Large Scale Central

Let's get serious for a minute

General Discussion
#1

Instead of vamping politicians and politics.

I probably lost most of my IRA yesterday.
Dunno about my union pension.
My wife has her teacher’s pension.
All relying on the Stock exchange.

Am I starting to worry a little?
Yes, finally!
I have decided to not buy anything new trainwise, and be happy with what I own already.
(Who knows, I might really be eating my Uintah and Sumpter one night for dinner :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

A lot of people are thinking about putting everyday lives before hobbies.
If this doesn’t stop, you will see the mail order houses go, and hence followed by the manufacturers.

I do thank God that I own my own home, free and clear. I own 4 acres of land for growing vegetables and raising a chicken or two.
All I have to worry about is fighting off the property tax collector. And he won’t get much, for all my neighbors will be standing at there doors with a shotgun also.
I feel sorry for the young couples, such as my niece and nephew with three children, both working, struggling to just keep up.

I guess we’ll just sit back and ride it out.
Sigh…

jb

#2

My little home business is in another branch of the hobby sector. Business has been seriously OFF for the last 4 years or so, and absolutely horrid the last two, so I really hate to see what “thinking about putting everyday lives before hobbies” will look like…

For most of my adult life I considered bankruptcy to be the crook’s and coward’s way out… unfortunately, as of late I have been seriously considering it simply so I don’t lose my a## as well as my shirt & pants. :frowning:

Most of my train stuff will probably be getting sold soon, the vultures are already circling…

#3

Okay…serious moment over…everybody smile…we’re still breathing…Uncle Sam keeps nudging me I need to file my taxes back to 2001…I hung in and lost most of it…do THEY realize how much they OWE me? I’ve done my patriotic duty…

#4
John Bouck said:
Instead of vamping politicians and politics.

I probably lost most of my IRA yesterday.
Dunno about my union pension.
My wife has her teacher’s pension.
All relying on the Stock exchange.

Am I starting to worry a little?
Yes, finally!
I have decided to not buy anything new trainwise, and be happy with what I own already.
(Who knows, I might really be eating my Uintah and Sumpter one night for dinner :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

A lot of people are thinking about putting everyday lives before hobbies.
If this doesn’t stop, you will see the mail order houses go, and hence followed by the manufacturers.

I do thank God that I own my own home, free and clear. I own 4 acres of land for growing vegetables and raising a chicken or two.
All I have to worry about is fighting off the property tax collector. And he won’t get much, for all my neighbors will be standing at there doors with a shotgun also.
I feel sorry for the young couples, such as my niece and nephew with three children, both working, struggling to just keep up.

I guess we’ll just sit back and ride it out.
Sigh…

jb


John,
You have a good attitude.
This is why I am fighting against the bailout. For my children and grandchildren.
I have 5 acres. My home is not paid off. I can grow some food and raise chickens too. Build me a shack if I have to.
But if I have to suffer the rest of my life, I will so that we can put an end to these budget and trade deficits before my grandchildren have to suffer their entire life.
We have saddled them with almost 11 trillion in debt. Those responsible should be ashamed of what they have done to this great country and the pitiful legacy they have left to the children.
Ralph

#5

I had a chat with our local train shop owner, who is a friend of mine, recently.
Last three months were his worst sales ever.
He says his store is more like a hobby now to him, instead of a business.
I wonder how long the lights will stay on and the door unlocked.

E-bay is laying off and streamlining, due to falling sales, as well.

#6
Quote:
For most of my adult life I considered bankruptcy to be the crook's and coward's way out... unfortunately, as of late I have been seriously considering it simply so I don't lose my a## as well as my shirt & pants.
Been there, done that. It's not the end of life, but something you definitely want to avoid. I managed to get the suppliers and customers taken care of and let the bankers fight it out. The banker said that was probably a good way to do it.
#7

Keep your shirts on, guys. This too shall pass.

#8
Steve Featherkile said:
Keep your shirts on, guys. This too shall pass.
"This too shall pass" Not so sure about this one, since the Federal are run by interest groups, never before our politicians where sponsored so much. I belief that our country is not anymore run by the people.

regards PJ

#9

Steve Featherkile said:
Keep your shirts on, guys. This too shall pass.

Perhaps you need to lend them a spare shirt.

