Thanks again for your kind intercession with a previous commenter – much appreciated.

Per the market and the housing crash – I don’t think people recognized the ramifications by any stretch. They forgot that in the boom, people were not only enjoying the ‘wealth effect’, but were also (and more dangerously) using their home equity for daily living expenses – a serious and overlooked issue, in my humble opinion.

I do believe in spending our way out of a recession – no way around it, other than letting it get worse, riding it out, etc., which I don’t recommend. The problem is – and I think we’re may agree here – that as the economy grows again, the spending should be ratcheted back down – but it never is. And both parties are at fault in that respect.

Yes, I am wary of Obama’s socialist proclivities, but we have been fighting that since FDR. I believe that BHO is a pragmatist at heart and hope that I am right…

You have read something into my post that wasn’t there. I have a degree in economics and use economics in the conduct my profession. That you would say that ‘ the problem with “expert economists, both academically and professionally” is you provide zero into an actual economy.’ is astounding and insulting at once.

You have no fucking idea what else I do, what I put into the economy, how many companies I’ve started, how many jobs I’ve created, how many people’s futures are better off because of my efforts, how much money I’ve saved corporations large and small (and our country/government, by the way) through my professional accomplishments and involvements. Sheesh!

By the way, if you call me an ‘ivory tower econ tart’ again, I’ll slap the dick out of your mouth, you little pussy.

Per your request that I provide ‘where prices and investments will go up and the where they will go down’ is a service I don’t provide for free. I’m a capitalist, and a rich one at that (thanks to putting my money where my brains and mouth are) – if you want great information, you have to pay for it, bitch. I’ll just tell you to go and fuck yourself, boy. Now, piss off…

p.s. have a nice day!

Sorry, I am calling bs. The problem with “expert economists, both academically and professionally” is you provide zero into an actual economy. “Ratio’s, statistics and formula’s” also mean nothing. It’s the accuracy of said formula’s, ratios etc that matter.

Everything else is academic, hindsight 20/20 garbage.

So tell me in either micro and macro terms where prices and investments will go up and the where they will go down. Then guarantee said performance with your net worth and mine.

Otherwise play with your ratios and formulas amongst the other useless “expert economists” at the next brilliant conference.

I notice within your rambling posts – you have provided nothing close to “up or down”, you know – what we expect expert economists to deliver…

Ivory tower econ tart…

Oh and btw – how many expert economists from Ivy League schools have driven investments, companies, capital , etc. into bankruptcy and/or loss???

Colonel, i’m not an economist, but the point you make about ratios is one reason I believe the extraordinary events since Sept 2008 are not just random happenings.

As you know, this is the steepest dive in the stock market since 1929-1939, and is nearly completely unsupported by the economic indicators. Past crashes were because of irrational exuberance, and/or genuine looming economic problems. Employment is bad now, but that is caused by the market crash, and not vice versa. The only major problem the economy had prior to our crash was the sub-prime mess, which had been around for a year, and the limits of the problem were generally understood (and denied, of course).

And I agree with you that things are not now as dire as the press would have us believe……..but Obamy’s prescription of more poison will send us into an FDR-like spiral, which is what I believe his puppet-masters want. Unless you believe that printing money is an escape valve, the future looks grim.

Economics is my business – academically and professionally. Things are not as bleak as they seem, from my scientific assessment (I won’t bore you with the ratios and statistics) – that’s really my point.

Sorry this has hit you hard and that you have made some tough decisions. I wish you and yours the best and will back off…

PR sums up the ‘raw emotions’ point. Well taken – bravo. Peace.

Colonel1961

Most regular posters here agree about 99% of things, so we shouldn’t spat much. Even the responses to liberal fruitcakes are generally pretty tepid.

But today was hard on everyone who loves the country. Tempers are a bit raw.

Thank you too, Colonel, for your abundant 99.99% smarter-than-the-rest-of-you “I’m ok with the state of the economy” which is “nothing outside the normal business cycle” brilliant assessment. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be addressed by someone of your high intelligence and caliber. (Even if it is riddled with presumption and arrogance.)

(I’m trying to stay at your level here, but doubtless will get bored in the next several seconds.)

The name is from an old song, by the way. Sorry if it rubs your sensibility for correct Latin the wrong way. (No, not really. I couldn’t care less.)

We do seem to agree about McCain, however.

no insult intended to you personally Colonel. But I do think you are too hard on ulti.

Lots of strange things happened around the election and nobody has asked a single question about them. He did, so I’m supporting him.

