The Great Depression 2: Depression Harder

[Chickenman 9]

It's not that they really have anything else to do though. :(

[Drake 53]

That's true. However, I would rather give them something that could be beneficial to them instead of a hindrance.

[Andy 60]

I sometimes give them my vouchers for free coffee at McDonald's... Don't have any left now though. lol

[James the Defender 7]

I love McDonald's mocha from the McCaf?. It makes me forget about the depression :p

[Andy 60]

I've never been to a proper McCafe... There was one at the UK head office when I went, but that doesn't count because it was for staff only...

[James the Defender 7]

I've been to three different McD's in my area and only one has it...fortunately, it's the one closest to where I live, lol.

[Uncle Du 22]

Interesting article here

I don't, nor will I ever, claim to be smart enough to understand all of the stuff in this article, but from what I gather is this; the government is again covering up how poorly not only the US economy is, but the Global economy as a whole. Our economies nowadays are so ridiculously complex and the big banking industry and the government use this to their advantage. They figure they can make decisions dealing with OUR money, because they're the so-called experts. In the end, it's not going to hurt those people, it's going to hurt us. I don't care what your party affiliation is, in the end, no matter whose in charge, people in Washington are always going to hide the truth from the public, and it will be us that suffer in the end. Not the dip s*** socialites that have this feeling of entitlement.

[Winters 0]

Welcome to deregulation, it makes no sense and ends up hurting the little (and in this case the big) people.

[Uncle Du 22]

It continually baffles me that the top 5% thinks that without us, the "little guys", that they would be where they're at. The same goes for big business and government. Equality in this day in age is a farce.

[Winters 0]

This is the main disadvantage of Capitalism... the little guy gets the least... this is why we need regulated Capitalism, government controls that protect the people yet allow a "free" economy to grow as needed, but what I am to say? I'll be called a Socialist...

[Andy 60]

Socialism as an ideal isn't bad in itself, it's just the basic greed of humanity that brings it down. This is the fatal flaw in any government system.

The UK has in the past used a lot of state ownership (usually viewed as socialist ideas) in it's government policy, mostly for public services, and curiously enough since these services were taken out of state ownership and handed over to private companies the level of service provided has gone downhill. This is most notably evident in the UK rail network, which was privatised in the 1990s after 50 years of operating perfectly fine under government control.

I have no faith in capitalism. It only serves to make the rich even richer; only the lucky minority manage to ascend the class divide.

I freely admit I am not an expert on economics or politics, but I believe that a fairer system should be created that preserves the democratic process but eliminates greedy companies from making huge profits on services that are essential to life as we know it in the 21st century. These services would be education, transport, health care, utilities (power, water, etcetera), communications, and probably others..c.

The education system also currently needs an overhaul here. These days almost everyone seems to go to university to get a degree, which is contrary to the purpose they were set up for. You shouldn't need a degree for most jobs.

Benefits need overhauling too, as does the system where people get evicted from their homes and forced to live on the streets while thousands of homes sit empty because people can't afford to buy them. It's a ewoking disgrace.

I'm going to stop ranting now. lol

[Winters 0]

Yeah, that's exactly what's happening over here, except they were always in private hands, but they were regulated, but when Bush came into office, he deregulated almost everything... Republicans deregulate things because they think it is bad to prevent things from getting out of control.

[Uncle Du 22]

The biggest problem with a capitalistic economy is finding that fine line between too little oversight by the government and too much control. When large companies begin taking advantage of the function of the economy and claim profits that aren't there, I am all for the government stepping in laying the smack down. But we can't allow the federal government to maintain control of these large corporations once they are back on their feet.

And while I will never say anything negative about someone who is for socialism (I too think it's a great idea), Andy said it best: the human factor means that it will never work. And really, that's why nothing will ever work. Because we're human. :p

[Drake 53]

When you think about it, what point is there to money? It's just something to perpetuate greed and material possession. Humans are to blame for corrupting these ideas such as socialism and communism but money seems to be the tipping point.

Let's just do what they did in Star Trek and abolish money altogether. Work for the betterment of humanity.

[Andy 60]

How would a moneyless society work in practice though? Because I seriously doubt that it could ever work.

[Drake 53]

Getting past mankind's natural desire to obtain wealth would be the major hurdle, I think.

[Winters 0]

Let's just do what they did in Star Trek and abolish money altogether. Work for the betterment of humanity.

Such a blasphamus idea, referencing that... show... on a STAR WARS fan community... *shudder* Oh... I feel sick...

[Andy 60]

You're not bashing Star Trek, are you? :p

[Winters 0]

Forgive me... but I don't double dip...

[Bad furday 57]

*taps foot impatiently* Skynet? Skynet, sooner as opposed to later, thanks :p

[Uncle Du 22]

Well then you're just missing out on another great franchise....more for me. :p

[Drake 53]

Forgive me... but I don't double dip...

I don't forgive you. People have been banned for bashing and flaming like that.

[Uncle Du 22]

Ohhhhh SNAP!

:p

[Winters 0]

Well then, I will govern my tongue next time. Please forgive me.

[Andy 60]

They might not be that popular over here, but they are a big enough name to still be a little shocking:

Chrysler 'to file for bankruptcy':

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8027109.stm