Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers
So, consumerism is not the problem (it's a wonderful feature of democracy). Corporations are not the problem (again, they're a wonderful feature). Corps not paying taxes is not the problem (GE didn't pay taxes because they used green tax credits - they're doing the GOOD work which will save our grand-children's earth, not the naughty stuff!)
Unfortunately in Canada we see a lot of US media.
Due to the repeal of Glass-Steagall (1933-1999) US banks are now able to take their retail deposits (i.e. citizens' savings) and buy high-risk investments for themselves, with the hope of making profit on these high-risk investments (profit for themselves, not the retail customers). This created the 2008 economic meltdown. Those toxic assets were bought with retail deposits. Asset value goes through the floor, well, no more deposits! Yikes!
In Canada this is illegal and this is why our economy is so awesome.
Also in Canada, corps can only directly contribute perhaps $1k to candidates' election campaigns directly and spend $3k to promote a candidate in one riding (up to a max of $150k through the country - really not at all useful. A lot don't bother anymore). In the US, corps can donate MILLIONS to candidates (and they do! See http://www.goodguide.com/contributions whoa!).
TL;DR In the US: private entities can buy public offices. Also, retail banks can gamble their retail customers' savings in the stock market! In Canada, both are illegal.
Take the private money out of American elections and policy-making, and regulate American banks so that investment banks can fail without annihilating citizens' savings, and the sun will once again shine on the world's markets.
And then we can work on the millions of other problems with society. Until these two issues are solved, we're sunk.
All very interesting - thank you for posting.
Spam
quote:
Originally posted by StereoPrincess
lol. i was going to say, i wonder how long ti will be before someone actually says this. umm, the banks hold the people's money. if they fail, the people lose the little money they have. what is so hard about that to understand. if a bank fails, all of their clients suffer. i guess the only way is to keep your money under the mattress. great interest you get on that.
If the banking system failed, wouldn't deflation be the result? And in that case, would that mean that 'under the mattress' WAS the best place to keep it?
My cousin posted this video on FB a few minutes ago. If nothing else, it makes for a fantastic rant. Thought I'd share.
Skipper
quote:
Originally posted by StereoPrincess
yup. i just hope that the protests at least are sustained for a while. i mean techically, 10% of americans should be protesting since they got no job anyway.
lol - yeah what else are they doing?
SPANIARD
quote:
Originally posted by Skipper
He is paid to be controversial. In no way is he employed as a news reporter. CBC has stated this countless times.
Christ the Canadian audience is so hyper sensitive... "OMG HE CALLED SOMEONE A NUTBAR!!! SO OFFENSIVE!!! IMMA WRITE A COMPLAINT TO GET HIM FIRED!!"
That wasn't my point, I never said he was a news reporter. What I said was it was disgraceful that he could not make a rebutal to any point and degraded the conversation by making an ad hominem attack (which Hedges quite appropriately pointed out is a Fox news sort of tactic). I have no issue with someone being entertaining or stirring the pot by arguing a specific point with facts but that is not the case.
I can't understand the hate of CBC by SunTV; they are both hire the same personalities with the same political views to 'entertain' their audiences. Shameful stuff.
Spam
quote:
Originally posted by Skipper
lol - yeah what else are they doing?
Looking for jobs, maybe?
Spam
quote:
Originally posted by SPANIARD
That wasn't my point, I never said he was a news reporter. What I said was it was disgraceful that he could not make a rebutal to any point and degraded the conversation by making an ad hominem attack (which Hedges quite appropriately pointed out is a Fox news sort of tactic). I have no issue with someone being entertaining or stirring the pot by arguing a specific point with facts but that is not the case.
I can't understand the hate of CBC by SunTV; they are both hire the same personalities with the same political views to 'entertain' their audiences. Shameful stuff.
The biggest problem I have is that the CBC uses taxpayer funds to do it. Oh, and they also claim to have "balanced" coverage.
The Highroller
quote:
Originally posted by Skipper
He is paid to be controversial. In no way is he employed as a news reporter. CBC has stated this countless times.
Christ the Canadian audience is so hyper sensitive... "OMG HE CALLED SOMEONE A NUTBAR!!! SO OFFENSIVE!!! IMMA WRITE A COMPLAINT TO GET HIM FIRED!!"
I personally find him entertaining. Loved seeing him get shut down after all the he has dished out on air - it's all just entertainment.
