Icelanders have always been framed in terms of their viking ancestors; strong, brave and independent. So in the wake of their government proving untrustworthy stewards of their country and their money, they decided to write a new constitution which places an emphasis on, you guessed it, free stuff. Here are some highlights from the national forum.
Read MoreI guess that's where all the jobs are these days
The Bailout Is Pure Economic Socialism
Even if ANY of it were true, I STILL say DUMP IT. I am standing on principle, on what I know is right, and I'll be goddamned if I'll support something so pernicious and evil, even if it would benefit me in the short run.
\nBecause I know what it means. Bailout means socializing losses and privatizing profits. It means massive new inflation, which means more poverty for millions of people around the world, while Wall Street fatcats and the Merchants of Death, who get to spend it first, reap tremendous profits. And, because the government has to spend the money into circulation, it means unprecedented amounts of military spending, and monstrous wars, wars without end.
\nAnd it's empire that creates such horrible things as nuclear weapons and engineered plagues. The anthrax that was used in the only biological weapons attack ever recorded (except for the settlers giving the Indians Smallpox and Syphilis of course) came from the US government lab at Ft. Detrick, MD. The CDC actually sanctioned an Army scientist to reconstitute the 1918 pandemic flu, which killed more people in the aftermath of WWI than the frickin' WAR did.
\nThis is the kind of madness that is gripping our government. Will you trust your children's futures to these people?
\nEven if my balance goes to zero, I defiantly stand and say to the economic fascists \"NO BAILOUT - NO WAY!\"
","wysiwyg":{"engine":"code","isSource":false,"mode":"htmlmixed","source":""}}" data-block-type="2" id="block-507cb53ae4b0ea4e44458786">[caption id="attachment_342" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Hank Paulson Is A Pu$$y"][/caption] Look - I took a BRUUUUTAL beating recently on some mining stocks. If you believe the powers that be, this bailout is the answer to my prayers, a 'hail mary pass' that will rescue the markets, refill our home equity and 401-Ks and IRAs, and everyone will live happily ever after.
Even if ANY of it were true, I STILL say DUMP IT. I am standing on principle, on what I know is right, and I'll be goddamned if I'll support something so pernicious and evil, even if it would benefit me in the short run.
Because I know what it means. Bailout means socializing losses and privatizing profits. It means massive new inflation, which means more poverty for millions of people around the world, while Wall Street fatcats and the Merchants of Death, who get to spend it first, reap tremendous profits. And, because the government has to spend the money into circulation, it means unprecedented amounts of military spending, and monstrous wars, wars without end.
And it's empire that creates such horrible things as nuclear weapons and engineered plagues. The anthrax that was used in the only biological weapons attack ever recorded (except for the settlers giving the Indians Smallpox and Syphilis of course) came from the US government lab at Ft. Detrick, MD. The CDC actually sanctioned an Army scientist to reconstitute the 1918 pandemic flu, which killed more people in the aftermath of WWI than the frickin' WAR did.
This is the kind of madness that is gripping our government. Will you trust your children's futures to these people?
Even if my balance goes to zero, I defiantly stand and say to the economic fascists "NO BAILOUT - NO WAY!"
Hank Paulson's Taxpayer Takedown Strategy
My local Ron Paul Meetup (yes, it's still around) has been loosely organizing a letter-writing and phone campaign against the absolutely unconscionable, immoral, illegal, undemocratic bank-bailout bill\u00A0 that Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson (R, Goldman-Sachs) dragged up the steps of the Capitol the other day.
\nOne writer suggested this emphasis, I thought it good enough to use, initially;
\n\n\"I am writing to strongly discourage you from supporting the Treasury Secretary Paulson's \"bank bailout\" proposal. This bill will ensure the indentured servitude of Americans for generations to come as it will become increasingly certain that the US will never be able to service is debt obligations. Why should I as an honest and responsible citizen be required to bailout the willfully negligent behavior of executives in the financial industry?
