Log In | Register
I go from column to column… post to post… thread to thread… reading the diverse views from left to right… I truly enjoy it… learn from it… care about it… see its potential and sing its praises to others. Being a bit of a dreamer, I suppose, I wonder if what we are involved in here on the Vine can someday change the world.
Am I nuts? I can't be sure. Am I alone? I'm pretty sure I'm not.
If you're with me so far… I'd like to try something a little different… something that might change some things… or maybe not, we'll just have to see.
We're all entitled to our own opinions, but we're not all entitled to our own sets of facts. And right now would be one heck of a good time for a large number of Americans to agree to some degree on at least a few facts and positions. Still with me? Then let's get to it…
The twelve statements of fact and/or position that I've offered below were written carefully. Don't add thoughts or ideas that aren't there, don't read between the lines. The statements are only and exactly what they are, nothing more.
Like the waiter said to the table of Jewish mothers having lunch: "Is anything okay?"
(And I'm Jewish, remember, so it's cool.)
So, the question is, can we ALL agree on anything?
1.Our country, and in fact much of the world is in terrible shape economically speaking. The current crisis is worsening and there is cause for concern, if not alarm. And, many of us should probably be more scared or worried than we are.Agree Nope
2.The crisis WAS NOT caused by sub-prime borrowers. Many factors contributed to today's crisis including: inappropriate decisions made by lenders and borrowers, the use of complex derivatives and credit default swaps, inappropriate "AAA" ratings issued by bond rating agencies, new GAAP accounting regulations that accelerated write downs by banks, inadequate regulation and oversight of the markets, lenders, and quasi-government agencies like Freddie & Fannie, inconsistent policy by Treasury that bailed our one and left another to go under, and additional factors if you'd like.Agree Nope
3. As related to mortgages, although there were certainly those who acted irresponsibly, there were also many that didn't realize that they were doing so or did so to lesser degree, and it was certainly not easy to see an economic collapse coming around the corner. In other words, many that look irresponsible in hindsight, might not have fallen into such a group, had other factors not occurred along the way.Agree Nope
4.Regardless of how our crisis started, it is a global problem today, and the worse things are allowed to get, the more people will be swept into it. In fact today, the number of prime mortgages going into default exceeds the number of sub-prime, and the major cause of defaults today is unemployment, not "bad" loans.Agree Nope
5.Both borrowers and savers are being seriously harmed by the crisis. Even the most qualified borrowers can't access credit adequately, and savers have seen their savings cut almost in half in many cases. In a world where you can't borrow and it doesn't pay to save, there is little hope for economic stability. Agree Nope
6.At this point, we cannot let the U.S. banking system fail, as the impact would cause significant harm to our country and untold millions of Americans, and significantly hamper businesses already struggling, which would lead to a deeper recession at best. The most important issues to address now are: fostering recovery by creating jobs, stabilizing housing markets, the adequate capitalization of banks, and restoration of credit markets.Agree Nope
7.According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), before President Obama spends dime one, we are facing a $1.2 trillion deficit, which is projected by to reach almost $2 trillion in 2009. Unemployment is forecasted to exceed 9% in 2009, and some forecast double digits in 2010 & 2011.Agree Nope
8.The crisis is costing ALL Americans a great deal, through lost home and/or savings values, and if allowed to worsen significantly, could cause harm on a level from which many would never recover. There is nothing to be gained by punishing homeowners, or businesses, especially if that "punishment" prolongs or deepens our economic problems. At this point, solutions are what matters most. So, if a foreclosure can be prevented, it should be.Agree Nope
9.President Brack Obama appears to be trying to do positive things. He has alienated some on both sides of the aisle, but overall he appears to be trying to take steps to stabilize our economy, create jobs, and increase bipartisan cooperation in government. He may be wrong at times and right at others, but he is trying.Agree Nope
10.Things today are worsening. The banks are again going to need capital, and without adequate capital, lending cannot resume at appropriate levels. Unemployment is rising at a faster pace. Over 500,000 jobs were lost in December alone, and 100,000 lost during the last week of January 2009. So, with consumers unwilling and/or unable to spend, and businesses cutting back production as a result, there is a need for some level of government spending to get things back on track.Agree Nope
11.The Fed has almost exhausted its ability to cut interest rates. And even if further cuts were made, it would make little difference as long as our other problems continue unabated.
Agree Nope
12.Our nation feels too divided along ideological lines and it seems to be hampering our ability as a nation to properly govern ourselves. The "far left" and "far right" need to come in a bit, and all need to recognize the need for and value gained by consensus and compromise. Yesterday's gone. Tomorrow's not here yet. What matters is now.Agree Nope
And there you have it.
Can you agree with any or all of those statements as they are written? If you can, please say so. And if you can't, please let me know why… and as specifically as possible if you don't mind. If your disagreement is thoughtful and meaningful, I'll likely modify the statement to get you on board.
If, however, you're planning on destructive flame throwing from EITHER the left or the right… I'll tell you right now… save it… don't bother… I'll simply delete your attack crap immediately if not sooner. This isn't the thread for that… I'm not saying you can't disagree by any means... I just don't want the stuff that starts someone on one side or the other getting mad at one side or the other.
We need a baseline from which to move forward productively. Otherwise, we'll just continue to rehash the same points over and over… on article after article… seed after seed… until we won't even need to comment anymore… we'll just see a certain topic and then paste in the comments we've made previously. And won't that be fun?
And who knows... maybe we can actually agree on enough to create a statement in the form of a petition that can be signed by millions and sent to our representatives... who knows... it could happen...
