Why can't americans admit they messed up the economy?

Discussion in 'Economics' started by mahram, Apr 3, 2009.

  1. I'm an American and I admit I messed up the whole world economy.


    Ok. Now move on.
     
    #11     Apr 3, 2009
  2. Each half of americans blames the other for the current American crisis. The regulationists blame the culture of mercenary capitalism that reigned for a decade or two (allowing for fabulous wealth creation for those smart (& lucky) enough to execute on it, btw). The free marketeers blame all the liberal euro style efforts to spread the wealth around, promote "equal housing opportunity," and most importantly interfering in a market correction that would have quickly set everythnig back right (by printing up massive amounts of stimulus moneys, propping up failed businesses, etc.). So that's how all americans can hold themselves blameless: it was the other half that caused it.

    Regarding the global crisis being america's fault: maybe, but tough shit. Europe & the rest of the world wanted to come play in America's market, participate in lending, and otherwise make profits not achievable in their own shitty little countries. Iceland looked at Manhattan and got a hard-on. They wanted to play, but didn't know the rules. They got fucked. Why should Americans feel guilty about Icelanders selling each other a pile of junk and then each parking it on their balance sheets for 1 billion dollars. That's just ridiculous.

    As an american I am somewhat embarrassed that some American companies did some unethical things, like sell insurance without putting aside reserves. I am even more embarrassed though that all of a sudden of our government is reaching for euro-tactics like nationalizing and propping up failed and bankrupt businesses. That totally goes against the grain of our American philosophy. I expect this is the same shame I'd feel watching someone bankrupt themselves bailing out their ungrateful, drunk, deadbeat, loser, drug addict cousin again and again and again... fuck that loser. Save your money and do something profitable with it. Everything will work out for the best, just sooner, and with less pain.


    Cliff's notes: Everyone is responsible for their own decisions. Europe blaming America is like me blaming Pakistan because my baseball team lost at cricket (eventhough I dont' know how to play cricket).

    plus, all of this is just cyclical anyway. Nothing going on today hasn't hapened a hundred times already...
     
    #12     Apr 3, 2009
  3. cipher4d

    cipher4d

    :D
     
    #13     Apr 3, 2009
  4. Neodude

    Neodude


    Your generalization is wrong... Visit Poland first before you make blanket statements about it looking like it did in 1945. Wages might be lower then in the West, but the place certainly doesn't look anything like what you described. Last I visited in 2005 it looked better then 80% of the towns in the US. There were suburbs with beautiful houses and most of the cars on the streets were new. There were Ikeas and other superstores around every corner.

    In addition Poland has a large immigrant work force that has been sending money back home to finance the growth, sure there are many people with Swiss financed mortgages, but it certainly isn't the same as the subprime mess we have in the US.

    Maybe your are refering to places like the Ukrain and Belarus, but you are certainly way off on your statement concerning Poland.

    -Neo
     
    #14     Apr 3, 2009
  5. Having traveled extensively throughout Easten Europe (both the exception countries you mentioned and just about everywhere else), I am curious as to what you mean by "better than USA".

    Because just about everywhere I went looked NOTHING like the calm, organized, convenient, healthy, safe, affluent, and clean America I have been through.

    And there are less homeless in Europe because the Europeans pay for everything the downtrodden need. Socialism, and all that.
     
    #15     Apr 3, 2009
  6. Sweet! Plants, a most appropriate description of our Euro brothers.
     
    #16     Apr 3, 2009
  7. LOL - This has got to be one of the best things I've ever read on ET. Packing bags and moving to Bulgaria as we speak...
     
    #17     Apr 3, 2009
  8. LOL! Actually, try Moldova. It's nice in Spring, when the smell of the trash dumped all over the place begins to thaw.
     
    #18     Apr 3, 2009
  9. Do you count the millions of gypsies in East Europe leaving in tents for homeless?
     
    #19     Apr 3, 2009
  10. No one forced any other country to do business with the US. Afterall there are countries that don't have economic ties to the US. Cuba and North Korea come to mind. Both are economic juggernauts, right?
     
    #20     Apr 3, 2009