Your Political Zen Koan of the Day

[Sharky]

Re: Your Political Zen Koan of the Day

Now it's time to go back to the Necron99-Sharky tennis match.

May as well lob a few more....

You're sayin' that the "Productive Economy" 's only pragmatic chance for survival at this point is to resuscitate the FIRE Economy?

No. I'm saying that's what Treasury and the Fed think. They've dug themselves into a deep hole, and they feel if they don't pursue the current path, that the whole financial system is doomed. They're probably right -- but at the same time, the "cure" is worse than the disease.

If the ordinary savers and businesses mattered to the policy-makers, then why sit the FDIC down at the roulette table instead of building a "lock-box" around it?

Because in the minds of the government, "what's good for the banks is good for the country." The Fed is, after all, a banking cartel. Saving the banks is the Fed's reason d'etre

You're sayin' that propping up the banks and investors in this particular manner is going to avert financial chaos?

No. I'm saying that's what they think.

I'm sayin' that a limited, specific type of financial chaos has been the goal of the banks and big investor/financiers for many years now. You're not going to avoid chaos that way, just watch

Completely agree.

These financial bailouts are being sold to us as "win/win" situations: consumers will get to spend profligately again, and the banks will remain profitable without taking financial hits or defaulting on deals. This is how they're being advertised. No higher taxes, no sacrifice. Once the credit market is back on track, we'll just grow our way out of this minor setback. Win/Win and away we go to a bright shining future. No pain. We'll be back on track to endless growth in no time. Nobody loses.

So if it's so easy for the financials, then why not for Healthcare too? Or any of society's other ills for that matter. Right? 'cause we all know how good government is at solving these problems. Just borrow and print our way to prosperity! Yay! :rolleyes:

[necron99]

Re: Your Political Zen Koan of the Day

Lukester, this isn't a tennis match -- I'm playing chess and Sharky is playing squash!

I mean... what... what can I... how... what in the... snort, splutter... where am I supposed to go with this one??
This was my original quote, still visible twelve posts up from this one:

Please, please, please, people -- the "answer" to my analogy is "None Of The Above". Both systems, banking and health care, need fundamental, structural overhaul. But that's not what they're gonna get anytime soon. The Obama/Geithner team...

{emphasis added}

And this is how you choose to "argue" with me, Sharky?

Please, please, please, people -- the "answer" to my analogy is "None Of The Above". Both systems, banking and health care, need fundamental, structural overhaul.

They might both need an overhaul, but neither is going to get one anytime soon.

Sharky, in all honesty, I'm glad to have you on my side, even though you still don't appear to realize that we're on the same side.

So if it's so easy for the financials, then why not for Healthcare too? Or any of society's other ills for that matter. Right? 'cause we all know how good government is at solving these problems. Just borrow and print our way to prosperity! Yay! :rolleyes:

YES!! YES!! YYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!! Now you understand the thread!! You pass your Zen training for the week. Couldn't have said it better myself {despite trying to, three times}.

I need a breather. I'm gonna go lie down. Then I'm gonna chug about a dozen beers right before watching Cobben's awesome Zen link again. The entire alleged "argument" was worth it just to get to that.

[Sharky]

Re: Your Political Zen Koan of the Day

Sharky, in all honesty, I'm glad to have you on my side, even though you still don't appear to realize that we're on the same side.

Sigh. I've been agreeing with you the whole time, just in my own (apparently very poor) koan-like way. As I said, sorry you didn't get the much-too-subtle undertone in my original post.

[Guest]

Re: Your Political Zen Koan of the Day

Hey - this is a hell of a way to carry on a bitter argument. What the heck happened to you guys? All this agreeing is just plain uninteresting here! Yeesh.

Sigh. I've been agreeing with you the whole time, just in my own (apparently very poor) koan-like way. As I said, sorry you didn't get the much-too-subtle undertone in my original post.

[necron99]

Re: Your Political Zen Koan of the Day

Lukester, this isn't a tennis match -- I'm playing chess and Sharky is playing squash!

Wait, have I just been checkmated by a squash player?!? :confused:

If so, well done ! !

I suppose the lesson is, I should swear off of exhuming Irony's long-desiccated corpse...