The edge of soft power and the value of confidence

Being back from a blitz of work and viewing the detritus of greed, incompetence and ignorance littering the american landscape tonight is not only sobering, but also sickening.

There can be no argument that American power has been based in our economic prowess, which was based on the idea that freedom and property cannot be separated, and that capitalism and individual rights are together the inalienable right to pursue happiness and real freedom from want and need. That idea makes entrepreneurship the ne plus ultra of the USA. Our biz, our home, our castle and to hell, if needs be, with the rest.

Until the 1980's that prowess was based upon MAKING THINGS. Things we can touch. Now as among the first to send a ttl pulse around a bunch of IC's to change the micro voltage on an lcd, I can understand that Microsoft, Borland, and Microprose make things.

But so are Hondas powered by fuel cells, Sharp 108" LCD's and Kenmore washing machines. I see a commercial for the Toyota Tundra which ends with the claim they are designed, engineered, and manufactured in the USA. SO where does the profit (the reason for the entire proposition) go?

That brings us to the crux of this.

The idea that a financial instrument is a THING is a tune for greed. The idea that higher stock price is the goal and not the byproduct of better PRODUCT is a song of avariciousness. The siren song of our time is that greed is acceptable, and it has been sold by CEO's who can look in the mirror and justify $13 million for themselves while service in a major multinational corporation is cut back and people lose jobs, since less salaries mean less cost and a more productive APPEARING statistic among those left with jobs. This ideal has been espoused in the sad stories of Tyco, Adelphia and others, but make no mistake, like steroids and speed, all the players are, if not engaged, wondering if they are schmucks for not playing.

Sub prime mortgages appear to have the possibility of being THE straw.

Through greed we invented the 90's Internet stock fallacies of non things and falsified an entire economic gestalt. Through greed we sell the american dream of a home to those who have NO chance at affording it, and in struggling to make the payment on the unpayable, undermine the electric companies, the credit card payments, destroy their ability to make durable purchases, and their own future credit, and shake the world as a Citibank seekd first 7.5 billion from Abu Dhabi and now 24 more billion from China and the Al Saud. Bank of America rushes in to save Countrywide mortgage in a deal which the SEC would probably nix, but we all know as the fed makes move after futile move that national confidence is vastly more important right now.

Neither Ford, nor GM, nor a spun out Chrysler is the first to a fuel cell to market because they are too busy making a more durable buggy whip of an engine, and lobbying congress that this pattern as a good idea.

Bush pushes an immigration deal and seems confused and angry when a large % of the American populace rises in indignation.

We have NO CONFIDENCE in the government we have chosen time after time. When they tell us 'this' will fix 'it' we change channels. And there's nothing good on.

Thus China, the UAE, and the Al Saud come to have 'soft' power in American financial institutions. Institutions which provide capital for ideas, loan guarantees, and national aspirations. Of course, 'so sorry we will have to get rid of 24,000 people in order to be responsible'.

While the deals may yet fall through, announcements are expected shortly. The talks come as Citigroup is expected to disclose additional huge losses stemming from bad mortgage-related investments. Analysts project the company is likely to announce charges of $12 billion to $18 billion - and possibly more - when it reports earnings on Tuesday.

Greed is not capitalism, and just as Jimmy Carter claims he is not antisemitic, but yet fulfills every function of one, these marketing frauds who think a financial instrument can be a thing, or the covetous CEO making 400 times the line worker's salary, they have fulfilled every result of the actions of a traitor. They can claim cleanly they are no such thing, but they have been as damaging as the worst we have ever had

They have harmed this nation as much as if they transferred a carrier task force to our enemies, by granting them OWNERSHIP of our future by their short sighted nature, and their ravenous need for the Lexus instead of the Olds.

Now we have only the choice of letting these institutions DIE, and losing confidence in the USA's economy (which they want to be now based on BUYING not creating), or letting those with cash BUY our ailing institutions.

Just as their is no escape from what radical Islam means, there is no escape from this dance.

Anyone who thinks China, the UAE and the Al Saud will be soft with 32 billion TILL TODAY needs a bridge in lower Manhattan.

And the answer you Paulista morons, is not the gold standard loving, Don Black, Stormfront philic, John Birch following, fluoride in the water is a communist plot, CRACKPOT who is getting off scott free at every debate, but clearly until today the republicans and and democrats have failed us miserably. If they cannot manage this nation, just let us know.

We have been there before.

This nation is ours. Not Exxon's. Not Citigroup's. Not Toyota's, and not the Al Saud's.

We are in trouble, and it's not just islamozoid freaks who think if we make up our on laws we defy god's.

Greed is not capitalism, and avaricious coveting of things is NOT the American way.

Acquisition is a byproduct of professional behavior.

Anyone who thinks that makes me a fool, is a fool.