Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Well sh*t. I got nothing. Well said, kmmontandon.

kmmontandon: Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Jesus H. Christ. That's beautiful!

*slow claps* well, looks like this thread is done.

Can we just copy and paste that ad infinitum?

Thats a wrap!

/turns off lights

The powerful unions in Germany are doing way better.

It's almost as if Smitty decided to look at one tiny aspect of the nation, and correlate that with the results, while simultaneous ignoring all the OTHER factors that impacted the economy. Almost as if taking an actual look, as opposed to a tiny slice, would be a bit too hard.

Right out of the gate, Smitty got the explanation, so can we please stop trying to make half assed points out a tiny bit of the data and grow the f*ck up? Seriously. This is old. It's old when it's economists who know better try to do it to score points for the folks whose policies they're trying to justify--knowing full well that if things blow here because of similar half assed policies, their butts are going to be overseas so fast, that the Concord pilots are going to say, "Whuddafuxx was THAT?"

That isn't going to stop the folks who like to trot out talking points, instead of facts, that isn't going to stop the Idiot Brigade from repeating half assed lies, and the disingenuous who like to play mouth breathers on Fark to assuage their Mommy and Daddy issues to get some sort of stillborn revenge that the real targets of their internalized and twisted up angst could never actually accomplish because it would be far too much like strapping on a pair and putting on the Big Pants and at least pretending like their an adult.

Are there real issues? Yup. And the distraction that the Idiot Brigade is chittering on like the f*cking Lobstrosities piped up Dad-a-chum? Dum-a-chum? Ded-a-chek? Did-a-chick? certainly doesn't address these real issues. It's just so much mud in the water, and when folks pay enough to put out this much smoke, what in the Holy Motherf*cking Hells do you think might be hiding behind all that effort?

This country has to grow the f*ck up sometime, and soon, and listening to guys who are spinning you fantasies that might as well involve a 24" cheeseburger impaled on your lap while telling you how handsome and smart you are, even with all that disgusting grease and mayonnaise dripping into your chairs, that isn't really helping...

kmmontandon: Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Is there a way to get more than one star to appear next to someone's name?

The Right Wing in America wants to destoy all but themselves. Once those drones get done over Afghanistan maybe we can fly a few over Fox News ... or maybe your house, subby.

Sounds like subby is butthurt about not having health insurance or a wage that's actually enough to live on.

/if you can't have those, no one can, amirite?

Generation_D: The Right Wing in America wants to destoy all but themselves. Once those drones get done over Afghanistan maybe we can fly a few over Fox News ... or maybe your house, subby.

I've started a new practice of blocking the Fox "News" channel in hotel rooms when I travel. It's quite satisfying to know some dumbass will get all pissy missing Fartbongo porn.

The way to get people off the government teat is to attach more people to the government teat.

Makes perfect sense.

themindiswatching: Sounds like subby is butthurt about not having health insurance or a wage that's actually enough to live on.

/if you can't have those, no one can, amirite?

I have both and I'm not in a union.

At one time unions were absolutely needed as liberals will be quick to remind you of the old days of horrific working conditions, hours, and wages while they try to make you forget that was many decades ago.

The idea that people are "entitled" to certain wages and benefits just for working is also stupid. If the best job you can hold down is mopping floors and emptying the trash you are certainly entitled to be paid for that but the idea that your wage should be set higher than your work is actually worth so you can have a "living wage" and "health benefits" is insane and will ultimately drive anything to bankruptcy.

You cannot pay people more than they deliver in terms of profit for a company.

randomjsa: You cannot pay people more than they deliver in terms of profit for a company.

...unless they're C-level.

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures

Hey now, it's a proven fact that austerity is great for an economy! Sure, it's been tried dozens of times and has never worked once, but dammit, the theories the Austrian economists cooked up say it should work, and who are you gonna believe, them or that lying biatch reality?

