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  1. SiriuslyLong is offline
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    01-04-2012, 04:17 PM #1

    How does free enterprise fit into President Obama's vision for America?

    Picking Osawatomie, Kansas as the site for an address is the kind of over-the-top symbolism that would make even Aaron Sorkin blush.

    In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt, then a year and a half out of the White House, used the small town as the location to announce a detailed plan for the philosophy he called “New Nationalism,” an expansive progressive agenda, one he hoped would form the basis of the platform of his own Republican Party.

    By contrast, President Obama’s speech this afternoon in Osawatomie was glaringly lacking in specifics. Instead, it was a motley assortment of bumper sticker meditations on the importance of education and the scourge of income inequality, and appeals to increase “fairness” in the tax system (as if anyone claims to want an “unfair” tax system).

    In short, it was a typical political stump speech favored by politicians of both parties: long on rhetoric and short on policy, based around a potted Whiggish version of American history.

    This is no surprise — the president is, after all, a politician, and he’s asking the American people for a second term as president. But it does represent a missed opportunity for him to articulate a clear vision for his beliefs about free enterprise, markets, and competition.

    Obama gave the requisite nod to free markets, calling them “the greatest force of economic progress in human history.” But he gives no sense of how he sees free markets and free enterprise — as they actually exist, not in dystopian fiction or Michael Moore movies — as interacting with any other part of his vision for the United States.

    The role of free enterprise in American culture is a defining issue of the day. None of the major policy questions that dominate the public discussion — tax rates, the deficit, broadband, roads — can be understood without a clear vision of the proper relationship between the government and the private sector. And this requires a theory of free enterprise. If the president is going to campaign on a sharply populist platform, he needs to articulate how free enterprise and free markets fit in with his vision of America and economic growth and prosperity.

    That gets you to the first big break: http://dailycaller.com/2011/12/06/ho...n-for-america/

    Here's a gem from the second page.

    "Should American free enterprise be a staid, shallow system where there’s little risk and little reward, one that’s managed, clean, and rationally administered, one that plods along reliably? In other words, should it be free enterprise in name but democratic socialism in practice?

    Or does the president view free enterprise as a robust and moral system in which people have the freedom to try new ideas, work hard, and profit if they succeed, a system in which competition gives people the opportunity to earn their own success, in which individual opportunity flourishes? Does he view free enterprise as a system that enables people to build their own lives, or one that inevitably results in corrupt crony capitalism? Can free enterprise foster hard work and playing by the rules — the values that permeated the president’s remarks — or is it inimical to those values?"


    The Presidents vision is quite clear - it is the former. He wants government to be the social equalizer as he believes we all need to be the exact same, of course, except him.

    The greatest hypocracy of all is that most liberals will not say they want socialism. They will veil it anyway they can because they know implicitly that this is America - the place where people come to be free.
    Last edited by SiriuslyLong; 01-09-2012 at 12:01 PM.

  2. SiriuslyLong is offline
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    01-09-2012, 12:02 PM #2
    Comrades - this is worth the read.

  3. SiriuslyLong is offline
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    01-10-2012, 04:22 PM #3
    Obama changing free enterprise to government controlled economy

    It is increasingly obvious that President Barack Obama is forcing government control over American business, trying to end the free enterprise system that helped to make the U.S the most powerful nation in the world. The recession was just the loophole he needed to install a system that has been long rejected by the American people.

    According to his Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner,

    "Washington alone is equipped to salvage the economy."

    He insists that the market will not solve this so the government has to step in and take over businesses which he and Obama do not think are being run in a way in which they approve.

    Under the guise of partnering with private investors, the government now will decide what are "toxic assets" and which are pure. And then tell the banks how they must deal with them.

    Geithner said,

    "The market will not solve this."

    Now Obama and his Treasury Secretary are talking about a second round of bailouts, further increasing the debt higher than that accumulated by all the President together from George Washington to George Bush.