Being paid to be controversial does not legitimize this kind of behaviour. It is simply unacceptable to conduct yourself in such a manner. What ever happened to civility and decorum? People have full rights, and I encourage them to complain about this kind of drivel. In my opinion, a large contributor to the mess that the US is in is due to the bile being spit out by "media" outlets such as Fox News. Although you may find this entertaining, it poisons people's minds, and has a significantly negative impact on constructive discussion about pressing issues. I am glad that this is not as prevalent in Canada. You may call the Canadian audience "sensitive", but I call this audience intelligent, and not willing to accept this kind of thing in Canada.
What's the solution? I'm not sure. Freedom of speech is important, but a lot of the "discussion" by certain groups and outlets is nothing but utter trash.
Stilez
It's a double edged sword this whole Consumerist/Capitalist society we live in. It allows us to accumulate wealth, gives us the freedom to go about it freely as long as it's legal, but legal still doesn't stop it from being unfair or affecting others' lives. Also, these large corporations who are seen as evil (and many are because of their focus on attaining as much profit as possible at whatever cost) are also responsible for employing so many & keep our economy stable & prosperous. For those who call for a Socialist state/government clearly don't know their past. It's been tried many times by several different countries to no success. There needs to be a balance found somehow, to hold these large corporations accountable for their actions in whatever negative way it might affect a country's economical soundness & especially the environment. I think there's more than enough proof/stats/figures out there that prove when large corporations are left to do what they want, they will, and usually recklessly at society's expense.
For me, my issue with Toronto's version of OccupyETC... is that Toronto has become obsessed with the idea of following everything that everyone else in the world does. We've lost our way somewhere. Where we once used to be a leader in environmental, social, governance issues,....we now only jump on the band wagon of whatever the 'Issue of the day' is when someone else brings it up or stands up against it. That's just my personal opinion of course.
jon jon
quote:
Originally posted by The Highroller
Being paid to be controversial does not legitimize this kind of behaviour. It is simply unacceptable to conduct yourself in such a manner. What ever happened to civility and decorum? People have full rights, and I encourage them to complain about this kind of drivel. In my opinion, a large contributor to the mess that the US is in is due to the bile being spit out by "media" outlets such as Fox News. Although you may find this entertaining, it poisons people's minds, and has a significantly negative impact on constructive discussion about pressing issues. I am glad that this is not as prevalent in Canada. You may call the Canadian audience "sensitive", but I call this audience intelligent, and not willing to accept this kind of thing in Canada.
What's the solution? I'm not sure. Freedom of speech is important, but a lot of the "discussion" by certain groups and outlets is nothing but utter trash.
great post
haha I agree with both you and Sarah...
jon jon
quote:
Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers
So, consumerism is not the problem (it's a wonderful feature of democracy). Corporations are not the problem (again, they're a wonderful feature). Corps not paying taxes is not the problem (GE didn't pay taxes because they used green tax credits - they're doing the GOOD work which will save our grand-children's earth, not the naughty stuff!)
Unfortunately in Canada we see a lot of US media.
Due to the repeal of Glass-Steagall (1933-1999) US banks are now able to take their retail deposits (i.e. citizens' savings) and buy high-risk investments for themselves, with the hope of making profit on these high-risk investments (profit for themselves, not the retail customers). This created the 2008 economic meltdown. Those toxic assets were bought with retail deposits. Asset value goes through the floor, well, no more deposits! Yikes!
In Canada this is illegal and this is why our economy is so awesome.
Also in Canada, corps can only directly contribute perhaps $1k to candidates' election campaigns directly and spend $3k to promote a candidate in one riding (up to a max of $150k through the country - really not at all useful. A lot don't bother anymore). In the US, corps can donate MILLIONS to candidates (and they do! See http://www.goodguide.com/contributions whoa!).
TL;DR In the US: private entities can buy public offices. Also, retail banks can gamble their retail customers' savings in the stock market! In Canada, both are illegal.
Take the private money out of American elections and policy-making, and regulate American banks so that investment banks can fail without annihilating citizens' savings, and the sun will once again shine on the world's markets.
And then we can work on the millions of other problems with society. Until these two issues are solved, we're sunk.
ur the king of this thread
jon jon
quote:
Originally posted by StereoPrincess
yup. i just hope that the protests at least are sustained for a while. i mean techically, 10% of americans should be protesting since they got no job anyway.
