RoR: Forum

Original of this picture can be found here. Artist is anonymous.

Post 1

Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 6:32pm

The red guy needs to have "Government" printed on him.

Post 2

Monday, October 6, 2008 - 6:31am

In the US the red guy should be blue, and the blue red.

jt

Post 3

Monday, October 6, 2008 - 2:55pm

I had the same thought, Jay. But red has been the "Republican" color only since 2000. And the color of socialism for a century. And of course, the Republicans have been the great expropriators of the last decade.

Post 4

Monday, October 6, 2008 - 9:39pm

Ted,

True.

I think these threads are going to give me high blood pressure. The side articles that are linked to some of these threads are excellent sources of information and discussion, particularly with regard to current events. However, they also makes viewing those events so much more frustrating, because what actually gets broad media exposure is so slanted and incomplete, regardless of political party.

Suspect I'm just a closet activist at heart. Right now though, need to put all my efforts into making a living, but have promised myself that I'll raise hell once I retire (along with a little bit of boating).

jt

Post 5

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - 7:56am

If you made buttons the size of dimes with the names of all the government agencies involved in the redistribution of wealth from the productive class the red guy would need an overcoat hanging all the way to the ground to pin them all on. He would need a second overcoat to hold all of the special interests group names.

Post 6

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 5:15am

Jay Abbott: "... what actually gets broad media exposure is so slanted and incomplete, regardless of political party."

Well, even astonomers speak of "sunrise" and "sunset." Common speech is statistically likely. So, to find the truth,you have to work a bit harder than just listening to "the talk on the street" (title of a regular WSJ column, in fact).

A couple of years ago, I researched so-called "wildcat banking" for a conference paper I never delivered. You probably heard of the Panic of 1857. It might not have happened. Contemporary reports are inconsistent and incomplete. In the following generation, the best writers of the time failed to mention it at all. Once college professors (and high school teachers) aligned with a consensus that capitalism is plagued with booms and busts, the Panic of 1857 acquired substantial reality.

What is true, what is important, what lasts and what passes remains to be seen. The current "Economic Crisis" might be no more consequential to your life than Miley Cyrus's Birthday Party.

Post 7

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 11:08am

MIchael,

Sorry, can't agree with your comparisons. There is simplification, and there is misrepresentation. When asked for more detail, the astronomer doesn't say "well, the sun will rise...", he will provide a simple description of the orbital mechanics.

And, unfortunately, the housing slump - as it had in the early 90's - has dramatically reduced the activities of our best customers. I'd gladly buy Billie Ray's daughter some flowers if it would help improve the economy.

jt

Post 8

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 2:42pm

Michael,

As an aside, "Talk on the Street" is intended to refer to talk on Wall Street, not just any street, meaning the inside information, i.e., what the professionals are saying among themselves.

You said, "What is true, what is important, what lasts and what passes remains to be seen." That is an eloquent statement of something important to keep in mind anytime panic is among us. But what is happening here has a substantial reality - a real effect. We may not have all of the particulars as to true causes, it may be too early to say how serious it will be, and too early to know how long before it passes, but to compare it to Miley Cyrus' birthday party was silly.

Post 9

Thursday, October 9, 2008 - 4:50pm