Forget About Recovery

[baja]

Forget About Recovery

By James Howard Kunstler for Cluster**** Nation

At the risk of confirming my critics' dumbest charge -- that I am a "doomer" -- the mandate of clarity requires me to ask: to what state of affairs do we expect to recover? If the answer is a return to an economy based on building ever more suburban sprawl, on credit card over-spending, on routine securitized debt shenanigans in banking, and on consistently lying to ourselves about what reality demands of us, then we are a mortally deluded nation. We're done with that, we're beyond that now, we've crossed the frontier and left that all behind, and we'd better get our heads straight about it.

I maintain that there are countless constructive tasks waiting to occupy us on a long national "to do" list for rebuilding a national economy, but they are way different than the ones currently preoccupying government and the mainstream media. The Obama White House, Congress, and The New York Times are hung up on exercises in futility -- "rescuing" banks and insurance companies that cannot be rescued (because they are hopelessly trapped in "black hole" credit default swaps contracts), and re-starting a "consumer" binge that was completely crazy in the first place, based, as it was, on a something-for-nothing standard-of-living.

Meanwhile, if the buzz on the blogosphere is a measure of anything -- and I think it is -- then a new consensus is forming out there about where to start doing things differently. Unfortunately after less than two months in office, President Obama finds himself awkwardly behind-the-curve on this. It begins with the understanding that a general bank rescue is hopeless and, going a step further, that the people who caused the train wreck of "innovative" securities have to be prosecuted. The public's collective voice on this is muted but growing. It has been muted by the general air of blackmail that the banks have used to enthrall policy and opinion -- the "too big to fail" idea -- in effect holding the nation's future for ransom.

Last week, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo hauled Bank of America chief Ken Lewis into his office to explain who, exactly, received an aggregate several billion dollars in bonuses late in 2008 after the US Treasury forked over billions of dollars in TARP money to his bank. That was a good start. Mr. Lewis, being lawyered-up to the max, had the temerity to reply that answering the question would compromise his ability to keep talented people in his employ. For that impertinence alone, Mr. Lewis ought to be dragged over fifteen miles of broken chardonnay bottles behind a GMC Yukon -- but that is not how we do things in American jurisprudence. To be more realistic, a simple indictment would be in order, and then Mr. Lewis can answer this question, and a few others, in the comfort of an air-conditioned courtroom. Ultimately, that might lead to Mr. Lewis becoming the wife of a bodybuilder in one of New York State's houses of correction -- a just outcome that would go far in rejiggering the nation's expectations about how people in authority ought to behave. And such an outcome might lead to the conviction of many other brides-to-be from the Wall Street debutante pool.

Now it has come to light, just last week in the wake of AIG's latest bail-out, that previous AIG bail-out money to the tune of $50 billion was distributed to a set of banks including Goldman Sachs (former employer of then Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and then New York Federal Reserve Governor Tim Geithner), plus Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Mr. Lewis's Bank of America, and a long list of European banks with operations in the USA. Since the transactions took place in New York State, the investigation of these irregularities alone could solve the unemployment problem here if NY Attorney General Cuomo were given a free hand in hiring staff to depose everyone involved -- including the hiring of caterers to bring in coffee and meals for round-the-clock proceedings.

All of this raises another awkward question: where is United States Attorney General Eric Holder in this situation? Surely the federal statutes offer some grounds for inquiring about the misuse of Treasury funds -- and many other issues arising from Wall Street's stupendous orgy of misbehavior. What I'm hearing out in the blogosphere is a growing clamor to call people to account before we are really able to move on to the massive task-list that awaits us in rebuilding our economy.

The bigger question for now is whether any of these authorities will act effectively before the public simply goes ape**** and starts burning down Greenwich, Connecticut. The dangerous shift in public mood is liable to occur with shocking swiftness, in the manner of "phase change," where one moment you see a bewildered bunch of flabby clown-citizens vacuously enraptured by "American Idol," and the next moment they are transformed into a vicious mob hoisting flaming brands to the window treatments of a hedge funder's McMansion. The moment of opportunity for avoiding that outcome is looking sickeningly slim right now.

Another thing that President Obama can set into motion anytime -- and pull himself back to the head of the curve of leadership -- is to either by executive order or by proposal to congress, shut down the credit default swap system for a period of time while procedures are drawn up to place all these dubious contracts in a "clearing" market, where the holders of them will have to come clean about what they're sitting on. The lack of this procedure is allowing zombie banks to hold the United States hostage for never-ending bail-out ransoms. None of these banks are going to survive another six months anyway, so the basic blackmail motif that the whole money system will collapse if ransoms are not paid is a bluff that has to be called sooner or later in any case. So Mr. Obama might as well get on with it.

