What is happening to the USA??? Give us your input.

[Max Yields]

Im not the most qualified person on this subject but I can say this, its the fact that know one is aware anymore about whats going on. Their plan (the government, powers that be and so forth) is working because everyone is being bombarded with distractions whether it be the media, entertainment, or other forms of keeping everyone complacent and dumbed down. The moment everyone starts to seek and find the truth is when their can be a turning point maybe Ill go as far as to say a revolution will occur. The powers that be know that their power is limited if people start to come together and realize what they are doing and take a stand in the best way they can. They don't want that, so they attack us through what all people will pay attention to tv, movies and other forms such as subliminal messages just to name a few. Well my point is this, the US is like this because most people cant seem to wake up and take action. Its not like everyone has to go and riot but I believe the power is in the people and if everyone did their part a big change would come.

 

[SpasticGramps]

Our balance sheet is completely exhausted (insolvent), we are in a liquidity trap (0% interest rates), and we are printing money to try and fill the blackhole.

But this isn't just an American problem. Almost every western country plus Japan is in the same situation.

Only one way out. Mass simultaneous sovereign defaults.

When central bankers rule the world they inevitably destroy it.

 

[StinkyGreen]

This puts it into perspective ...

 

[resinryder]

Once you get enough people dependent on the government the easier it will be to overtake the rest.

 

[SpasticGramps]

This puts it into perspective ...

Great graphic. I'll add one more thing to it. Interest payment on the debt.

Fiscal year 2011 through October $454,393,280,417.03 ($4,543)

Fiscal year 2010 $413,954,825,362.17 ($4,139)

By the end of this year that will almost be 20-25% of revenue spent on interest on the debt alone. This is with near 0% interest rates.

When interest rates go back up (and they must) we will quickly become insolvent as we will no longer be able to service the interest on our debt much more the rest of the empire. No military, no social security, no roads, no schools, no medicare, no foodstamps, nothing but interest paid to creditors.

That's why 0% interest rates are a liquidity trap that no one escapes from.

 

[Ziggaro]

As to the problem being our desire to act in the world community, I have to staunchly disagree. While I honestly believe a more isolationist position would be advantageous to us as a country, we cannot neglect the fact that we are able to stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves. If a country desires democracy, they should have that chance. If they wish to stand against leaders who put them down, we should be standing behind them supporting them through either material or non material means.

Wow.

Who do we actually stand up for?

What do you have to say about our cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia? Or Bahrain? We supply these governments with billions of dollars worth of weapons in return for good deals for our oil giants. Is it safe to assume you missed the bloody crackdowns on protesters in these countries?

Is it safe to assume you had no idea that we helped orchestrate the overthrowing of Iran's democratically elected government in the first place to give the Shah power?
Look at how we try to corner and bully Iran.
That's their fate after overthrowing the Shah.
Do I have to mention Cuba?
I could go on.. must I? I hope you get the point.

 

[Darkstarlive]

Lots of good replies here. Everyone should check out dylan rattigan and his www.getmoneyout.com website. I'm a pessimist but I still support people who are trying to change and improve things.

Right on brother!
Its the money in politics that has shutout the voter. Corporation already influenced the debate with their "soft" money but now that citizens united was upheld they're free to spend as much as they want and don't have to hide it.
We don't have a democracy that is for the people by people.
Every politician is beholden to a lobbyist, people are conned into voting against their intrests.
This latest congress was voted in to do one thing focus on jobs, what has it given us, hundreds of anti-abortion bills, attacks on NPR, attacks on social security, tax cuts after tax cuts for the wealthy.
GET THE MONEY OUT!!!

 

[Manijahtor]

Wow.

Who do we actually stand up for?

What do you have to say about our cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia? Or Bahrain? We supply these governments with billions of dollars worth of weapons in return for good deals for our oil giants. Is it safe to assume you missed the bloody crackdowns on protesters in these countries?

