FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE – PART ONE

Where life had no value, death, sometimes, had its price. That is why the bounty killers appeared. For a Few Dollars More

 

“Tell me, isn’t a sheriff supposed to be courageous, loyal and, above all, honest?” – Man with No Name – For a Few Dollars More

Whenever I get an idea for an article I plan to keep it short and sweet. But it never seems to work out that way. Once I start typing, the articles tend to grow exponentially. It happened again with my attempt to make sense of how the United States of America managed to screw our finances up so badly, that an epic collapse is within view to people with their eyes open to facts and the truth. You don’t end up in the predicament we find ourselves in today due to a couple minor mistakes over a short time frame. It took thousands of horrible choices, colossal doses of delusion, a heaping of stupidity, and a mountain of denial over decades to put us on the brink of economic collapse. An unholy amalgamation of demographics, fiat currency, debt, taxes, power and greed have led us to this point. Next we experience collapse, revolution and ultimately, retribution.

Since I’ve identified four major rationales for our impending doom, I’ve decided to write a four part series that can be read in small doses, rather than one enormous article. I don’t want anyone to miss tonight’s episode of Dancing With the Stars, get distracted from the Royal Wedding preparations, or skip the best reality TV show ever – Ben Bernanke’s press conference, while reading an 8,000 word article about the end of America. The four part series will have a Clint Eastwood theme. For a Few Dollars More will address the Baby Boomer impact on America’s decline. A Fistful of Dollars will examine how the creation of the Federal Reserve and the income tax in 1913 set us on a path to ruin. Outlaw Josey Wales will scrutinize the looting of America by a small group of powerful, connected, super rich men lurking in the shadows, but pulling the strings on our puppet politicians. Lastly, Unforgiven  will detail the impending collapse of our economic system and the retribution that will be handed out to the guilty.

Over the last few weeks there seems to be consensus among many financial bloggers, whose credibility is far more trustworthy than the corporate mainstream media, that the country is teetering on the verge of economic collapse due to the complete capture of the government, financial, regulatory, and media by a small group of oligarchs. They have also been described as the super rich, plutarchs, ruling elite, and scum sucking leeches. The bloggers that I have the utmost respect for, including Jesse, Charles Hugh Smith, Mike Shedlock, Yves Smith and Gonzalo Lira have all come to the logical conclusion the horrific economic situation of the country is a direct result of the greed, corruption, fraud, and plundering by a powerful connected group of rich financiers operating without fear of being brought to justice by the authorities.

While pondering the ruminations of these dedicated truth tellers, I was reminded of the Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western For a Few Dollars More. The quotes above are representative of living in the USA today. There are supposed to be courageous, loyal and honest sheriffs that protect the citizens from crime, corruption and evil doers. But, just as we saw in the Old West of Clint Eastwood movies, the sheriffs are always corrupt and bought off by the evil cattle barons. In a world where life has no value and you can’t rely on law enforcement to protect your interests, the citizens eventually will need to turn to bounty hunters to take care of the bad guys. The bounty hunters of truth reside on the internet. They reside at Zero Hedge, Jesse’s Café Americain, Of Two Minds, Mish, Chris Martenson, and dozens of other anarchist websites. When you can’t trust your government, your bankers, your church, your media, or mega-corporate CEOs, you need to seek the truth where it can be found. The insightful bloggers who courageously print the truth on a daily basis have unanimously concluded that a small band of powerful elite have accumulated undue influence and control over this country, having brought it to the verge of economic collapse. How did this happen? Who is responsible? Why were they permitted to gain this power?

Boomers Come of Age

“If those in charge of our society – politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television – can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.” – Howard Zinn

Whenever I direct any blame for our economic woes towards the Baby Boom generation they react as expected. They blame the GI Generation for creating the welfare state. They declare that Generation X and the Millenials are just as greedy and self centered as the Boomers. Boomers are great at blaming, ridiculing and acting pompously, while taking no responsibility for their actions and more importantly their inaction. This generation cannot avoid their responsibility for the state of affairs. They like to take credit for their stand against the Vietnam War and their protests against the man during the 1960s. They don’t like to take credit for turning into materialistic, greedy, selfish, short-term focused bastards. When a generation of 76 million people decides to go in a particular direction, the country will go in that direction. While blaming FDR and the GIs who stormed the beaches of Normandy for creating the unfunded Social Security and Medicare liabilities, the Boomers have been voting since the mid-1960s and have been in control of corporate America and the levers of government since the early 1980s.

