Thanks to James Rawels at www.survivalblog.com for finding this... <link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCHARLE%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype> http://www.marketwatch.com/news/st...-EFD1-4941-B57E-A2BA1545BA09}&dist=TNMostRead 30 reasons for Great Depression 2 by 2011 New-New Deal, bailouts, trillions in debt, anti-tax mindset spell disaster By Paul B. Farrell, MarketWatch Last update: 11:53 a.m. EST Nov. 19, 2008 … 30 'leading edge' indicators of the coming Great Depression 2 Every day there is more breaking news, proof Wall Street's greed is already back to "business as usual" and in denial, grabbing more and more from the new "Bailouts-R-Us" bonanza of free taxpayer cash and credits, like two-year-olds in a toy store at Christmas -- anything to boost earnings, profits and stock prices, and keep those bonuses and salaries flowing, anything to blow a new bubble. Scan these 30 "leading indicators." Each problem has one or more possible solutions, but lacks unified political support. Time's running out. We're already at the edge. Add up the trillions in debt: Any collective solution will only compound our problems, because the cumulative debt will overwhelm us, make matters worse: <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">America</st1lace></st1:country-region>'s credit rating may soon be downgraded below AAA Fed refusal to disclose $2 trillion loans, now the new "shadow banking system" Congress has no oversight of $700 billion, and Paulson's Wall Street Trojan Horse King Henry Paulson flip-flops on plan to buy toxic bank assets, confusing markets Goldman, Morgan lost tens of billions, but planning over $13 billion in bonuses this year AIG bails big banks out of $150 billion in credit swaps, protects shareholders before taxpayers American Express joins Goldman, Morgan as bank holding firms, looking for Fed money Treasury sneaks corporate tax credits into bailout giveaway, shifts costs to states State revenues down, taxes and debt up; hiring, spending, borrowing add even more debt State, municipal, corporate pensions lost hundreds of billions on derivative swaps Hedge funds: 610 in 1990, almost 10,000 now. Returns down 15%, liquidations up Consumer debt way up, now at $2.5 trillion; next area for credit meltdowns Fed also plans to provide billions to $3.6 trillion money-market fund industry Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are bleeding cash, want to tap taxpayer dollars <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Washington</st1lace></st1:state> manipulating data: War not $600 billion but estimates actually $3 trillion Hidden costs of $700 billion bailout are likely $5 trillion; plus $1 trillion Street write-offs Commodities down, resource exporters and currencies dropping, triggering a global meltdown Big three automakers near bankruptcy; unions, workers, retirees will suffer Corporate bond market, both junk and top-rated, slumps more than 25% Retailers bankrupt: <st1lace w:st="on"><st1lacename w:st="on">Circuit</st1lacename> <st1lacetype w:st="on">City</st1lacetype></st1lace>, Sharper Image, Mervyns; mall sales in free fall Unemployment heading toward 8% plus; more 1930's photos of soup lines Government policy is dictated by 42,000 myopic, highly paid, greedy lobbyists <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>'s sees GDP growth drop, crates $586 billion stimulus; deflation is now global, hitting even <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Dubai</st1lace></st1:city> Despite global recession, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">U.S.</st1lace></st1:country-region> trade deficit continues, now at $650 billion The 800-pound gorillas: Social Security, Medicare with $60 trillion in unfunded liabilities Now 46 million uninsured as medical, drug costs explode New-New Deal: <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">U.S.</st1lace></st1:country-region> planning billions for infrastructure, adding to unsustainable debt Outgoing leaders handicapping new administration with huge liabilities The "antitaxes" message is a new bubble, a new version of the American dream offering a free lunch, no sacrifices, exposing us to more false promises Will the next meltdown, the third of the 21st Century, trigger a second Great Depression? Or will the 2007-08 crisis simply morph into a painful extension of today's mess to 2011 and beyond, with no new bull market, no economic recovery as our new president hopes? Perhaps some of the first 29 problems may be solved separately, but collectively, after building on a failed ideology, they spell disaster. So listen closely to "leading indicator" No. 30: At a recent Reuters Global Finance Summit former Goldman Sachs chairman John Whitehead was interviewed. He was also Ronald Reagan's Deputy Secretary of State and a former chairman of the N.Y. Fed. He says <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">America</st1lace></st1:country-region>'s problems will take years and will burn trillions. He sees "nothing but large increases in the deficit ... I think it would be worse than the depression. ... Before I go to sleep at night, I wonder if tomorrow is the day Moody's and S&P will announce a downgrade of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">U.S.</st1lace></st1:country-region> government bonds." It'll get worse because "the public is not prepared to increase taxes. Both parties were for reducing taxes, reducing income to government, and both parties favored a number of new programs, all very costly and all done by the government." Reuters concludes: "Whitehead said he is speaking out on this topic because he is concerned no lawmakers are against these new spending programs and none will stand up and call for higher taxes. 'I just want to get people thinking about this, and to realize this is a road to disaster,' said Whitehead. 'I've always been a positive person and optimistic, but I don't see a solution here.'" We see the Great Depression 2. Why? Wall Street's self-interested greed. They are their own worst enemy ... and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">America</st1lace></st1:country-region>'s too.
The Soveriegn wealth funds will gobble us up. China wants to buy out all three carmakers. Capitolism is turning into Socialism before our eyes. They will have to "dispose" of the people who need SS or Medicare because they simply do not have the funds and probably can't get them. Halliburton camps are open and waiting some staffed already.
Higher taxes will mean all your money will go to the government, which will waste it, and none will be left for savings which means no investment which means we never get out of the depression. No higher taxes will mean the government will monetize the debt, which means your money will be worthless. After the chaos and social disruption this causes I am sure there will be a restoration of order... Welcome to the New World Order, citizen. Here is your assigned job... oh, you're 90 years old? Can't work? Very well, your papers are stamped "Useless Eater", proceed to the left; the cattle car will take you to Termination Camp #666... er, that is, the retirement home. Enjoy your retirement, citizen!