[baja]

This is one you should read...

[watermock]

jeezus...I thight there was allready some movement on CDO's in regards to regulation.

There has been nothing. We are throwing trillions into a black hole.

[watermock]

Now it has come to light, just last week in the wake of AIG's latest bail-out, that previous AIG bail-out money to the tune of $50 billion was distributed to a set of banks including Goldman Sachs (former employer of then Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and then New York Federal Reserve Governor Tim Geithner), plus Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Mr. Lewis's Bank of America, and a long list of European banks with operations in the USA. Since the transactions took place in New York State, the investigation of these irregularities alone could solve the unemployment problem here if NY Attorney General Cuomo were given a free hand in hiring staff to depose everyone involved -- including the hiring of caterers to bring in coffee and meals for round-the-clock proceedings.

unreal

[cutthemdown]

A couple big banks should maybe fail. Don't make same mistake Japanese made.

Eventually though I think it will go back to like it was before. And people will forget, a new bubble will form, and then another bust. It probably continues like that forever, or until China refuses to buy USA treasury bonds.

[baja]

Originally Posted by watermock

unreal

Isn't that fuccking unbelievable.

[baja]

It's going to get ugly when people realize how badly they have been had. It's going to get ugly when the day comes that people wake up and realize they have been left with nothing, nothing.

[mhgaffney]

Other experts I respect are saying similar things. IF they are correct -- later this year the economy will flatline. After that who knows?

I don't see help from the Justice Department. Unless Obama takes some radical steps.

I read a book recently, THE OCTOPUS, by Kenn Thomas and Jim Keith. It convinced me the DoJ has been part of the problem since at least the Clinton administration.

[W*GS]

Any thread dominated by baja, watermock, and gaffney?

Chock-full o' stupidity and doomsterism.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by W*GS

Any thread dominated by baja, watermock, and gaffney?

Chock-full o' stupidity and doomsterism.

Yesterday, Warren Buffett stated publicly that the U.S. economy has "gone over the cliff." Is he a "doomster?" This morning it was reported that the U.S. job loss rate is just now passing 1982's, which was the worst in modern times. You think all this means nothing? Or is your pretense of superiority simply an expression to mask terror?. If you have some fount of knowledge on the subject, by all means share it. Otherwise, STFU.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Yesterday, Warren Buffett stated publicly that the U.S. economy has "gone over the cliff." Is he a "doomster?" This morning it was reported that the U.S. job loss rate is just now passing 1982's, which was the worst in modern times. You think all this means nothing? Or is your pretense of superiority simply an expression to mask terror?. If you have some fount of knowledge on the subject, by all means share it. Otherwise, STFU.

Buffett from the same interview...

----------------------------------------------------------
Billionaire Warren Buffett remains confident that America’s best days are ahead.

He predicted that unemployment will rise, but he also reiterated his optimistic long-term view: “Everything will be all right..”

Buffett said the nation’s leaders need to emphasize a consistent message, and they should support President Barack Obama’s efforts to repair the economy.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

Buffett from the same interview...

----------------------------------------------------------
Billionaire Warren Buffett remains confident that America’s best days are ahead.

He predicted that unemployment will rise, but he also reiterated his optimistic long-term view: “Everything will be all right..”

Buffett said the nation’s leaders need to emphasize a consistent message, and they should support President Barack Obama’s efforts to repair the economy.

If I controlled billions in Berkshire Hathaway, I'd also be telling my shareholders that everything will be all right. Last thing Warren needs is a bunch of scared people cashing out.

[W*GS]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Yesterday, Warren Buffett stated publicly that the U.S. economy has "gone over the cliff." Is he a "doomster?" This morning it was reported that the U.S. job loss rate is just now passing 1982's, which was the worst in modern times. You think all this means nothing? Or is your pretense of superiority simply an expression to mask terror?. If you have some fount of knowledge on the subject, by all means share it. Otherwise, STFU.

Bite me, you SOB.

That said, we're still a long ways from the "riots in the streets" scenario envisioned by gaffney, baja, watermock, et.al. Believing that he dissolution of civilization and a Dark Ages II is imminent is so ****ing stupid, I'm surprised you fall for that crap, Ro.

Yes, things are tough - tougher than they've been in a long time. Are the End Times near? No.

[DenverBrit]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

1st Post

2nd post.

Ok, which side of the fence are you going to land on?

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by DenverBrit

Ok, which side of the fence are you going to land on?

Seriously. Buffett's opinion only counts when it supports your views Ro?

[baja]

Originally Posted by W*GS

Bite me, you SOB.