Is it safe to assume you had no idea that we helped orchestrate the overthrowing of Iran's democratically elected government in the first place to give the Shah power?
Look at how we try to corner and bully Iran.
That's their fate after overthrowing the Shah.
Do I have to mention Cuba?
I could go on.. must I? I hope you get the point.

wow i just remembered usa throwing napalm bombs in japan, a place where houses are made of paper.. malditos gringos

 

[zenoonez]

What is happening to the United States? Is this country going into another depression as it did in the 1930s? Is the bottom, about to drop out of the financial markets? The President and the Congress are constantly lying to us. Who are we to believe? Where do we go from here? The upcoming Presidental election in November 2012 will be very important to the survival of this nation. It has been revealed that "history does repeat itself". The Roman and the Greek empires or governments went through the same thing that the United States is now going through. The founding fathers built this country on the principle of "in God we trust". The difference between the Roman and Greek government and the United States government is in the "Declaration of Independence" in which it states "we the people". This government is supposed to be for the people, not for the lobbyists. Congressmen are elected by the people, to represent the interests of the people, not elected by the lobbyists for their interests. The President takes an oath in which he promises to defend this country, the United States. So why are we defending Iraq? Rome fell, Greece fell, is this country following their faith? In the early days of this country, it was taboo for the President to lie to the citizens of this nation. If he did, he was impeached. Now, today, they lie, steal, cheat, and do whatever they want to before the eyes of its citizens, and the citizens do nothing nor demand nothing. This government keeps its citizens divided between rich and poor, black and white, and now immigrants and non-immigrants. As long as we are divided, then they, the government, feel that they can do whatever they darn well please. This is our government, "we the people". Let's take it back! This government is spending our money: we are taxed to the bone. Trillions of dollars are spent on wars, give-away programs, and yet, when it come to spending our money on the citizens of this country, we are told that it is pork barrel spending. Give us the PORK!!!

Okay, just a few things, the Roman and Greek parallels aren't accurate as far as my understanding of history is concerned. Their respective falls had nothing to do with debt as we know it. Our founding fathers did not base anything off of "In God we trust" other than some of their own personal faiths. We are defending Iraq because of terrible mistakes made during the Bush presidency and our responsibility to do the best we can to mitigate that grievous error by giving its fledgling democracy the best chance we can. Clinton was the only president impeached for lying and he was not convicted so the idea that presidents didn't lie or were held accountable for those lies is not accurate (again according to my reading of history.) As to our rate of taxation, I am not an economist but I know that our federal income tax rates are in fact lower now than they have been historically. As to our total tax burden spread between state and federal government, I have yet to see a report issued that I would put my faith in. As to spending, if we are going to get out of this situation all of us are going to have to kiss pork goodbye because our country should be paring down its spending in a drastic way. In short, our government should be following the Simpson Bowles lead if they want to address the situation we are in.

Our balance sheet is completely exhausted (insolvent), we are in a liquidity trap (0% interest rates), and we are printing money to try and fill the blackhole.

But this isn't just an American problem. Almost every western country plus Japan is in the same situation.

Only one way out. Mass simultaneous sovereign defaults.

When central bankers rule the world they inevitably destroy it.

Our fiscal situation is in no way a good one and I agree with you that 0% interest rates are a hole we knew we shouldn't get into but now we are in it because there was no contingency for what has happened. All of that being said, our debt situation is nowhere near as dire as France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy's are. While I tend to agree with you that eventually we will have to restructure our debt burden, I don't think this is because our debt isn't serviceable but because our political officials don't have the will to do the things that we need to do. The American people have no idea what is happening or why we are in the hole we are in. If they did, the environment in Washington would be much different than it is currently. I dunno, we are stuck, either we figure it out together or we go down together and if the political situation continues as is we will probably be going down rather than recovering. Just my 2 cents.

 

[zenoonez]

Wow.

Who do we actually stand up for?

What do you have to say about our cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia? Or Bahrain? We supply these governments with billions of dollars worth of weapons in return for good deals for our oil giants. Is it safe to assume you missed the bloody crackdowns on protesters in these countries?

Is it safe to assume you had no idea that we helped orchestrate the overthrowing of Iran's democratically elected government in the first place to give the Shah power?
Look at how we try to corner and bully Iran.
That's their fate after overthrowing the Shah.
Do I have to mention Cuba?
I could go on.. must I? I hope you get the point.

