Chump-Change We Can Believe In
The sheeple finally woke up and got outraged about something. Unfortunately, it’s something trivial.
AIG is giving out $165 million in bonuses!
Oh no!
Horror beyond horror!
But there isn’t nearly as much excitement about AIG bonuses among the infinitesimal intellectual elite who have mastered the esoteric art of arithmetic.
And why isn’t the infinitesimal intellectual elite who have mastered the esoteric art of arithmetic also screaming about those horrible bonuses?
Because the bailout is about 50,000 times as big as the bonuses!
The bailout now amounts to around $9 trillion, and the AIG bonuses amount to $165 million.
How many times does $165 million go into $9 trillion?
54,545.
The bailout is more than 50,000 times as big as the bonuses.
A bulldog just ripped off your face, and you’re whining about a parking ticket!
The bailout cost about $30,000 for every man, woman, and child in the United States. The bonuses add about 50¢ from each of us. It’s chump change, and the chumps are (finally) screaming.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, Team Obama is somersaulting all over the Oval Office!
Flip! We can’t stop the bonuses. Flop! Maybe we can! Flip! No we can’t!
What comes next?
I love those innocent Democrats!
This whole multi-trillion-dollar calamity was only possible because of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
And which President signed both components of that catastrophic double-whammy into law?
Bill Clinton.
And who was his point-man to push it through Congress?
Larry Summers.
But don't you just love all those innocent Democrats!
March 18, 2009 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Admit it. There's plenty of blame for all.
I have to query, exactly what have you done lately to positively support our country and citizens? Non-politically motivated. Just curious.
Are you just as diligent about assigning factual responsibility to all or just to Dems?
We got in this mess together and together is the only way we'll make it better.
March 18, 2009 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not exactly.
I opposed the Commodities Futures Modernization Act in 2000, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999, before our big slob of a President signed them into law, and likewise with the many, many bailouts that keep raining trillions of dollars down on the banks.
But if you want me to "positively support our country and citizens" in a more influential venue, it would only take about $15 million to put me in Congress, and only about 10% of it would be devoted to creating a semi-fictional autobiography like Dreams From my Father.
I await your contribution.
March 18, 2009 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. I guess the answer that you are trying to deflect from delivering is that you have done nothing positive to assist. Volunteered to help those less fortunate or contributed to those who are in need of services or product you possess lately? Pounded a nail for Homes for Humanity?
Created a plan and followed thru to benefit members of your community?
Of course, it's so much easier and more comfortable for some to just spout garbage rather than to help clean up the mess.
Just sayin'.............
March 18, 2009 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding?
Michelle Obama is my role model!
"My husband just gave away enough money to the banks to build every homeless person in America a fucking mansion, and I'm here to ladel you out a nice bowl of soup!"
I'm on that soup-line every day...
on one side or the other.
March 18, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The pickpocket that preys on the poverty stricken? Oh yez. Get hubby to buy you a little couth.
March 18, 2009 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rootie, are you saying Democrats on Capital Hill are...gasp....politicians ? And not only that, but have been politicians all along?
I am of the opinion that getting all outraged over fiddy cents is kinda....not really the point. It's not the amount. It's that people feel like they're getting crap rubbed into their faces. They feel like the bullies have stolen their lunch money. Again. They feel....kinda helpless. Maybe doubly so because their politicians are looking kinda like boobs instead of the authority figures the people are supposed to turn to to fix things when the bullies take over the playground. This is my take on it.
March 18, 2009 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dennis Kucinich is a politican. What I'm saying is that the Democrats on Capitol Hill are whores.
I think you're probably right about this aspect of the situation, and it hadn't really occurred to me.
What happens if the public totally or almost totally loses faith in Obama? I don't know.
Then there's no reassuring presence anywhere, and it's a very scary prospect.
March 18, 2009 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
So far, Obama has given the banks ZERO. He did not establish the system currently in place. It was Bush and Paulson who sold the bailout plan to congress. It may come to pass that Obama also requests money from congress - but so far this is 100% GOP goodness here. If you are a republican, don't be a coward - own it.
