It Can't Get Any Worse?

[tocco05]

It Can't Get Any Worse?

By David Bueche

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[FONT=times new roman,times]Idling behind a Lexus this morning I saw the latest bit of agitprop from the Obama campaign -- a "Got Hope?" bumper sticker. The first question that popped into my mind was, "How bad can it be if you're driving an ES 350?" [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]It seems that the racially polarized, economically dysfunctional country our Obama supporter is so keen to change has treated him pretty well. Maybe he's in it for the other guys. You know - the 95% who keep making their mortgage payments on time, the record breaking numbers of college graduates, the millions of Americans who consume Ipods, flat screen TVs or hundreds of other accoutrements of a society so wealthy it has no historical parallel. [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]I hate to burst the dystopian bubble the Leftists have persistently inflated during the nightmare known as The Bush Administration, but people have never had better food, medicine and housing than they do at this very moment. A typical home in America today has central heat and air, the cheapest car is a paragon of safety and efficiency compared with its ancestors, and people are routinely treated for, and survive, conditions which were fatal less than half a century ago.[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]Yes I'm aware that there's a mortgage crisis -- if by crisis you mean a lot of people buying houses way beyond their means while a sub-set of financially myopic lenders goaded them on. But looked at another way, for those of us who didn't drink the Kool-Aid and purchase radically overpriced real estate so we could use the equity to finance trips to Vegas, what's so horrible about falling home prices? For many, when speaking of housing, couldn't we reasonably substitute the word "consequences" for "crisis"?[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]Yes I'm aware there's an insurance coverage crisis -- not medical access, (which is available to anyone who presents themselves in a emergency room), or quality, (which no one really debates is still the benchmark for the world) But I do find it puzzling that the majority of the people you see in public emergency rooms can somehow afford cell phones and top of the line running shoes. [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]As a matter of fact, the U.S. Census bureau estimates that 20% of the uninsured can actually afford insurance, and another 25% are eligible for government coverage, bringing the estimated total of 47 million uninsured down to 26 million. An issue to be worked on, most definitely. But a county that current does, or can, provide access to the best health care in the world for 91% of its population, (including a large percentage of non-citizens who significantly skew the statistics), is, by definition, not a country with a health care crisis.[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]As to the issue of food, do you know what the food crisis looked like in the early twentieth century? It looked like a lot of very thin, hungry people. No talk of banning trans-fats I can assure you. As Greg Easterbrook points out in "The Progress Paradox", if you traveled back in time and spoke to your not so distant relatives about the crisis of obesity in poor people, they would be completely confused because in their day being poor meant going hungry. If there is any crisis surrounding food in the United States it is the result of incredible prosperity and abundance; all in all, not a bad problem to have.[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]When you look at these "big picture" issues you can generally divide society into two opposing worldviews; the romantic and the tragic.[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]The romantic looks at the United States, compares it to perfection, finds it wanting, and demands that we start over from scratch. Arguments for moderation and caution are dismissed as greed or indifference. "Obviously anyone who can accept the wretched state of healthcare in this country is an idiot or a monster". [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]Romantics are generally the ones you see with the communist-inspired art advocating one word solutions like Hope or Change. It doesn't get much more transparent, (or vacuous), than that.[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]The tragic perspective takes exactly the opposite approach. Instead of saying, "What a mess, how can I make this better?", the response is something like, "Thank God this works so well, lets be careful not to screw it up!" [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]And when you think about it, there's a hell of a lot we can all be thankful for.[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]Thank God I was born here and not in North Korea. Thank God I've never seen a tank come rolling into my town. Thank God there's so much to eat, and so many jobs, such access to information, and on and on. [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]There are many things, even in our "crisis" areas that work very well in the United States of America. This is not pre-ordained. [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]It's perfectly possible for self-righteous, naïve idealists to destroy an excellent system in the process of "improving" it. Anyone who doubts me should take some time and read up on the imposition of socialism to British healthcare. How about Stalin and collective farming, Mao's Great Leap Forward, and Pol Pot? Don't evenget me started on the Schwarzenegger Administration...[/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]Even though liberals like to see themselves as the thinking man's alternative, anyone with moderate intelligence and the willingness to do even minimal research will inevitable conclude that there is much, much, more right than wrong about present-day America. The glass is, most assuredly, well more than halfway full. [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman,times]
Next time you feel hopeless and swept up in an emotional desire for change remember the ultimate conceit in the words - "It can't get any worse". [/FONT]


[FONT=times new roman,times]Trust me: it can.
[/FONT]

 

[gtc08]

i stopped reading this article after it said 95 percent of people pay there mortgage on time. and there arnt record breaking college graduates, males recieve the affirmative action at college these days because they just go into labor or tech school jobs.

country is in dire straights because of a fundamental principle the average american is unable to realize.

credit is not income. the typical american believes it is. which is why you see all of those ipods and 80 inch tv''s going on credit cards, instead of bank debit cards.

