President Barack Obama - Term 1 and 2 Thread

[Rick]

I'm not an expert, but I think there are so many things wrong with the way our economy runs and capitalism is not it.

You see the big gap between productivity and wages. A big portion of that gap is filled in by technology investments. I may be more productive, but my employer has to make larger tech investments for that to be true. In the old days, there was no spend on websites and computers. Health care was a lot cheaper, etc. So about the time that technology starts making a major impact, you see productivity skyrocket. It's not that the American worker was working any harder.

I don't think it's a crisis of capitalism. It's a crisis of there no longer being a need for such a huge workforce. We don't have the proper focus on 21st century employment. Everyone can't be a programmer or network guy.

The lower/middle classes have to find ways to share more of the wealth, but it can't be in a fashion that discourages people from trying to build wealth. We need reinvestment incentives, new manufacturing incentives, etc. And stop selling houses to people that cannot afford it. The American dream does not need to include a house if you can't afford a house. And if we want to make houses affordable, do it in a way that is not temporary.

I don't think there are any easy answers out there and we have no leaders willing to tackle these issues right now. It's pretty disgusting.

I'm not even sure how what I've bolded is even possible. Maybe you meant that the upper class needs to do that. I don't know, but as it is written is completely absurd.

[slucero]

I'm not an expert, but I think there are so many things wrong with the way our economy runs and capitalism is not it.

You see the big gap between productivity and wages. A big portion of that gap is filled in by technology investments. I may be more productive, but my employer has to make larger tech investments for that to be true. In the old days, there was no spend on websites and computers. Health care was a lot cheaper, etc. So about the time that technology starts making a major impact, you see productivity skyrocket. It's not that the American worker was working any harder.

I don't think it's a crisis of capitalism. It's a crisis of there no longer being a need for such a huge workforce. We don't have the proper focus on 21st century employment. Everyone can't be a programmer or network guy.

The lower/middle classes have to find ways to share more of the wealth, but it can't be in a fashion that discourages people from trying to build wealth. We need reinvestment incentives, new manufacturing incentives, etc. And stop selling houses to people that cannot afford it. The American dream does not need to include a house if you can't afford a house. And if we want to make houses affordable, do it in a way that is not temporary.

I don't think there are any easy answers out there and we have no leaders willing to tackle these issues right now. It's pretty disgusting.

I'm not even sure how what I've bolded is even possible. Maybe you meant that the upper class needs to do that. I don't know, but as it is written is completely absurd.

This is a good place to start when one is trying to understand wealth inequality in the USA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM

[Memorex]

I'm not an expert, but I think there are so many things wrong with the way our economy runs and capitalism is not it.

You see the big gap between productivity and wages. A big portion of that gap is filled in by technology investments. I may be more productive, but my employer has to make larger tech investments for that to be true. In the old days, there was no spend on websites and computers. Health care was a lot cheaper, etc. So about the time that technology starts making a major impact, you see productivity skyrocket. It's not that the American worker was working any harder.

I don't think it's a crisis of capitalism. It's a crisis of there no longer being a need for such a huge workforce. We don't have the proper focus on 21st century employment. Everyone can't be a programmer or network guy.

The lower/middle classes have to find ways to share more of the wealth, but it can't be in a fashion that discourages people from trying to build wealth. We need reinvestment incentives, new manufacturing incentives, etc. And stop selling houses to people that cannot afford it. The American dream does not need to include a house if you can't afford a house. And if we want to make houses affordable, do it in a way that is not temporary.

I don't think there are any easy answers out there and we have no leaders willing to tackle these issues right now. It's pretty disgusting.

I'm not even sure how what I've bolded is even possible. Maybe you meant that the upper class needs to do that. I don't know, but as it is written is completely absurd.

Yea. I meant share IN more of the wealth. In other words, money needs to find its way back to the lower and middle classes. But that should be done through a proper workforce and some others kinds of balances. Not a distribution of wealth via the tax code.

[The Sushi Hunter]

So, then what is our mission, to topple Assad only?

No one really knows what the real mission is. BOzo is claiming the "mission" is just to take out military equipment that the government has been using against its own people, not to topple Assad. Again, that is simply what BOzo is saying the so called mission is. Look at BOzo's recent track record of deceiving the American people with such things as the email and internet collection. Who thinks this fucking clown is going to be truthful with anything?

Issue is no one really knows exactlly which side has been using the chem weapons.

[conversationpc]

This one's for you, FF!

Those guys had reason to laugh as we had the greatest expansion of our economy ever. The Ruskies went down a notch, Germany was free and the Wall came down. If that was my job I'd be laughing too!

