lost highway

Don't want to talk Fed Tweedling? How about, how does a candidate that has bashed 47% of the country get elected? How should our nation's leaders avoid us pitching in our hat next to Israel for a war with Iran? What do you expect to see in the debates? Does Romney still have pull with the teaparty? What should the Republican party, really be about in the 21st century? I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on any of these things.

Man, I am easy to sidetrack; the U.S. has lower inflation rates, still, than most other countries in the world. Right now Canada and Australia have us beat by .5 percent, along with ten or so others, and countries like Japan and the Ukraine which have deflation (a nasty problem too). Meanwhile countries like China, Germany, France, the UK, Chile and about a hundred others have higher inflation than we do. The Omani Rial is worth two and a half times the U.S. dollar. Would you like to trade economies with Oman?

That's fair. I'm no moderator, it was a suggestion. Maybe not the best one. I guess I'm out of Fed debate in the context of the Presidential Election, but people can discuss what they will- thread relevant or no. That's no conspiracy talk, it's just showing a war hungry jingoist for what he is. That guy's trigger finger is itchy.

Obama isn't looking to put the public option in place on health care, or stop throwing money at Israel either. You could make a thread of everything that won't be relevant to the presidential election. Those issues will matter to people. They won't matter much for the election. Which might deserve mention in this thread..... once. I'm not trying to edit you Sparky, it deserves its own thread. The story won't develop in presidential terms, it will be nationally stagnant and an ongoing talking point for you... forever. A lot of news will come out about the election in the next two months

On a totally other tangent I propose a cease on Federal Reserve discussions in this thread. It is a worthy, and fascinating conversation. I think it could go much further, but it also has nothing to do with the Presidential Election. We have all recognized that neither candidate has made any statement to lead us to believe they have any unusual, or specific plans for changing it. Give it another thread.

The following sentiment is perennial enough (truism even?) to appear cliche: Take the cost of every fucking bomb that was dropped by this country that made men and women with their own hopes and dreams into a meat and rubble stew, now compare it to food stamps, soup kitchens, state appointed attorneys and so on. If you think you're being ripped off by taxes no matter what, then which tax funded effort feels better for you as a human? Which one cost more money for that matter? Now I'll put my bleeding heart soapbox back in my garage.......

Netanyahu says that Iran will have nuclear capabilities by next summer, and that the world needs to act. He also brought up the fact that Iran has denied the holocaust. He then waved the blueprints for Auschwitz. To me, that is in bad taste. The reality of Auschwitz should not be a bargaining chip for a U.S. invasion of Israel. The Iranian distortion of history will not be the deciding factor as to whether or not they will act aggressive to their neighbors. It seems odd, as if both Israel and Iran feel that the holocaust is the main reason Israel should, or should not be attacked. Biza

The same thing that made Social Distortion mind blowing when I was a teen makes them seem silly now. They have some undeniably catchy tunes, but most of their catalog seems ridiculous now. I think Mike Ness looks like a douche through grown up eyes.

That Wilco supports Obama, or that the GOP is making it harder to vote?

I totally agree with Sparky on this. So there.

Scott Walker

I'm with you on this. I think one challenge to conversation is this: What can anyone say about Iran? I'm sure someone on here can say more. At this point my perspective isn't much more than "oh, shit, oh, shit, what do we do?". I'm against war. Period. I also don't know at this point how we will constructively avoid a war with Iran. Someone with more background knowledge please chime in.

Remember when he was slick, almost charismatic? Days on the road have not been good to him. The debates are going to be fun.

But again, this situation can not be attributed to a FIAT currency, or really even to the existence of a Federal Reserve. What you are pointing to has to do with the actions taken by the executive office, and by policy decisions made by the Federal Reserve. They have a history of decision making, and are capable of making different ones. Their purpose is to be a stabilizer. I agree that they are not always completely successful. In the last twenty years the Fed has added and removed currency with a range of about plus or minus one percent, with the exception of a 3% spike in the year 20

There is still debt. The Federal Reserve doesn't print paper money and then put it in Senators hands and say "I know we just increased inflation for your initiative, but here, do it." Yeah! Instead, let's base our currency off a finite commodity with wildly fluctuating values. While we're at it, let's give mercantilism another shot, too. A dollar WAS a promissory note back in 1932 when we last had a gold standard. For those who miss the gold standard you may want to check out the numbers for 1929-1932. They're not pretty. As for socialism, I think we're pretty far off. In some ways

Watching Clinton on Jon Stewart. He brought up a few interesting points: Romney's plan would greatly increase the debt. We are soon going to be a younger nation than China, because they do not accept immigrants and have a one child limit. After the passing of the baby boom generation our age demographics will level off. Much of the strain on social security is do to the mushroom with the big group of retiring folks not supported by an adequate younger population. The high amount of borrowing being done by the U.S. at this time is being done at interest rates that are lower than inflat

That might be the most devastating film I've ever seen.

What city do you live in?

I think, as mentioned before, people attain a certain measure of wealth, property etc. and are insulted that someone would view them as wealthy because they don't feel it. Again, I feel like a bit of a trip through South America, Europe, Africa, or Asia could be an eye opener for some as far as relative wealth is concerned. That's a bit glib. I understand that 200K a year plays out a lot different depending on your circumstances. MC Hammer became very poor after he bought a mansion with a helicopter pad. He didn't feel like he had any money cause he didn't. He turned all of his money

That's a fair definition. I just meant that if it's incomprehensible to call $200k a year rich, then perhaps your world view is a little stunted.

That video was the best escape I've had all day.... no, week. Good job people who did it.

Then you should travel more.

Whatever it is, it doesn't have a lot to do with what's right about 'I am Trying to Break Your Heart." Different strokes for different folks, but it's not hard to imagine most Wilco fans were drawn to something in the band that wasn't the slick, Walgreens ready, vanilla rock of the Wallflowers. I'm reminded of a bit from Learning How to Die where a record exec was telling Tweedy how exasperated he was in their raucous performance of the newly penned Being There songs saying "What are you guys doing? You could be like the next Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!". Tweedy responded something l

Money does not equate happiness, an old truism worth remembering in a discussion about socioeconomic class. However, I think the original post was indicating that growing up without a father is less than ideal. I thought you made it personal when you added that "And I get suspended?!!" bit. In other news the media seems to be taking a piss on the Romney campaign.

That line taken out of context works a lot like the "You didn't build that" bit. You're not really assuming the best here. Post something political, current eventy, or philosophical... let us deal with personal differences elsewhere. I wish I had a snappy one line response.