Political Thread - Avoid like plague.

[Wagner]

Want to know the real reason Bush went to Saudi Arabia to 'talk about oil prices' because like it or not the US is still a VERY large oil consumer, right with China. And with a weak US economy come weak oil prices for futures traders.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/e...443544_44.html

Oil, after just weeks ago hitting $100/bbl is now below $90/bbl.

[E61Silver]

I think we all need to do our part to reduce oil consumption, its good for the country and good for the environment.

[StumpyPete]

The high oil price is all Bush's fault anyway (suits his Texan backers) - the sooner he is out of office the better!

[AzX5]

Originally Posted by StumpyPete

The high oil price is all Bush's fault anyway (suits his Texan backers) - the sooner he is out of office the better!

I beg to differ...

[Wagner]

IMO oil futures trading and prices at the pump are complete, 100%, man made BS. Futures trading alone is raises or lowers costs for consumers based on what may or may not happen. It is a lot like the weather report, a collective "good guess". However, unlike the weather, you get to pay for their errors. Ask yourself this, when oil prices are traded for instance prices for Feb/Mar orders now, why are your pump prices directly correlated? In theory, they shouldn't be. The fuel your consuming was purchased on orders months earlier...interesting scam to say the least.

[motordavid]

And, hold onto your bev and portfolios...the ugliness continues.
Should be another fun day in the Mkt here in the States.

BULLETIN »
Top Europe, Asia stock markets fall 4% to 5% as financial fears intensify
1/21/2008 6:07:56 AM

[Wagner]

It never ceases to amaze me how tied in the global economy is. I heard one analyst state "it will be worse the 1929" well IMO that would be impossible, there is too much "credit" out there from other countries who are more then willing to buy an economy. Maybe this will however make people realize that Plasma screens aren't an entitlement to every American, cars are a luxury in themselves, you need to actually work for money, reality shows are BS (Real Housewives of Orange County) and Paris Hilton is not a role model.

IMO as a whole the average US Citizen has become very lax, which is odd since in general it is one of the longest/hardest working groups of people. We need to realize what really matters and let the rest go by the way side. In the few decades I've been on the planet I have seen aspirations go from simply wishing one owned their own home to needing multitudes of goodies to throw in it. I remember my father struggling to purchase his $105,000 house in 1985, now today that same house was (pre-blowup) retailing for nearly $500,000. Something was wrong.

And on with more of my rant (since it is nearing tax time), why is it that once a persons yearly income goes over $102,000 they no longer pay social security taxes? IMO, these are exactly the people that can truly afford to pay it.

[Quicksilver]

Seems to me your argument goes beyond world economics and goes to the real issue of the moral breakdown of society. If indeed what you describe is true then the problems we all face (not just economic) will continue on a downward pace.

The answer to solving the problems we collectively face will be discussed, and answers looked for by the many who believe they know what's wrong. But nothing can or will be solved when the answer to the problem is in the hands of those who are the cause of the problem in the first place.

Right about here is where the quote unquote wise answer should be quoted. But i won't bore folks with the details. No one want's the hear the truth anyway.

Originally Posted by Wagner

It never ceases to amaze me how tied in the global economy is. I heard one analyst state "it will be worse the 1929" well IMO that would be impossible, there is too much "credit" out there from other countries who are more then willing to buy an economy. Maybe this will however make people realize that Plasma screens aren't an entitlement to every American, cars are a luxury in themselves, you need to actually work for money, reality shows are BS (Real Housewives of Orange County) and Paris Hilton is not a role model.

IMO as a whole the average US Citizen has become very lax, which is odd since in general it is one of the longest/hardest working groups of people. We need to realize what really matters and let the rest go by the way side. In the few decades I've been on the planet I have seen aspirations go from simply wishing one owned their own home to needing multitudes of goodies to throw in it. I remember my father struggling to purchase his $105,000 house in 1985, now today that same house was (pre-blowup) retailing for nearly $500,000. Something was wrong.

And on with more of my rant (since it is nearing tax time), why is it that once a persons yearly income goes over $102,000 they no longer pay social security taxes? IMO, these are exactly the people that can truly afford to pay it.

[CGSTL]

Go for it, QuickSilver. I've been taught to respect the experience of my elders. I'm all ears.

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Seems to me your argument goes beyond world economics and goes to the real issue of the moral breakdown of society. If indeed what you describe is true then the problems we all face (not just economic) will continue on a downward pace.

The answer to solving the problems we collectively face will be discussed, and answers looked for by the many who believe they know what's wrong. But nothing can or will be solved when the answer to the problem is in the hands of those who are the cause of the problem in the first place.

Right about here is where the quote unquote wise answer should be quoted. But i won't bore folks with the details. No one want's the hear the truth anyway.

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by Wagner

IMO as a whole the average US Citizen has become very lax, which is odd since in general it is one of the longest/hardest working groups of people. We need to realize what really matters and let the rest go by the way side. In the few decades I've been on the planet I have seen aspirations go from simply wishing one owned their own home to needing multitudes of goodies to throw in it. I remember my father struggling to purchase his $105,000 house in 1985, now today that same house was (pre-blowup) retailing for nearly $500,000. Something was wrong.

And on with more of my rant (since it is nearing tax time), why is it that once a persons yearly income goes over $102,000 they no longer pay social security taxes? IMO, these are exactly the people that can truly afford to pay it.

We've become a society of instant gratification. I'm pretty grounded: however, I've fallen into the "I need that today" mindset on several occasions. The birth of my son has forever changed how I look at the future. I once just planned for the life of my wife and I on this planet. Now I need to look beyond after we've moved on. This generation has yet to have things "Really Tough" with the exception of 9/11 which was largely a television event for most of America.

As for the Social Security tax...I'm hardly getting a break because it has been known for some time the Social Security safety net will be bankrupt well before our time to collect.