That said, we're still a long ways from the "riots in the streets" scenario envisioned by gaffney, baja, watermock, et.al. Believing that he dissolution of civilization and a Dark Ages II is imminent is so ****ing stupid, I'm surprised you fall for that crap, Ro.

Yes, things are tough - tougher than they've been in a long time. Are the End Times near? No.

No one is talking about the end of humanity.

I am very excited about the future. A future where the unsustainable systems of greed and usury end and are replaced with systems that serve all people and respect the needs of the planet that sustains all life.

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by baja

No one is talking about the end of humanity.

I am very excited about the future. A future where the unsustainable systems of greed and usury end and are replaced with systems that serve all people and respect the needs of the planet that sustains all life.

What form do you expect this utopia to come in?

[Bronco_Beerslug]

.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

If I controlled billions in Berkshire Hathaway, I'd also be telling my shareholders that everything will be all right. Last thing Warren needs is a bunch of scared people cashing out.

If anyone is interested, here's Buffett's portfolio....

---------------------------------------------------------------------
This page shows the Portfolio Holdings of Warren Buffett. It tells us what Warren Buffett holds in different sectors/industries and the percentage of each holdings in his portfolio. Also please click on the industry to see the details of industries weightings.

Portfolio Statistics: Portfolio Name: Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Date: 2008-12-31 Number of Stocks: 41 Total Value: $ 51.87 billion Number of New Stocks: 2

Sector/Industry Weightings Financials 29.6% Utilities 1.5% Consumer Services 5.1% Health Care 4.4% Consumer Goods 36.9% Industrials 14.5% Oil & Gas 8%

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Click to see individual stocks.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by DenverBrit

Ok, which side of the fence are you going to land on?

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. (Emerson)

[DenverBrit]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. (Emerson)

Oh sure, quote Emerson now you need him.

[baja]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

What form do you expect this utopia to come in?