Not only that but we had more people moving from the middle to upper-class than ever before. And most of those were people who earned it, not via lotteries or inheritance.

[steveo777]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/chapter-i ... le/2508418

Some former faculty colleagues today describe Obama as disengaged, doing only what was minimally required and almost never participating in faculty activities.

Seems like he hasn't changed much since those days. Off playing golf or galevanting around the world, while critical work needs to be done and important decisions need to be made, but yet his hands on participation remains minimal.

The article I quoted from actually begins here:

The Obama You Don't Know
http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama

[slucero]

You guys have to look at the bigger picture...

Whenever the primacy of the USD is threatened, the parties agree.

because:

• the Saud family has been funneling billions into the Arab Spring insurgencies
• the Saud family controls OPEC, and OPEC settles oil purchases in USD.
• Oil settlements in USD give the fiat USD real value. (without the need for dollars to settle oil purchases.. the world has no need for the dollar as reserve currency.)

As long as the above continues... In return the US provides covert and overt (read: military) support for the Saudi's political goals and keeping the Saud family in power. It is why they have a token military and the US intelligence and military apparatus are always, in some way involved in their conflicts. The Saudi's want Assad gone, and they (via OPEC) guaranteed the efficacy of the dollar as reserve when they agreed to use only $USD to settle oil purchases. This in effect gives "value" to the fiat USD

and why BOTH parties, whist putting on a show.. eventually always agree.

"Secretary of State John Kerry said at Wednesday’s hearing that Arab counties have offered to pay for the entirety of unseating President Bashar al-Assad if the United States took the lead militarily.

“With respect to Arab countries offering to bear costs and to assess, the answer is profoundly yes,” Kerry said. “They have. That offer is on the table.”

Asked by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) about how much those countries would contribute, Kerry said they have offered to pay for all of a full invasion.

“In fact, some of them have said that if the United States is prepared to go do the whole thing the way we’ve done it previously in other places, they’ll carry that cost,” Kerry said. “That’s how dedicated they are at this. That’s not in the cards, and nobody’s talking about it, but they’re talking in serious ways about getting this done."

BINGO.. might as well just paint "OPEC" on U.S. military vehicles now..

[strangegrey]

BINGO.. might as well just paint "OPEC" on U.S. military vehicles now..

Why stop there? Painting "Al Qaeda" on the tanks gets more to the point.....

[Boomchild]

This man is a fucking joke...


"First of all, I didn't set a red line," said Obama. "The world set a red line. "

He's more of a liar then a joke.

[Boomchild]

So, then what is our mission, to topple Assad only?

No one really knows what the real mission is. BOzo is claiming the "mission" is just to take out military equipment that the government has been using against its own people, not to topple Assad. Again, that is simply what BOzo is saying the so called mission is. Look at BOzo's recent track record of deceiving the American people with such things as the email and internet collection. Who thinks this fucking clown is going to be truthful with anything?

Issue is no one really knows exactlly which side has been using the chem weapons.

B.O. never tells the truth. Whatever he says the outcome or goal is, it's actually something different hidden underneath what he says it is. Also, the reports from the Doctors Without Borders who were on the scene said that they could not determine what type of gas it was and where it came from.

[Boomchild]

"Secretary of State John Kerry said at Wednesday’s hearing that Arab counties have offered to pay for the entirety of unseating President Bashar al-Assad if the United States took the lead militarily.

“With respect to Arab countries offering to bear costs and to assess, the answer is profoundly yes,” Kerry said. “They have. That offer is on the table.”

Asked by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) about how much those countries would contribute, Kerry said they have offered to pay for all of a full invasion.

“In fact, some of them have said that if the United States is prepared to go do the whole thing the way we’ve done it previously in other places, they’ll carry that cost,” Kerry said. “That’s how dedicated they are at this. That’s not in the cards, and nobody’s talking about it, but they’re talking in serious ways about getting this done."

Here's an idea, how about those Arab countries take the money they want to pay the U.S. to do it and use to buy their own weapons and do it themselves. Let them risk their own lives.

[Boomchild]

BINGO.. might as well just paint "OPEC" on U.S. military vehicles now..

LMAO

[Boomchild]

Not only that but we had more people moving from the middle to upper-class than ever before. And most of those were people who earned it, not via lotteries or inheritance.

To me America is still the only place in the world were a average person has the best chance to better themselves, have more freedom, have greater opportunities and earn a better living. I think if this was not the case then people would stop immigrating here.

[slucero]

BINGO.. might as well just paint "OPEC" on U.S. military vehicles now..