The democrats were supporting the President of the United States - just like they did on Iraq. But make no mistake, it was President Bush and his republicans that they were supporting.
March 18, 2009 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh damn ... this is supposed to respond to your comment upthread. Makes no sense in this slot at all.
March 18, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's those innocent Democrats, again!
I already answered this nonsense from kevbo, on this thread.
March 18, 2009 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well you have a way about you RR.
You will be interesting to follow.
In my humble opinion, we just ended eight years of the most felonious administration since Harding and w and his cohorts did a lot more damage.
What is going on now? I am not so sure. If enough money is printed, maybe a new type of redistribution of wealth could occur. Over the last eight years the redistribution has gone to the top 15%.
Pass some new legislation. Have the Gov take over the whole damn thing at AIG. Fire ALL MANAGEMENT TODAY. There are Millions without jobs and who would be happy to get a new start in a new company with rules.
March 18, 2009 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Inflating our way to social justice...
The Germans tried that in 1923, and it worked out very badly.
But I like the idea anyway! At least the upper crust would go down with us, and we're already genocidal maniacs!
March 18, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which would make many Republicans pimps but what else is new?
The Republicans had a lot of years to care about all of the people as oppose to 1%-5% and they blew it big time. May as well give the Democratic party a chance to screw it up as well. Although, I'm hoping both sides will stop playing politics for more than a minute to remember why people voted their arses in office in the first place.
It's irritating enough to see these bozo's bickering but when I see everyone in the dayum life boat bickering as well; I'm tempted to jump over board, swim in the direction I think there is land, pray, hope or believe I'll make it and play like Tom Hanks in "Cast Away." Hells bells, if I drown, at least I'll be out of my misery!!!!!
Dayum, together we stand, divided we fall. Is that REALLY so difficult a concept to grasp? (rhetorical question)
I'm not feeling very chipper and positive at the moment so forgive the rant.
I need a dirty martini and cigarette. Later gators!
March 18, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very good again M. But you have to admit RR wakes people up!!!!hahhahaha
March 18, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
dd
Hearburn, nightmares and the need to evacuate waste wakes me up.
I 'spose that since those who continue to only insert negativity as they attempt to engage in sarcasm and attack mode, but who do nothing constructive, can create the above, but for me - they just energize me and reaffirm that their the very ones who gave us Bush, Cheney and the mess were in now - which renders them irrelevant and irresponsible.
March 18, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps we should get RR and john together. Perfect couple.
March 18, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
But Aunt Sam...
You forgot to respond to Michelle Obama!
"My husband just gave away enough money to the banks to build every homeless person in America a fucking mansion, and I'm here to ladel you out a nice bowl of soup!"
And I though we were having such a nice conversation about acting globally, and pretending you're just another local.
March 18, 2009 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
So get back on that soup line, Uncle Sam, and get on with the rest of your self-righteous volunteering.
You have to atone for the crimes of your candidate, and that's an awful lot of soup!
March 18, 2009 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
No Sht:)
March 18, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
In case you have forgotten, these laws are know as "acts" because it took an "act" of congress to create them. Remind me now, which party was it was running congress in 1999-2000?
March 18, 2009 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did the Republicans have the votes to over-ride a Presidential veto?
Did they even have the votes to stop a filibuster?
No, and no!
But if Democrats just roll over and let it happen...
...then all the blame belongs to Republicans, because...
...the Democrats are a party of submissive little beeyahtches!
Or maybe you can think of a better excuse...
And now the Democrats can't pass anything without 60 votes, although the same rules never, never, never applied to Republicans...
...for some strange reason.
March 18, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude. There is nothin' we can't disown.
1.2 million dead? Check. Unscrewing the nuts from the regulatory bolts? Check. Handing out trillions? HEY! Another trillion today! Hot & TASTY off the printing presses! And announced on the day of the AIG hearings! Coincidence, surely?