The U.S. Congress is dominated by Baby Boomers today and has been dominated by this generation since the 1990s. The Senate has 60 Boomers out of 100, while the House of Representatives has 254 Boomers out of 435 members. Boomers occupied the White House from 1992 through 2008. They have had the political power and control of the agenda for two decades and have failed miserably. Rather than do what was best for the country for the long-term, they took the expedient, easy, vote getting route. Promise more than you could ever deliver and let future generations worry about the consequences. Not one true noble statesman has arisen from this generation of myopic, self centered “Me Generation” political hacks. Even as the country nears the precipice, they continue to address the great issues of the day with talking points supplied by other Baby Boomer PR maggots from Park Avenue. These weasels care not for the country, but worry only about poll numbers and the next election cycle. An apathetic public, dominated by the Baby Boom generation, has the attention span of a gnat. As long as they can make the lease payment on their Escalade, use one of their 15 credit cards at the Mall, be entertained by 600 cable TV stations, play with the latest iSomething, live in their McMansion for two years without making a mortgage payment and consume massive quantities of fast food, then any thoughts of future generations or civic duty are unnecessary. Live for today has been the rallying cry for the Boomer generation. Pot was their drug during the 1960s. Debt has been their drug since 1980.

The drug (debt) dealer for the Baby Boom generation has been the Wall Street mega-banks, coincidentally, run by Boomers. The entire corrupt financial industry is being run by Boomers. The CEOs, CFOs, and the thousands of Harvard MBA VPs that created the fraudulent derivative scheme to bilk billions from clueless municipalities, pension funds and American taxpayers are all Boomers. It is no coincidence that the great debt delusion began in the early 1980’s. Jim Kunstler captured the essence of Boomer transformation:

“The Baby Boomers came back from the land, clipped their pony tails, discovered venture capital, real estate investment trusts, securitization of “consumer” debt, and the Hamptons. Greed was good.”

The Boomer CEO hall of scam has been built on the brilliance and financial acumen of Lloyd (god’s work) Blankfein, Charlie (keep dancing) Prince, Jamie (friend of Obama) Dimon, and the king of the Boomers, Hank (the system is sound) Paulson. These mainstays of crony capitalism led the Boomer charge of greed, greed and more greed. The Baby Boomer generation has been the proverbial pig in a python working its way through the decades as presented below. By 1985, Boomers had entered the work force in full force with the entire generation between the ages of 25 and 42. It will be a great day when the python craps this pig of a generation out the other end.

It is not a coincidence the National Debt growth has far outstripped GDP growth since 1980. Boomers had been spoiled their whole lives and felt they deserved the goodies today while passing the bill to future generations. They voted for politicians who promised them more benefits, more programs, more subsidies, more tax breaks, more military adventures, and more pleasure. And this was “paid for” with more debt. Thirty five years of government debt declining as a percentage of GDP was reversed over the next thirty years starting in 1980, pushing it past the 90% tipping point in the last year. The country is over-indebted to the tune of $9 trillion on a current basis and $100 trillion on a long term accrual basis.

There is no better picture of Boomer decadence and myopia than an historical view of the national savings rate. The parents of the Boomers understood the meaning of sacrifice and investing in the future of the country. During World War II they bought US War Bonds to support the cause. From 1950 through 1985, the savings rate consistently ranged between 7% and 12%. Americans had this odd notion that if you saved more than you spent, you actually got ahead in life. Excess savings were used to invest in new plants and equipment that were used to produce goods and employ more Americans. By 1985, the Boomers considered these notions as quaint and old fashioned. The savings rate methodically declined until it went negative in 2006, just prior to the worldwide financial conflagration. Our inspirational Boomer president George (Mission Accomplished) Bush while waging two wars of choice, asked for the ultimate sacrifice from the Boomers. He solemnly urged them to buy a GM SUV with $0 down and 0% interest for 7 years, so we could defeat the terrorists. The Boomers who ran GMAC were more than happy to make loans to people with no income so they could “purchase” a $40,000 ostentatious gas guzzling hog. They were doing their patriotic duty for the good of the nation. It brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it.

The Boomers not only heeded George’s call, but they did him proud by buying 8,000 sq ft McMansions with $0 down and negative amortization ARMs. Luckily, the executives at the mortgage origination sweatshops were Boomers. They found no good reason to verify income or assets before loaning someone $600,000, because they knew their fellow Boomers at the rating agencies would rate the bundles of these toxic shit loans as AAA so the Boomers on Wall Street could sell them to greater fools. GMAC’s exemplary subprime mortgage arm – Ditech, did a bang up job getting migrant Mexican workers into $450,000 homes in California’s inland empire. As the tsunami of bad debt swept toward shore, delusional Boomers across the land borrowed $500 billion against the inflated value of their McMansions and installed granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, home theatres, elegant patios, Olympic sized pools, and with the excess home equity, leased a BMW or two. The first devastating tsunami wave hit in 2008 and wiped out billions in faux Boomer wealth. Instead of learning a brutal lesson and reverting back to saving and frugality, the “never say sacrifice” Boomers ventured out to where the waves had subsided looking for more trinkets and treasures.

