the point

tabs · 08-19-2003, 10:30 AM

I believe that the United States is engaged in a war (a nonconventional one all be it) that this war may become WW3. The United States is by no means assured victory, that defeat means a decline in Western Civilization at the very least if not an outright collaspe of Western Societies. I also believe this is a closer run thing than we the populace is led to believe by the media and the government.

I believe that that the monetary system and thusly the whole Global financial system is based upon abstract monetary principles of productivity, goods and services produced rather than a hard asset such as Gold. There is not enough money in print to pay off the outstanding value of financial assets in the world. The Liquidity of such assets is the lynch pin in making such a system work. This is the true Genius of United States based capatalism. It is also it's vunerability, if you shake the confidence of the people holding those assets and there is a demand for at first currency then hard assets the whole Global economy can come down.

I don't think that Bin Laden and Muslim fundlementalists knew how badly he could shake the economies of the West...but now he does and has stated he is "going to attack the joints of western capitalism" in futher attacks.

ronin · 08-19-2003, 11:49 AM

this one ought to be good. can't wait to weigh-in with my opinion once I have a little more time.

in the meantime, you're on the right track tabs, just change the word capitalism to economics and consider that this is not just U.S. based but global. and remember that 'thin-air economics' isn't just a recent phenomenon. it's been around for quite some time.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

As usual, this reminds me of a Simpson's episode....the one where Bart and Lisa find some film canisters, one of which had the alternative ending to some old movies.

Pertinent to this conversation was the alternative ending to "It's a Wonderful Life". I beleive it had Jimmy Stuart's character going on a bloody killing spree at the end.

I believe that this follows your plot pretty closely.

tabs · 08-19-2003, 03:18 PM

Exactly what are U talking about NoStatic, and what does the Simpsons have to do with anything? Having a Psychotic episode are U?

bell · bell's Garage

the simpsons have covered every topic immaginable.............you'd be suprised

tabs · 08-19-2003, 04:00 PM

I know one of the writers for the Simpsons, I used to occasionaly smoke a cigar with him down at the local Cigar shop when I was in California. He also used to write for Leno, but they had a falling out from what I gather.

350HP930 · 04:09 PM

Another thing to realize is that the current global economy is heavily dependant on the growth of markets which in a large part a result of an expanding cosumerist culture and growing world population.

This is a party that can not go on forever and but is certain to drive the world to a future full of calamities related to things like food, water and a stable ecosystem.

Humans are some smart little monkies though. The will for self preservation may just help humanity to skirt disaster, but it will certainly necessatate serious changes to business as usual.

I remember reading a good analysis that estimated the maximum sustanable population of the earth was something like 15 billion people. Thats assuming nothing unexpected happens such as a large astroid hitting the earth.

If my memory serves me correctly I think that is only a decade or two away if nothing is done to seriously curtail the current rate of population growth.

bell · bell's Garage

"soylent green is made from PEOPLE".....................

350HP930 · 08-19-2003, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bell
"soylent green is made from PEOPLE".....................

LOL

ronin · 08-19-2003, 04:27 PM

lol, you got it bell

Zeke · 08-19-2003, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 350HP930

Humans are some smart little monkies though. The will for self preservation may just help humanity to skirt disaster, but it will certainly necessatate serious changes to business as usual.

A few are, yes. But, there aren't enough. Look who's running for governor. Look who ran for President. Are these the monkies that are going to lead us to salvation?

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

He shall lead us to our salvation, for he his the chosen one...

Aurel

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

he is...Arrhhg

island911 · 08-19-2003, 05:35 PM

He's as GQ as Jack Olsen.

Same issue, I believe.

bell · bell's Garage

RoninLB · 08-19-2003, 08:25 PM

IMHO,
all this crying is historical since civiization 101.

what we need is a high speed toll road that charges a $1 per mile, with a minimum speed of 75mph, and no commercial traffic.

From Texas to Belize....... Ron

island911 · 08-19-2003, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tabs
I believe that the United States is engaged in a war (a nonconventional one all be it) that this war may become WW3. . . .

It seems to me that WW3 was the (nonconventional) cold-war between communism and democracy.

This is more like WW4.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Your Simpson's illiteracy aside, the image that came to my mind when reading your initial post was that of the panic in the bank when people wanted their money out, and Jimmy Stuart's character gives the speech about the money being in Bob's house and Bill's business, etc.

In the Simpson's version, he then goes on a killing spree.

Doesn't that fit your scenario? Maybe we need to storyboard this again.

ronin · 08-20-2003, 10:43 AM

i am secure
in this world of apartheid

this is my cell
but it's connected to starlight

Pete Townshend - White City, A Novel

tabs · 08-20-2003, 12:31 PM

DEar Nostatic....I am a man of wealth and taste.....why would I ever demean myself by watching such a show??? BTW: I have very rarily ever patronized Starbucks either, they are selling overpriced flavored hot water and milk.

Anyway to the issue at hand: Here is something that is not known by many people...that the USA Banking system was locked down within 15 minutes of the planes hitting the WTC. I was told that even the President of B of A didn't realize how quickly it could be done. A week after the Stock Market reopened it was taking 4 days to do a Wire Transfer of money. The reason the USA sent the European Banking system $80,000,000,000.00 in cash during the week of 911 is that the Europeans weren't as quick in shutting down their Banking system, and that was what was needed to prop up those banks.

Also if U recall a lot of Major Corporations announced Stock Buy Backs in order to keep their share prices stable. What isn't realized is that the major brokerage houses Make Markets for companies stocks that means they buy back the excess number of stocks that the system can't asorb on any given day. If they run out of cash in buying those stocks back those stocks can go into free fall. There was a lot more to the Stock Market and Bond Market being down for a week than just logistics.

Finially here is another news item that I only saw a couple of times during 911 and the aftermath....Somone or group had SHORTED TWA and United Airline stocks very heavily (many times more than the average number of Shorts) in the weeks leading up to 911.... That means someone was betting that the price of those shares was going to go down in the near term....Oh What a Lucky Guess!