\nMoreover, I find Section 8 of the proposal particularly disturbing:
\nSec. 8. Review.\nDecisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.
\nThis bill in effect makes Secretary Paulson a \"Financial Dictator\" subject to no Congressional oversight and no judicial oversight. He is immune from any future prosecution with respect to his appropriations of bailout funds.\"
Later I remembered what my old wrestling coach taught me about executing a takedown, that the most effective setup is often one where you use your opponent's own reaction to help you execute the move, so I wrote this;
\nThis bill must be defeated, not modified.
\nThis is a classic setup, a case of action - reaction - action.
\nIf you wrestled in high school or college, you will, upon reflection realize that the Paulson proposal is in part a 'set-up' for a financial takedown.
\nThey tie us up with the banking implosion.
\nPush us (and our representatives) with this unbelievably egregious proposal.
\nWe (and our congresscritters) push back (\"we want mortgage forgiveness, salary caps, blah, blah, blah\").
\nPaulson and Bush then drop down and \"Fireman's Carry\" our asses up into the rafters, and down onto the mat - 4 points, and a pin to win.
\nWe never ever see it coming.
\nHank's real goal is to ensure that the bad debt is bailed out at 'face value', instead of at a steep market discount. This will cost further trillions of dollars (money that we do not have) and prevent market prices of the underlying assets from correcting for years, if ever. The bankers will escape completely unscathed, while the taxpayer watches his money rot.
\nThis is why the proposal must not be modified, but defeated utterly.
\nIf the banking system, and our fiat economy, is ready to collapse, then we must Let It Fall.
","wysiwyg":{"engine":"code","isSource":false,"mode":"htmlmixed","source":""}}" data-block-type="2" id="block-507cb538e4b0ea4e44458770">[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50kWy6FaZKA] (CLIP: Leroy Smith Shows How To Set Up An Opponent For A Takedown.)
My local Ron Paul Meetup (yes, it's still around) has been loosely organizing a letter-writing and phone campaign against the absolutely unconscionable, immoral, illegal, undemocratic bank-bailout bill that Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson (R, Goldman-Sachs) dragged up the steps of the Capitol the other day.
One writer suggested this emphasis, I thought it good enough to use, initially;
"I am writing to strongly discourage you from supporting the Treasury Secretary Paulson's "bank bailout" proposal. This bill will ensure the indentured servitude of Americans for generations to come as it will become increasingly certain that the US will never be able to service is debt obligations. Why should I as an honest and responsible citizen be required to bailout the willfully negligent behavior of executives in the financial industry?
Moreover, I find Section 8 of the proposal particularly disturbing:
Sec. 8. Review. Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.
This bill in effect makes Secretary Paulson a "Financial Dictator" subject to no Congressional oversight and no judicial oversight. He is immune from any future prosecution with respect to his appropriations of bailout funds."
Later I remembered what my old wrestling coach taught me about executing a takedown, that the most effective setup is often one where you use your opponent's own reaction to help you execute the move, so I wrote this;
This bill must be defeated, not modified.
This is a classic setup, a case of action - reaction - action.
If you wrestled in high school or college, you will, upon reflection realize that the Paulson proposal is in part a 'set-up' for a financial takedown.
They tie us up with the banking implosion.
Push us (and our representatives) with this unbelievably egregious proposal.
We (and our congresscritters) push back ("we want mortgage forgiveness, salary caps, blah, blah, blah").
Paulson and Bush then drop down and "Fireman's Carry" our asses up into the rafters, and down onto the mat - 4 points, and a pin to win.
We never ever see it coming.
Hank's real goal is to ensure that the bad debt is bailed out at 'face value', instead of at a steep market discount. This will cost further trillions of dollars (money that we do not have) and prevent market prices of the underlying assets from correcting for years, if ever. The bankers will escape completely unscathed, while the taxpayer watches his money rot.
This is why the proposal must not be modified, but defeated utterly.
If the banking system, and our fiat economy, is ready to collapse, then we must Let It Fall.