The Quiet Coup

[Nbadan]

The crash has laid bare many unpleasant truths about the United States. One of the most alarming, says a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is that the finance industry has effectively captured our government—a state of affairs that more typically describes emerging markets, and is at the center of many emerging-market crises. If the IMF’s staff could speak freely about the U.S., it would tell us what it tells all countries in this situation: recovery will fail unless we break the financial oligarchy that is blocking essential reform. And if we are to prevent a true depression, we’re running out of time....

The Atlantic

[DarkReign]

Is it really all that "quiet" of a coup?

I dont believe it is. Everyone here on this board and in life knows Washington is a bought and paid for commodity.

We still havent done anything about it, nor will we ever (as a people).

Its my belief Americans/Humans just want to be left alone and have a fair chance at success. Governments in general, do not allow this to happen in its entirety.

Dont take that statement the wrong way...I realize government is absolutely necessary, period. But with time, that power grows. As it grows, it becomes coveted. Demand for it increases even though what it supplies is limited (at first).

Its really predictable when you step back and think about what government is without the semantics.

Bottom Line: Few control the many.

[LockBeard]

Government should be for the people and not working to push the agendas of those really in power who wish only to gain more control over the masses.

Those pulling the strings have control of billions and trillions. Join government to control your country and you make millions. Pretty good deal.

[mogrovejo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_choice_theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal-agent_problem

-----

The most amazing thing about guys like Mr. Johnson (btw, his blog is a very good reading; just like this article) is that they try to keep curing the illness with more poison. The problem is that the government has too much power making it a target for special groups interested on capturing that power and use it to their own benefit; yet some people keep hoping that if you increase the power of the government enough this problem will get away. It's insane.

[Extra Stout]

If not for the bloody wars that will kill millions, the splitting of the U.S.A. into several smaller countries would be so much better for the people.

Control of the most powerful government en y in the history of the world is simply too big a prize for the oligarchs, left or right, to ignore.

[RandomGuy]

The crash has laid bare many unpleasant truths about the United States. One of the most alarming, says a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is that the finance industry has effectively captured our government—a state of affairs that more typically describes emerging markets, and is at the center of many emerging-market crises. If the IMF’s staff could speak freely about the U.S., it would tell us what it tells all countries in this situation: recovery will fail unless we break the financial oligarchy that is blocking essential reform. And if we are to prevent a true depression, we’re running out of time....

The Atlantic

The IMF is auditing our financial system. I will wait until I see the results, but I doubt I will like what I read.

There is probably more truth to this than many would like to admit.

People with money should have some influence in any government, but I think that our greater good has been subordinated to special business interests on more than one occasion.

[micca]

If not for the bloody wars that will kill millions, the splitting of the U.S.A. into several smaller countries would be so much better for the people.

Control of the most powerful government en y in the history of the world is simply too big a prize for the oligarchs, left or right, to ignore.

I don't know I don't think it would necessarily be bloody, I think alot of people would support the idea.

[Nbadan]

I think any thoughts of dissolving the union would be crushed...

[Nbadan]

Those pulling the strings have control of billions and trillions. Join government to control your country and you make millions. Pretty good deal.

They may have billions but we have the power of the vote..... , it works in Europe....government works for people to a fault....imagine that

[Wild Cobra]

If not for the bloody wars that will kill millions, the splitting of the U.S.A. into several smaller countries would be so much better for the people.

Control of the most powerful government en y in the history of the world is simply too big a prize for the oligarchs, left or right, to ignore.

I don't think that would ever happen, but I'm beginning to believe that we need to mask it so. As far as I care, our governments have become treasonous to the ideals and heart of America. Since we no longer have a republic form of government, if we split up, at least we, as citizens, have the freedom to move around to the areas that we like. Let all the freeloaders move to California and other similar places and those of us who believe in hard work, move to the more conservative states. With no Federal mandates dropping us all to the lowest common denominator.

[smeagol]

You guys think you have problems . . . ?

What a ing joke . . .

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I thought the joke was an Argentinian spoonfeeding the same old BS for like five years in this political forum.

Non elected officials are doing more to influence this country than ever before.

This guy also said a while back that if the IMF were to look at the US's numbers, without knowing it was the US, their quick answer to the solution to the financial crisis would be temporary nationalization, sell off healthy parts back to private sector, hold onto ailing parts.