Checkmate.
Serious question, Turnip-dude. I don't need convincing on the pols & their ways, whatever the colour. Really. I'm cynical enough to find even your faith in Saint Dennis touching. So I'm well down the muddy end of the political cynicism stick.
But. Why aren't you talking about a culture, a people, who not only allowed that (and I'm referring here not just to the USA, but across the industrialized board), aided and abetted it, but a culture which actively participated? Which did these same dirty deeds - only dirt cheap, small-time? Every realtor and developer and city councillor and shiny-faced preacher and car salesman and marketing man and PR flak and MBA and house-flipper and corner-cutter amongst us?
Because as the Wanted Poster Board gets more and more crowded, and we see how many people more are involved, widening circles in that sweet sweet stream of money, that little light's gonna start to shine in all our heads, Turnipman. Or do you somehow think that by mobilizing public anger and outrage against the Democratic powers-that-be, we can get them to clean the stable, with all of still neck-deep in the shit?
In short, I get it that you think Obama is some kind of psycho-conman. Message received. But what about us? What the hell should WE do?
Jest askin'.
March 18, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like that infamous old bone-head, Cato the Censor, I have one message that I might as well start appending at the end of every other message I send...
Carthago delenda est!
In this case, the Carthage that must be destroyed is commercial electronic media. Human beings are too susceptible to those illusions for any of it to remain in the possession of corporations.
Islamo-Luddites of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose except the abysmal stupidity that 100 years of full sound and motion imposed on your otherwise (marginally) serviceable brains.
But seriously...
I'm serious.
Carthago delenda est!
March 18, 2009 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well see, that's where I suspect our ships tie up together, oh be-turniped one - just off the coast of Corporate Carthage. And we've actually had some interesting discussions around that.
1st, People were chewing on the problems associated with "corporate personhood," an obscenity that drives me into a Rutabagian Rage.
2nd, There was a stream of discussion around brain plasticity, and whether & how electronic media (tv, web but also some pretty twisted video games) were changing us, were able to maneuver us, how deeply this cut into the evolution of the brain, etc.
I think there is real & growing disquiet around this meeting place - Carthage. Why do corporations have the kind of power we're seeing not just in finance, but in health care & the War? How much advertising, and who owns these "points of view" - and is there any role for their "sponsorship," at all?
Even views of Obama have shifted, in a fairly brief time. At first, there was no questioning even of Cabinet picks. Today, that line has been overridden. e.g. Geithner? Gone. But more, the waffling, the attempts to placate the financial sector - it's a feeling beyond unease. People want this shit stopped, and fairly pronto.
I know you're no fan of Obama, but I think you also know the dilemma here, RR. IF HE FAILS, then what? These kinds of social crises do not tend to hand the reins of power over to someone more calm, more rooted. They tend to get wilder - more resentment-filled. This is dangerous stuff. Regard him as an illusion/delusion if you will, I put my money on him because I thought he had the POTENTIAL to handle this. To POSSIBLY be open enough to change, or just to his own political self-interest, that he could both WIN (which DK wasn't going to, much though I actually love the little guy) but also... ADAPT. And maybe even adapt in our favour. I wrote 9 months back that whoever won was doing to come into the worst financial shitstorm in many decades, and the ONLY relevant question was who did we want to have at the helm. For me, that meant the older pols - more entrenched in that 1990's bullshit - were less likely they'd be to move. Maybe I'm wrong. I donno.
But what I DO know is that the questions around the commercial electronic media and its possession by large corporations, are now more in play than they have been in a long time.
In short, CNBC delenda est. It's a start.
March 18, 2009 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
"IF HE FAILS, then what?"
I'm also worried about it, believe it or not, and not just in terms of policy. Corporatism more or less according to the familiar Clinton doctrine is what I expected, but I can't believe Obama is nearly enough of a cowboy for the wild ride we're all riding now. He looked fragile and sort of erratic when Gordon Brown was in Washington, and I thought...