In reality we stand with our own self interests. I don't particularly like our "cozy relationship" with the oppression in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. In fact I think we should be exerting our pressure quietly to both that we are dismayed. That being said, the Saudi situation is nowhere near the level of what happened in Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, or even Iran. Bahrain on the other hand is going to have a civil war, there is no way out of it as far as I can see. There is just too much civil strife in the common man in Bahrain for anything else to be the outcome. I mean we are talking about moderates who are saying that things have gone too far to ever go back. I dunno I guess we will see. I wish we had stood for them loudly as well as the Syrian people but we have taken a wait and see approach, not what I would like personally.

As to what you can safely assume, I assure you that assuming is never the thing to do. I studied under a hostage who spent those 444 days pretending he was teaching students so that he could remain sane while being kept in solitary confinement and tortured daily, so no you may not assume that I know nothing or that I know everything. As to Iran, I think we have a vested interest in bullying nations that seek to obtain nuclear weapons. Just a personal belief that we should eradicate nuclear weapons as possessing the means for the destruction of the world is probably not something we want in general.

So do you need to list more things off to prove that we don't always act in a ethical or moral manner? No. I understand there is a difference between what we do and what we should do. This is the nature of being human and imperfect, we all make mistakes you and I as well. I hope you get my point that just because we have acted otherwise in the past doesn't mean that we cannot act rightly in the future and that a history of mistakes doesn't mean we shouldn't try to fall on the right side of history in our current and future endeavors. I hope that we have learned from the treasures we have reaped from our less than perfect history. Perhaps those mistakes and the horrible things that have resulted from them will encourage us to do the right thing in the future, I can only hope so.

 

[Puffin13]

I have to agree with Alex Jones; America is being destroyed by design.

 

[SpasticGramps]

What is happening to America? Below is an article from the Financial Times written by the manager of the world's largest hedge fund. Pretty smart fucking dude. He breaks down what is happening for everyone.

Risk on the rise as political leaders give in to mob rule

We are in the midst of a deleveraging, we are nearly out of ammunition and we are at each other’s throats. Being in a deleveraging and nearly out of ammunition is a very difficult position to be in. But, being at each other’s throats is our biggest problem.

Our character and our political and social systems are now being tested in ways that have typically been tested in past deleveragings. In deleveragings bad economic conditions typically lead to emotional reactions, social and political fragmentation, poor decision-making and increased conflict. When this occurs in democracies, the checks and balance system, which is intended to yield the best decisions for the whole, can stand in the way of thoughtful leadership and lead to ineffective “mob” rule. This dynamic can lead to a self-reinforcing downward spiral.

Frustrations increase, the established ways of doing things come under attack and frustrations over the ineffectiveness of government creates the perceived need for someone to gain control of the mess. Plato spoke of this dynamic. It was the reason Hitler was elected in 1933.

In our opinion these types of risks are now emerging and should be taken into consideration when trying to figure out what may lie ahead. Rather than trying to resolve disagreements through thoughtful discourse, people are now trying to grab power to beat and suppress their opponents. Tensions between the rich and the poor, capitalists and socialists, those in and out of power and different factions in each group are now intensifying in a manner that is classic in deleveragings. Politicians who are fighting for power in a political year are fanning the flames and are increasingly willing to do risky things (like shutting down the government) in pursuit of their missions and popular support.

This growing populism will have important implications for monetary, fiscal and trade policies and will significantly increase risks of a markets downturn and a global depression.

Regarding monetary policy, the mob is at the gates of the Federal Reserve and wants to grab control while those on the inside are in disagreement about what should be done. Fed chairman Ben Bernanke and those who helped him save the country from depression are now under siege. These challenges are being faced in different forms by most central banks at the same time as they are nearly out of ammunition – i.e., their capacities to ease are very limited because they cannot stimulate private credit creation and because they cannot get money in the hands of people who will spend it. For these reasons there is greater risk that central banks cannot save us as they have always saved us in the past.