Why stop there? Painting "Al Qaeda" on the tanks gets more to the point.....

HAHA.. true that!

[slucero]

"Secretary of State John Kerry said at Wednesday’s hearing that Arab counties have offered to pay for the entirety of unseating President Bashar al-Assad if the United States took the lead militarily.

“With respect to Arab countries offering to bear costs and to assess, the answer is profoundly yes,” Kerry said. “They have. That offer is on the table.”

Asked by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) about how much those countries would contribute, Kerry said they have offered to pay for all of a full invasion.

“In fact, some of them have said that if the United States is prepared to go do the whole thing the way we’ve done it previously in other places, they’ll carry that cost,” Kerry said. “That’s how dedicated they are at this. That’s not in the cards, and nobody’s talking about it, but they’re talking in serious ways about getting this done."

Here's an idea, how about those Arab countries take the money they want to pay the U.S. to do it and use to buy their own weapons and do it themselves. Let them risk their own lives.

Because we can't let them do that... the Russians and the Chinese would be their best friends then .. not us.. and we'd be outta the oil..

Syria is NOT about chemical weapons..

IT

IS

ABOUT

CONTROL

AND

OIL...

[Boomchild]

Because we can't let them do that... the Russians and the Chinese would be their best friends then .. not us.. and we'd be outta the oil..

Syria is NOT about chemical weapons..

IT

IS

ABOUT

CONTROL

AND

OIL...

I get all of that. My reply is out of frustration. I am sick and tired of Americans dying over there for countries that couldn't give a shit and people that just want to hold us hostage to their oil supply.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

I'm not an expert, but I think there are so many things wrong with the way our economy runs and capitalism is not it.

You see the big gap between productivity and wages. A big portion of that gap is filled in by technology investments. I may be more productive, but my employer has to make larger tech investments for that to be true. In the old days, there was no spend on websites and computers. Health care was a lot cheaper, etc. So about the time that technology starts making a major impact, you see productivity skyrocket. It's not that the American worker was working any harder.

I don't think it's a crisis of capitalism. It's a crisis of there no longer being a need for such a huge workforce. We don't have the proper focus on 21st century employment. Everyone can't be a programmer or network guy.

The lower/middle classes have to find ways to share more of the wealth, but it can't be in a fashion that discourages people from trying to build wealth. We need reinvestment incentives, new manufacturing incentives, etc. And stop selling houses to people that cannot afford it. The American dream does not need to include a house if you can't afford a house. And if we want to make houses affordable, do it in a way that is not temporary.

I don't think there are any easy answers out there and we have no leaders willing to tackle these issues right now. It's pretty disgusting.

I'm not even sure how what I've bolded is even possible. Maybe you meant that the upper class needs to do that. I don't know, but as it is written is completely absurd.

This is a good place to start when one is trying to understand wealth inequality in the USA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM

If you want to understand the cause of inequality is down to one thing- inflation caused by constant printing and counterfitting of money. Why because it makes dollars worth less, and that inflation hurts people unevenly. Doesn't hurt the banking class or the Washington DC area worker which gets the benefit of the newly printed money quick . It hurts everyone else and erodes the living standard. Capitalism or free markets are not at fault for inequality . The control of the money supply by central banks and government is.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Just reading and seeing pix of what the Syrian rebels are doing to captured Syrian soldiers. How the fuck can BOzo aid these rebel fucks with American tax dollars is beyond me. I say let that country work their issues out for themselves.

[Boomchild]

Just reading and seeing pix of what the Syrian rebels are doing to captured Syrian soldiers. How the fuck can BOzo aid these rebel fucks with American tax dollars is beyond me. I say let that country work their issues out for themselves.

Here's more of what the "rebels" that Kerry and McCain want us to believe are "moderates" are up to. Maybe if McCain would stop playing poker on his phone and pay attention he would realize that these rebels are not so "moderate". Syria is a lose\lose situation and for that reason we should just stay out of it all together.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... hrist.html

[steveo777]

Just reading and seeing pix of what the Syrian rebels are doing to captured Syrian soldiers. How the fuck can BOzo aid these rebel fucks with American tax dollars is beyond me. I say let that country work their issues out for themselves.

Here's more of what the "rebels" that Kerry and McCain want us to believe are "moderates" are up to. Maybe if McCain would stop playing poker on his phone and pay attention he would realize that these rebels are not so "moderate". Syria is a lose\lose situation and for that reason we should just stay out of it all together.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... hrist.html

I think we should just stay out of Syria altogether. No defined target. No defined people we're against. Great possibility of enciting wars with other countries. I have a better idea.....If Obama is so hell bent on striking some target, why not just go take out Iran's nukes? Let the Syrian radicals kill each other if that's what they want to do.

