I agree with you; you cannot simply flip a switch. But that is not how the Democrats sold their legislation. There were going to be green jobs, shovel-ready projects and general job creation all around. None of it happened, and they knew that none of it was going to happen.

A lot of those jobs were going to "cost way to much money". Which is ironic because nobody on both sides of the isle batted an eye when they decided to continue with the republican bailouts.

as far as im concerned, those banks should still be under direct government control until we get every cent back.

Those bailouts were wrong. The Democratic Party had the opportunity to stand on principle and stop them. They did no such thing.

Are the banks to be like General Motors? They gave the money back, but are still majority-owned by the government. That's the problem with government bailouts; once given, the government never relinquishes conrtol. And since the government generates no revenue, it makes you, and I and every other American now responsible for a failed company. Given the track record of the banks, I do not want that responsibility either.

What gets me about these banks, we bailed them out over the housing crisis they created and got rich off of. Due to the fall out, prices dropped.
A house worth 200K in some areas may be worth 100K. Owners that needed to get out couldn't sell it for near enough to pay the loan, so they either try to get a modification or go into foreclosure.

However, it was better for the bank to foreclose as the government paid them for the full value of the loan, minus a percentage for the home, usally 30% of tax value and the bank keeps the home. Not only that the banks could charge the government high late fee's, all legal fee's, ect. on top of that and no regulation to check the cost, just whatever they add.

So instead of working with the homeowner to keep the home with a mod, they made more from the government than what it could be sold for...and it the end the banks still own the home. The kicker is now the loan is paid for and they're sitting on billions of dollars of homes they'll sell higher as the economy improves.

Course these banks paid well for each congress seat they control, mostly GOP.

At this point in our history, our economy is near-inextricably intertwined with our politics. Our politics is geared toward making money for those with access to the policymakers. We've now got the best government money can buy, and we keep paying for it. It isn't party-dominant; they're all in it together. All party division does is make it easier to figure out where the money came from, corporations, or social enterprises.

Amazing how much the partisan left is now about compromise. You know who you are. Gridlock in D,C. is the best we can hope for. Republican agenda gains is what we voted for. By a greater margin than BHO was elected I might add.

Too true. It's not R vs. D anymore. It's those with money vs. YOU.

Or those who want the opportunity to have money and those whose failure of vision accept poverty.

If you want to own that it is your decision. Many don't like it and reject your failure.

It is about vision.

Me, personally?

Nah. I don't have anything anybody'd want, unless you count a collection of beer bottle caps, empty cans of compressed air, and a few burnt-out compact florescent bulbs that I've not disposed of yet.

How much for the caps?

Oh, shi- :wah:

Uh... uhm... uh...

I don't have no stinkin' caps... yo no hablo ingles!

Lets give them a chance.I believe we will see a game change in Congress the next two years, esp after 2012 when GOP will most likely take Congress and possibly the WH.I could be wrong but at the very least take comfort in the fact that Obama no longer has a rubber stamp and/or blank check.

First of all, there are zero republicans in the portland metro area, so you can't blame them. This is one party rule here, and it has been for the last 25+ years.

Here's what's wrong with one party (progressive) rule. The city of portland has a HUGE budget, but they have no money for po-lice, fire and schools. They do have money for building trolleys, and bike paths though.

Now portland views itself at the vangard of eco-progressivism. Now when it rains heavily here the sewers can't handle the run off and raw sewage flows straight into our precious rivers:haha:. Now if a private company were to dump raw sewage into the rivers, the EPA would be all over them with fines and such (as they should be)., but when portland does it...meh, no interest.

Speaking of sewers, the mayor raided over half a million dollars from the sewer tax fund to convert roads to bike use only.:nope:

Surprise, surprise, there's no money for the sewer fund:har::har::har::har: this year, so they raised taxes on water rates.:woot:

So if this is the kind of gov't you dig, then it's right up your alley.

Businesses are wising up and getting the heck out of portland. There are even ads on the radio recruiting businesses to a more friendly enviroment.:yeah:

I think you are correct. They were just talking about the MILLIONS of dollars spent by the unions in the ore-gone guv election.

I'm not going to whine about money and politics, but you'd think they'd spend it on better things, like improving the schools:shifty:.

oooo... socialized schools... that'll go over well. :rotfl2: