Money, Banking and the Fed
Most of Europe is going throw social unrest, most notably Germany and France, because of the govt.'s efforts to reduce retiree pensions there. I haven't kept up with all the details and where developments are currently, but a reduction of benefits is a necessity. The aging of the West and Japan will cripple our economies over the next 20 years and more. Some countries, Japan and China especially, are aging rapidly. Japan because of post WW II demographics, and China because of birth restrictions. The concept of what we call Social Security was initially introduced in Germany in the late 1800's. The socialist leaning govts. of Europe promised good retiree pensions in the latter half of the last century. The reality of a growing retiree demographic is making those promises unrealistic. Same holds true for the U.S. and Japan.
The US Congress has been knowing about this problem since the 1970's. Their reponse to the problem? Start reigning in benefits? Start acting responsibly before it becomes a problem? Hell no. Raise benefits. Raise payroll taxes. The sky's the limit so long as this thing blows up while somebody else is in office down the road. The only thing that Congress has done to address the problem was a reduction of increases in future benefits under the Newt Gingrich "Contract with America" campaign. Another fraud foisted on the all too willing American public.
A short rant here. I tend to bitch about politicians that get re-elected by promising money to those who vote for them, and being irresponsible to the greater good of the country. What allows this to happen? Why have politicians all learned that the best way to get elected and re-elected is to spend and borrow our way into oblivion? Because that's what American voters keep putting in office. American voters in general, are more short sighted and self centered than the slime balls they put in office, with a few exceptions. There are a couple of federal elected officials who aren't slime balls. No offense intended to anyone here, but if the shoe fits, wear it. The socialist leaning, welfare state we've heading to is just what the PTB want. Keep the populace dependant on the gubament, and the gubament can do whatever it wants. Throw some handouts in G-Town on a drive by, and keep the homeslices happy. Yep, it seems to working. Look what we have as our primary choices for president this year.
Cary
P.S. Heggy, I think Paul was keeping my "rat's ass" rant going. I don't think he was pinging on you, or it'd be pretty obvious. Don't mean to speak for you Paul. You are one funny dude. You must be giving a lot of rat's asses to be overrun with them. Sounds like my office. I'm not allowed to "give" at home.
Most of Europe is going throw social unrest, most notably Germany and France, because of the govt.'s efforts to reduce retiree pensions there. I haven't kept up with all the details and where developments are currently, but a reduction of benefits is a necessity. The aging of the West and Japan will cripple our economies over the next 20 years and more. Some countries, Japan and China especially, are aging rapidly. Japan because of post WW II demographics, and China because of birth restrictions. The concept of what we call Social Security was initially introduced in Germany in the late 1800's. The socialist leaning govts. of Europe promised good retiree pensions in the latter half of the last century. The reality of a growing retiree demographic is making those promises unrealistic. Same holds true for the U.S. and Japan.
The US Congress has been knowing about this problem since the 1970's. Their reponse to the problem? Start reigning in benefits? Start acting responsibly before it becomes a problem? Hell no. Raise benefits. Raise payroll taxes. The sky's the limit so long as this thing blows up while somebody else is in office down the road. The only thing that Congress has done to address the problem was a reduction of increases in future benefits under the Newt Gingrich "Contract with America" campaign. Another fraud foisted on the all too willing American public.
A short rant here. I tend to bitch about politicians that get re-elected by promising money to those who vote for them, and being irresponsible to the greater good of the country. What allows this to happen? Why have politicians all learned that the best way to get elected and re-elected is to spend and borrow our way into oblivion? Because that's what American voters keep putting in office. American voters in general, are more short sighted and self centered than the slime balls they put in office, with a few exceptions. There are a couple of federal elected officials who aren't slime balls. No offense intended to anyone here, but if the shoe fits, wear it. The socialist leaning, welfare state we've heading to is just what the PTB want. Keep the populace dependant on the gubament, and the gubament can do whatever it wants. Throw some handouts in G-Town on a drive by, and keep the homeslices happy. Yep, it seems to working. Look what we have as our primary choices for president this year.
Cary
P.S. Heggy, I think Paul was keeping my "rat's ass" rant going. I don't think he was pinging on you, or it'd be pretty obvious. Don't mean to speak for you Paul. You are one funny dude. You must be giving a lot of rat's asses to be overrun with them. Sounds like my office. I'm not allowed to "give" at home.