[slucero]

Just reading and seeing pix of what the Syrian rebels are doing to captured Syrian soldiers. How the fuck can BOzo aid these rebel fucks with American tax dollars is beyond me. I say let that country work their issues out for themselves.

Here's more of what the "rebels" that Kerry and McCain want us to believe are "moderates" are up to. Maybe if McCain would stop playing poker on his phone and pay attention he would realize that these rebels are not so "moderate". Syria is a lose\lose situation and for that reason we should just stay out of it all together.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... hrist.html

I think we should just stay out of Syria altogether. No defined target. No defined people we're against. Great possibility of enciting wars with other countries. I have a better idea.....If Obama is so hell bent on striking some target, why not just go take out Iran's nukes? Let the Syrian radicals kill each other if that's what they want to do.

You guys are still missing the big picture in all of this... if it ever was about "doing the right thing".. the U.S. would have invaded Somalia 10 years ago..

It never has been about doing the right thing... it's ALWAYS been about control of Middle East Oil... if the US loses it.. china and Russia will step right in.. and dethrone the $USD as the currency used for oil payment, and replace it with the rubble and the renmibi... which would destroy the USD as reserve currency of the world.

This is not about, and never has been about Syria, or the use of WMD..

The U.S. HAS to maintain indirect control over the region in order to ensure that the $USD remains the currency used for oil purchases, which KEEPS it reserve currency in the world.... and the U.S. does this by getting, and staying in bed with the country that runs OPEC... Saudi Arabia.

Here's a video of a Syrian rebel ADMITTING they are using chem weps..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kda1KhqlU

[Boomchild]

You guys are still missing the big picture in all of this... if it ever was about "doing the right thing".. the U.S. would have invaded Somalia 10 years ago..

It never has been about doing the right thing... it's ALWAYS been about control of Middle East Oil... if the US loses it.. china and Russia will step right in.. and dethrone the $USD as the currency used for oil payment, and replace it with the rubble and the renmibi... which would destroy the USD as reserve currency of the world.

This is not about, and never has been about Syria, or the use of WMD..

The U.S. HAS to maintain indirect control over the region in order to ensure that the $USD remains the currency used for oil purchases, which KEEPS it reserve currency in the world.... and the U.S. does this by getting, and staying in bed with the country that runs OPEC... Saudi Arabia.

Here's a video of a Syrian rebel ADMITTING they are using chem weps..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kda1KhqlU

So if the U.S. bombs Syria as the B.O. administration wants to do and it spirals into a regional war, what are the chances that the U.S. losing control of oil thus losing the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency?

[slucero]

You guys are still missing the big picture in all of this... if it ever was about "doing the right thing".. the U.S. would have invaded Somalia 10 years ago..

It never has been about doing the right thing... it's ALWAYS been about control of Middle East Oil... if the US loses it.. china and Russia will step right in.. and dethrone the $USD as the currency used for oil payment, and replace it with the rubble and the renmibi... which would destroy the USD as reserve currency of the world.

This is not about, and never has been about Syria, or the use of WMD..

The U.S. HAS to maintain indirect control over the region in order to ensure that the $USD remains the currency used for oil purchases, which KEEPS it reserve currency in the world.... and the U.S. does this by getting, and staying in bed with the country that runs OPEC... Saudi Arabia.

Here's a video of a Syrian rebel ADMITTING they are using chem weps..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kda1KhqlU

So if the U.S. bombs Syria as the B.O. administration wants to do and it spirals into a regional war, what are the chances that the U.S. losing control of oil thus losing the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency?

The US gets 55% of their oil from the Middle East ( http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=727&t=6 )

if the Middle East erupts in war.. Oil production slows, or halts altogether.... and ALL currencies will be affected.. ALL markets will tanks.. because oil trumps ALL.


..think about what any interruption, for any reason, of 55% of the USA's oil imports would do to our way of life..

[steveo777]

You guys are still missing the big picture in all of this... if it ever was about "doing the right thing".. the U.S. would have invaded Somalia 10 years ago..

It never has been about doing the right thing... it's ALWAYS been about control of Middle East Oil... if the US loses it.. china and Russia will step right in.. and dethrone the $USD as the currency used for oil payment, and replace it with the rubble and the renmibi... which would destroy the USD as reserve currency of the world.

This is not about, and never has been about Syria, or the use of WMD..

The U.S. HAS to maintain indirect control over the region in order to ensure that the $USD remains the currency used for oil purchases, which KEEPS it reserve currency in the world.... and the U.S. does this by getting, and staying in bed with the country that runs OPEC... Saudi Arabia.