The battle between the left that wants to tax the rich more and the right that wants to cut entitlement spending is at a fierce stalemate that is likely to intensify in more scary ways. As a result, fiscal policy is unlikely to be supportive to economic growth.

With high unemployment and growing anger, the “mob” is blaming the foreigners who “took their jobs,” especially the Chinese who they say are “manipulating” their currency to “compete unfairly”. And since politicians want popular support, they are navigating this issue to gain political benefit (e.g., to put the US President in the position of having to choose between the political suicide of vetoing Senator Charles Schumer’s currency bill and clashing with China) rather than to approach this difficult issue calmly and analytically. Trade flows and capital flows are increasingly being looked at by all sides as possible weapons in an economic war. As a result, the risks of bad surprises in trade and capital flows are heightened.

Mobs are at the doors of bankers and others in the financial system, screaming to politicians to put these people in jail while the vote-seeking politicians are fanning the flames rather than reminding people that the legal system is the way these people should be judged. Since banks are levered about 15 to 1, it doesn’t take much of a debt problem to cause them solvency problems, and since in deleveragings debt problems are big, there is significant risk banks will run out of equity again and the fury against them will intensify. For these reasons risks to the global banking system are much greater than normal.

While we hope that most people and their leaders will approach these difficult challenges calmly and collectively, we would not be meeting our fiduciary responsibilities if we bet on this happening without clear evidence of it. We are not alone in having and expressing our concerns in what has come to be known as “risk-on” and “risk-off” market movements.

If we calm down and work together to properly manage this difficult situation – for example, if we can properly distribute both the austerity and the increased efforts that are required to manage our debt burdens – we can get through this deleveraging without great pain. If we can’t, we may experience an economic, social and political collapse.

Divided and Conquered.

 

[GP73LPC]

a lot of well thought out, well stated opinions in this thread... Hats off to everyone for a civil intelligent discussion

Our biggest problem is that congress is beholden to special interests and the average Joe gets the hose. The middle class is quickly becoming the lower class. "Job creators" get tax breaks, but don't create jobs. Instead, they lay off workers, force the remaining people to work harder and pocket the profits and the tax breaks. Then the CEO gets a huge bonus for saving the company money.

People are working harder and getting less for their efforts. People are pissed and rightfully so. I got downsized nearly 3 years ago from a $60k a year job.

I can't blame the President since I lost my job the day he took office. We were in the shitter before he came along.

it's disgusting that our politicians blatantly lie and get paid off right in front of us and don't give a shit.

America sold out to the bankers in 1912 under Woodrow Wilson when he signed the Federal Reserve act. We are now under 100 years of oprression from the global elitist bankers. None of what you see is happening on accident. Until the people rise up and take back what is theirs conditions will worsen. You have to look beyond what you see, the President and the Congress, it is what is happening behind closed doors at secret meetings with the worlds richest people you should worry about.

Everyone should read the book 'Secrets of the Federal Reserve'. It's a tough read at points, but stick with it.

You will never view your country the same way again. This book is what started my decline in faith in the American governing/political system.

The biggest problem we have as Americans is complacency. People don't seem to care that every day we give the government, major corporations, and bankers more power by simply doing nothing. Occupy wall street is a beautiful thing because at least some are starting to realize that doing anything even without a defined goal is better than what we've been doing.

We can't blame anyone but ourselves for not paying attention and not getting involved. We've been sidetracked, led by the nose, and generally spoon fed everything they've wanted us to think, feel and do for decades.

This prohibition is a perfect example of how the majority of americans have just stood by and let our rights be pissed away by the powers that be. Half the country now supports legalization yet the idea is still laughed off the table. As it is they can raid you, seize your assets, and lock you away for something 30 million americans admit to doing. All they have to do is make something illegal that whoever they don't like does, and they can "legally" fuck your life.

It's going down soon brothers. One way or another.

You are correct. Fat, dumb, content, complacent Americans are to blame for most of their problems. They allowed this shit to happen.