This Is Our Moment!
by Patricia Diane Cota-Robles
In the deepest recesses of our hearts, we have always known that this time would come. World religions and prophecies t hroughout the Ages have all talked about these “end times.” What Humanity is experiencing now has been referred to time and again in various ancient scriptures as the “time of screaming and the gnashing of teeth.” Despite that ominous description, ALL of us volunteered to be here during this purging process.
The question is, why would we subject ourselves to such pain and suffering? Why would we agree to be in physical embodiment during the most challenging time in the evolution of this planet? Well, the answer is clear. We volunteered to be on Earth at this time because we were shown the bigger picture.
In that revelation, we saw the end result of our endeavors in this lifetime. We saw what life will be like on this planet after the obsolete behavior patterns of Humanity’s fallen consciousness are purged and all of our human miscreations are transmuted back into Light. With that sacred knowledge, we kne w through every fiber of our Beings that no matter what we had to endure in this process, it was going to be worth every bit of it.
We were shown the New Earth in all of her splendor. We witnessed Humanity living with the full knowledge of the Oneness of all Life. On this New Earth, every soul recognizes and reveres the Divinity within every other soul and in every particle of Life. People work together to find viable solutions that reflect the highest good for all concerned in every situation. Win-win experiences are achieved in every line of endeavor. The New Earth transcends all of the maladies now existing on this planet. Exquisite joy, love, abundance, health, happiness, peace, wisdom, enlightenment, and every other aspect of our Father-Mother God are the order of the day on the New Earth.
This is not, however, the only reason we made the sacrifice to embody on Earth during this unprecedented moment. Through our I AM Presence, we were well aware of the Universal Laws governing the evolution of the Sons and Daughters of God. We knew that in order for something to manifest in the physical plane, it must be invoked or asked for through the free will choice of someone existing in the physical plane.
With this inner knowing, we clearly understood that in order for us to transform the Earth and all her Life into the infinite perfection of the New Earth, we must be abiding in the physical plane. This is what is meant by the words, “God needs a body.”
No matter how much our Father-Mother God and the Company of Heaven want to help us lift out of the horrific situations we have created, they will not interfere with our free will. But once we lift our heads above the mud puddle of our human miscreations and ask for Divine Intervention, the floodgates of Heaven open in response to our heartfelt pleas.
In order for the Sons and Daughters of God to transmute the human miscreations we have deliberately or inadvertently created during our Earthly sojourns, we must invoke the Light of God and project that Light through the Divinity in our hearts into whatever it is we are striving to transmute.
Our Father-Mother God revealed to us the miracles we would be able to accomplish by embodying on Earth and joining forces with other Lightworkers. We were shown that the unified efforts of embodied Lightworkers and the Company of Heaven have the ability to move Heaven and Earth. Together we can greatly accelerate the transmutation of the surfacing negativity. With this clarity, we understood without reservation that we are capable of assisting Humanity and all Life on this planet through the tumultuous end times in a matter of months, not years.
With this knowing, each of us willingly responded to the heart call of our I AM Presence and selfles sly volunteered to embody on Earth. The Divine Intent of our mission is to assist in quickly transmuting Humanity’s miscreations and to invoke the Light of God in order to expand the patterns of perfection for the New Earth in the physical plane.
We are One with all Life. This means that every particle of Life on Earth is interdependent, interrelated, and interconnected. What affects one part of Life affects all Life. “As I AM lifted up, ALL Life is lifted up with me.” The fact that we are One allows each of us to serve as a surrogate on behalf of every man, woman, and child on this planet. We truly are our brother and sister’s keepers.
Whenever there is such a monumental demonstration of selfless Divine Love by the Sons and Daughters of God, our God Parents balance our efforts with additional grants of Light. In this case, a Cosmic Dispensation was granted to the Company of Heaven giving permission for the Beings of Light in the Realms of Illumined Truth to come through the veil to meet us halfway. As a result of this gift of Divine Grace, we are now receiving more assistance from On High than has ever been granted to the Children of God in the whole of Creation.
We are in the midst of the most intensified cleansing Humanity has ever experienced. This event is catapulting us forward in the Light, and people everywhere are beginning to awaken. Their I AM Presence is taking dominion of their thoughts, words, actions, and feelings. People, en masse, are starting to remember who they are and why they are here.
When our awakening occurs, we remember our purpose and reason for being. Then our I AM Presence magnetizes to us information and whatever else we need to help us fulfill our part of the unfolding Divine Plan. We listen to the inner promptings of our heart, and we realize that this is our moment. We understand that this moment is the culmination of everything we have been preparing for, everything we agreed to accomplish for ourselves and Humanity prior to this embodiment, everything we agreed to do to assist this blessed planet and ALL her Life into the patterns of perfection for the New Earth.
My experience has been that even with this inner knowing, awakening people often hear the word Lightworker and feel that term is referring to someone else. They believe that a Lightworker must be someone special, someone who is far more adept then they are at invoking the Light of God on behalf of Humanity. Many times this misunderstanding prevents people from taking the action they are capable of taking and from trusting themselves enough to do what their heart is encouraging them to do.
During this auspicious moment on Earth, every person on the planet is capable of being a Lightworker. KNOW that it is not by chance that your I AM Presence has magnetized this information into your sphere of awareness. You are reading these words because YOU are a Lightworker! Please take this information into your heart-of-hearts, and ask your I AM Presence what your part is in this vitally important facet of the unfoldi ng Divine Plan.
The Need of the Hour
The Company of Heaven has assured us that the meltdown that is occurring in the global economy is a necessary part of Humanity’s cleansing process. For aeons of time, our monetary system has been used to manipulate, control, dominate, and abuse the peoples of the world. Now that the archetypes for God’s Infinite Abundance and Eternal Peace have been anchored in the physical plane, everything that conflicts with those patterns of perfection is being pushed to the surface to be healed and transmuted into Light.
There are people in positions of power around the planet who are scrambling to try and hold on to the old monetary system, which is crumbling before our very eyes. This obsolete paradigm was based in greed, selfishness, corruption, and the abuse of power. These behavior patterns cannot and will not be sustained within the 5th-Dimensional frequencies of the New Earth. Too many people have awakened, and as a result of this monumental shift of consciousness, the Light of God has reclaimed this Earth.
Fortunately, there are also people in positions of power who are very aware of what is taking place. These enlightened souls are cocreating a new monetary system. This system will be based in integrity, generosity, fairness, compassion, and the highest good for all concerned. It will rise out of the ashes of our obsolete monetary system like a mighty Phoenix.
In order for the pain and suffering involved with the collapse of the old monetary system to be cleared and transmuted as quickly as possible, Lightworkers are being called into=2 0action. Our unified efforts will allow this purging process to be accomplished much sooner than seems possible from outer appearances. Many experts believe the painful effects of the present purging of our global economy will take years to overcome. But the Company of Heaven has assured us that the unified efforts of the Lightworkers can complete this process “in the twinkling of an eye.”
Beloved Ones, accomplishing this mighty feat is the greatest need of the hour.
Once this facet of the Divine Plan is complete, the patterns of perfection for the New Earth will easily expand through the hearts and minds of all Humanity. This will enable our Divine Birthright to be restored. That Birthright is the perpetual flow of God’s Infinite Abundance and Eternal Peace.
A Divine Plan has been set in motion to accomplish this vitally important mission. The Company of Heaven is invoking Lightworkers around the world to come together both physically and in consciousness to fulfill this plan. If you are reading these words, your I AM Presence is revealing that you have a part to play in this unfolding Divine Plan.
Listen to your heart. Your I AM Presence will guide you unerringly. Your part of the plan will be revealed to you. You will know in your heart-of-hearts how you can best add to the Light of the world during these end times. When you respond to your heart’s call, you will be God in Action, and you will fulfill your part of the plan by quickly transmuting the surfacing negativity.
The Divine Plan
In order to accomplish this facet of the Divine Plan, our Father-Mother God and the Beings of Light in the Realms of Illumined Truth are sending forth a Clarion Call to all embodied Lightworkers. We are being asked to gather within the portal of the most powerful 5th-Dimensional frequencies of healing and transmutation on Earth. This Portal of Light in Tucson, Arizona, is the location on the planet where the Flame of Healing Through the Power of Infinite Transmutation is projected from the core of Creation into the center of the Earth. From the heart of Mother Earth, this Sacred Fire expands through the Crystal Grid System to bless all Life.
The Flame of Healing Through the Power of Infinite Transmutation is a resplendent emerald green flame with a violet radiance. It is the most powerful frequency of healing and transmutation on Earth, and it is the instrument through which Humanity’s surfacing miscreations will be transmuted into Light at a greatly accelerated pace.
The Company of Heaven is asking Lightworkers from all over the world to gather within this Portal of Light to unite our Heart Flames. Together we will form a mighty transformer through which the Light of God will flow to accomplish the most powerful healing and transmuting of Humanity’s miscreation ever to manifest in the history of time.
It is critical that Lightworkers from around the world be physically present in order to form this transformer. All of the Lightworkers who have been prepared to serve in this wondrous way on behalf of Humanity and all Life on this sweet Earth will know who they are through the inner promptings of their heart. Listen to your heart, and Trust your inner guidance. Your Light is urgently needed.
In addition to those inspired to be physically present, there will be Lightworkers who will join in consciousness from points of Light around the world. These Lightworkers will project the Light flowing through their Heart Flames into the Portal of Light where the Lightworkers are physically gathered; thus our unified efforts will expand a thousand times a thousandfold.
Every Lightworker will be in his or her right and perfect place. No facet of this Divine Plan is any more important than another. What is important, is that we respond to whatever our I AM Presence is guiding us to do. We must Trust and KNOW that if we are being guided to be physically present within the Portal of Healing Through the Power of Infinite Transmutation, then our I AM Presence and the Company of Heaven will assist us in paving the way. This is true whether we need assistance with time, energy or money to accomplish this facet of our Divine Mission.
The vehicle that will be used for this gathering of Lightworkers is the 23rd Annual World Congress on Illumination. This event will take place August 15-20, 2009, during the 22nd anniversary of Harmonic Convergence. We will gather at the beautiful Loews Vent ana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. This exquisite resort exists within the heart of the Portal of Healing Through the Power of Infinite Transmutation. All of the information you will need to participate in this unprecedented opportunity is posted on this link: http://eraofpeace.org/world-congress.php
Patricia Diane Cota-Robles
New Age Study of Humanity's Purpose
a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit educational organization