Tsunami Warning by Mobile Phone

The next tsunami wave is on its way. The delusional Boomers will be surprised again.

The Boomer persona has been formed over the last five decades and the country will deal with the consequences for decades to come. The clean cut Beaver Cleaver children of the 1950s turned into the pot smoking Dobie Gillis of the 1960’s, then into the slimy Gordon Gekkos of the 1980s and ultimately into the eternal wealth seeking Gollums of today.

 

  

This Boomer debt orgy over the last thirty years would have made Caligula blush. Of course, none of this could have happened without the Creature from Jekyll Island. I will address this aspect of our fate in Fistful of Dollars – Part Two.

Now for the righteous indignation from the Boomers that think I have unfairly lumped them all together as one. Their reactions are predictable. Even though they have had the means, the power and the time to reverse the course of USS Titanic, they plowed full steam ahead into the abyss. The GI Generation is dead. Generation X doesn’t hold the reins of power. The Boomer generation needs to look in the mirror to recognize who is to blame.  I’m sure there are a few good Boomers out there somewhere, but as a generation they have failed this country and our unborn generations miserably.

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The Near Future
The Near Future

James Quinn wrote the truth – very well-written, insightful and clear depiction of the ‘worst generation,’ – that is the Baby Boomer generation. What is amazing is how he hit the nail right on the head about the responses from Boomers who remain in full denial about the facts of the outright fraud, corruption, sickness, dysfunction and maladaptive attitudes and behaviors of a generation that is now about to leave the establishment (thank God) with messes left to Generation X to clean up.

Generation X, those born in the 1960s and 1970s, will have to do 40 years work in 20 years to save the U.S. (and the world) from the outright neglect and corruption of the Boomers who continue to lie, steal and cheat their way through life – passing the bills onto Gen X, Gen Y and the Millennial children.

What Quinn has written reflects the truth of what has been going on – but now these truths are more than evident – except to the Boomer generation in denial with their fuzzy math (“70 is the new 30”) and bullshit.

The reality for the Twenty-Tens will be not to trust anyone over 60 because the Baby Boomers have screwed over everyone in their mission of total self-indulgence.

But time has a funny way of equalizing things and now that the Boomers are the old people, this generation cannot expect society to take care of them since “70 is the new 40” they surely will be able to pick themselves up without the help or resources of Generation X, whom the Boomers have mistreated then treated as invisible all of their lives.

Generation X would have been the generation to guard the Boomers backs, but since Gen X was royally screwed over by the Boomers, they should not expect to be protected whatsoever.

Moreover, Gen X will have their hands full cleaning up after Boomers who love to trash venues while not paying their tabs – expecting everyone else to suck it up and give Boomers another of their million breaks for doing nothing of value for anyone – that is, except themselves.

The near future belongs to Generation X – the next establishment. That is where I am concentrating my work and efforts. I am not interested in hearing anything more about the Baby Boomers who are destined to go right into their graves as the world’s worst generation.

DJ
DJ

I love this grind-on-boomers for screwing up the world and leaving nothing for little me. Too funny!

I’m not only a Boomer, I’m a Veteran and a staunch Capitalist. Make it, save it, invest it, give it away, spend it how I see fit… whatever. Retired at 47 (now 54) after 30 years in the Marine Corps, and continue doing whatever I damn well please. While you’re all crying foul, I’m busy living life and loving it! All on my terms.

I served my country and now paid handsomely every month (non-taxable with free healthcare), your liberties are protected by people like me and other Veterans, those willing to do the dirty work. Every dollar in retirement I’m paid, and every dollar for my free healthcare you pay for from your taxes is well do me, and any Veteran. If anyone believes otherwise, well, I could care less, it is what it is, you can suck it up and except it, or waste your time whining about it.

I invested wisely and reaping the profits. I didn’t create the crappy derivatives that caused the financial mess, but instead smart enough to understand what was happening and use the system to my advantage, buying up homes, condos, etc., from the ruins of those that were stupid enough to get involved in real estate they knew they couldn’t afford (yet cry about it), and then generating long term income streams from their rental (or short term flip). Add to it the multiple streams of income from online ventures and, well, easy street for the rest of my life. I take joy in listening to people about gas prices as I pump a few hundred gallons of fuel into my Rock Star RV. (Europeans have been paying $5.00+ for a decade, why all the bitchin’ in the U.S.? Man Up!)

I couldn’t give a shit about the next generation in general, I won’t be here, not my problem. You’ll have to clean up the mess (as you see it) and then go on to make your own mistakes, for which you’ll be blamed by the next generation. And yes, I’m leaving a generation behind (OK, two, I have 8 grand children, maybe see third gen before I die). My children (Gen-X) are well educated, tough (I’m a damn good teacher), well prepared, hard workers in their own businesses, not slave to a J.O.B. like our educational system teaches, and will figure out the rest of the shit just like I did and be just as successful as I am, all without a dime of my money (inheritance is a joke).

