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It certainly smells as fishy as any other DC area suicide the last 10 or 15 years. And that Baxter suicide, the guy from Enron, that was another one.
We're seeing alot of smoke and mirrors from the banks and financial sector( where the government has taken control) and speculators are running the market up, but there's weakness everywhere else.
Ani, I'm not sure if you're being satirical or not, so I will respond as if you were not.
In 1794, the farmers on the western frontier thought they could get away with refusing to pay their tax on whiskey. That is, until Washington showed up with approximately 13,000 militia men. The point is: we cannot be certain of the reactions of the US government.
Seccession's a very drastic maneuver, and should be left off the table. There's no person in the state of North Carolina that can guarantee me the moment independence is declared there won't be a few M1A1 Abrams tanks sitting right out front of the state house in Raleigh. Or, a more probable scenario, the army of the Old North State deciding that any activity at Camp LeJeune or Fort Bragg is a breach of faith and raid them. History repeats itself, Ani, and I would seriously advise anyone throwing around the idea of seccession to consider the possiblity of not being let go so freely.
I feel like Rhett Butler pointing out how many cannon factories there are in the South. However, I didn't stay out most of the night with a Charleston girl and then refuse to marry her.
"Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war; this war talk's spoiling all the fun at every party this spring. I get so bored I could scream. Besides... there isn't going to be any war."
Now, Rhett (er, Art) . . . you know I was just trying to point out that this state could be doing a whole lot more than is being done to take care of our own issues (and budget) if our General Assembly would man-up and do what is necessary to balance the state budget and quit playing footsie w/ the feds. That includes everything from healthcare to our schools. We have given away our individual state rights while the feds have given away this country's sovereign rights.
Somewhere along the line, someone needs to take a stand and start dealing w/ meeting the needs (and solving the issues) at the LOCAL LEVEL. Things are so tangled up at this point . . . I totally got it why SC's Governor wanted to refuse "stimulus" money. We might as well not even have borders b/n our states any longer - b/c there is so little that defines each state in this union. We are all subject to the Feds and their regs and the entitlement programs that their regs created - and that Federal $$$ have perpetuated. Massachusetts had the right idea w/ healthcare, but implementation . . . not so sure. At least they were attempting to address the issue at a local/state level.
Something is just WRONG when the federal government collects more taxes from citizens than the STATE government! Why we all seem to accept this - I cannot quite fathom. ????
I am more into thnikig that it just shows that there are not many that can handle this type of pressure. They get depressed and then go into a depression that few can understand.Look at the number of people that are just saying no thanks and leaving this environment now days.
"Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war; this war talk's spoiling all the fun at every party this spring. I get so bored I could scream. Besides... there isn't going to be any war."
Now, Rhett (er, Art) . . . you know I was just trying to point out that this state could be doing a whole lot more than is being done to take care of our own issues (and budget) if our General Assembly would man-up and do what is necessary to balance the state budget and quit playing footsie w/ the feds. That includes everything from healthcare to our schools. We have given away our individual state rights while the feds have given away this country's sovereign rights.
Somewhere along the line, someone needs to take a stand and start dealing w/ meeting the needs (and solving the issues) at the LOCAL LEVEL. Things are so tangled up at this point . . . I totally got it why SC's Governor wanted to refuse "stimulus" money. We might as well not even have borders b/n our states any longer - b/c there is so little that defines each state in this union. We are all subject to the Feds and their regs and the entitlement programs that their regs created - and that Federal $$$ have perpetuated. Massachusetts had the right idea w/ healthcare, but implementation . . . not so sure. At least they were attempting to address the issue at a local/state level.
Something is just WRONG when the federal government collects more taxes from citizens than the STATE government! Why we all seem to accept this - I cannot quite fathom. ????
And I agree 100% that the state goverment has a better understanding of where to allocate economic resources in their state. I am very much a proponent of the 10th Amendment. It would be better for local businesses if they didn't have to send out money for FUTA, FICA, and a nice chunk of FIT or at the very least just sending that money to the state. At least the money stays in house. That's one of the reasons why I said I've got issues with the US government. However, I believe a lighter (e.g. a severe reduction of the IRS, non-essential programs, etc.), more flexible government (e.g. the ability to transfer certain duties to the state or citizens, if necessary) would be a better fit at this time, not to mention better for business.
I help my parents with their small business, and wonder how other entrepreneurs navigate the IRS Publications. How many of them fell flat on their face with tax filings and penalties? The IRC can be so esoteric at times.
As you can tell, it just concerns me when talk of secession is used. I don't think people really understand the ramifications of such. I see the economy and business hurting more without the union than with it.
It certainly smells as fishy as any other DC area suicide the last 10 or 15 years. And that Baxter suicide, the guy from Enron, that was another one. We're seeing alot of smoke and mirrors from the banks and financial sector( where the government has taken control) and speculators are running the market up, but there's weakness everywhere else.
Some of the story is coming out on BofA and Merrill Lynch. Bernanke and Paulson strong-armed BofA's Lewis:
"At a meeting that evening Secretary Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Lewis, Bank of America's CFO, and other officials discussed the issues surrounding invocation of the MAC clause by Bank of America. The Federal officials asked Bank of America not to invoke the MAC until there was further consultation. There were follow-up calls with various Treasury and Federal Reserve officials, including with Treasury Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke. During those meetings, the federal government officials pressured Bank of America not to seek to rescind the merger agreement. We do not yet have a complete picture of the Federal Reserve's role in these matters because the Federal Reserve has invoked the bank examination privilege. Bank of America's attempt to exit the merger came to a halt on December 21, 2008. That day, Lewis informed Secretary Paulson that Bank of America still wanted to exit the merger agreement. According to Lewis, Secretary Paulson then advised Lewis that, if Bank of America invoked the MAC, its management and Board would be replaced" Text of Cuomo letter on Merrill Lynch takeover - MarketWatch
(MAC: material adverse event)
Read Cuomo's entire letter. Bernanke and Paulson heavily pressured Lewis to screw BofA's shareholders and bondholders.
Can't someone commit suicide these days without there being more than depression?
And depression over money no less. The last murder/suicide where the guy shot his family and himself had to do with him being in over $450K debt and going under.
I guess when you live that high off the hog the thought of bankruptcy and or lower living standards is not an option. Boggles the mind though how money can have so much of a control over people.
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