Seven Avoidance Indicators by Ralph Nader

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/14

Published on Saturday, March 14, 2009 by CommonDreams.org

Seven Avoidance Indicators
by Ralph Nader

Indicators of avoidance are what come to mind while absorbing the various rescue, recovery, stimulus and guarantee programs coming out of the Obama Administration to slow and reverse a splintering and shattering economy. If the Obamites do not act now when the political time is ripest, to put into motion forces of deterrence and prevention, the casino capitalists of tomorrow will again be able to de-stabilize our economy.

The other day I saw Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, just about predicting another round of recklessness in about fifteen years. But he called it "human nature" not casino capitalism.

Here are seven avoidance indicators which outline what Washington is not doing to prevent another round of greed and misdeeds by the Wall Street few against the innocent many throughout the country.

1. Where are the resources for comprehensive law enforcement against the Wall Street crooks, swindlers and purveyors of costly deceptive practices? Isn't there a need to add two to three hundred million dollars for more FBI agents, prosecutors and corporate crime attorneys under the Justice Department to obtain the fines and disgorgements which will far exceed in dollars what is spent by the forces of law and order?

Americans want justice. They want jailtime not bailtime for these crooks. Look how many of the swindled just turned out in a New York City winter to let Bernard Madoff have a piece of their mind as he entered the courtroom and immediate imprisonment.

There has been very little movement so far in Congress or the White House toward this necessary action.

2......more..

[BeFree]

1. Ralph is right, for once

The fire has been lit. There is a spark of revolution around the Madoff case.

[depakid]

15. Ralph was right throughout the 80's and 90's

Not that the corporatist Democrats listened. They were too busy implementing right wing economic policies- and seemingly want to keep going in that diretion

[tomp]

18. to say ralph is right 'for once" is just plain ignorant.....

...or a gratuitous slur. either way, to knowledgeable people, you look bad, not him.

[antigop]

2. I don't think his statement about credit unions is correct

"Our government doesn't highlight not-for-profit institutions like the 8000 credit unions that are increasing their loans and continue to serve over 80 million Americans without a single insolvency."

While the credit unions have definitely fared better than banks (so far), here is a rather recent announcement by the NCUA:

http://www.ncua.gov/news/press_releases/2009/MR09-0213a.htm

[dkofos]

3. I still feel safer doing business at the Credit Union.

At least I know they aren't out to screw their
customers (owners) to increase profits.

[Metta]

4. Head in the sand and white washing are business as usual in DC. Nader's right again.

*He* should be attorney general.

[bvar22]

5. Ralph nails it again.

Everyone should listen to Ralph.
No one should vote for him.

I'm still waiting for Obama/Democrats to begin REAL discussions about "too big to fail".

What "stimulus effect" will money have if it is spent at WalMart or other Big Boxes?
This money will be removed from the local communities in one quick step.

K&R

[nichomachus]

7. I agree

I think Ralph would be the first to admit he wasn't a serious candidate. People who voted for him were incredibly stupid -- they were the ones who gave the election to Bush, not Ralph.

However, Ralph has been right on almost any issue. When the FDIC stopped collecting premiums from banks 14 years ago, Ralph was the one who predicted that several of these huge banks would fail and that the taxpayers would end up paying for another round of bank welfare.

If only someone had listened to him then, we might not be in this bailout mess today.

[malaise]

8. Ditto

Ralph cares more about ordinary people than most politicians. I trust him the way I trust my seat belt.

[TahitiNut]

9. Dittotto.

:silly:

[dmr]

6. I've been patiently waiting to hear about rolling back the regulations

or something to that effect. If they've mentioned it, I've missed it.

[TahitiNut]

10. Swamps and alligators ... they're fighting fires and not arresting arsonists.

:shrug:

[dmr]

16. < sigh > Then the fires will end when there's nothing left to burn

I rather love the woodlands.

Well, here's hoping for a rain-storm and lightening bolts for those who play with matches.

:fistbump:

Still, patiently waiting ...

[Motown_Johnny]

11. Fuck Alan Greenspan and anything he says. using him as evidence is foolish

Time magazine listed him as third for the people most responsible for our current economic crisis and I think he should have been ranked higher.


He kept interest rates at record low levels just to help the Rupke economic strategy look as if it was successful. It wasn't.

If he had simply done his job we would not be where we are right now.


I like Nader but using this asshole as an expert on what will happen 15 years from now is a mistake.

[acmavm]

12. Sheesh! Too bad the guy has to dabble in worthless political campaigns

that dilute his credibility because he quite often is the one person who will give the public the unvarnished truth that they need to hear.

I just cringe at the sound of his name, and that is too bad. He was a wonderful advocate for the consumer.

[Uncle Joe]

13. I only counted six avoidance measures on that website but the answer to number 1.

Those precious resources are being spent squashing and criminalizing the American People over unapproved of behavior aka; smoking doobies and to pay for the financing of our world record breaking prison population here in the land of the free and home of the brave.

[G_j]

14. I was wondering when someone would ask

where is number seven?

:shrug:


(I think your answer to number 1 is accurate.)

[wroberts189]

17. Whoa ... AIG basically said pay us or else we take everyone down.

unbelievable... corporations that are so big they can openly extort from the government.



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

Lest any remaining doubters out there are thinking about our country returning to business as usual Wall Street style, please read the confidential powerpoint presentation "AIG: Is the Risk Systemic?" by the AIG financial giant grasping $180 billion, so far, in federal aid and guarantees

In 21 pages of very large type, you will see why the AIG bosses believe that failure of their gigantic corporation would only "trigger a cascading set of further failures which cannot be stopped except by extraordinary means." In other words, AIG says to Uncle Sam and you the taxpayer save it or be prepared for a global collapse through a dominoes effect of unknown catastrophic sequences. For the full astonishing AIG text, see: http://www.aig.com/Related-Resources_385_136430.html. Right from the horse's mouth!

[Clyde39]

19. When I see Nader's name or hear him speak, I relive a lot of anger

He changed the country and the world when his vanity made him run for a presidency he could never win. When he declared that there was no difference between the Dems and the Pubs he was arrogantly wrong. He has never apologized for his role in the travesty we have had to endure. I know it was his right to do it, but that doesn't "make it better".

[G_j]

20. there are many here who know better

running for Pres. is legal
denying people their right to vote, ...you know, & ...stealing elections?
Now that's criminal.

[young_at_heart]

23. Of course it's legal-----but Nader deserves our scorn

I find nothing about him to admire.

[G_j]

24. speak for yourself

my scorn is reserved for the GOP CRIMINALS who turned back civil rights and stole the election.


EOM

[snot]

21. K'd; sorry didn't see this in time to R.

[sellitman]

22. Let me be the first in this thread....

Fuck Ralph Nader.