Do we need a depression?

[screembloodymurder]

I'm beginning to think, given the opportunity, that the human race will consume itself into extinction. Therefore, a depression might serve a useful purpose. If wages fall, spending will go down and that will limit growth and consumption. It might just give us time to come up with alternatives to the path we are on. A path, I believe will lead to the end of the human race.

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. My own personal depression started nearly two and a half years ago

when I was laid-off along with about 30% of my co-workers.

Still a jobless schmuck. Still looking for another job. And doing whatever kind of freelance work I can pick up. And, yes, I am educated.

[whistle]

6. That's correct, when your neighbors are out of work...

...it's a recession, when you are out of work it's a depression.

[bryant69]

2. I don't know

It's hard for me to root for human suffering regardless of the upside.

On the other hand, we might get one whether we like it or not.

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[MADem]

3. Jeez, we're already depressed enough!!!

What we need is a regime change!!! Or strong drugs so we just don't give a shit anymore!!!

Seriously, if wages fall, prices won't tumble as quickly. You'll just have still more people living on the edge, selling off their assets, and not able to afford birth control. They'll screw for entertainment, and pregnancies will rise. Then we'll have a whole shitload of urchins, who will grow up and join the military because it's 'three hots and a cot' and they've nowhere else to go. Then our fearless leaders will invade still other countries with the urchin army to take their shit away from them to our benefit. And THAT could lead to the end of the human race!

[gizmo1979]

10. I was thinking the same thing

I'm already depressed.

[Lone Pawn]

4. That wouldn't be remotely a long-term solution,

and would just re-enforce in people's minds the importance of economic growth.

[NNN0LHI]

5. Actually many people who are down on their luck now would be better off

If more were in the same position prices would have to come down for everything. Right now the ones who are in bad straits still need to keep up with those who have much more purchasing power. My parents who were always poor as they grew up said the depression was a blessing for them. WPA started up and everyone needed relief then so prices fell like a rock. It makes sense when you think about it.

Don

[LosinIt]

7. No Thanks, I've already got one.

Thought it was gone, but it's baaaaccckk.

[whistle]

8. What are economic depressions.......

<snip>

The Great Depression

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


It was appropriate that the terrible economic slump of the 1930s started in the United States, to which Europe seemed to have surrendered economic leadership during the Great War and on which she had been dependent ever since.

Stock Market Crash
The stock market crash that began on a black Friday in October 1929 and deepened in the ensuing months had immediate repercussion in Europe. Indeed, even before this, the superheated boom in stock prices that marked the bull market of 1928 siphoned money from Europe. The pricking of the bubble sent shock waves throughout the world.

Large exports of American capital had helped sustain Europe, besides providing an outlet for American surpluses of capital, during the 1920s. Investment in European bonds now contracted sharply and swiftly, as banks that were "caught short" with too many of their assets invested in securities desperately tried to raise money. By June 1930, the price of securities on Wall Street was about 20 percent, on average, of what it had been prior to the crash; between 1929 and 1932 the Dow-Jones average of industrial stock prices fell from a high of 381 to a low of 41!

The American market for European imports also dropped sharply as the entire American economy went into shock; and, to compound trouble, congress insisted on passing a high tariff law in 1930, against the advice of almost all economists. Effective operation of the international economy required that the United States import goods to allow foreign governments to pay for American loans. Moreover, the raising of tariffs set off a chain reaction as every government tried to protect itself against an adverse trade balance leading to currency deterioration. The result was a drying up of world trade that further fueled the economic downturn. The Americans, additionally, continued to insist upon repayment of war debts, until finally in 1931 a general moratorium was declared. Well might Europeans complain of American blindness, but these events only exposed Europe's vulnerability.