Lots of good replies here. Everyone should check out dylan rattigan and his www.getmoneyout.com website. I'm a pessimist but I still support people who are trying to change and improve things.

thanks for posting that !!!


also everyone needs to check out the following link called VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS www . voteoutincumbents . org

The upcoming Presidental election in November 2012 will be very important to the survival of this nation.

very much so as the next president very likely will be appointing supreme court justices...

so go those appointments, so goes the way of the country for the next 20 years.

Our balance sheet is completely exhausted (insolvent), we are in a liquidity trap (0% interest rates), and we are printing money to try and fill the blackhole.

But this isn't just an American problem. Almost every western country plus Japan is in the same situation.

Only one way out. Mass simultaneous sovereign defaults.

When central bankers rule the world they inevitably destroy it.

well said SpasticGramps

 

[robbiedublu]

All of that being said, our debt situation is nowhere near as dire as France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy's are. t

Bankrupt is bankrupt brother. There is no way that the US can ever pay off the money we owe. We can print as much of the worlds reserve currency as we like but how much longer do you think that will be the case? When France, Spain and Italy go, we all go.

 

[Zen Master]

we're goin to hell in a handbasket.

the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, I'm honestly seeing images of the movie 'Idiocracy' play out in the somewhat near future.

 

[Useful Idiot]

WOW I did not expect such a turnout. OK , I hate to do it,but,what is your thought on oil???? I personally think that we as a nation get involved in matters with oil as our motivation. A fella here on this site, Kerlito is his name, HI BRO, in his sig he is crying out about how Tibet is not beeing helped because they have no oil.I MUST agree with him. I am a lover of nature,but,I think it's far past the time when we should consider bein self sufficient.Then maybe we can help some of the folks that have been neglected,without oil being the main reason. I would MUCH rather some our $$$ go to Tibet than Iraq or Afghanistan.If we as a nation are going to help others, AFTER HELPING THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE AND PAY TAXES, lets make sure it's for the right reason.Idiot out.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Bankrupt is bankrupt brother. There is no way that the US can ever pay off the money we owe. We can print as much of the worlds reserve currency as we like but how much longer do you think that will be the case? When France, Spain and Italy go, we all go.

Too bad Simpson Bowles isn't law. It's about the only plan that tackles the tough issues like military and entitlements. But S/B or something like it will happen and when it does we'll knock a dent in the debt.

The surplus before the 2000 presidential election was projected to pay off the national debt in 11 years. But CBO didn't anticipate supply-side revenue structure, two wars, a major entitlement and the housing furor. The candidate who won the election would have had the housing crisis and possibly a contingent in Afghanistan (assuming he ignored all the warnings of 'OBL determined to strike in the US.')

So nobody can surely say we'll tackle this debt but nobody can say we won't be hit by an asteroid between now and the time we compromise. But it can be done. But not w/o raising revenues the top has successfully lowered for themselves the last 38 years.

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

George Carlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYIC0eZYEtI

 

[zenoonez]

Too bad Simpson Bowles isn't law. It's about the only plan that tackles the tough issues like military and entitlements. But S/B or something like it will happen and when it does we'll knock a dent in the debt.

The surplus before the 2000 presidential election was projected to pay off the national debt in 11 years. But CBO didn't anticipate supply-side revenue structure, two wars, a major entitlement and the housing furor. The candidate who won the election would have had the housing crisis and possibly a contingent in Afghanistan (assuming he ignored all the warnings of 'OBL determined to strike in the US.')

So nobody can surely say we'll tackle this debt but nobody can say we won't be hit by an asteroid between now and the time we compromise. But it can be done. But not w/o raising revenues the top has successfully lowered for themselves the last 38 years.

I couldn't have responded better than this

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

Raising anything is out of question tax wise, the spending is the source of the problem. The goverment spends more then they take in. We have to ask our selves what is the scope of the federal goverment, what is it's job? Protecting our personla liberties, borders, and DEFENDING our country. Goverment is to BIG is the problem. We operate 900 bases outside of our borders in 136 countries, we are nation building, no different than the nazis. We are raping and pillaging, growing enimies by the masses from operational blowback. Fuck making the top pay, just get the top out of the pockets of politics. Give the country back to the people.