Where is the robust economic recovery from 2007-08? Can we recover from a self-inflicted meltdown of the financial industry?
Industry and financial institutions have focused on maximizing profits since the early 1980s: rightsizing, automation and offshore locations. The $80,000 job is replaced by two jobs for $15,000 each. Part-time hours with last-minute varying schedules, no benefits and little employee appreciation are the employment [conditions] of today.
Nine financial “players” were recommended for criminal investigation in 2009 and fell on deaf Justice Department ears. A Wells Fargo manager just received a $125-plus million golden parachute while the CEO’s stock holdings increased by several hundred million dollars. Has there been any personal accountability from General Motors ignition [switches], Jeep transmissions, Takata airbags or the VW emissions avoidance, to name a few? Carrier and Ford are making production-location changes to better compete in a cost-conscious market.
No, there has not been a middle-class recovery, but the nonproductive money movers have done quit well. Welcome to trickle-down economics. Washington has repeatedly catered to the big five economic sectors: financial, business, petroleum, agriculture and pharmaceuticals, bestowing whatever lubrication is requested to ensure prosperity.
Yes, the country is headed in the “wrong direction,” but is a right direction possible? The economy is off limits regardless of campaign promises. How about budget or legislation? Congress can’t even agree on funding for Zika attention. Senators declare giving consent to judicial appointments “is not our job.” The armed forces authorization appropriation bill has over 400 amendments. Congressional incumbent re-election rates are in the 90-plus percent range. Ninety-four percent of House districts are gerrymandered noncompetitive.
Yes, we are headed in the wrong direction, but as Pogo so aptly stated, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
— David Ihrig
Marshall
Isn’t it a true saying that people get the government they deserve. What can you expect from a country that gets terrorized at clown sightings?
Or that the democreep candidate needs to have questions fed to her prior to a debate with an admitted socialist LOL. As long as people like that are given priority in government for only their own gain, then it ain’t getting better.
Yes, Dave – your last sentence says it all. When American citizens defend corruption, lying, cover-ups, cheating, etc. because the individuals engaged in such are from their political party — WE ARE SUNK. Period.
There are no adequate excuses when a person or group has broken the law. So, when people are willing to overlook transgressions based on political preferences we descend into lawlessness. As indeed, we have.
In my view, Gerald Ford made the wrong decision and it has been an ugly, slippery slope ever since. And it will continue until the American people say ” enough!” But, we likely won’t because we are now too lazy and our expectations have been systematically reduced. As in, no serious prices paid for: Bill Clinton’s cigar disgraces in the Oval Office and NAFTA passage, Bush Jr getting the CIA to fabricate intelligence as a pretense to war and over-looking systemic financial industry fraud, Obama not perp-walking any Wall St bankers, letting insurance companies write the abysmal ACA and allowing his Sec of State to operate a rogue and self-enriching set-up.
The political divide and conquer strategy has worked like a charm for them. Because we plebians bicker like 12 year olds defending our school football teams —- while they skate. Time to wake up, America.
Bumper sticker wisdom: “If the people will lead, the leaders will follow.” (think about that for awhile)
I’d be curious as to which Gerald Ford mistake you refer to-
pardoning Nixon or not taking the CIA to task for insidious corruption in lying to the American public about Vietnam and causing a lot of kids to be shipped home in body bags for fighting a pointless war.
Funny how St. Reagan avoided any blame for the Iran Contra affair here.
I agree with everything else, but the perp walking should have started with W and continued under Obama.
My belief is the Dems lack family jewels, and the GOP lacks a conscience/restraint.
By the way, ha ha, I voted early and can now tune out until Nov 8. Many books, movies, walks in the woods will be had while America has an embolism over emails, gropings and sports awful hateful T shirts.
LOL, the country will sink. The culture praises everything that’s bad. If you’re a lying cheating scumbag, you get ahead. If you’re a hard working type just following the rules, you get screwed. The politicians are just a symptom of a hedonistic and perverted populace. And what we;re witnessing now is simply those running for office promising more freebies to those that are lazy merely to gain and stay in power.
You’ll be running for office next year, then, instead of whining about it?
fwiw, “wrong track” has been winning that poll question since 1972. I blame the selfish old moaners who elected Nixon.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/07/we-ve-been-on-the-wrong-track-since-1972.html
LOL, and I’m pretty sure that many in the media can relate lulz. The so called intellectuals are in realty psychotic and self loathing. And need to be ignored if not eradicated completely from any and all public domains.
Nice- smearing those darn learny learny types and calling for eradication of them all in 3 lines of text.
How concise in your seething hatred.
Other loony altright types have to write at least a few paragraphs and attach a link to stormfront’s sister websites before accusing any dissenters of just not thinking about it hard enough or not getting it.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Correction. Brevity is wit.