<more>
<link> http://mars.acnet.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/depression.html

http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/depression.html

http://www.markswatson.com/Depression1.html

<and this link claims we are already in a depression>

http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_02/smithf071102pv.html

[Journeyman]

9. Maybe a good plaque would work better? . . .

Perhaps Marburg can come roaring out of Africa and wipe out a good four-fifths of the planet . . . that'd certainly take care of the 'demand' side of the equation, and there'd be plenty of good housing available for all . . . and good thing is, unlike an extended economic depression, the suffering of the afflicted would be over in a matter of days . . . then we could all (well, the survivors could) join in a rousing rendition of 'Happy Days Are Here Again' . . .

( / sarcasm )

[ComerPerro]

16. a plaque?

Main Entry: plaque
Pronunciation: 'plak
Function: noun
1 a : an ornamental brooch; especially : the badge of an honorary order b : a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration c : a commemorative or identifying inscribed tablet



Reminds me of a line from The Simpsons.

"We are going to give you the plague."

"Uhh, sir, you mean a plaque."

[Journeyman]

23. I shoulda preafrood that better. . .

[omega minimo]

11. A Great Depression and a GIGANTIC Prozac

"Americans won't care until it affects them." How many times have we heard that? "Until it affects them"? :wtf: does that mean?

After 9-11 I asked a co-worker who said this a lot: "Does it affect them NOW?"

And the answer was, of course, no. They mean, until they can't fill the gas tank. Or eat.

If people allow themselves to be completely self-centered and short-sighted, and ignorant of the relevance of a basic level of civic interdependence and government accountability, then we do in fact get "the government we deserve."

The problem is one of perception and education. It is the reason for the media takeover and the disappearing/rewriting of recent history. Maybe the Robber Baron days are too long ago, so no one blinks when the oil monopolies are recreated. Maybe the Depression was too long ago and the American public yawns as FDR's legacy is dismantled.

But how do you explain the disconnect between the not-so-long-ago oil crisis of the Seventies and the same damn people that sat in those lines (on Odd/Even days based on your license plate #) today parading around in their Urban Assault Vehicles?

Is this selfishness, short-sightedness or total insanity?

If people continue to act like rats in a mediated, medicated maze (don't call it The Rat Race, anymore!) and never figure out "Who Moved My Damn Cheese!?" and never LEARN, REMEMBER or CONNECT THE DOTS, it will continue to take one tragedy after another to get their (ever-shortened) attention (span).

[w4rma]

12. The purpose of a depression is to return property to its rightful owners.

"During depressions, money flows back to it's rightful owners" - Richard Mellon Scaife

I don't think you really want the power and buisnesses and land and money to be given to the folks that Richard Mellon Scaife considers their "rightful owners".

[screembloodymurder]

18. How about a depression to change our consumer attitudes

and a revolution to redistribute the wealth.

[w4rma]

22. How about World War III? That's what you seem to be advocating.

No. I won't support that.

[EFerrari]

13. Too late, I've been depressed since 1/20/2001 n/t

[screembloodymurder]

15. Me too.

I just quit my job cause I'm tired of working with Bush fans. Guess I can't stand prosperity.

[EFerrari]

17. lol. I hate Freedom, too. n/t

[ComerPerro]

14. We sure as hell don't need one. But we will get one. Don't worry

Bush will see to that.

[omega minimo]

19. Don't let the bastards hijack your imagination of the future

:smoke:

[EFerrari]

21. OT: ComerPerro, I just adoro your name. lol n/t

[potatoe]

20. A depression would harm the environment.

Societies with mature, thriving economies do the best job of protecting the environment. Their high productivity creates the tax base needed to research and implement cleaner and more efficient technologies.

[aaronnyc]

25. True

Not only would there be less money to create environment-friendly technology... but if the economy collapses and everybody is deadbroke, then protecting the environment becomes much less of a priority. In many ways, environmental interests contradict economic ones. If a Depression occured, almost all forms of environmental regulation would be scrapped.

[yourout]

24. Whether we need it or not one is coming....

The fiscal irresponsiblity of the pukes makes it a done deal.