By the way, I cashed in my 401K as well. When the market crashes 55%, it’s a sign that something a wee bit out of the ordinary is happening. By the way, did you notice that in spite of the multi-trillions of promises and the euphoria about the Redeemer, the S&P 500 is 15% below where it was Nov 4. As for guns, I’m not a big shooter, but from listening to other posters here, it sounds like the gun shops are cleaned out.

It seems to me that taking special action in these time is more rational than irrational.

And I don’t have your faith that everything will work out. I think we’ve turned a corner for reasons discussed earlier on this forum. Basically, the deadbeats have taken over, and I don’t see what is going to change that. I don’t think they will wake up tomorrow and take their hands out of the cookie jar. At some point the cookie jar will crumble.

As an economist, I am ok with the state of the economy, not in great shape, but nothing outside the normal business cycle. I do not think communism is dead, nor have I ever believed that the cold war is won. Again, I probably know more about economics that 99.99% of the population and I’d put my knowledge of political history, commencing with SPQR, in the 95th percentile.

So, for the hell of it, here are the answers to your two questions:

1. Re: Obama: Not crazy about the guy (Not crazy about McCain, either) – I just happen to have a little faith in our form of Government, a republic, in case you think it’s a democracy. We survived Jimmy Carter, right?

2. Re: Other people’s money: My comment regarding OPM was based only upon your end-of-the-world (as we know it) scenario (remember, the KGB?) and I was not advocating it for me or anyone else on a normal basis. Normal being the operative term! Again, please re-read what you have posted. I am exceptionally responsible in every fiscal manner, have incredible asset and income ratios vis-à-vis debt, and could cut a check for your entire net worth, padnuh.

Seriously, go to the doctor – get some help.

BTW: WTF does ‘Ultima tum Thule’ mean? Have you invented your own Lingua Latina, too?

ps PR: are you calling me delusional?

We are expected to believe that an obscure State Senator popped from nowhere in 2004, and was immediately able to perform on the national stage. He has huge gaps in his background. He has never supported himself. He has never been forced to explain his positions. Records from blocks of years have been lost. He has virtually no voting record to be challenged on. He speaks only in platitutes. He admits to spending his college days in a cesspool of socialism. He was the Harvard Law School editor but never wrote a legal paper. His primary and general election challengers for the U.S. Senate mysteriously had their divorce papers published and the press wrecked their candidacies, etc., etc., etc.

We are also expected to belive that in the two months prior to the election, the market fell more than it ever had in an election year including the height of the Great Depression, that market volume increased to a level experienced only once in the prior 60 years, that an economy which in June met all historical benchmarks for being average tanked completely in those 2 months, that the Sub-prime mess that had been around for a year suddently became a Crisis of epic propostions, that the price of oil fell more by far than it ever had done before, and that it was all just coincidence. About 10 historice coincidences all just happened immediately after the Republican convention, when McCain took his first lead in the polls……to the day.

People who don’t wonder about whether that was all “coincidence” are the delusion ones.

Nevertheless, I do believe that:

a) The KGB developed long-range plans of American demoralization and destabilization which were identified long ago and mirror what we have been witnessing over the last several decades.

b) The election of Obama represents a socialist coup.

c) The economy will collapse.

Just to clarify:

1. I don’t believe I stated anywhere that these are the “end of times” though. I think they are simply the beginning of some very rough times.

2. I also don’t believe I stated anywhere that I had any concerns about my credit rating.

3. Again, I don’t believe I said anything about preparing for a “change in the basic human structure.” There is nothing novel about warring empires or societal decline.

4. But – yes, I am still concerned about personal integrity.

25% is an “F” (in your ability to correctly identify “premises”).

Questions: You are a self-proclaimed “student of history” and abhor socialism/marxism… and see no cause for concern regarding Obama’s words, positions, associations, mentors, etc.? You think it’s okay to spend other people’s money or not “make good” on debts?

Sorry, but by your responses above, I really have to question your discernment regarding political history and economics. Maybe I am missing some nuance in your internet style.

I can understand if you have an relatively optimistic view of the economy (some do), and I can also understand if you think communism is dead or the cold war is “won” (many do) – even if I disagree… but the two questions above remain.

‘Nuts’ is self-evident…

p.s. Don’t worry, be happy. Everything’s gonna be all white, er uh, Wright, dang it – right!

I made an agreement (when I went into debt) to *pay* that debt, not to use “other people’s money.”

For me, it is a matter of personal responsibility, integrity and obligation. If this, and my views regarding a severe lack of trust in Obama (and our economic & political situation in general) make me “paranoid” and “nuts” in your eyes, well, that’s a consequence I’ve already anticipated, not just from internet comments, but from friends and family as well.

Kind regards,