(http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/teufel/devil-smiley-023.gif)

#10
Steve Featherkile said:
Keep your shirts on, guys. This too shall pass.
I've already LOST my shirt. And this may well pass.... but so will kidney stones
#11
Mik said:
Steve Featherkile said:
Keep your shirts on, guys. This too shall pass.
I've already LOST my shirt. And this may well pass.... but so will kidney stones
Ouch! Been there, done that.
#12

After reading this, I’m not sure what to think of it. It still took almost ten years and a war to dig our way out of the mess that inaction by the Dems between 1929 and 1933 caused. Or so I have been told, anyway.

FDR said:
I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. [b]So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself[/b]—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.

More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.

Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts. Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply. Primarily this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankind’s goods have failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.


Full text here.

I think I’ll just go run some trains.

#13

Steve, thanks for posting FDR’s speech. While he made some mistakes I think he was one of our best Presidents. So did the people of the time in electing him to office for 4 terms.

FDR wasn’t in office until 1932. Hoover was President prior and didn’t believe in interfering with the markets. While highly acclaimed for his relief efforts in Europe after WWI he refused to lift a finger to help his own people during the depression. His business advisors were afraid that making things too easy on the working people would lead to laziness and an unwillingness to work.

While I believe in free enterprise and independence I also believe in common sense. To freely give of taxpayer funds to business and even to other countries while denying the taxpayers the use of their own funds in times of duress is criminal in my mind. I’m definately not a socialist but neither am I naive enough to believe that any for profit corporation ever made will put the public good ahead of profit without strict oversight and regulation.

This is why I’m an Independent, albeit to the right of center. :slight_smile:

#14

Hear hear Richard.

Why is it that profits are privatised and the losses have to be socialised?

Pity is it will only be a band aid measure and the real problems will not be addressed.
To do so would cause too much pain for those that have caused this mess in the first place. Especially as those that caused it also are major contributors to all sides of politics.
Seems to me this (so called) “socialised solution” is throwing good money after bad.
I say make the gamblers pay.

Perhaps it would be a better solution for the Governments to stop giving largesse to the private banks and set up their own “Peoples Bank” to start lending to those that are credit worthy.

#15
TonyWalsham said:
........................................

Perhaps it would be a better solution for the Governments to stop giving largesse to the private banks and set up their own “Peoples Bank” to start lending to those that are credit worthy.


Hey Tony, I would have a few conditions ready to attach to the lending applications. :wink: :slight_smile:

#16
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
TonyWalsham said:
........................................

Perhaps it would be a better solution for the Governments to stop giving largesse to the private banks and set up their own “Peoples Bank” to start lending to those that are credit worthy.


Hey Tony, I would have a few conditions ready to attach to the lending applications. :wink: :slight_smile:

HJ,

You can’t seriously expect someone to demonstrate their ability to pay for their loan as part of the application process, can you?

Sheesh! What are you thinking, man? :lol:

#17

Geez guys, to be fair about this…My gram used to say, “To get a loan you have to be able to demonstrate that you don’t NEED the money… but OTOH if you HAVE the money, why on earth would you NEED a loan?” When it’s phrased that way it sounds a lot like catch-22 nonsense, doesn’t it?

#18
TonyWalsham said:
Why is it that profits are privatised and the losses have to be socialised?
I agree. Let the government take over Mobil Exxon as a counterbalance.

-Brian :stuck_out_tongue:

#19
Richard Smith said:
Steve, thanks for posting FDR's speech. While he made some mistakes I think he was one of our best Presidents. So did the people of the time in electing him to office for 4 terms.

FDR wasn’t in office until 1932. Hoover was President prior and didn’t believe in interfering with the markets. While highly acclaimed for his relief efforts in Europe after WWI he refused to lift a finger to help his own people during the depression. His business advisors were afraid that making things too easy on the working people would lead to laziness and an unwillingness to work.

While I believe in free enterprise and independence I also believe in common sense. To freely give of taxpayer funds to business and even to other countries while denying the taxpayers the use of their own funds in times of duress is criminal in my mind. I’m definately not a socialist but neither am I naive enough to believe that any for profit corporation ever made will put the public good ahead of profit without strict oversight and regulation.

This is why I’m an Independent, albeit to the right of center. :slight_smile:


Sorry to tell you that you are WRONG, VERY WRONG, you see President Hoover did try to do something about but those who controled congress said NO! We will let it ride until the election and get our man in office, which they did! And I believe they are trying again.

As I have said before keep your powder dry we may need it soon!

Paul

#20

E Paul.
If it was as you say it must be on the record somewhere.
So, would you be so kind as to provide the evidence of what it was Hoover actually proposed to do to alleviate the pain of the Great Depression?
Then show how his proposals were suppressed by those who controlled Congress?