    The free enterprise system that sustained the United States for over two centuries is now being dismantled by the Obama administration. Instead they will decide who has a right to remain in business and which ones they will close down because they don't meet Obamanomic government controlled standards.

    http://www.examiner.com/watchdog-pol...rolled-economy

    The PV market is a perfect example of this story. Oh yeah, proponents of state runned means of production are.................. socialists.

    To learn a llittle about socialism, try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

  4. SiriuslyLong is offline
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    01-10-2012, 04:40 PM #4

    Obama’s all out war on free enterprice

    The Heritage Foundation’s Hans von Spakovsky and James Sherk have a must-read post at The Corner about an internal NLRB memorandum detailing plans to give unions much greater power over employers:

    Specifically, the NLRB wants to force companies to provide detailed economic justifications (including underlying cost or benefit considerations) for relocation decisions to allow unions to bargain over them — or lose the right to make those decisions without bargaining over them. It is a “heads I win, tails you lose” situation for unions.

    The NRLB’s goal is not just to prevent companies from investing in right-to-work states. The board apparently also wants to force employers to make unions “an equal partner in the running of the business enterprise.” … the board wants business decisions made to benefit unions, not the shareholders, owners, and other employees of a business, or the overall economy. The Boeing charges are evidently just a first step toward that goal.

    This memo, and the Boeing charges, are not the first evidence that the Obama administration is using every lever of federal agency power to attack free enterprise to the benefit of organized labor. Former Department of Labor appointee Don Todd told The Daily Caller‘s Matthew Boyle this January:

    In a worst-case scenario, your union organizer comes to you, offers you a deal to unionize, you say, ‘no,’ and, the next thing you know, OSHA’s [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] at your door. Then, Wage and Hour show up, and they want to publicize it. They always find something wrong.

    Read the rest here: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/...ree-enterprice

    The evidence keeps mounting. Obama wants the Federal Government calling the shots for John Q. Public. That's all too apparent. It only goes in one direction; been that way for years.

    So I say to liberals, admit it, embrace it. Don't hide behind names like "liberal" or "progressive"; simply call yourself a "proud" socialist. The truth will set you free.

  5. Havakasha is offline
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    01-10-2012, 05:48 PM #5
    Here is the guy who Siriuslywrong praised as an economist.
    You decide whether to believe him about anything else.



    Schiff has been giving this advice for a long time, as long as I have been reading his blog (since March 2009). He’s obviously richer than I am, and I am familiar with his beliefs (the US’s money printing press is contributing to inflation and thus dooming the US economy).

    So is he right?

    Well, let’s go back in time and see how good his prediction was for 2011:

    US dollar demise: Schiff does not see much safety in the US dollar. Schiff says it is not just a dollar collapse, it is a bond collapse too; "avoid any kind of long term bonds, avoid treasuries, and avoid municipal bonds."
    The year is not over yet, there is still one more trading day so this can change, but in 2011 the US dollar is up 1.85%, basically flat. No collapse in the dollar like what Schiff predicted.

    The 3-year Treasury bond fund (SHY) is up 0.56% (basically flat), 10-year Treasury bond fund (IEF) is up 12%, and the 20-year Treasury bond fund (TLT) is up 28%. No collapse in treasuries like what Schiff predicted.

    I looked up three municipal bond ETFs (PZA, MUNI, MUB) and they are up 8%, 5%, and 10%. No collapse in municipal bonds like what Schiff predicted.

    I looked up one long term bond ETFs (BLV) and it is up 16%. No collapse in long term bonds like what Schiff predicted.

    Indeed, every bond fund I checked was up big this year (and everyone one I wasn’t invested in was up more than mine). Quite simply, what Schiff predicted would occur this year did not occur.

    Buy emerging markets and foreign currencies. Schiff is focusing on Asia where people work hard, are producing and have savings.
    The emerging market funds (VWO, EEM) were down 20% this year.

