seeks out misteltoes

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were allowed to write their own ticket on the theory they were NOT government entities; presuming that the federal government would bail them out, they both issued incredibly cheap, below market loans, AND bought up tons of other mortgages.  They became the largest mortgage companies in America.  They led to the mortgage bubble; other banks knew they could "originate" shit mortgages, loan unemployed people $400,000 for a 30-year mortgage, and once the property was transferred, sell the mortgage for the full repayment price--or at least, get their $400,000 + costs + modest profit, back from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.  Once FHMA/FMAC went belly up, the same Congressmen who slapped aside federal regulators on the grounds that FHMA/FMAC were private entitiesi--chief among them Barney Frank, current chairman of the House Banking Committee--declared the US government was obliged to takeover 100% of their debts.  Now totally assured of federal bailout, they continue to swallow the mortgage industry.   They underwrite or directly own 96.5% of the mortgages in America.  Their total insolvency is somewhere in excess of $600 billion.

People talk about the "social value" of corporations and mention jobs and benefits.  Another social value is compartmentalization of failure.  Left to fall, in a PROPER capitalist system, FHMA/FMAC would have been destroyed, and major investors would have been punished.  No honest homeowner would have been hurt if they could meet their loan terms of a specific payment over 360 months-- you can't call a mortgage due early in any state.  Instead they continue to wreck the housing market and jeopardize the dollar.   Another claim against "capitalists" who oppose bailouts is that we only offer "ideology".  The notion the US dollar is worth goods and services is "ideology" and if the Treasury has to bail out every white collar thief in America, it ain't worth shit.

Student loans were nationalized this spring in the same week Obamacare passed.  The federal government issues loans now.

We have 3 remaining "American" auto companies, Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors; the Obama administration "loaned" Chrysler money in return for an equity share, and did the same to General Motors, to the extent that the US government owns over 60% of GM.

The FCC regulation of the Internet, and the discretionary power of the Treasury Secretary to seize companies, which, in the opinion of the Secretary, aren't doing well enough, is in the "wall street reform bill" coming through the senate.  to have an informed opinion the Secretary is to be allowed total access to everybody's financial records, by way of the banks.

Monopoly is never "good".  And especially not government monopolies, which do not have to function efficiently, or please most customers, or even avoid insolvency.

meaning "You won, I don't wanna play anymore"

cooks in a vacuum

held a press conference challenging himself to a debate

yes those republicans who are democrats

yes let that be a lesson to you WFS

if a bomb is planted in America it's either by somebody like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or somebody like Einstein & me

no doubt about it

they had some guy sue becuase the strippers had a thumbprinted, signed approval for $40,000 of drinks and lapdances that he didn't remember at all

> Schniepel wrote:

> why the hell would u have 200$ in 1$ coins?<<

Because we're assholes, and under our law, if you turn down cash, you absolve the debt!

which is true...some guy last year paid a $100 fine with 10000 pennies...but the judge made him count it out

Barack Obama is on a cruise when the ship strikes an iceberg.  "I'm very sorry" says the captain "but we're short one seat on the lifeboats".  Barack Obama immediately grabs a deck chair and lights a cigarette.  Everybody files past shaking his hand and crying, but Barack just smokes.  Finally the captain says, "Mr. President, you shame us all, but the world needs you more than some fatass captain. You take my seat!"
Barack Obama just smiles and says "You ride back, Captain, and I'll walk."

urges his son to search his feelings to determine the truth of things