Here's a video of a Syrian rebel ADMITTING they are using chem weps..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kda1KhqlU

So if the U.S. bombs Syria as the B.O. administration wants to do and it spirals into a regional war, what are the chances that the U.S. losing control of oil thus losing the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency?

The US gets 55% of their oil from the Middle East ( http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=727&t=6 )

if the Middle East erupts in war.. Oil production slows, or halts altogether.... and ALL currencies will be affected.. ALL markets will tanks.. because oil trumps ALL.


..think about what any interruption, for any reason, of 55% of the USA's oil imports would do to our way of life..

I'm not sure about that. We get most of our Oil from Canada, Venezuela and Mexico. We are not as dependent on the middle east as some folks want you to believe. We are also pumping out slews of crude in North Dakota. We just are not that dependent on the M.E. for oil. There must be more to this than just oil. Could be diamonds, could be gold, but something is keeping us chained over there.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

I'm not sure about that. We get most of our Oil from Canada, Venezuela and Mexico. We are not as dependent on the middle east as some folks want you to believe. We are also pumping out slews of crude in North Dakota. We just are not that dependent on the M.E. for oil. There must be more to this than just oil. Could be diamonds, could be gold, but something is keeping us chained over there.

Yes we are less dependent on ME oil now true- the problem is the rest of the world still is , and supply flows over there will affect the overall global price of oil anywhere . Also it is the reserve currency thing - even if we didn't get a single barrel of oil from over there the fact that all oil is paid for and traded in US dollars that is of strategic importance to the US. Of course if we spend as much time worrying about how to keep the US economy on a sound footing and had a gold backed dollar we wouldn't loose reserve status irrespective of what ever happened in the Middle East - that strength would ensure the dollar was always the reserve currency.

[Memorex]

Remember when the unemployment number dropping was good news that everyone could feel good about? Now, it's scary when the number drops. It's terrible news because it's all based on people giving up. Our country now is plagued with people having to give up to the point they no longer count. The psychology of that is terrible.

[The Sushi Hunter]

The Syrian Government has been in place for "x" many years. We've been doing business with Arab nations for "x" many years. The world has been doing business with Arab nations for "x" many years.

So how is BOzo going in and helping prevent the Syrian Government from supposedly gassing it's own going to effect all the oil business in that region?

[slucero]

I'm not sure about that. We get most of our Oil from Canada, Venezuela and Mexico. We are not as dependent on the middle east as some folks want you to believe. We are also pumping out slews of crude in North Dakota. We just are not that dependent on the M.E. for oil. There must be more to this than just oil. Could be diamonds, could be gold, but something is keeping us chained over there.

I guess a lot has changed in 1 year... especially since the data I refer to is from 2012...

click the link Steve... or here.. read the article with the chart..

[slucero]

The Syrian Government has been in place for "x" many years. We've been doing business with Arab nations for "x" many years. The world has been doing business with Arab nations for "x" many years.

So how is BOzo going in and helping prevent the Syrian Government from supposedly gassing it's own going to effect all the oil business in that region?

O bombs Syria
Al Queda attacks all US embassies in the Middle East
Al Queda attacks all US interests in the Middle East
Iran joins war with Syria
Arab countries open the purse to fund Hezbolah, Al Queda, and countless other anti-American groups


This will unify the Muslim terrorist groups, who see oil consumption as the U.S. Achilles Heel (which it is)... and engage in systematically striking the US by attacking oil production in the Middle East.... remember when Saddam blew up his own wells?

See the above chart... 55% of all US oil imports are OPEC.. OPEC IS the Middle East..

if the Middle East is embroiled in war.. Any combination of the oil flow stopping, or the price rising... will affect the already fragile US economy.


What an easy way for Obama to further cripple the U.S... and have U.S. citizens cheering him on..

[The Sushi Hunter]

I helped blow up a few of those oil rigs back in the first Gulf War. We had to. Iraq's Navy was using them to hide their hover craft and gun boats under. On the first occasion we rolled in on them and ripped those fuckers new assholes with a few MK82's. The second time we dropped a few Mk84's. Oil rig fire was the result. Mind you, these rigs were only out in the gulf, not on land or near the beach. Our task force only took out only two that I know of. I got some really good video footage of it. But this was just far and few in between. When Saddam knew his goose was cooked, he ordered his remaining troops to set fire to as many rigs as possible. Understand and never foreget, it was to Saddam that oil was the only reason for invading Kuwait and going to war with the Americans and their allies, not the other way around.