Website: http://eraofpeace.org

[W*GS]

baja's crystal fell on his head.

[baja]

Originally Posted by W*GS

baja's crystal fell on his head.

That's pretty funny Wags.

Good one, your first....

[Meck77]

Originally Posted by baja

No one is talking about the end of humanity.

I am very excited about the future. A future where the unsustainable systems of greed and usury end and are replaced with systems that serve all people and respect the needs of the planet that sustains all life.

You sir must have a case of psychsophrenia.

You must have several thousand posts about the end of the world in this forum. You told us the bird flu would get us. You told us there are plans for a population reduction by 1/3 or more. Deadlines have come and gone when we were all supposed to be dead.

Hell you were recently yapping about 2012 as the next death date. Who are you trying to fool with all this optimistic talk?

Of the 10,000 plus people on this site Baja you have been the most outspoken about the end of the world.

Make up your mind for crying out loud.

[baja]

I still think all of those afore mentioned scenarios could play out ( If I had to bet I would say most of them will ) but I never said the world would end because I never thought it would. Please show one of these thousands of posts where I said the world would actually end.

I have said;

that chaos is probable

that plague is probable

that the collapse is likely

that there will likely be anarchy

that crops probably will fail

that there are those that are powerful that are plotting against the best interests of the people of the planet in order to push their agenda

that many will die

But I never said the human species would parish nor would the world come to an end, at least I never believed that and never intended to put forth that sentiment.