Wow, all those right-wing "free market" ideologies are doing wonders for you economy

[HEyHEY]

The Canadian dollar is now worth MORE than a US dollar.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/10/05/looniejump.html

Gotta love right wing assbags and their inability to grasp the concept of government's purpose.

[Hydra]

1. You mean the government doesn't exist solely to act as their personal ATM?

Someone forgot to send them that memo, I guess.

[porphyrian]

2. Don't blame me, I'm not even sure my votes were counted. - n/t

[Taverner]

3. The Chicago Mistake is intended to destroy the Middle Class in the US

War on the Middle Class is right...

[jdlh8894]

4. Still holding Silver Certificates I guess. eom

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I don't care about the dollars... I want your polar bears!!

[Wesman 85]

6. And just

what is the purpose of government?

[Gabi Hayes]

7. why don't you tell us?

just curious.....

[Wesman 85]

9. Didn't mean to be inflammatory, just curious what others think the purpose of government is.

My opinion of the purpose of government is as follows:"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
My only thought concerning the topic at hand is that this statement says "promote the general welfare" and not "provide the general welfare".

[Gabi Hayes]

11. that's a start....

not very specific

keep going

[Wesman 85]

14. I think it is very specific.

The purpose of government is:
1)Create unity, ie a union, of a diverse group of individuals thru promotion of common good and goals.
2)Establish and maintain a just society.
3)Work toward domestic peace.
4)Provide protection from the threat of harm.
5)Ensure there is equal opportunity for all citizens to produce wealth.
6)Build on these principals as needed to ensure the on-going blessings of
freedom and liberty that have been established in this country.

The way these things are accomplished is up to the governed, as we elect those who represent us in the government. We can discuss whether those we have elected have fulfilled their obligation to us with diligence and integrity, but that has nothing to do with the purpose of government.

[jdlh8894]

15. He's WAITING!!!!!

Plus I would like an answer to my bragging or complaining post.

[LSK]

13. Have you read Thom Hartmanns "Screwed" by any chance???

[jdlh8894]

18. Read Karl Marx. Been there done that

As we in the South say,'nuf said' eom

[LSK]

25. what does Karl Marx have to do with our founding fathers?

:shrug:

[HEyHEY]

8. Well, ONE of the functions is to regulate the economy

So that the wealth is distributed to the masses instead of just a few... theory being if everyone is doing well, everyone will do better. But, if you prefer to live in a crime-ridden pitt of chaos while a few lucky bastards live in gated communities, that's your problem, not mine. But what do I know? I just come from a stupid socialist country with a higher standard of living and better economy than yours.

[jdlh8894]

10. Bragging or complaining?

Need to know before I address your statements.

[HEyHEY]

16. neither - making a point

[jdlh8894]

19. And that being?

[HEyHEY]

23. The whole psycho free market thing doesn't work

[T.Ruth2power]

12. Privatization of everything

That's the goal. This is deeply enshrined in the economic theories of such lunatics as Milton Friedman and promoted in academia all across the land. The "Free Market" is discussed in boardrooms and classrooms as if it is as natural as the rising sun. It's all code for massive banditry. The scale and pace of it is at the moment breathtaking.

[AngryAmish]

17. The Looney being worth more than the dollar is neither good nor bad

For the US, it means imports are mor expensive and exports cheaper.

For a long time most economists have argued that the dollar was overvalued. So there is an adjustment. It hurts some people. It helps others.

[T.Ruth2power]

20. It's hurting the poor

It's helping the rich.

[AngryAmish]

21. Exact same thing people said when dollar was overvalued

[jdlh8894]

22. The only reason

it would be hurting the poor would be if they played the Market and went on margin or sold way short.

[HEyHEY]

24. well, there is a trickle down

If the big boys are losing money layoffs, etc happen

[T.Ruth2power]

26. Not true

As the dollar is devalued it buys less in real terms. I'm not speaking of this strictly as relates to Canadian currency that is only one example.

The two areas which have been affected negatively the most consistently in the last several quarters is food and energy costs. Sure "The Market" can adjust but the hungry cannot.

Related articles that will assist in understanding economy beyond markets:

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:jdGW2_iaM8oJ:gpiatlantic.org/pdf/misc/jobcasual.pdf+if+the+economy+is+up+atlantic+monthly&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us

http://www.bigissueground.com/scienceandfuture/blair-19502000progress.shtml

http://dieoff.org/page11.htm