What is scary is Gen-Y, the Echo Boomers of the 80’s, the tit-sucking momma’s boys who still live at home at 25 or more because the world is too scary, to hard. The do-it-for-me generation. They’ll be a boat load of fun if and when they ever do something with their lives. God help us when they rise to power in any capacity. What a Shitville they’ll create.

Every generation makes choices and along the way makes mistakes. If you’re not making mistakes you’re doing something wrong, your life is off track, you’re a loser. It’s the great circle of life. You can join in and live, or sit on the sidelines and whine like a bitch in heat.

Don’t take this as defense of my generation, it’s not. Instead let your readers clear the fog and get the real message… the argument is moot. It’s done. Can’t be changed. The ball has been passed. The question is: Are you going to stand up and do something to better your life, or sit around and complain. Get off your collective asses and change the world, again!

Great post, Jim. I loved it. Really, no shit. Fine piece of writing regardless of whose reality or fantasy. Ready to read more, especially the humorous, albeit whiny comments. Keep up the excellent work.

DJ

baldski
baldski

I like what you said until you mentioned one of the bloggers you follow is Mish Shedlock.

His answer to everything is to get rid of unions so everybody will become serfs again.

I think he is a right wing shill for the oligarchs.

mark
mark

Great post DJ. You just summed up the Boomer creed: “I couldn’t give a shit about the next generation in general, I won’t be here, not my problem.” You are the epitome of what Boomers are: self righteous, greedy, narcisstic assholes who don’t give a shit about anyone other than themselves. And in some cases, not even about themselves. Oh, and thanks for protecting the Feds, I mean the rich, oh I mean Wall Street’s, sorry, liberty so well. Job well done. Asshole.

keno

Pretty dece article — enjoying it! I know what you mean about the boomers, i know them well enough to find them despicable, a spoiled bunch of obnoxious, wimpy A’d whiners. me me me me! But like the allegory of the cave, dont you think they too were dumb-down and manipulated? I sort of see them and their time as societal cause and effect no different than any other unique generation and time based upon whatever technological advancements were around and the communication. the human nature factor is a constant throughout time and history and reacts, responds, and adapts to whatever the stimulus and situation. Its ridiculus to take a 20 yr segment of people and start blaming them for things. because, to take any 20 yr segment of people from any timeframe in the past and placing them in the same circumstances, would result in the same reactions. because thats the human nature factor. ie. a difference between the boomers and the GIs is television. telly became the new priests of consciencness during the boomers time whereas for the GIs it was the neighborhood church.

Spirit of '76
Spirit of '76

Great series of articles – just found it over at ZH.

Hey a note on American/Euro demographics:

a Baby Boomer is, by definition, the off-spring of a WWII-era family forced to delay children due to the war mobilization effort.

While it’s convenient to identify these children as “everyone born from VJ-Day until the last WWII chick hit menopause” (i.e., 1946-1964), IT IS THE PARENTS THAT DEFINE THE CHILDREN.

So a Boomer is one born to a “boy who turned into a man” during the war years. Older men, married before the war, might have postponed additional children but those later children were raised according to their parents’ values, which didn’t change.

Men who were children during WWII — i.e., born during the Depression — might have had children ASAP, also falling into the Boomer “years”. But they have the values and ethic of austerity.

So what are the values of the WWII Generation? Sadly, enough of them to matter decided, “I paid my dues! I deserve it all! And my kids ain’t gonna suffer like I did!”.

THOSE ARE THE BOOMERS–their spoiled rotten, hyper indulged brats.

The rest of us, even if born to a 21 yo war hero, are merely along for the ride.

God help us!

DJ
DJ

@Mark,

I’m glad you liked it so much you felt a need to comment on it!

At least I’m willing to put something intelligent out here in the wild and back it up. You know, have an opinion, a worldview.

So:
What gen are you? (I’m a Boomer!)
What have you done for your country? (I proudly served in the Marine Corps for 30 years.)
What have you done for the economy? (I employ people.)
What have you done to change the political climate? (I vote, make contributions.)
What have you done for charity? (I give time and, lots of money.)
What have you done for your community? (I fund raise, belong to benevolent associations that give, help.)
What have you done for the third world countries? (I travel and donate time and money.)

In short, Mark, what the hell have you done with your life or to help someone else?

Come on… speak up! Elaborate, entertain me. You do know how to express yourself better then that little piece of, well, 5th grade writing don’t you?

By the way you’re right, I am an asshole. Well, at least anal. That’s what my employees say. They also say they couldn’t think of any other person they’d rather work with (it’s not FOR in my organizations).

Jealousy gets you nowhere except where you are, which is nowhere.

