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["Don Bowen" <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

I keep an eye on economic happenings and with my studies have begun to 
understand some of what was called Political Philosophy or later "The dismal 
science."  Economics is a mixture of social science, philosophy, and politics 
and as such is a game that very few can ever hope to understand. 

As for the current economic problems, I have watched and studied in morbid 
fascination as we have moved ourselves from a nation that builds things to a 
nation that just does things.  The big money earners are no longer the 
captains of industry that used federal money along with lack of oversight and 
regulation to amass great fortunes while inventing new methods for building 
railroads, steel and oil empires, and the like.  The big money earners are 
now the people who can use federal money and lack of oversight and regulation 
to invent new methods to move money around while collecting huge fees.  

The current economic condition is a result of that manipulation coupled with 
some real limits to resources.  I have somewhat expected that the movers of 
money would manage to keep the federal monies flowing and keep the huge 
bonuses and the house in the Hamptons and the one in Vail.  For me the place 
to watch is unemployment.  Even if as Kevin Phillips points out, the numbers 
are manipulated away from any real connection to reality, it is still an 
important metric.  Well, today the unemployment shoe dropped.  It is no 
longer possible to hide the layoffs as airlines and car companies incomes 
fall as oil prices climb.  The housing layoffs were easy to hide as most were 
independent contractors or illegals paid under the table.

As a result of today's report of unemployment jumping to 5.5% (some feel we 
should double those numbers) and reports of Israel wanting to bomb Iran the 
stock is falling off a precipice with a loss of over 300 points and oil 
finding new record highs.  Morgan Stanley is predicting $150 oil by July 4 
while Goldman Sachs was predicting that price by the end of the year.

Don Bowen      KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html
>From paxamicus AT earthlink.net  Fri Jun  6 15:17:09 2008
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Well, I am glad I was able to make your morning with what your
perceive is my foolishness. : )

He also picked up the transparency act McCain dropped the ball on and
reintroduced THAT.

You can call me stupid or foolish or whatever you want. No, it's not
going to change the world but we have to start *somewhere*. There's a
difference between what you see as stupid, all-embracing gung-ho-ism
and one teeny ember of hope that maybe just maybe this *could* be a
start of something different. I've never even said "better". I'd be
happy with just propping up the EPA and not blowing shit up and
killing people left and right.

Just because I'm willing to pay attention and hope for the best
doesn't make me stupid, James. I will learn better from you, and I'd
like to, if you were kinder. That might not be on your agenda and
that's ok but why blow off a pair of listening ears just for the joy
of letting me know you think I'm a moron?

With respect,

Celia



On Jun 6, 2008, at 9:07 AM, Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:

>
>>> It's a start. I'll take it. It's better than nothing.
>
> I love it!   I'm using the above quote on a blog, I promise it will be
> anonymous.
>
> Have you seen in the grocery stores the cartons and bottles of
> orange juice
> that say "Contains no cholesterol!"  That's for the mindless shopper
> who will
> think that if he buys this Brand A orange juice, he will be getting
> the special
> no-cholestrol orange juice, but if he bought brand B, it no doubt
> contains
> cholesterol.
>
> That disclosure is put there for idiots.  No food of plant source ever
> contains any cholesterol.
>
> Obama's pledge to not accept lobbyist money is the same thing.   PAC
> money is
> already severely restricted and all he has promised about the
> lobbyist money
> is to not accept it directly.  That's like a prostitute saying she
> will no
> longer accept money for sex, no indeed, just put it in the jar by
> the door as you
> leave!
>
> But moreso it illustrates how easily Obama can say something of no
> substance
> at all and the Obamaniacs swoon at the scope of the mind-boggling
> changes.
> 'See, he said there would be changes, see, they've begun ....'
>
> This is going to be so entertaining .... in fact ... it's already
> begun.   </HTML>
> _______________________________________________