Extracted in full for context from Logic 101 Thread as paragraph in Italics about stocks was off target of that
FL: I pretty much agree with what your reply as that is the way that it has been with welfare for decades.
We all seem to agree that the economy is difficult, but I question difficult for whom.
For sure it is difficult for small businesses, start ups, artisans, highly skilled workers, basically anyone who would make America a better place to live as there is a massive redistribution of wealth from what used to be the middle class to the privileged , the government, and to international corporations. Simply put "We now take from the Needy and give to the Greedy and Inept".
The stock market is no longer for the investor; It is currently run for the benefit of hedge funds and dark pools. Investors have had their life saving destroyed as a result of rule changes and the removal of protective acts that were put in place as a result of the great depression. However Plenty of money is still made on Wall Street; at least enough for one hedge fund manager to construct a multimillion dollar home for his chickens. Hopefully, he will be generous enough to toss a few eggs to the poor.
It is worse for once proud home owners who have become homeless as their homes have been foreclosed on. Many can no longer work because of illness, others are not able to earn sufficient income as their jobs have been marginalized. It is the worst for elders who will not live long enough for a second chance. Then there are the families of veterans who have died in action and disabled veterans who can no longer work as a result of injuries.
Current loan modification programs are rift with fraud, where you not only lose your home, but also your identity which is stolen. Instead of helping, Government programs have magnified the problem as banks have dumped delinquent mortgages on seedy loan companies, and are subsidized by the Government on losses taken. Selling a home at fair market value is impossible when the bank short sales are subsidized and they don't have to disclose.
Large banks shuffle you from employee to employee to cause delay and prohibit the use of the internet as it is self documenting. I would like to know why a bank, supported by tarp money is allowed to loan millions of dollars on a home loan to a Billionaire at less than 3% interest while all the poor get is the run around. Oh I almost forgot , I did get calls with the wonderful news that I would qualify for a short sale! As this is a family forum, I will leave it to your imagination what my reply was other than that I referred to them as carpet baggers and had no intention of helping them hold the bag open.
It certainly has not been bad for law enforcement as they profit by confiscation. Look around and you will see beautiful undercover cars/boats/yachts and all sorts of luxuries.
I have seen local, county, and state economies benefit by the shift from a dirty manufacturing based economy to a clean prison based one. The fallout from the current war on drugs, is that there are more criminals than can be accommodated , and labor is almost free. Further if the vacancy rate increases, Heaven forbid, it only takes a slight change in the law to increase both occupancies and confiscations.
Since agencies have been allowed to work together following the 911 attack, the checks and bounds of Federalism have been eliminated. This creates a police state leaving the post 911 government free to do what it wants. Sadly, It no longer matters what is right or wrong, what matters is that it is expedient and can be gotten away with. I base this statement on recent experience which has denied me my inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - guaranteed by the constitution of the United States. Oh by the way my second amendment rights were not violated as they did not take my fire arms which were registered. I suspect, they were not able to find them.
It is true that people often end up where they are as a result of bad choices made. It is also true that you can make good choice(s) and still end up in a bad situation as you are only free to choose, you cannot control the outcome especially when rules and requirements are changed after the decision.
The above information is provided for your perusal. It is important that you understand where the true dangers lie. I understand that few are patriots as I once was, and that some may be so overwhelmed that they no longe care, others may have chosen the easy road and avoid involvement. This is your choice, and I respect that. If there is sufficient interest, I will post details as my purpose is to inform so that your are aware, before the system is beyond repair and there is blood in the streets.
I will leave you with the below quote by Thomas Jefferson to ponder:
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered". - Thomas Jefferson