Have a fantastic day, Mark. I am. Today, tomorrow, and on every day, wherever I choose to be since I worked hard, spread the wealth, helped others, and can afford to do what I want, when I want. Now there’s a Boomer creed. Smile!

steve
steve

Mr Quinn

I was born in 1950. I am a boomer. I think perhaps you were there in 1930s Nazi Germany crying gas the Jews they are the source of all our problems. You were in Cambodia standing behind Poe Pot when he slaughtered millions to cleans his society. You have lived everywhere in history villifying whole groups of people. You were in Africa urging on the genocide. You were in Rome throwing the Christians to the lions. You were in China urging on Mao. You are the worst, most thoughtless type of supremesist. Your arogance is a dangerous malignancy. It’s a good thing the baby wasn’t in the bath water when you walked by. The Gen X ers are firmly entrenched and already taking their time at the helm. Do you think it will be any different; perhaps, if things break down and down and down, as I suspect they will. It is not any one generation’s or race’s or cread’s fault. It is everybody’s. We should not fight or accuse each other,that plays into the hands of of the eleteists you claim to have it in for. Shame on you and anybody small minded to listen to you. I urge you all to educate and think for yourselves. Replacing one eletist with another won’t cut it.

mark
mark

DJ,
Wow, what a change!

First you say your retired and don’t give a shit, now you’re a benelovent, caring, hard working, globe trotting savior who “employs people”. First you boast about your intelligence, how you have gamed the system and parlayed your service into a nice nest egg with free health insurance, how you have snookered stupid fools out of their money, how you drive a gas guzzler and damn proud of it, now suddenly your just “anal”. Again, you are the epitome of what the author was writing about. A self-righteous, narcisstic, greedy, selfish, hypocritical Boomer asshole. And proud of it.

As for your service in the military, thanks to you, Corporate America rests easy tonight. Thanks to you protecting their interests around the world, they continue to reap enormous profits off all the poor dumbasses of the world. And of course they pay well. Mercenaries usually are paid well. If it makes you feel better about yourself thinking you were protecting dumbasses like me from the bad guys, so be it.. The fact is, there are bad guys right here in our own communities that make Osama Bin-Laden look like an angel and they’re certainly a bigger threat than al Qaeda or Saddam or Gaddafi to the average American.

No, not all Boomers are bad people. But unfortunately, it’s Boomers like you who have ruined this generation and will cause it to go down as the most hated, despised generation in American history. And yes, I’m a Boomer too.

However, in the remote chance that this second, more giving and caring person is the real you, then I bid you a long, fruitful life. We need more people like that.

jg
jg

When is blame useful one must ask? Who to blame then? As out there as Blanch is, I find him more to my liking than generational agitprop.
http://www.youtube.com/user/kevindblanch#p/u/7/wnoWGVvGCGA

farang
farang

I recall it was this pig crap US generation that gave America the home PC, the laptop, the internet, the things the author’s generation take for granted.

The author premises his argument that the Baby Boomers like to blame FDR for the unfunded SS Trust Fund. When? Where? Nonsense, for one, it is not unfunded, it has been criminally looted. Make the distinction if you can please. No one is blaming FDR for starting the best damn program serving Middle Class America than baby Boomers, get that straight. That Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama fleeced it is not indicative of any systemic shortcomings….rather of lack of regulatory oversight.

Secondly, it was when Reagan, in the early 80s (hardly a Baby Boomer, yet according to the author, it was 1980 when Baby Boomers started running up debt…again, nonsense), the brain-addled actor, borrowed more money than all the presidents before him that the debt bomb started growing…but go ahead, blame Baby Boomers… and tell me again how many were in Congress in 1980 at age 34, which is what the oldest Boomers would have been in 1980, if author has calculator, and knows how to use it….yet from the way author twists statistics, you’d think Baby Boomers have run America under Reagan….yikes that is gibberish. Lies, damn lies and statistics.

And so what if today the Baby Boomers dominate the halls of government: we are the largest segment…should it be otherwise? Should we resurrect the dead and place them in office, or should we be excluding Baby Boomers as eligible to run? I am unclear of what the point was there….but most of all: these politician Baby Boomers are mostly millionaires, hardly representative of the average Baby Boomer….what is termed the cogent point.

Blaming the masses for the actions of the privileged class….how refreshingly unique.

Certainly if one considers US Senators and US Congressmen/women as their peers…then by all means, America is in distress from Baby Boomers.

On the other hand, one could just as well point out religious affiliations…and a certain overwhelming amount of politicians belonging to barely a 2% segment of the overall US population and apparently beholden to a foreign nation over their own…. as the source of our woes…shall we go there?

Professor Z
Professor Z

Hey there,

I posted a comment on the fourth installment but for some reason it did not let me post under my own name. Now I have returned to the first installment and am posting with a unique name. Sorry for the confusion if any.

I mentioned in that post that I am a Baby Boomer. I agree with your assesment and hopefully I may be on the miniscule list of “good” boomers out here. Just wanted to make that clear before being vilified along with the rest.

