From Main Street to Wall Street
Wednesday 8 October 2008 at 13:09 UTC
For those who just don’t get capitalism, here is a little wisdom of foresight from yesteryear:
Followed by the wisdom of the masses, the sigh of the depressed:
I wish I could agree with the placard-bearer, but I can’t. For one thing, how am I and other self-employed workers supposed to pay our tax bills if the banks go arse end up? The state isn’t going to let us off the hook owing to the actions of a bunch of incompetent financiers and government ministers. This mess needs sorting out by those who got us into it, and preferably through addressing the crisis of ownership in modern capitalism.
That’s my profound insight into the current international banking crisis. Yes, I know, it’s about as much use as the expert opinion of your average economic pundit or failed hedge fund manager turned Times leader writer.
“Bold moves” are required, they say. “Yes … do go on …,” we respond. “Er …” I don’t think I’ve seen so much shrugging of shoulders on prime time television since the heyday of “’Allo ’Allo”.
Hat tip: Snoopy the Goon
Support 
Wednesday 8 October 2008 at 15:15 UTC
Sir, you are, like your uncle, an individual of insignificant achievement. I, on the other hand, am a gentleman of great stature and renown.
Tuesday 14 October 2008 at 13:28 UTC
I definitely think the politicians, investors, and CEO’s have a lot of responsibility, but I think their solutions fall short. Regular Main Streeters have much more to offer by way of getting us out of this economic mess. We can live more simply, not allowing greed, selfishness and materialism to control us and destroy us. We can live within our means and set an example for others to follow. We can value giving above receiving. In my blog post Main Street Solutions for the Economy I’ve shown there are lots of ways for regular folks like you and me to make a difference in our economy.
Tuesday 14 October 2008 at 14:19 UTC
Wow, a green evangelical Christian! I may not share your religious faith, Nathan, but still I agree with much of what you say about “right living” (for want of a better term).
Wednesday 15 October 2008 at 19:05 UTC
Now here is something we can agree on Francise. Why should the tax payer bail out Wall Street? Let them die on the vine. The weak must die so that the strong may survive. It’s silly to think there would be a banking collapse when there are plenty of strong companies willing to buy assets on the cheap. Why should we save the idiots that over extended themselves by trading highly speculative credit swaps in order to bolster their own greed?
The government should have given that 700 billion to Freddy and Fanny so they could refinance mortgages close to defaulting. It’s not the governments job to bail out moronic companies driven by personal greed. Their job is to protect “the people”, not the companies. None of that money will make it to Joe American, the companies will hold onto it to make their balance sheets look better to their share holders. They couldn’t care less about you and I.
I can’t wait until next year when they ask for another 700 billion. That should be fun. Im a Republican, but I will be voting for Obama this year. I simply can’t take the Reganomics any longer. It simply doesn’t work, greed will always prevail over the little guys.
Wednesday 15 October 2008 at 19:13 UTC
Im a Republican, but I will be voting for Obama this year
You really are a complete cunt, aren’t you Sean? I shall pity Senator Obama if his forthcoming general election victory is down to people like you.