Omigod...
What if the wheels really come off Obama?
It's a very scary prospect.
March 18, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Politicians are a lot more mentally fragile than a lot of us ever imagine. We're social animals, and that beyond rockstar level of attention, 24/7, savage hatred & hossana praise, every day full of conflict, all while locked into a tight world - does not do good things to people. And this guy is young, and for all his skills, has NOT been through wars like this.
Beyond the personal, what if Obama CAN'T turn this ship, or fix it - what then? Imagine he faced policy failure, and low polls. It happens, and it WILL happen to him - to some degree much much larger than today. And we are talking about this in the context of the world's most powerful nation, that sleep-walked its way through Bush... saw the economy crash (apparent to anyone even 18 months ago)... but then locked itself in emotionally to this new guy, through 12-18 months of primaries and election and inauguration... and is only now shaking it all off as the real economy starts blowing gaskets. And we've got denial, guilt, blame, rage - all in play - plus racism, collapsing incomes, resentment stoked by the psycho-Right.
And who's the B Team? There ARE no Republican leaders in Congress. Which is, politically, a nightmarish situation. You WANT a reasonably human, boring, incompetent opposition. Otherwise it will go EXTRA-PARLIAMENTARY. People gloating over the dissolution of the GOP strike me as slightly mad, at this juncture in history. Where do they think the INEVITABLE rage and confusion and opposition will go? It'll go to the best populist/rabble-rouser around - and I suspect that person or people will make Palin look like a piker.
Who's the Dem B-Team? They have none. They can't even find good people to fill out Geithner's office. Who would we have, who could think differently, more imaginatively, than Obama - and then have the leadership capabilities or charisma to pull us through? Biden? Dodd? Hillary? Reid? Boxer? Maybe BURRIS? I mean there are capable people there, even some nice ones... but let's not shit ourselves. The point is, if this thing defeats an Obama, they'd HAVE to be more imaginative and tougher and inspiring than he is, right?
I'm no fan of this world structure, and corporatism is not the world I wanted to spend the last decades of my life, but... yes, there CAN be worse things. And some days, I'm not 100% sure we're up for much better ones. Much though I dislike a lot of what he's doing today, I DO bloody wish him well.
March 18, 2009 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm also hoping Obama gets a clue, or gets lucky, but dire warnings from Krugman keep coming back to haunt me... If Obama wastes his maximum popularity on a stimulus full of tax cuts, what happens when much, much more is needed? The stimulus is supposed to create 3.3 million jobs in two years, and the economy has already lost 4.4 million, and counting.
About the "problem" of finding better people...
Wesley Clark and Dennis Kucinich haven't dematerialized, and economists like Dean Baker, Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz are available. Maybe it's time for us to form a shadow government, but unlike the British version, instead of opposition politicians, we'll settle for honesty and Nobel Prizes.
March 18, 2009 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I absolutely despise the color, orange, and its effects on me are visceral. I cannot read what you write because your avatar makes me think I am going to have a seizure. I'm not asking you to change it on my account, but just so you know....
March 18, 2009 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You been staring at the Sun again, Cville? ;-)
And also Turnip-guy, nothing rhymes with orange. Apparently, no word in ANY language, living or dead. Which, even if it isn't a fact, SHOULD be.
And you know what ELSE irritates me? The word Rutabaga. Truth is - swear on my stack of Geneaology of Morals' - I love Turnips. Always have, always will. God's own groundfruit, I say. And then they started in with the rebranding - "Rutabaga." Neeps not good enough for fancypants Rutabaga-lovers.
But look. Hey. "Pliny the Elder writes that he considered the turnip one of the most important vegetables of his day, rating it "directly after cereals or at all events after the bean, since its utility surpasses that of any other plant." Pliny praises it as a source of fodder for farm animals, and this vegetable is not particular about the type of soil it grows in and because it can be left in the ground until the next harvest, it "prevents the effects of famine" for humans (N.H. 18.34)." - Wiki.