    For currencies:

    Japanese Yen: +4%
    Australian Dollar: –0.9%
    Swiss Franc: –1%
    Canadian Dollar: –2%
    Swedish Krona: –3.06%
    Euro: –3%
    Chinese Yuan: –1%
    Mexican Peso: –11%
    New Zealand Dollar: –10%
    Russian Ruble: –4%
    US Dollar: +1.85%

    How did the US dollar do against some other currencies directly?
    vs Singapore Dollar: +1.48%
    vs Hong Kong Dollar: –0.03%
    vs South African Rand: +25%

    Looks like the US dollar did very well this year and held its own against almost everyone, contrary to what Schiff said. Emerging markets also did poorly, contrary to what Schiff said.

    Buy precious metals and commodities. Stay with gold, stay with silver.
    Gold is up +9% this year, so he got this one right. However, silver is down –10% this year. Copper is down 42%, Aluminum is down 45% and platinum is down 25%. If you were lucky enough to buy a precious metal ETF, you could have made some money but not very much, maybe 3%.

    What about other commodities? The general commodities ETFs (GSG, MOO, DBA) are down 3%, 20% and 11%.

    The fact is that commodities did not do very well this year, contrary to Schiff’s advice.

    If you would have listened to Peter Schiff this year, you wouldn’t have done very well in the market. You would have underperformed it. Everything he recommended was either flat (currencies), down big (emerging markets) or straight up wrong (collapse in dollar, treasuries and bonds). He was right on gold but wrong on silver – and every other metal. That’s 1 out of 7.

    Now, you can argue (as Schiff does) that gold is a long term investment and long term, everything he is saying will turn out to be correct. Maybe. But for now, his prognostications are no more correct than anyone else’s.

    He did say, after all, that this was his outlook for 2011.

    http://coolspot7.wordpress.com/2011/...ce-in-a-while/

  6. SiriuslyLong is offline
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    01-10-2012, 06:03 PM #6
    Deflection overruled!!!!

  7. Havakasha is offline
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    01-10-2012, 06:27 PM #7
    The answer to the question is: Free enterprise is alive and well during President Obama's term.
    Thank you very much. Now if we can just get those damn Republican obstructionists out of the way we might have an economy that takes off and makes ALL of us some money. Not just the 1%.

    The masters (lmfao) of free enterprise, SiriuslyWrong, Peter Schiff, and Ron Paul shouldnt be talking about Barack Obama when they didnt get much right about the economy in 2011 A little humility goes a long way in my world. Read above. What an indictment. Jeez.

    Now stop spreading Obama derangement syndrome. I know its overtaking your mind and body, but Iam here to rescue you. its not too late to save YOUR HEALTH AND SOUL.

    DEFINTIVELY ruled in bounds. lol.
    Last edited by Havakasha; 01-10-2012 at 06:49 PM.

  8. SiriuslyLong is offline
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    01-10-2012, 10:33 PM #8
    Appeal denied.

    Capitalism and free enterprise have failed us according to Obama. Are you going to say that those are fabricated remarks from some right wing group?

    The USA is the greatest nation on Earth. How did we get here?

  9. Havakasha is offline
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    01-11-2012, 02:06 AM #9
    The first answer is Yes.
    And the 2nd answer is that we got here largely because of rampant greed, corruption (money in politics etc.) and a lack of constraints on such behavoir

    Aspects of Capitalism and free enterprise obviously failed in the runup to this recent catastrophic recession. There were important corrections needed to make the system better and President Obama and others have attempted to make them. Unfortunately many Republicans have determined to block these repairs largely to score political points. Greed and corruption and hate are having a corrosive effect on our Democracy. People ignore it and stoke it at
    their own peril. SiriuslyWrong is unfortunately one of those determined to spread hatred while
    claiming to be some kind of moderate. Pathological for sure.


    On to another important subject.
    SiriuslyWrong you cant run and hide. lol. Remember Peter Shciff who you so lavishly praised? lol
    You know nothing about economics and free enterprise obviously. OUCH.

    Following are the predictions of the guy who Siriuslywrong praised as an "economist".
    You decide whether to believe him about anything else after reading this.



