tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post5953329904897939802..comments2024-03-27T18:00:02.032-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: A Tale of Two EmailsKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-88948760512293470622011-07-29T17:24:11.064-04:002011-07-29T17:24:11.064-04:00Boy, the banks really set the traps and have now c...Boy, the banks really set the traps and have now closed them on the Middle Class. It was not that long ago that Americans were being encouraged by everyone (including Alan Greenspan) but Suze Orman to borrow against the equity in their homes to pay of cars, credit cards and to update and remodel their kitchens and bathrooms. My husband and I would receive credit card offers for zero percent credit card offers daily. Fortunately for us, my husband had iffy employment at the times so we didn't get into too much debt, but I certainly know many people who did. Now those same normal Middle Class friends and neighbours are wallowing in debt they can't pay off because of the high interest rates.<br /><br />While I don't believe in bankruptcy - for anyone or any corporation or business - I do believe that people should be able to restructure their debt and get a reasonable interest rate that makes it possible for them to work their way out of that debt.<br /><br />I have a good friend who split up with his partner leaving him with the mortgage to deal with. For three years his mortgage, taxes and insurance were 73% of his monthly income. He did EVERYTHING possible to restructure his debt on a house that had depreciated $150,000. He saw it as a bad investment but he wanted to suck it up and honour his debt. But the banks and Obama's program - whatever it was called where the banks were supposed to help people like my friend restructure their mortgages - didn't do anything to help. Finally, he just walked away from the house and gave up his $40,000 down payment. <br /><br />I just don’t see how the banks are better off in these situations – but there must be some kind of loophole where it is better for them to kick someone out of his/her house even though the house has depreciated considerably than to help that person. <br /><br />I know I am completely off topic but Kat’s comment got me going.Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-67752063153016462802011-07-29T09:04:35.918-04:002011-07-29T09:04:35.918-04:00Anon,
Well, families cannot due that so much any m...Anon,<br />Well, families cannot due that so much any more thanks to legislation written by the banking and credit card lobbies!Katnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-6641534922550548672011-07-29T02:46:07.132-04:002011-07-29T02:46:07.132-04:00"Americans want Washington to deal with its d..."Americans want Washington to deal with its debt, just like we do in our own families." <br /><br />If that is true then Obama should declare America bankrupt, just like millions of American families do when they are broke and reach their "debt ceiling".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-69769945932272597032011-07-28T17:47:47.989-04:002011-07-28T17:47:47.989-04:00The caldron is bubbling. Too late to plan to be at...The caldron is bubbling. Too late to plan to be at the bull on Wall Street. Wish I knew about it earlier.James F Traynornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-54429260810690471372011-07-28T16:19:55.794-04:002011-07-28T16:19:55.794-04:00What I find interesting (read hypocritical) about ...What I find interesting (read hypocritical) about Obama is that he totally ignores it when people write or call the White House, yet he is wanting us to bombard our Congress members on his behalf. <br /><br />If he was going to use the bully pulpit, why didn't O'bummer appeal to the American people from day one to demand legislation to reinstate Glass Steagal, break up the monopolistic big banks, stop subsidies to the big oil companies, to overturn Citizens United, demand a jobs program, demand a single payer health care system? Why didn't he use it to reveal the Congressional members who took big donations from the above groups and then voted in their favour over the good of the American people? The list of things the Prez could have used his TV time to inspire the masses to rise up and make their wishes known to their legislators is endless. But no! Obama uses his bully pulpit to ask Americans to get on board with him to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. We should call all right - but not on behalf of what Obama wants us to say. I think the Showdown in America script sounds pretty good to me! <br /><br />Come on Sardonicky readers! Pick up the phone – whether you think it will do any good or not – and make the call. You’ve got nothing to lose but about five minutes of your time.Valerie Long Tweedienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-45279554843020280762011-07-28T12:13:38.564-04:002011-07-28T12:13:38.564-04:00The historic old downtown theater has a summer mov...The historic old downtown theater has a summer movie series. This weekend they're showing {"The Grapes of Wrath". I remember seeing that years ago and thinking what a different time it was.<br />HA HA!<br />It's all back folks-- drought and dust, union busting, evil banks and pointless foreclosures... minus the small kernel of hope for a bettter future at the end.Katnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-68009947580906499182011-07-28T07:05:06.320-04:002011-07-28T07:05:06.320-04:00These are Dickensian times…every day of our lives ...These are Dickensian times…every day of our lives resembles a chapter from a Dickens novel.<br /><br />Unemployment, foreclosures, homelessness, starvation, debtors prisons…Bleak House.<br /><br />There’s no need for an Environmental Protection Agency…“In the country, the rain would have developed a thousand fresh scents, and every drop would have had its bright association with some beautiful form of growth or life. In the city, it developed only foul stale smells, and was a sickly, lukewarm, dirt- stained, wretched addition to the gutters.”…Little Dorrit<br /><br />All these crazy, wingnut Republicans…The Old Curiosity Shop.<br /><br />“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”…The Tale of Two Cities.<br /><br />But instead of Great Expectations, we have only Low Expectations.Denis Nevillenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-87944198836081662522011-07-27T23:54:14.894-04:002011-07-27T23:54:14.894-04:00Look at it this way. TPTB (The Powers That Be) dec...Look at it this way. TPTB (The Powers That Be) decided America no longer needs a middle class. With the establishment of free-trade world markets, corporations can profit more by building stuff elsewhere and selling it to the new middle class in other countries. Plus our To-Big-To-Fail banking system can make money out of thin air, with the help of the Federal Reserve. (QE3 is coming). So TPTB are pretty happy right now. <br /><br />America only needs two classes. The rich, now called the "job providers", and the workers, the working class. A few middle-class folks might be useful as doctors or skilled professionals, but even they can be out-sourced or imported. Won’t need as many college professors (like Obama) since the working class only needs a high school education, and perhaps some job training. Have you read the recent news reports questioning the value of a college education? <br /><br />Younger people (voters) have been brainwashed to believe Social Security and Medicare are wrong, just another ponzi or wealth redistribution scheme. They don’t care much about Social Security since they have been told it will be gone when they retire. And healthy young people don’t look at healthcare or Medicare the same as older Americans. <br /><br />Moreover, younger folks have grown up in a country where getting screwed by banks and corporations is normal. Young people think its normal to have credit cards with rates up to 29%. Outrageous bank fees. Mortgages with crazy terms. Usurious payday loans & car title loans, and rent-to-buy schemes. Utility, cable, and phone bills that have been turned into profit centers to benefit mostly the provider, not the consumer. No need for Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The banks and corporations take care of Americans from cradle to grave, just like the old company store. <br /><br />So TPTB are happy, young people see this as normal, the only problem are older folks reminiscing about the good old days. No worry, they are dying off, and will be gone soon enough. (especially if Social Security and Medicare are cut). Welcome to the New World Order. It’s like a time machine back to the Robber Barons of the 19th and early 20th Century.Neil Gillespiehttp://yousue.org/noreply@blogger.com