Speak Out

Consider providing part of the billions of dollars of the bailout to consumers and not to the hungry financial institutions who put our economy where it is today.

My response to the person who asked, "Why are we so concerned about bailouts when we are in an unnecessary war that is costing us far more?" I would answer that the unnecesssary war is the main reason our economy has hit the toilet and needs bailing out.

The economy is tanking bcause:

1. Home loans that never should have been approved were allowed.

2. American automobile manufacturers, catering to the "bling" mentality, sold ridiculously large and thirsty vehicles to said "homeowners" whose loans never should have been approved.

3. No one from ANY political affiliation in power will prosecute any wrong-doers because money talks, cash screams, and insane amounts of "contributions" brings about silence and amnesia.

...and now we witness major corporations behaving like Section 8 ghetto rats hanging around the mailbox on the first of the month; waiting for the mailman to drop off the free money.

LBJJ wrote:

The economy is tanking bcause:
1. Home loans that never should have been approved were allowed.
2. American automobile manufacturers, catering to the "bling" mentality, sold ridiculously large and thirsty vehicles to said "homeowners" whose loans never should have been approved.
3. No one from ANY political affiliation in power will prosecute any wrong-doers because money talks, cash screams, and insane amounts of "contributions" brings about silence and amnesia.
...and now we witness major corporations behaving like Section 8 ghetto rats hanging around the mailbox on the first of the month; waiting for the mailman to drop off the free money.

But mostly it sounds like you put the blame on the little guys who tried to buy a home and a car. What about the WAR FOR OIL? Who has gotten filthy rich off that? Cheney's company, Halliburton? How much of a drain on our country has that been? One thing for sure. The little people did not cause this mess!!!!

Lost Soul wrote:

<quoted text>
But mostly it sounds like you put the blame on the little guys who tried to buy a home and a car. What about the WAR FOR OIL? Who has gotten filthy rich off that? Cheney's company, Halliburton? How much of a drain on our country has that been? One thing for sure. The little people did not cause this mess!!!!

Blaming Cheney and Halliburton isn't much of an response. Is that the best you can do?

The "Little-guys" you're defending?

If people didn't have the money or the ability to pay for a house, why were they given loans? Better yet, why were they applying for those loans?

The auto industry?

They were catering to the same mentality and got bit in the tail. People buying big bling-type vehicles drove the demand for those types of products. So, what do you think that the "Big-3" automakers are going to produce? They're going to produce what the market demands and they know they can sell.

I'd be willing to bet that a lot of those same folks that shouldn't have gotten home-loans, also got second-mortgages to buy those vehicles. The ability to actually pay for them never came into their minds or into the equation...

War for oil?

Where is all that oil we went to war for? It sure didn't come to our shores. If it had, I have to think that gas would've never hit $4.00-plus a gallon.

Dino wrote:

<quoted text>
Blaming Cheney and Halliburton isn't much of an response. Is that the best you can do?
The "Little-guys" you're defending?
If people didn't have the money or the ability to pay for a house, why were they given loans? Better yet, why were they applying for those loans?
The auto industry?
They were catering to the same mentality and got bit in the tail. People buying big bling-type vehicles drove the demand for those types of products. So, what do you think that the "Big-3" automakers are going to produce? They're going to produce what the market demands and they know they can sell.
I'd be willing to bet that a lot of those same folks that shouldn't have gotten home-loans, also got second-mortgages to buy those vehicles. The ability to actually pay for them never came into their minds or into the equation...
War for oil?
Where is all that oil we went to war for? It sure didn't come to our shores. If it had, I have to think that gas would've never hit $4.00-plus a gallon.

You sure don't know diddly-squat about marketing. It was the auto industry that created the SUVs and then created the demand for them. I've spent a lifetime in advertising and the first thing you learn in that business is that your only reason for being there is to infuence people to buy your employer's products or services. Here's a little example. The public did not demand that someone create Cabbage Patch dolls. It was the creator of the dolls and his marketing people that created the demand for them. Same with SUVs. No one ever heard of them until the auto companies started designing, producing and marketing them.

The same principle worked in the housing industry. People did not flock to the building industry and demand that they produce millions of new homes nor did buyers put the pressure on banks to lend them money they could not pay back if they bought a house. The real estate people share much of the fault for pushing the glut of housing for sale to people who believed their sales pitches about how they were going to get rich just like The Donald.

And finally, if you think that when Bush put up his "Mission Accomplished" sign you were then going to get cheap gasoline, you belong in a loony bin. How do you think the big oil companies have been able to make record-breaking profits? By giving you cheap gas? Cheez. Come in out of the barn.

Each paragraph from Word Watcher are great explanations. Thanks.

Word Watcher - You're right. I know nothing about marketing. I was just going with my gut opinion...

I understand what you're saying about the housing market. Sure, Realtors are in the business of selling. No question about it. They'll sell you all the houses you want. But, if you're turned down for the loan. They lose the sale. No money changes hands. If the mortgage companies actually give you a loan and you don't have the ability to pay it back, how exactly is that the Realtor's fault? That's what I don't understand. Please explain that.