Wikipedia lists twenty-two different dog breeds "originating in Spain." Yet the traditional Spanish tortilla de patatas contains 0% dog, lowest of any omelette in the Eurozone (tie). Can you explain that?

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

holy shiat dude

So Spain is EXACTLY THE SAME as the United States? Yes, let's have that talk, subby.

/Also, when did mods join the trolls?

hubiestubert: This country has to grow the f*ck up sometime, and soon

I thought/hoped after Reagan-Bush 1 this country would have learned it's lesson,hoped for the same thing after Dubya.
Ain't gonna happen, they're going to crash the damn thing....again.
and again and again.
If you don't get President Romney in 2012, they'll have another neo-con overlord in place by 2016.
We only think this is a democracy.

randomjsa: the idea that your wage should be set higher than your work is actually worth so you can have a "living wage" and "health benefits" is insane

So if your job can be done in China for $1/day, you feel you should only be paid that amount? I'm not saying that everyone should be paid the same regardless of job description, but it would be nice for a family to be able to live in this country on one income. You know, like we used to.

I don't get it. Is this thread some kind of trollbait or something?

Am I supposed to want Romney to be President now or, what?

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Quoted for good measure.

whidbey: I don't get it. Is this thread some kind of trollbait or something?

Am I supposed to want Romney to be President now or, what?

You're supposed to want Romney to be President because Zer0B0ng0 isn't using his magical blah powers to fix the economy instantly, therefore we need more of the trickle down bullshiat that caused the crash in the first place.

Can we just close this thread? There's no point in it going any longer.

randomjsa


Counterpoint: Supermarket.
If the floors at a supermarket are filthy, people won't be as tempted to go there and buy stuff. The supermarket loses a farkton of money. Therefore, we should be paying the people who keep the floor clean a lot more than they're getting now, because their job is worth a farkton of money.

There are few jobs in the world that aren't actually worth a lot to a company, they just want to keep the profit margins as wide as possible, no matter what the cost. Fark, think of teachers. Their job is priceless, how much should we pay them?

The only thing I agree with you is the healthcare thing...because I'm in favor of single-payer.

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

The real world is that the Chinese workers get paid a lot less than US and European workers and until the stability in China makes the risk worse, capital will continue to flee. The more socialist and "Keynesian" a country is, the faster it's economy will collapse. The bubble today is that Spain an Greece are riskier places to invest in factories than China.

They are not farked because of unions and socialism, they are only farked faster because of unions.

Governments cannot spend their way to prosperity. Capitalism is egalitarian and until the standard of living in China and the west come be on par, the west is fooling themselves about being able to "stimulate" the economy. All they will do is increase orders in china, not create jobs in the west. In the end, that debt has to be paid and it goes to one place.

BTW, if you saw the article on all the warships being sent to APAC, it was to make western companies raise the risk level of investing in those countries. That's hardball economics.

TenaciousP:
I've started a new practice of blocking the Fox "News" channel in hotel rooms when I travel. It's quite satisfying to know some dumbass will get all pissy missing Fartbongo porn.

That's some kinky shiat right there. Than again, this is the internet, so Rule 34 and all...

/wouldn't surprise me if that was a thing
//I mean, farting on cakes already is

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Damn, even my asshole hurts after reading that, and I actually agree with you.

kmmontandon: Hayekian dildo

A dildo that looks like Selma Hayek might turn a profit.

*GOOGLE Hayek*

A dildo that looks like Friedrich Hayek would certainly turn a profit... with neo-Nazis. Man, that guy looks just like Hitler.

Chimperror2:
The real world is that the Chinese workers get paid a lot less than US and European workers and until the stability in China makes the risk worse, capital will continue to flee. The more socialist and "Keynesian" a country is, the faster it's economy will collapse. The bubble today is that Spain an Greece are riskier places to invest in factories than China.

They are not farked because of unions and socialism, they are only farked faster because of unions.

