Comments on: Pondering the American Elections http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/ Toujours Le Meme Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:38:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tony Gumbrell http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3147 Tony Gumbrell Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:45:05 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3147 In my city alone, i.e. Seattle, there are many thousands of homeless people, even children, many elderly. Many more are totering on the brink, and many with good incomes could suddenly find themselves destitute. The US is full of people running scared and living on the edge. Yet, for all their economic uncertainty and sketchy, indeed, dangerous lack of security and social welfare support, Americans are utter political naïfs. Many, or most, of them don't have a clue as to what politics is, nor what will be detiremined in periodic elections. They base their choices, and votes, on the most absurd, superficial, and frivolous appearances, knee-jerk, and gut reactions. They are easy prey to hype, advertisement, rabble rousers, spin-doctors, fearmongers, and demagogues, and the band wagon effect (mindless conformity as — monkee see, monkee do). In my city alone, i.e. Seattle, there are many thousands of homeless people, even children, many elderly. Many more are totering on the brink, and many with good incomes could suddenly find themselves destitute. The US is full of people running scared and living on the edge. Yet, for all their economic uncertainty and sketchy, indeed, dangerous lack of security and social welfare support, Americans are utter political naïfs. Many, or most, of them don’t have a clue as to what politics is, nor what will be detiremined in periodic elections. They base their choices, and votes, on the most absurd, superficial, and frivolous appearances, knee-jerk, and gut reactions. They are easy prey to hype, advertisement, rabble rousers, spin-doctors, fearmongers, and demagogues, and the band wagon effect (mindless conformity as — monkee see, monkee do).

]]> By: Stef http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3123 Stef Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:15:39 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3123 <i>When I lived in America in the 1980s and 90s, even then there was a good deal of shonky stuff in the real estate market. I would say that your jingle mail example is very normal now. It is very easy to declare bankruptcy in the US and walk away.</i> indeed, I read one article a few days ago which referred to 'neutron mortgages' - the houses are still standing but there's no-one left inside them... When I lived in America in the 1980s and 90s, even then there was a good deal of shonky stuff in the real estate market. I would say that your jingle mail example is very normal now. It is very easy to declare bankruptcy in the US and walk away.

indeed, I read one article a few days ago which referred to ‘neutron mortgages’ - the houses are still standing but there’s no-one left inside them…

]]> By: Wolfie http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3116 Wolfie Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:23:26 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3116 Its true Colin, people in Europe forget that the American economy has often been historically volatile and that its own laws and economics exacerbate this. It can be a journey from the mansion to the gutter and back again within a few years with little stigma attached to the experience. However I think this may well be a substantial knock-back. Its true Colin, people in Europe forget that the American economy has often been historically volatile and that its own laws and economics exacerbate this. It can be a journey from the mansion to the gutter and back again within a few years with little stigma attached to the experience.

However I think this may well be a substantial knock-back.

]]> By: Colin Campbell http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3112 Colin Campbell Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:36:34 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3112 When I lived in America in the 1980s and 90s, even then there was a good deal of shonky stuff in the real estate market. I would say that your jingle mail example is very normal now. It is very easy to declare bankruptcy in the US and walk away. Obviously it is more challenging given the impact of not having credit in a credit demanding society. I wonder if you would be forced into bankruptcy if you did that? One of my colleagues in America did exactly that when the housing market went bust in the 80s in Denver and they lost their job. Luckily they were able to buy another house in California before the default went through. After a number of years their credit recovered and the house they bought doubled in value. Such an extreme market. When I lived in America in the 1980s and 90s, even then there was a good deal of shonky stuff in the real estate market. I would say that your jingle mail example is very normal now. It is very easy to declare bankruptcy in the US and walk away. Obviously it is more challenging given the impact of not having credit in a credit demanding society. I wonder if you would be forced into bankruptcy if you did that?

One of my colleagues in America did exactly that when the housing market went bust in the 80s in Denver and they lost their job. Luckily they were able to buy another house in California before the default went through. After a number of years their credit recovered and the house they bought doubled in value.

Such an extreme market.

]]> By: jameshigham http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3111 jameshigham Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:07:21 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2008/02/07/pondering-the-american-elections/#comment-3111 Tent city - the old three card trick and how could the average cit wake up to what was going down? Tent city - the old three card trick and how could the average cit wake up to what was going down?

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