His father's family includes the former President of Columbia and his mother is American. He's actually usually Hispanic. Those security guards aren't usually black, they're always black. Looking back on it all, when asked to describe himself in census, check-one-of-the-following-boxes-fashion, he says, “I’m unusual.” He pointed out his mother’s background but noted how he thinks of Bogota as “home until the day I die.” He resolved, “Usually, if the option says, ‘Hispanic,’ I will check that box off.” http://hol.hispaniconline.com/HispanicMag/ 2007_8/Feature-Smithsonian.htm
http://www.nchv.org/background.cfm Yearly rent (rounded off) averaged out throughout all regions of the United States---$12,000. Cassano was largely responsible for selling the credit-default swaps that almost killed the American economy in 2008 due to counter-party risk. For that, he got to keep $280 million+30 cents on the dollar for his "profit", which I will round off to an even $300 million, even though that is madly conservative, and does not consider other perks of the job. I am not accounting for present value, or time value of money or real interest vs nominal interest rates etc. in the interest of saving time, but I assume that my figure is more or less right, and is arched conservatively to reflect factors such as the above. Imagine that. $300 million for building some of the most destructive financial products out there, and by getting a company that had NO business dabbling in financial speculation squarely in the $700 trillion casino. Put another way, Cassano "earned" enough to keep 25,000 homeless veterans, or about 25% of the homeless veteran population in the United States, inside an average apartment for a year. 25,000 men and women who laid their lives on the line for their country are spending the night outside in the cold, while the guy who may have been responsible for more damage to their country than any enemy since Imperial Japan gets to spend his $300 million. It's a *******, motherf***g shame.
Completely brilliant summary of what needs to be done and what the Occupy Wall Street Movement needs to do by noted economist Jeffrey Sachs. The cat is out of the bag. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8svbm4WYmU Someone please help me out and put it in an icon you can click on. PS I promise to learn how to do this if you can give me idiot proof instructions. Hey, unlike that old geezer Deckard, I can at least touch type.
LOL, simply google "how to embed youtube video". <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/H8svbm4WYmU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
How do I do that? I don't think I have ever looked at a message. From clutchfans? Later. Busier than usual at work. Associate atty got in an auto accident.
Tallover, I'm not sure what the deal is. You got no argument so you attempt some silly humor. You bitterly oppose any attempt to redistribute the wealth back to how it was during the unAmerican state of the Eishehauer 1950's?or early 1960's? You are actually in that part of the top 1% who not only enjoy their wealth, but find it important not to share any of it? Part of the kick is knowing others have less? You believe you can beat the tremendous odds and become in the upper 1%. And the possibility of doing so is such a kick that you are oblivious to the suffering you try not to see others having? Cultish belief in libertarianism, not just some moderate belief in markets or belief in reasonable freedom from government oppression for instance the Bill of Rights? Ignoring 30 plus years of increasing libertarian/conservative market control over all economics, you still believe that if we just keep redistributing upwards that eventually we will have some trickle down? You believe that billionaires and rich people are always noble and will never use their money to subvert the political will of the majority, so billionaires will never be a problem for democracy? Maybe you don't believe in democracy? Just rule by the wise or worthy , who you equate with massive private fortunes? Just old fashioned GOP support due to family background or perhaps cultural conservatism and you view any attempt for the lower 99% to get more economic and or political power as a threat to Republican rule on social issues-- gays, drugs, abortion? What?.
One thing I noticed talking to some of the Occupy MN protestors is how cynical many of them are. Many of them said that they didn't believe this movement would make much of a difference and among many of the younger ones seemed to just look at it as coming out for fun. One guy even pointed to the Tea Party as an example of problems with a grass roots movement saying how they had just been coopted by politicians rather than continuing as a true grass roots movement. Its kind of sad that even in the midst of a movement like this how little hope people have in public action..
This is sad, but probably true. I used to think the court system was the last hope in this country to protect those without means, but after studying about it, it seems to be just as effected by outside influences as any other government branch. We're all eventually swept into the game.
I believe you said the turnout wasn't great, so how can you expect these people not to be cynical? There are only two things that communicates to politicians, money and power. These people definitely don't have the money. So the only thing they can influence is the politicians place in politics(power) and that's only going to happen if the masses rise up together and show their support. Its difficult to believe in public action if you don't have any of the two ingredients for change.
I think if you're a free market fundamentalist, you get scared about these things because as soon as people like Stiglitz (who already made a cameo appearance), Warren, and Roubini start explaining the flaws of the system, and how Wall Street actually makes its' money (gambling in $700 trillion casinos, creating asset bubbles that starve millions, laundering drug money, destructive currency speculation etc.) that will make people realize just exactly what they're fighting against. And once guys like Micheal Lewis talk about the Wall Street lifestyle---the callgirl chain that Spitzer got involved in estimated that half her $1000/night clients were Wall Street guys. People like Cassano got $280 million for dooming the country. Couple that with the ridiculous binges (Goldman used to have a sponsored trip for associates that involved something like splashing thousands on bottles, guest appearances) and the copious drug use, and you'll quickly get a recipe that I think will alienate almost every American out there.
I've made plenty of arguments. You've read and disagree with them. That's why your throwing your temper tantrum. I do? I am? Why is that relevant? Who cares how much money I think I am capable of making? This is not a sentence and I don't understand what you are asking. The federal government has grown in size and scope every year for the past 30 yrs making your above statement wrong and therefore your question is loaded. I believe billionaires are just as corrupt as everyone else. That's why I support shrinking the relationship between government and the private sector. less corruption/collusion that way. Government is the monopolization of force. If there is no relationship between government and the private sector then how would private entities rule over me? political power? We are in a democracy and everyone's vote counts equal. To redistribute political power when it is equal would obviously lead to inequality. Again I have no clue what you are trying to ask.
Since corporations are considered people by some on the right it certainly isn't equal as far as how much say "people" get in politics
part of the problem is that the problems that led to the recession are beyond the averag american's comprehension.
Someone needs to start a financial literacy movement, it'd help with those ******* credit cards too, I still know people who are like "as long as I'm just paying off the monthly minimum, I'll be A-OK! Not like I'll ever pay the interest off!"
where soaking the rich gets us... <iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JY8LKII_MNA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