Governments cannot spend their way to prosperity. Capitalism is egalitarian and until the standard of living in China and the west come be on par, the west is fooling themselves about being able to "stimulate" the economy. All they will do is increase orders in china, not create jobs in the west. In the end, that debt has to be paid and it goes to one place.

BTW, if you saw the article on all the warships being sent to APAC, it was to make western companies raise the risk level of investing in those countries. That's hardball economics.

First off, you do realize that China is arguably the most Keynesian country out there, right? Their government has stimulated their economy with massive spending in construction, infrastructure, etc. Most companies in China are still at least partially government owned. We can argue the wisdom of that for China, if you want, but it sort of makes your "Keynes bad because China" point moot.

Furthermore, if you're right then austerity is still a bad policy. Government may not be able to make up for the loss of capital to China, but stimulus spending can provide a buffer until things are equalized. While private capital flees, the government can make up some of the difference.

Lastly, "that debt" does not go only to one place. China hardly owns more of our debt than Japan, and Americans still own most of our public debt.

rdu_voyager: A dildo that looks like Friedrich Hayek would certainly turn a profit... with neo-Nazis. Man, that guy looks just like Hitler.

Not too sure neo-Nazis would like Hayek that much...

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Fantastic. I can't imagine a school of economic thought that knows less about economics than Austrians. What retards.

themindiswatching
randomjsa: the idea that your wage should be set higher than your work is actually worth so you can have a "living wage" and "health benefits" is insane

So if your job can be done in China for $1/day, you feel you should only be paid that amount? I'm not saying that everyone should be paid the same regardless of job description, but it would be nice for a family to be able to live in this country on one income. You know, like we used to.

Oh sure, watch people here trying to get by on pennies a day on a mass scale - then watch the guns come out and a lot of walking trash hitting the pavement. Good times, I tell ya.

/just another reason I steal cheese.

NobleHam: Chimperror2:
The real world is that the Chinese workers get paid a lot less than US and European workers and until the stability in China makes the risk worse, capital will continue to flee. The more socialist and "Keynesian" a country is, the faster it's economy will collapse. The bubble today is that Spain an Greece are riskier places to invest in factories than China.

They are not farked because of unions and socialism, they are only farked faster because of unions.

Governments cannot spend their way to prosperity. Capitalism is egalitarian and until the standard of living in China and the west come be on par, the west is fooling themselves about being able to "stimulate" the economy. All they will do is increase orders in china, not create jobs in the west. In the end, that debt has to be paid and it goes to one place.

BTW, if you saw the article on all the warships being sent to APAC, it was to make western companies raise the risk level of investing in those countries. That's hardball economics.

First off, you do realize that China is arguably the most Keynesian country out there, right? Their government has stimulated their economy with massive spending in construction, infrastructure, etc. Most companies in China are still at least partially government owned. We can argue the wisdom of that for China, if you want, but it sort of makes your "Keynes bad because China" point moot.

Furthermore, if you're right then austerity is still a bad policy. Government may not be able to make up for the loss of capital to China, but stimulus spending can provide a buffer until things are equalized. While private capital flees, the government can make up some of the difference.

Lastly, "that debt" does not go only to one place. China hardly owns more of our debt than Japan, and Americans still own most of our public debt.

Right wingers tend to use "KEYNES!" as a slur against any sort of actual egalitarian wealth producing enterprise. Was that moron actually trying to claim China isn't a mixed economy?

Yeah, I live here in Spain, and pretty much what this guy said. Austerity measures combined with no real main export (olives and sherry, I guess) and only seasonal tourism has led to a lot of unemployment.

But the people that do have work get paid well, and those that don't have family and and friends that are not so strapped as to not be able to help them for a bit. Completely non-scientifically and personally speaking, people here seem much happier with their way of life and there station within, and a hell of a lot less stressed out. Probably comes with knowing that even with a lost job, your retirement plan you've been building hasn't vanished into a CEO's pocket overnight and that your health care isn't going to bankrupt you in order to pay for a million dollar consultant firm owner's new yacht.