[RandomGuy]

I thought the joke was an Argentinian spoonfeeding the same old BS for like five years in this political forum.

Non elected officials are doing more to influence this country than ever before.

This guy also said a while back that if the IMF were to look at the US's numbers, without knowing it was the US, their quick answer to the solution to the financial crisis would be temporary nationalization, sell off healthy parts back to private sector, hold onto ailing parts.

That seems to be an emerging consensus.

[LnGrrrR]

I don't think that would ever happen, but I'm beginning to believe that we need to mask it so. As far as I care, our governments have become treasonous to the ideals and heart of America. Since we no longer have a republic form of government, if we split up, at least we, as citizens, have the freedom to move around to the areas that we like. Let all the freeloaders move to California and other similar places and those of us who believe in hard work, move to the more conservative states. With no Federal mandates dropping us all to the lowest common denominator.

Riiiiiggghht. Because it's all those southern states that have to carry the northern ones on their backs...

[smeagol]

I thought the joke was an Argentinian spoonfeeding the same old BS for like five years in this political forum.

If by "spoonfeeding the same BS" you mean me ROFLing at some of you guys who want a coup because you distrust or outright hate your political system . . . then yes, you guys are a ing joke.

After benefiting for decades by living in the wealthiest country in the world, you ers start crying about Washington . . .

You guys don't know how good you have it. You really don't.

[Ignignokt]

If not for the bloody wars that will kill millions, the splitting of the U.S.A. into several smaller countries would be so much better for the people.

Control of the most powerful government en y in the history of the world is simply too big a prize for the oligarchs, left or right, to ignore.

or we could bring back emphasis on states rights, that's a of alot easier.

[Yonivore]

or we could bring back emphasis on states rights, that's a of alot easier.

The states should never have ratified the 17th Amendment...that sealed our fates on states' rights.

[Winehole23]

The states should never have ratified the 17th Amendment...that sealed our fates on states' rights.

The popular election of US Senators *killed* state sovereignty? Funny, I thought it was the Civil War. Are you sure, Yoni?

[mogrovejo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_choice_theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal-agent_problem

-----

The most amazing thing about guys like Mr. Johnson (btw, his blog is a very good reading; just like this article) is that they try to keep curing the illness with more poison. The problem is that the government has too much power making it a target for special groups interested on capturing that power and use it to their own benefit; yet some people keep hoping that if you increase the power of the government enough this problem will get away. It's insane.

There's another very curious phenomenon: many rent-seeking oligarchs are incapable of self-awareness. Mr. Johnson is a very good example of that: he recognizes the captains of the finance as a dangerous oligarchy that tries to capture the government to protect their self-interest, but he's never showed the ability to understand that the group he belongs to - the high-end bureaucrats from international/government ins utions - is just another side of the same coin.

[MannyIsGod]

If not for the bloody wars that will kill millions, the splitting of the U.S.A. into several smaller countries would be so much better for the people.

Control of the most powerful government en y in the history of the world is simply too big a prize for the oligarchs, left or right, to ignore.

I should look up my posts where I said this was the case some time ago. The United States is too big for its own good. As they saying goes, all politicis is local, and while we bicker about like abortion, corporations put the real power in our government to use.

[Yonivore]

The popular election of US Senators *killed* state sovereignty? Funny, I thought it was the Civil War. Are you sure, Yoni?

Yep, until the 17th Amendment, Senators were selected by the State's legislatures -- thus, representing the States in Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives was populated by the people.

That's the way the founders intended it.

The Civil War didn't help but, the 17th Amendment put the nail in the coffin. There is no one representing the States' interests in Washington anymore.

[ChumpDumper]

[Ignignokt]

Okay ChumpD... we all wanna know what you're laughing about..

[ChumpDumper]

Do you really?

[LnGrrrR]

Yep, until the 17th Amendment, Senators were selected by the State's legislatures -- thus, representing the States in Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives was populated by the people.

That's the way the founders intended it.

The Civil War didn't help but, the 17th Amendment put the nail in the coffin. There is no one representing the States' interests in Washington anymore.

They really weren't being elected for their states though. From what I've read, senators got their positions by being given them as a form of payment for political favors, and the people demanded that they be able to vote their senators in due to this.