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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 11:29

(0)

Level: 6
CS Original

...but none of the new stuff is interesting and none of the interesting stuff is new.

I'm taking a couple days off after sleeping in my office for the last three weeks or so to spend more time with friends and family (that was a lie I'm just being lazy). While I'm waiting for the car, I thought I'd pay you nerds a visit. Anything I missed while I was gone?

I hope I'm not too late for TZM gaining critical mass, man, that would really piss me off.

Anyway, I've been struggling with the intricacies of starting my own think tank, stuff's much harder if you actually plan on being taken seriously.

Other unrelated stuff:
- Been reading "Gritopia", surprisingly well-written book about the financial crisis and why Ayn Rand sucks. Liked the style - if you've read the typical books about Wall Street you won't learn much new, but it's quite enjoyable nonetheless.

- Success-(non)Guru and scam artist James Arthur Ray is on trial for manslaughter. For those of you interested in cults, it's quite informative to see how he got people to literally die in a sweat lodge seminar. Also, every success guru in prison is a reason to celebrate.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 11:37

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Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

Good to see you CJ, glad to hear things are going well.

In regards to TZM, there's no reason to get pissed. According to Alexa's site ratings and the failure of this year's ZDay, they're just as ineffectual as ever.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 14:01

(0)

I shoot you dead.

Level: 9
CS Original

^That. Nice to see you, CJ!

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:03

(0)

Level: 3
CS Original

What is Gritopia about? It's not one of those Capitalism is evil, Wall Street bankers are evil books is it?

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:12

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Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

http://www.amazon.com/Griftopia-Machines-Vampire-Breaking-America/dp/0385529953</p>

I think he means Griftopia.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:23

(0)

Level: 3
CS Original

Sounds like its blaming Wall Street for everything and claiming the government are robbing people of their money along with the 'rich'. 'Small number of bankers', hmm what does that remind me of?

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:25

(0)

Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

I didn't really get that from the reviews. It seems to be highly critical of slashing governmental regulation of the financial industry.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:28

(0)

Level: 3
CS Original

Well I got that from reading the description on Amazon.

'Blame for the recent mortgage collapse, commodities bubble, and tech bubble are laid at the feet of a relatively small number of bankers and traders who, in the author's opinion, act without fear of reciprocity from a U.S. government no longer representative of the American people. This theme resounds throughout, and Taibbi asserts that the collusion between Wall Street and the White House has effectively turned the United States into a massive casino, in which working Americans are regularly bilked out of their savings and homes while the wealthy are repeatedly rewarded for their graft.'

In regards to regulation of the private sector, I think it is a good idea.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:33

(0)

Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

I didn't get any Zionist bankster vibes from it. But that's me.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:36

(0)

Level: 3
CS Original

I didn't either. I just disagree with the claim that people are 'bilked' out of their savings (unless your talking about Bernie Madoff) and the rich are rewarded. Kinda sounds like its blaming the wealthy (or the banks/Wall street) for people losing their income and houses.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 15:40

(0)

Genuine American Monster

Level: 70
CS Original

It depends on the context. I haven't read the book so I don't know.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 16:38

(0)

Level: 2
CS Original

Ez, if the banks arent responsible for creating a situation where a shitload of people lost their homes and jobs and weren't the beneficiaries of billions in tax payer money, not to save their business & customers but to give their executives and shareholders big fat pay cheques, then who is?

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 23:08

(0)

Level: 6
CS Original

I don't think Taibbi is having a problem with Capitalism, but he surely isn't a big fan of Wall Street. And why not, without Wall Street pushing for severe deregulation or simply tricking the system, we would not have had the kind of asymmetrical crisis we ended up with.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 23:22

(0)

Level: 3
CS Original

I dont think they intentionally created a problem, I really don't see why they would cause a market crash in order to get government bailouts or take peoples houses from them. If the crash didn't happen those people who lost their homes would most likely still be paying their mortgage to the bank and they would be getting money from them.

Unintentionally causing the crash, maybe.. But deliberately? Come on..

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Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 23:58

(0)

Level: 6
CS Original

If you're an investor who can turn millions of dollars into billions in just a few years by buying up insurance on crappy CDOs, sold by banks who fall for their own BS, why would you care about the bank going down or some people losing their home?

Take Goldman, they got screwed by AIG early on and decided to get all of their invested money back, whether AIG could afford to pay or not. If that's not deliberately starting a crisis, I don't really know what is.

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Posted: Mar 18, 2011 - 05:50

(0)

Level: 3
CS Original

Ok I see. Seems more like carelessness on their part, and just wanting to get their money back. I thought you were trying to imply they caused it to rob working class people of their money and keep them poor! As thats just what the CT'ers claim so I have a problem with that

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