I will not defend the boomers against the criticisms. I agree with the criticisms. I have no debt other than my part in the National debt, which was done without my permision. Although you might say that I allowed it to happen by electing idiots to to office.

In a collective sense we are all guilty of that. But as an individual I ffeel falsely accused. The Boomers were born into a world already controlled by the Creature from Jekyll Island. The Boomers were born into a world where the government was taking taxes for sociaal security out of our paychecks Promising to save it for our retirement. Just another in the long list of lies from those who were governing.

We were born into a media propaganda bubble and brainwashed from the day we were born. For myself, I have always rejected collectivism. I have been frustrated for my enire life by my fellow idiots who thought otherwise.

The fed was already in power for 35 years on the day I was born, and for a half century before I was old enough to vote. So blame us if you want, but the blame really lies elswhere for the most part.

I became aware of Peak Oil and of the Creature from Jekyll Island just a decade ago. I was however aware that something was wrong long before that. I have done my best to seek the hidden truth and I have been successful. But the gerneral criticism of the Baby Boomers is valid and well deserved.

Thanks

Victor
Victor

Pretty good articles, but you blow it with your class warfare crap. You are a simple tool of TPTB and I’m sure the rulers of this planet, the spawn of generations of power, whose very existence is a shit-stain on humanity, are very pleased that you’ve become their buttboy. Stir up the stupid masses, give them some old people to hate and all they have to do is sit back and keep providing bread and circuses. Then they’ll take it all and rip the rug right out from under us.

You glorify the GI Gens as if they contributed anything to the world. That generation nearly destroyed the world in an all encompassing war. The brought Hitler to power and profited off him. In those days they allowed the Jews to be the scapegoated. Then the GI Gens unleashed the incinerating power of the atom on Japan just before they blanketed the United States with nuke fallout from above ground testing in the desert. All the commie Russians and Chinese had to do was sit back and watch us poison ourselves. No need to drop an H-Bomb on us, we did it ourselves. The legacy of poison and high cancer rates can be laid directly at the GI Gens feet. They’re mostly dead or dying out now, they enjoyed their lives, made big mistakes, but whatthehell, that’s life. The guys raised by The Depression Generation probably did what they thought was right at the time and tried to protect us from their mistakes by teaching us how to duck and cover.

The current generation is sitting on their asses crying about boomers, you know the ones that paid into a retirement system all their working lives, only to have it plundered by politicians. They saved a lifetime paying into stocks, bonds, Social Security and various “approved” instruments of wealth maintenance. They “did the right things” and watched it all evaporate within months.

Every generation will pay for their sins, no one is guilt free-no one! You can rail all day against people guilty of being born at a certain time in history. Your arguments foment hatred for older people simply because they lived and breathed. The true justice will come when you younger generations near retirement age and find a 20-something looking at you with hatred, simply because some guys your age allowed themselves to be dumbed down in school and never bothered to educate yourselves, instead taking the drivel delivered by “teachers” at face value and not engaging with the world while their ears were plugged by iPods and they twiddled their thumbs texting friends instead of conversing, growing and learning.

I’m a Boomer, I worked hard all my life, but cannot retire ’cause Pelosi et al stole it from me. Sorry kid I need that job and it’s a dog-eat-dog world, if you can’t compete with me, tough luck, you lose. You think you have troubles? You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. You were born into a hostile world and life, deal with that fact and thrive despite what kind of hand was dealt to you. Get your ass off the couch and live.

DJ
DJ

@Mark

Too funny.

I am retired, Mark. I do employ people, Mark. If you knew anything about business you’d know both are possible, especially in this day of the Internet.

Gamed the system? Hmm, interesting perspective. Nothing near what I said, but I can understand someone like you, full of rage at people like me that did something not only for themselves, but others, since you’ve probably done neither. I’m used to losers lashing out at people that are successful. It’s always a conspiracy, gaming, cheating and any other adjective that comes to mind. Truth be told there are those that work hard and succeed and those that don’t, like perhaps you Mark.

“FREE” health insurance? Wrong again, Mark. I paid, and pay in advance for both my military health care as well as my eventual Medicare (you know, that little tax you pay out of your paycheck!). And yes, Mark, before you rant about “a paycheck” that’s what I get while I do nothing and it still has to be paid.

Gas guzzler? Yep. But that’s my choice and choice is all about the foundations of this country. Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn’t drive? Who died and made you God?

The military is the sword of corporate America? You have a very weak understanding of history and the part the U.S. military has played in it. Actually, you have no understanding at all. A little education would serve you well.

As far as being a “more giving and caring person”, that would be me. I’ve earned everything I have and not on the backs of others. Rather, through years of hard work and dedication to my country, my family, friends, employees, and even ranting, complaining, blame-it-on-everybody-else people like you, whether you see it, agree with it, or not. The truth hurts. A “long, fruitful life” I will continue to live, and couldn’t give a nickel whether you like it or not.