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Boom, headshot.

/Estonia represents.
//As do those Latvian six-toes, as well

Methadone Girls: *slow claps* well, looks like this thread is done.

Wow, stick a fork in it.

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

I was supposed to have quoted this guy. Far king on a tablet is HARD.

Far king? Really? I farking quit.

Thanks to Franco Spain has never really developed a proper diversified economy. So whenever something goes bad, it goes real bad. There's nothing to offset things.

randomjsa: but the idea that your wage should be set higher than your work is actually worth so you can have a "living wage" and "health benefits" is insane and will ultimately drive anything to bankruptcy.

J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford would like a word. Come to think of it so would a bunch of current CEO's.

Oh, it's attack unions day again?

WhyteRaven74: randomjsa: but the idea that your wage should be set higher than your work is actually worth so you can have a "living wage" and "health benefits" is insane and will ultimately drive anything to bankruptcy.

J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford would like a word. Come to think of it so would a bunch of current CEO's.

I just don't understand the idea of saying that people don't deserve a living wage. I'm not saying a man should buy a boat for walking trash out to the road a couple times a day. But to earn enough to feed himself doesn't seem outrageous, and good for the economy too. Kept that money circulating.

Scandinavian countries have the strongest unions in the world. They also have strong and stable economies. Perhaps there are some other factors.

kmmontandon: Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Austerity worked pretty damn well for Canada in the late 90s and Estonia has almost exclusively run its free economy and as a result, is in a better shape to weather the debt crisis than its Balkan counterparts.

You know, 10 years ago it used to be that the whole of Europe would come up in arguments as to why the US is getting it wrong. I heard so much about how the retirement age was 45 and how you could take 2 months off a year and there were countless "free" public services. Now it seems that Sweden and Germany are the only countries left which the Keynesians can hump as success stories. Too bad that Sweden has an economy that is 70% state-directed and is propped up by the fact that it owns massive oil, fishing, timber and gas resources and Germany is trying to hold the line on the PIIGS states reforming their social structures so they can pay off all their debts or at least keep their heads above water.


I seem to recall an article around here a little while ago that Espana's push towards green jobs cost 2.5 private jobs for every public-backed green job that it created and that was somehow ignored by the Keynes crowd. Funny

Shadowknight: Yeah, I live here in Spain, and pretty much what this guy said. Austerity measures combined with no real main export (olives and sherry, I guess) and only seasonal tourism has led to a lot of unemployment.

Then it sounds like Spain needs more industry, less government workers that cripple the private sector, reduced public benefits and a higher retirement age.

John Dewey: Can we just copy and paste that ad infinitum?
I see no problem with that.

kmmontandon [TotalFark]


Smartest
Funniest

2012-06-10 10:18:08 PM

Yeah, it's because the ECB is demanding harsh austerity measures from a government that, prior to the 2007 crash caused by assholes building a securities bubble, had a balanced budget and was paying down their national debt.

Oh, gosh subby, was that not the reality-based answer that you were expecting? Should I talk about what a Commie Paul Krugman is, and say LOLStimufail, or some other anti-Keynesian bullshiat? Because no.

In the meantime, Germany is doing pretty damned good, thanks to a mix of fiscal sensibility, employer subsidies, and broad-based government investment in the private economy. See also: Sweden. Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

NewportBarGuy: kmmontandon: Or don't, subby, because you might encounter the real f*cking world, and the Hayekian dildo you've been riding so hard would break.

Jesus H. Christ. That's beautiful!

Social prestige power?

o5iiawah: Then it sounds like Spain needs more industry, less government workers that cripple the private sector, reduced public benefits and a higher retirement age.

Industry, maybe, but how the hell would taking the social safety net away really help anything? The reason people have been able to survive unemployment brought on by austerity and lacking export industry (itself brought on by generations of stagnating and uncaring extremist facism). Even as desperate as the situation is for some, life is still enjoyed and able to be lived.