 

[Dave007inVegas]

Tocco, great article, kind of puts it all into perspective. ctg and his ilk will continue till they end up in a padded room posting on the walls with crayons.

 

[Willie99]

Tocco, I've tried this path before, it just doesn't play well with the hate America hate Bush crowd.

GTC08, can you provide a link that shows 95% of Americans do not pay their mortgage on time?

 

[tocco05]

Tocco, great article, kind of puts it all into perspective. ctg and his ilk will continue till they end up in a padded room posting on the walls with crayons.

Thanks. Some people will continue to believe how terrible the USA is and how flawed it is, and how unjust it is. Those people have no clue.

 

[mamatried]

i stopped reading this article after it said 95 percent of people pay there mortgage on time. and there arnt record breaking college graduates, males recieve the affirmative action at college these days because they just go into labor or tech school jobs.

country is in dire straights because of a fundamental principle the average american is unable to realize.

credit is not income. the typical american believes it is. which is why you see all of those ipods and 80 inch tv''s going on credit cards, instead of bank debit cards.

And what principle is that?

 

[gtc08]

can you find a link stating 95 percent of americans pay there mortgage on time?

this idiot is saying in his article that because people have ipods, blackbaerries, and plasma tv's that the country is fine.

he falls for the same bait most americans fall for, CREDIT IS NOT INCOME.

just because i can buy a 800 dollar iphone, dont mean i'm set. it means im dumb financially like most americans, buying crap i cant afford.

oh and if theres so many jobs why is unemployment rate the highest its been in 20 years.

Some people will continue to believe how great the USA is and how perfect it is, and how fair it is. Those people have no clue.

 

[tocco05]

just because i can buy a 800 dollar iphone, dont mean i'm set. it means im dumb financially like most americans, buying crap i cant afford"

I'm not even gonna comment on who falls under the finacially dumb americans.

 

[Willie99]

can you find a link stating 95 percent of americans pay there mortgage on time?

this idiot is saying in his article that because people have ipods, blackbaerries, and plasma tv's that the country is fine.

he falls for the same bait most americans fall for, CREDIT IS NOT INCOME.

just because i can buy a 800 dollar iphone, dont mean i'm set. it means im dumb financially like most americans, buying crap i cant afford.

oh and if theres so many jobs why is unemployment rate the highest its been in 20 years.

Some people will continue to believe how great the USA is and how perfect it is, and how fair it is. Those people have no clue.

But maybe it’s not all that bad as the doomsayers say it is. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, overall, 4.41 percent of mortgages are delinquent, up from 4.34 percent a year ago, but lower than they were three years ago. So, that means 96 percent of mortgages are being paid on time. That’s not too bad – we are still far from a real “Meltdown” as the media painted our industry this past week.

http://www.retrends.com/real_estate_trends_articles.asp?mode=article&articleid=59

 

[tiznow]

its called leverage willie

some of these investment banks were leveraged 30 to 1 and shit

just a few messing up screws it up for everybody

and than we gotta spend gobs going into more debt bailing them out

and than it just cascades down in a viscous cycle as the ripple effects filter into all areas as we progress

the article is right for the time being 95% probably are still paying their mortgage

i think the latest deliquency rate i saw was 6.?%

the big problem is their house is now worth much less than it was a year ago as well as an equity investments they have

and many are praying to keep their jobs and the market to turn soon

 

[gtc08]

But maybe it’s not all that bad as the doomsayers say it is. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, overall, 4.41 percent of mortgages are delinquent, up from 4.34 percent a year ago, but lower than they were three years ago. So, that means 96 percent of mortgages are being paid on time. That’s not too bad – we are still far from a real “Meltdown” as the media painted our industry this past week.

http://www.retrends.com/real_estate_trends_articles.asp?mode=article&articleid=59

willie, that doesnt project the number of people who will not down the road be able to pay for there mortgages. it doesnt include people who are choosing between mortgage and food, etc. i can pay my mortgage every month and still be in the same black hole if i have no money to pay any other bills. people just prioritize the mortgage over food, car maintanence instead.

willie, if i have a mortgage and know i will be out on the street if i cant pay it, dont you think i'd forget about paying my cc's and other bills and focus only on the mortgage to stay in my house. so yea sure ill pay the mortgage, but that doesn't mean i'm sitting dandy. means i dont want my ass kicked out on the street.


you arnt going to see drops in mortgages because people need shelter. you will see though jumps in deliquent cc's, collection agencies, etc. since those dont take priority over a mortgage. you still end up back at square 1.

 

[tiznow]

there ya go GTC

think forwardly if you want to know where we heading

the present data already happened and has already worked its way through the economy

and the homeowners pain filters over to the "real" economy as consumption goes down and corporate profits shrink so job layoffs continue to rise

the viscous cycle of it all

 

[mamatried]

can you find a link stating 95 percent of americans pay there mortgage on time?

this idiot is saying in his article that because people have ipods, blackbaerries, and plasma tv's that the country is fine.

he falls for the same bait most americans fall for, CREDIT IS NOT INCOME.

just because i can buy a 800 dollar iphone, dont mean i'm set. it means im dumb financially like most americans, buying crap i cant afford.

oh and if theres so many jobs why is unemployment rate the highest its been in 20 years.

Some people will continue to believe how great the USA is and how perfect it is, and how fair it is. Those people have no clue.

Your premise seems to be that many Americans are living above their means thanks to debt. That's certainly true.

But how does that make this a TERRIBLE COUNTRY? Are you saying that Americans should no longer be entrusted with responsibility over their own finances? Are you saying that the people are too dumb to realize that when they buy something on credit they have to pay for it eventually? And if they are that dumb, are you saying that the Govt should step in and help them out (like they're doing with the mortgage bailout)? Are you saying that the Fed should raise interest rates to decrease the money supply? And are you saying that all of these things make the USA a horrible country? WTF ARE YOU SAYING? :think2:

 

[tocco05]

willie, that doesnt project the number of people who will not down the road be able to pay for there mortgages. it doesnt include people who are choosing between mortgage and food, etc. i can pay my mortgage every month and still be in the same black hole if i have no money to pay any other bills. people just prioritize the mortgage over food, car maintanence instead.

willie, if i have a mortgage and know i will be out on the street if i cant pay it, dont you think i'd forget about paying my cc's and other bills and focus only on the mortgage to stay in my house. so yea sure ill pay the mortgage, but that doesn't mean i'm sitting dandy. means i dont want my ass kicked out on the street.

This makes me laugh. You live within your means. If you bought a house that you shouldn't have and now can't afford it, to fucking bad. You will get no sympathy from me. You maxed out your credit cards, too fucking bad. You bought a car that you can't afford, to fucking bad. People make their own decisions, and if they choose to over extend themselves, it's their fault, and not anyone else's. Not the governments, not the Presidents, nobody but themselves are to blame.

 

[Willie99]

Forward looking :missingte:missingte:missingte

Facts don't support our fear mongering positions that the main stream media is telling us, so we think that going forward, stuff is going to change.

But I thought we already have a fucking foreclosure crisis, but yet nearly 96% of all mortgages are being paid on time.

Talk about being hard headed and stubborn tizdoom. Watch out for those falling clouds boys, and never ever get too close to the Sun.

:lol:

 

[tiznow]

well gloom doomer predictions are working out so far and i'm not calling for a "depression" type situation as of yet....

i'll be sure to let you know when i see bluer skies ahead

when i think foreclosures and unemployment is near peaking out i'll turn to a bull....

 

[gtc08]

Your premise seems to be that many Americans are living above their means thanks to debt. That's certainly true.

But how does that make this a TERRIBLE COUNTRY? Are you saying that Americans should no longer be entrusted with responsibility over their own finances? Are you saying that the people are too dumb to realize that when they buy something on credit they have to pay for it eventually? And if they are that dumb, are you saying that the Govt should step in and help them out (like they're doing with the mortgage bailout)? Are you saying that the Fed should raise interest rates to decrease the money supply? And are you saying that all of these things make the USA a horrible country? WTF ARE YOU SAYING? :think2:

no, more important things to me then idiots blowing money on things they can't afford when i mention the USA being a terrible country. i don't think your a bad person if you spend over your head and cant pay your bills. thats stupid judgment, not anything i would ever go crazy over though.

reason why i say this is a terrible country is the degradation in mindset and absence of family in the country. no longer does the average american family sit at the table together, a family of 4 will eat now in 4 separate rooms. you leave these kids open to outside influences which end up leading them to young pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, etc.

nobody takes accountability for anything they say. you got people calling 14 year olds bitches on this forum and nobody sees it as being out of line. they are entitled to free speech whatever bogus bullshit. nobody thinks before they talk anymore.

now back to the lack of family. the non existant american family leads to an astronomical incarceration rate where nothing is learned and the inmates go out worse then they came in and they just commit crime again. it leads to kids to ditching school and doing god knows what. and this applies to all races across the board.

i can not stress this enough. family, family, family, the non existant family is why this country is a shit hole now. money is just another example of non existant parents, out of control spending and kids being gullible, but its a moot point compared to the crime, stupidity, and ignorance running rampant nationwide due to the joke of what you call an american family.

 

[Willie99]

GTC08, I can't speak for Mama, but I'm pretty sure he knows about the importance of the family structure and how the breakdown of such is what's causing a crisis, especially in the inner cities.

Policies that encourage this breakdown is something that belongs in another thread.