Pliny the Elder. Now you're up against it.
March 18, 2009 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are obviously a storange and dorangerous individual, with a voice like a door-hinge! Insult not my hue, lest thy words return upon thee like a boomorange!
I also get the same kind of grief from cabbage- lovers.
So we hybrids are eternal outcasts...
... silver pilgrims of the purple urinal!
March 18, 2009 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, guy -- I love turnips, beets (golden and the regular kind) as well as rutabagas. I can even handle pumpkins and the fruit (orange), but this avatar is of such a color that I honestly feel ill looking at it. Nothing personal.
As you can see if you go here:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/david_seaton/2009/03/up-against-the-wall-mother-of.php#comment-3411587
Staring at the sun? Maybe that is totally it! I have to stop DOING that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 18, 2009 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quinn, tell me you are too young to remember Frank Zappa's ending of "Call Any Vegetable," RUTABAAAAGA, RUTABAAAACA, RUTABAAAGA, RUTABAAAGA, RUTABAAAAAaaaa......
Might have ruined your appetite for that veggie, but it definitely stimulated mine! Still love to cook them and adore their firm, slightly sour taste to this day. I can give you a recipe, or we can wait for john to post again.
March 18, 2009 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Truth is, I mostly missed Frank. Sadly.
I'd like to pretend that I'm too young to know who Dweezil is too, but..... ;-)
March 18, 2009 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, Rutabaga, make that two who say Ewwghe! at the sight of neon orange. There are turnips -- nice ivory/pale gray green soothing veg, yummy flavor, underrated in every respect... but neon orange? Other than Clementines, sorry, Noooo.
Just so you know -- I've been writing a little something about the Rorschach symbolism of various TPM avatars. Please understand that it's not personal, but there is still time to avoid mention....
March 18, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks. I was beginning to feel a little paranoid.
March 18, 2009 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been told that my avatar leans towards orange, but I've never heard it said that I am neon. May I take that as a compliment?
March 18, 2009 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely, LisB. The color range of your avatar leans, (imo) towards translucent peach/blush/amber/umber -- the transcendent color of light in northern California, as you may remember from living there? It is also the color of gels that photographers use to communicate emotional warmth.... so yes, you may certainly take that as a compliment.
March 18, 2009 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should really give my avatar another chance. Stare into the deep, deep pools of its dark, dark eyes. Admire the beautiful smile. You feel your own personality drifting away like a broken toy. You want to serve Rutabaga Ridgepole. You will serve Rutabaga Ridgepole. Sleep, sleep, my pretty one. Rutabaga knows best. You want to obey Rutabaga. You will obey Rutabaga. When you wake up you will have forgotten this message, until you hear the word "Rutabaga," which will inspire you with deep feelings of love and obedience.
3...
2...
1...
Snap!
Now, isn't that ever so much better?
March 19, 2009 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
As thread die, it is a fact that no one is reading this follow-up, Rutabag, but you and I.
Mesmerized by your plasticity??? Not a chance. Your avatar symbolizes everything I disdain: all that is plastic, fantastic, insincere and --oh, by the way -- malevolent.
Take your orthodontic smile, set in lip gloss parentheses, take your tanning bed state of being orange -- aka South Africa and all other forms of smiley faced, glossed-over ugliness -- somewhere else.
These are good people, here, at TPM. Whereas, I know the face of evil when I see it --- and you, Rutabaga, are part of that cabal.
I know this, without question.
Begone. Orangerie.
March 19, 2009 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forget not, dear ww, that with the dashboard and the following feature, your words have been read. Perhaps by many. I stand right beside you. Kudos!
March 19, 2009 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the interest of peace and harmony, and as a fantastic demonstration of my high regard for conformity to the local norm in every aspect of my behavior and appearance, I have altered my avatar in a way that is sure to console orange-o-phobes everywhere!
Hurrah for rutabagas, the most compliant of all vegetables!
March 19, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink