, no one has to go hungry or without a safe place to live. It is our basic right. They also have many different tiers..they have programs to pay for your daycare or subsidize your daycare and housing depending on your income. Free Food Banks across every region that will never turn anyone away. You are able to go 2 times a month if you need to fill your cupboards. There is the GoodWill..if you bring in your paystub and show how much you make, they will let you shop for your children or yourself for like 90% off...I am not a preachy preachy but this is a damn good place to live and have been fortunate in the past when I went through a real rough spell financially. My Provincial Government helped me get back on my feet to the point where now I have money in the bank, I am able to pay my bills always on time, I have 2 RRSP's to save for my future and my kids future RESP. I still rent by choice but own my own car. I still work hard but that is my nature. My dad always said "make hay while the sun shines" so I will for as long as I can. There is such a HUGE safety net here for our Canadian citizens. When it comes to Trade with the US, I have no idea, it is my ignorance and lack of interest that keeps me as such. I am certain not everything is perfect and not everyone has the same rose coloured glasses I do but things are pretty damn good. Problems yes, but nothing we can't handle, y'know what I mean? all this is my humble opinion.




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