Personally I could care less if you are a “boomer too”, Mark. It makes no difference. I still don’t see any answers to my earlier questions. I have to assume it’s because you’ve done nothing aside from maybe working a job and MAYBE taking care of a family (and paying into Medicare at that. You’re part of the problem if you’re doing nothing about it!). Neither do I care if the “generation” is hated, even the most hated. I’m an individual, not a generation. The generations coming up in my family are, and will continue to be well balanced on the subject. (And know how to debate, not bitch.)

All you’ve done is read this article, found comfort in it, and decided that anybody who disagrees is an ‘asshole” (your words). I grew up learning, understanding, and exercising the health of a good debate, the expression of an informed opinion. You evidently grew up with a chip on your shoulder, the inability to elaborate, and a mouth full of vulgar language. Probably the difference in education, but I would suppose one who had a better education than yourself would be an “asshole” too.

You’ve sufficiently bored me now, Mark. A “long and fruitful” life back at ‘ya.

===========================================================================

Again, Jim, keep up the good work. I’ve enjoyed the series. Perhaps you’d like to do one on the meltdown of ’07-’08. There are some fascinating books on the subject, many I’ve read over the last several months. A few of my favorites (there are many, I’ve managed 42 so far):

13 Bankers, Crisis Economics, Dear Mr. Buffett, Fool’s Gold, The Big Short, Fooling Some of the People All of the Time, The Quants, Liar’s Poker, Too Big To Fail, The Sellout, House of Cards, Colossal Failure of Common Sense, Lords of Finance (this one is causes of 1929)…..

===========================================================================

David
David

Fantastic fantastic essay.

I have been spewing nearly identical rants for years and this was a truly exceptional effort.

I’m an academic, and I use the soapbox not to indoctrinate my students with “liberal elitism” but the “pragmatic cynicism’ necessary to dissect and solve the problems of our age.

From my experiences it seems enormously likely that we (Xers) will be able to convince the baby boomers’ offspring (Millenials and Ys) to join our side. They lap this “pragmatic public policy” stuff up like I am spreading the gospel….

Sure we’re going to sacrifice, but we’re going to get credit for saving America folks….

mark
mark

@DJ

I think you should go back and read what you originally wrote. Apparently, you’ve been so busy trying to spin your image you’ve forgotten what you wrote. I’ll help you.

Originally – “I served my country and now paid handsomely every month (non-taxable with FREE healthcare)”. Now – “FREE” health insurance? Wrong again, Mark. I paid, and pay in advance for both my military health care as well as my eventual Medicare (you know, that little tax you pay out of your paycheck!). So which is it, DJ? Free or not free?

Originally – “I didn’t create the crappy derivatives that caused the financial mess, but instead smart enough to understand what was happening and USE THE SYSTEM TO MY ADVATANGE,, buying up homes, condos, etc., from the ruins of those that were STUPID enough to get involved in real estate they knew they couldn’t afford” Now- “Gamed the system? Hmm, interesting perspective. Nothing near what I said, but I can understand someone like you, full of rage at people like me that did something not only for themselves, but others, since you’ve probably done neither. I’m used to losers lashing out at people that are successful”. Actually, “use” the system is pretty close to “game” the system, DJ

Originally – “I take joy in listening to people about gas prices as I pump a few hundred gallons of fuel into my Rock Star RV.” Now – “Gas guzzler? Yep. But that’s my choice and choice is all about the foundations of this country. Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn’t drive? Who died and made you God?” Actually, you’re right. I have no right to tell you what to drive. But it does illustrate what a prick you really are.

Originally – “I couldn’t give a shit about the next generation in general, I won’t be here, not my problem”. Then this –
What have you done for your country? (I proudly served in the Marine Corps for 30 years.)
What have you done for the economy? (I employ people.)
What have you done to change the political climate? (I vote, make contributions.)
What have you done for charity? (I give time and, lots of money.)
What have you done for your community? (I fund raise, belong to benevolent associations that give, help.)
What have you done for the third world countries? (I travel and donate time and money)”.
So you don’t give a damn about the next generation, but you are a world traveling, fundraising, giving, benevolent ex-Marine who votes?(Republican?)
Seems you care about this generation alot. But wait! You said, ” Neither do I care if the “generation” is hated, even the most hated”. So you do all these things for what? Do you care or not?

You also said, “By the way you’re right, I am an asshole”. Finally, something we can agree on.

As far as what I’ve done or do, I could mention my work with Habitat for Humanity, my fundraising and charity donations, etc, etc. but I don’t care to blow my own horn like you do so please continue to impress us with your credentials. Maybe you’ll get somebody to believe you. After all, we’re just “stupid” and “losers” compared to you. Oh, and thanks again for proving my point, DJ.

wenwens

Even though I genuinely like this publish, I believe there was an punctuational error near towards the end of the 3rd paragraph.

llpoh
llpoh

Yep, I think wenwens just might be right.

