the tide is changing, mccain is endorsed by...

[Ramo]

Soooo, again why are so many international leaders bashing the Dollar and the Fed in public statements?

It doesn't particularly matter since there's no viable alternative to the USD.

[HalfLotus]

You sure about that?


"US and EU officials are hoping to stitch together another Bretton Woods wherein control of the global economic system was delivered to those same nations. It's likely, however, that the outcome will turn out considerably different than anticipated. Already, under China's leadership, 12 Asian nations have agreed to set up an 80-billion-dollar fund to protect their economies from currency-runs, capital flight or other financial disruptions. China has the world's largest reserves at $1.9 trillion followed by Japan at more than $1 trillion. Clearly the two richest nations will set the agenda and play a central role in deciding how best to deal with the global recession.

The November summit in Washington could produce some unwelcome surprises which were hinted at by Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Olarn Chaipravat, who told Bloomberg News:

"The message of this initiative is for China to consider whether or not China would open up its banking system and allow the strongest currency in the world, which is the Chinese yuan, to be the rightful and anointed convertible currency of the world.""

From Counterpunch:

http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney10282008.html

[Velociryx]

We can't cut our military spending!

Never mind the fact that just ONE of our...what is it...thirteen?...carrier groups has more firepower than most NATIONS....we need that stuff man! Heck...we might want to consider taking all the old Iowa Class Battleships out of mothballs and revving them back up, too...you know...just in case Estonia starts making threats toward us....

-=Vel=-

[Dinner]

Originally posted by HalfLotus
If he prevented the government from stealing his money, I say good for him.

I say throw the bastard in jail for not paying his damn taxes.

[HalfLotus]

damn taxes.

Indeed.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by HalfLotus
If he prevented the government from stealing his money, I say good for him.

He's the one stealing you nut.

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Ramo
Or the world...

“Karamanlis has to show again that he is fighting for Joe the Greek Plumber and that small and medium-size enterprises are the government’s priority,” said Nicholas Karahalios, a senior New Democracy strategist.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/wo...=1&oref=slogin

yes, we have our own idiots as well

[HalfLotus]

Originally posted by Kidicious




He's the one stealing you nut.

Stealing his own money? How does that work?

Oh wait, you're a Communist who thinks the government owns people and their productive capacities.

I would prefer to live my own life, take care of myself, and keep my entire paycheck. I'm pretty sure I can live my life and direct my finances better than some bureaucrat or politician. But that's just me.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by HalfLotus
If he prevented the government from stealing his money, I say good for him.

So you don't think the state of Ohio has a right to levy taxes? It's a state tax lien, not federal.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by HalfLotus
I would prefer to live my own life, take care of myself, and keep my entire paycheck. I'm pretty sure I can live my life and direct my finances better than some bureaucrat or politician. But that's just me.

Ok, but in return you will be forbidden from using government-funded roads, police, firefighters, schools, arts institutions, parks, etc.

Enjoy your life spent on your front porch in the wilderness weilding a shotgun to protect yourself from the gub'nit.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by HalfLotus


Stealing his own money? How does that work?

Oh wait, you're a Communist who thinks the government owns people and their productive capacities.

I would prefer to live my own life, take care of myself, and keep my entire paycheck. I'm pretty sure I can live my life and direct my finances better than some bureaucrat or politician. But that's just me.

No. It's like stealing cable. It's getting something and not paying the bill.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by HalfLotus
You sure about that?


"US and EU officials are hoping to stitch together another Bretton Woods wherein control of the global economic system was delivered to those same nations. It's likely, however, that the outcome will turn out considerably different than anticipated. Already, under China's leadership, 12 Asian nations have agreed to set up an 80-billion-dollar fund to protect their economies from currency-runs, capital flight or other financial disruptions. China has the world's largest reserves at $1.9 trillion followed by Japan at more than $1 trillion. Clearly the two richest nations will set the agenda and play a central role in deciding how best to deal with the global recession.

The November summit in Washington could produce some unwelcome surprises which were hinted at by Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Olarn Chaipravat, who told Bloomberg News:

"The message of this initiative is for China to consider whether or not China would open up its banking system and allow the strongest currency in the world, which is the Chinese yuan, to be the rightful and anointed convertible currency of the world.""

From Counterpunch:

http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney10282008.html

A bunch of conspiracy nuts. The Yuan can't possibly be a reserve currency. There aren't nearly enough of them. Ramo is right. The USD is the only possible world reserve currency.

[HalfLotus]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


Ok, but in return you will be forbidden from using government-funded roads, police, firefighters, schools, arts institutions, parks, etc.

Enjoy your life spent on your front porch in the wilderness weilding a shotgun to protect yourself from the gub'nit.

Roads and schools are paid with gasoline taxes and local sales & property taxes, primarily, which I gladly pay.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by HalfLotus

Roads and schools are paid with gasoline and local sales taxes, primarily, which I gladly pay.

Federal highways aren't. Do you use those?

And there's a lot...LOT... of other services you get from all levels of government in return for your taxes.

The people of this country have decided--overwhelmingly--that they want the government to tax them to pay for services they want.

If you don't wish to participate, then you can go find somewhere else to live. I'm sure there's a country somewhere that's 100% libertarian that's thriving beautifully.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by HalfLotus


Roads and schools are paid with gasoline taxes and local sales & property taxes, primarily, which I gladly pay.

We don't have a system where individuals get to choose which taxes they will pay. Such a system is unimaginably impractical, but then you believe in the gold standard so it's not suprising that you would believe in impractical systems.