    "Schiff has been giving this advice for a long time, as long as I have been reading his blog (since March 2009). He’s obviously richer than I am, and I am familiar with his beliefs (the US’s money printing press is contributing to inflation and thus dooming the US economy).

    So is he right?

    Well, let’s go back in time and see how good his prediction was for 2011:

    US dollar demise: Schiff does not see much safety in the US dollar. Schiff says it is not just a dollar collapse, it is a bond collapse too; "avoid any kind of long term bonds, avoid treasuries, and avoid municipal bonds."
    The year is not over yet, there is still one more trading day so this can change, but in 2011 the US dollar is up 1.85%, basically flat. No collapse in the dollar like what Schiff predicted.

    The 3-year Treasury bond fund (SHY) is up 0.56% (basically flat), 10-year Treasury bond fund (IEF) is up 12%, and the 20-year Treasury bond fund (TLT) is up 28%. No collapse in treasuries like what Schiff predicted.

    I looked up three municipal bond ETFs (PZA, MUNI, MUB) and they are up 8%, 5%, and 10%. No collapse in municipal bonds like what Schiff predicted.

    I looked up one long term bond ETFs (BLV) and it is up 16%. No collapse in long term bonds like what Schiff predicted.

    Indeed, every bond fund I checked was up big this year (and everyone one I wasn’t invested in was up more than mine). Quite simply, what Schiff predicted would occur this year did not occur.

    Buy emerging markets and foreign currencies. Schiff is focusing on Asia where people work hard, are producing and have savings.
    The emerging market funds (VWO, EEM) were down 20% this year.

    For currencies:

    Japanese Yen: +4%
    Australian Dollar: –0.9%
    Swiss Franc: –1%
    Canadian Dollar: –2%
    Swedish Krona: –3.06%
    Euro: –3%
    Chinese Yuan: –1%
    Mexican Peso: –11%
    New Zealand Dollar: –10%
    Russian Ruble: –4%
    US Dollar: +1.85%

    How did the US dollar do against some other currencies directly?
    vs Singapore Dollar: +1.48%
    vs Hong Kong Dollar: –0.03%
    vs South African Rand: +25%

    Looks like the US dollar did very well this year and held its own against almost everyone, contrary to what Schiff said. Emerging markets also did poorly, contrary to what Schiff said.

    Buy precious metals and commodities. Stay with gold, stay with silver.
    Gold is up +9% this year, so he got this one right. However, silver is down –10% this year. Copper is down 42%, Aluminum is down 45% and platinum is down 25%. If you were lucky enough to buy a precious metal ETF, you could have made some money but not very much, maybe 3%.

    What about other commodities? The general commodities ETFs (GSG, MOO, DBA) are down 3%, 20% and 11%.

    The fact is that commodities did not do very well this year, contrary to Schiff’s advice.

    If you would have listened to Peter Schiff this year, you wouldn’t have done very well in the market. You would have underperformed it. Everything he recommended was either flat (currencies), down big (emerging markets) or straight up wrong (collapse in dollar, treasuries and bonds). He was right on gold but wrong on silver – and every other metal. That’s 1 out of 7.

    Now, you can argue (as Schiff does) that gold is a long term investment and long term, everything he is saying will turn out to be correct. Maybe. But for now, his prognostications are no more correct than anyone else’s.

    He did say, after all, that this was his outlook for 2011."

    http://coolspot7.wordpress.com/2011/...ce-in-a-while/



    P.S. In addition, Mr. Schiff predicted hyperinflation for 2011, a catastrophic stock market
    collapse in early 2011, and has said that either the Dow will fall to 1,400 or gold will rise
    to $12,000 within the next 2 years.

    This is the kind of garbage that SiriuslyWrong associates himself with when he praises
    Mr. Schiff.
    Last edited by Havakasha; 01-11-2012 at 09:29 AM.

  10. SiriuslyLong is offline
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    01-12-2012, 10:27 AM #10
    Too Funny.

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