Is the U.S. just one big Potemkin village?

[Wezil]

I was going to ask why Bush and Cheney were denying responsibility for something that wasn't real... Then it occurred to me I was asking about Bush and Cheney.

[rah]

Come on, this is America, something doesn't have to be real for you to be accused of something. Or for you to deny it.

[Wezil]

"Don't let them call you a pig f*****"

[rah]

HUH

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Arrian
Let's drive Zkribbler to drink

-Arrian

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Elok
Luckily, we used all that money to buy the best military on the planet. And then we used that military to create a colossal fustercluck in the ME that will likely spill over to make life hell for Europe and Asia alike. Plus we have the existing fustercluck in the DPRK keeping China and our other east Asian rivals on their toes. We're creating instability in other countries so we don't have to fight instability at home. Yay!

"Don't **** with us, or we will come in and kick over your delicately balanced ethnically diverse country!"

[Kidlicious]

Re: Is the U.S. just one big Potemkin village?

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Are we USAians just fooling ourselves as to how well off we are? Take a look at reality:

(1) Largest national debt in the history of humanity
(2) Gigantic national deficit, which is only slightly smaller than past record deficits run up by the Bush administration.
(3) Largest trade deficit
(4) Largest amount of personal debt

As a nation, we are financing outselves with debt, debt and more debt, running up ever-larger charges on our national "credit card." Someday, our financial house of cards will come crashing down.

I think the national debt is only part of it. The big problem is that as a share of national income wages are on a long run downward trend. All wealth comes from work and work alone, however with capital markets other people make claims against what is produced by that work. There's a limit to how much can be claimed on that produce from those who do not do the work.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Arrian
There are booms and busts that have nothing whatsoever to do with the government.

-Arrian

There are booms and busts, but they have everything to do with government.

The Democrats get in power. They institute well-reasoned, fair economic reforms. The American people get rich. And once rich, they become Republicans.

The Republicans get in power. They institute greedy, miopic economic reforms. The American people grow poor. And once poor, they become Democrats.

Presto, economic cycles. QED

[Dinner]

Bush did indeed see a recession start in the early years of his presidency. He attempted to blame it on Clinton, as you'd expect a worthless politician to blame his predicessor, but the fact is the President has little to do with the economy other then setting tax rates and choosing the man who sets interest rates.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


There are booms and busts, but they have everything to do with government.

The Democrats get in power. They institute well-reasoned, fair economic reforms. The American people get rich. And once rich, they become Republicans.

The Republicans get in power. They institute greedy, miopic economic reforms. The American people grow poor. And once poor, they become Democrats.

Presto, economic cycles. QED

[BeBMan]

I wouldn't say it's a village *runs*

[Elok]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Ah, the lets take from others because they have enough already arguement. How tired and lame.

Hmm, technically, in this case it's "let's stop giving them breaks, they don't need 'em."