This may be the single funniest thing ever posted on TBP.

Wenwens – I do not know who the hell you are, but that was legendary stuff. Unfortunately, I think it may have been a serious comment, in which case you are a total idiot. Nonetheless, I laughed my ass off.

Smokey
Smokey

wenwens,

Thank you, wenwens for your most considerate and astute observation. The timeliness of it especially is enormously beneficial here.

Please return to your flied lice now you fucking gook.

llpoh
llpoh

That is so fucking funny I almost fell off my chair. Thanks, Smokey.

Mr. Fishgrunter
Mr. Fishgrunter

“The Man With No Name” was actually named Monco.

Novista

I admire collectors of trivia, Fishy.

I do not admire fucking wordpress and its glitches. If it worked properly, all the original dates of posting would be retained. When this series is reposted the next time, it will appear at the then datestamp.

INTJ_4_Truth
INTJ_4_Truth

The hostility towards the boomers would be more convincing if one believes previous generations were made up of geniuses and masterminds incapable of being misled and misdirected by government propaganda and bankster evil.

The belief that previous generations

INTJ_4_Truth
INTJ_4_Truth

The belief that previous generations’ exposure to the State’s propaganda and lies led to “appropriate” choices for our nation while the boomers behavior to the same State’s propaganda and lies were selfish and immoral makes no sense – the propaganda is spewed and the sheeple react – we, as a nation, are exactly were TPTB would have us.

Steve
Steve

Great articles. I agree with many of your opinions, but not all of them (respectfully of course). With regards to taxes, you make some great counter arguments to the facts that the rich make, but while I acknowledge your points, I respectfully believe that revenue is not our first problem. Expenses are the issue.

If we didn’t go into so much debt and a deficit then we wouldn’t be in the argument about whether the rich need to pay more or not. The tax policy center chart shows that since 2000 tax receipts have ranged between $1.8 trillion (2003) and $2.6 trillion (2007). However, outlays went up in EVERY SINGLE YEAR except for one year from $1.8 trillion in 2000 to $3.6 trillion in 2011. We spent like drunken sailors on so many unproductive projects (especially wars which are so easy to pay for on borrowed money because you don’t have to ask the citizens to pay today). The tax base has been stable and expenses are the problem.

To say in hindsight that someone like me has to pay more taxes to pay for this mess is outrageous. I didn’t vote for the idiots in Congress (I voted independent), and I already pay 46% of my salary and bonus in federal, state, local and other income taxes. This is why I agree with the arguments made by the rich. It’s not that we are saying we are not willing to raise taxes. In fact, I’m willing to pay up to 50% for a few years but all the proceeds have to go to debt repayments (which we all know won’t happen).

First, we need to cut the pork out of the system and remove the deficit entirely. Then we can talk about raising taxes to pay down the debt. Every private sector company is run this way. It’s basic business principles. Just because the treasury can get the Fed to buy all its bonds doesn’t make it right for me to pay more taxes. I have no capital gains. Cut the pork already and get rid of the tax loop holes first! And make the corporations pay their fair share with no tax breaks. Don’t increase their rates, but remove the subsidies and favors.

So be careful when you throw all those stats around. There are hard working “rich” people like me who ALREADY pay my fair share of taxes and demand cost cutting first before they take away more of my hard earned wealth. Otherwise I will leave the state and/or country and another country can benefit from my hard work. Again, I’m willing to pay more taxes if the government will first prove it won’t take the tax and spend it on wars and entitlements.

Any private sector company in this condition would first focus on cutting expenses and restructuring. Then it would pay down debt and slowly invest in growth. It’s going to take us 15+ years to dig out of this hole. Too bad the politicians are not willing to work on a 15 year plan.

Heem
Heem

I started with part 3 while doing research on the super rich, who are destroying this country, and the world. They own the 90% of the politicians who are presented to us for voting. THAT was a very good article. I was really looking forward to more.

This article, Part 1, is little more than NWO OWS swill – a spoiled & disenfranchised persons pathetic attempt at class warfare – a pseudo intellectual screed worthy of your buddy the Obamunist.

Heem
Heem

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Eddie
Eddie

Heem

If the admin weren’t busy with a death in his family today, he would delight in telling you to eat shit, I’m sure.

This blog is the last bastion of truth in America. Why don’t you read more than two articles before you decide to pass judgment on one the most significant economic writers of the last two generations.

People seem to scour the internet looking for support for their own partial understandings and personal biases. The big picture is what it is…it doesn’t matter if it lines up with your personal belief system. The admin always backs up his writing with FACTS, not feelings. Read and learn, dipshit.

river cruises

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