Saturday
22Nov2008
The Creation of a Banana Republic
Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 07:07PM 
As the Obama administration takes shape I see some very troubling signs. The first is the appointment of so many former Clinton administration people to key positions.
The actual pick of the Dragon Lady herself as Secretary of State I believe is a good choice. The cronies that she has in place at state may actually stop leaking, accomplishing anything will be another matter all together. The historical record of foreign policy failures of the Clinton's combining with the future ones of Obama will be fun to watch.
Tom Daschle is being slated to Shepard in Universal Health Care the seizing of the government of 1/7th of our economy, the take over of the banking industry by the very people that caused the collapse and finally the grabbing of control of the Detroit auto industry.
When Government controls so much of a nations economy decisions are not based on economics but politics. That is a Banana Republic or a dictatorship. We may never be a dictatorship but we are becoming a Banana Republic through Crony capitalism.
Crony capitalism is when government controls significant parts of the economy. Under this kind of bureaucratic micromanagement, politicians -- not the free market -- call the shots. And that means that the decisions that control the economy are of necessity political decisions, not economic ones.
Of course the bureaucratic micromanagement has done such a wonderful job with the budget, medicare and social security. How can we argue with such shining examples of success, hell they're even going to take control of our 401ks
We can all look forward to prosperous future Praise the Messiah
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Reader Comments (24)
we are becoming a Banana Republic through Crony capitalism
Becoming?
Bush and the GOP delivered you well.
point to examples Pinky
Great post Troll. Talk about cutting to the quick. Nice one.
>>When Government controls so much of a nations economy decisions are not based on economics but politics. That is a Banana Republic or a dictatorship. We may never be a dictatorship but we are becoming a Banana Republic through Crony capitalism.<<
If it is, remember it became one under the government of the people you were foolish enough to vote into office.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3052/crony_capitalism_halliburton_gets_70.html
Well how about this for crony capitalism- A war being privatized for the V.P's former corporation!
Would that qualify?
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/09/17/mortgage.fraud/
Take note of the DATE in thr above link
And then read this:
AP IMPACT: Mortgage giant, GOP firm targeted Republican senators for defeat of regulatory bill
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Freddie Mac secretly paid a Republican consulting firm $2 million to kill legislation that would have regulated and trimmed the mortgage finance giant and its sister company, Fannie Mae, three years before the government took control to prevent their collapse.
In the cross hairs of the campaign carried out by DCI of Washington were Republican senators and a regulatory overhaul bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. DCI's chief executive is Doug Goodyear, whom John McCain's campaign later hired to manage the GOP convention in September.
Freddie Mac's payments to DCI began shortly after the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee sent Hagel's bill to the then GOP-run Senate on July 28, 2005. All GOP members of the committee supported it; all Democrats opposed it."
Crony Capitalism?
"Enormous sums have simply disappeared in Iraq, where Halliburton has battened on its cozy relationship with the White House and the Pentagon by billing for hundreds of millions of dollars in “questioned” and “unsupported” expenses. How has the Bush administration punished its favorite firm for those abuses? By almost instantly awarding Halliburton new contracts for cleaning up the Gulf Coast destruction, with the prospect of much more to come.
Emphasizing the Halliburton embarrassment was the presence in New Orleans of the company’s “consultant,” Joe Allbaugh, a longtime Bush staffer and friend who also happens to be the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He is the man responsible for the elevation of Michael D. (Brownie) Brown, the unqualified pretender who just resigned in disgrace from that same FEMA post.
The story of the FEMA buddies offers a paradigm of public service in the Bush era. Behind their anti-government rhetoric, the Republicans have learned how to make government work for them, by employing the unemployable and enriching the super-rich. Critical needs are left unmet, and gigantic deficits are left to posterity."
http://www.observer.com/node/51279
How about that one Troll?
Pinky, give him time - he's recovering.
yeah Haliburton ....lol what a maroon and do you think if one republican was involved in the corruption of Fannie and Freddie he wouldn't have been tarred and feathered by now.
the more you comment the brighter your ignorance shines
yeah Haliburton ....lol what a maroon
Troll, Ive always admired the way you have dealt with the Halliburton issue over the years (Beat chest and shout 'Halliburton, Halliburton
, Halliburton'.
Ofcourse you could always watch the Documentary Film "Iraq for Sale". Its available for free on google video.
Crony capitalism is corporatism and one thing the corporates need is cheap labour. I foresee accelerated inflows of 3rd-worlders, and an acceleration of the US towards the 3rd-world.
Troll, Ive always admired the way you have dealt with the Halliburton issue over the years (Beat chest and shout 'Halliburton, Halliburton
, Halliburton'.
Yes it reminds me of the passge in Thomas Frank's 'What's the Matter with Kansas*
" The angry workers mighty in their numbers are marching irresistibly against the arrogant. They are shaking their fists at the sons of privilege. They are laughing at the dainty affectations of the Leawood toffs. They are massing at the gates of Mission Hill, hoisting the black flag, and while the millionaires tremble in their mansions, they are bellowng out their terrifying demands, " We are here," they scream, "to cut your taxes."
* One of the best books written on the USA Culture Wars.
yeah Haliburton ....lol what a maroon and do you think if one 'republican was involved in the corruption of Fannie and Freddie he wouldn't have been tarred and feathered by now.
the more you comment the brighter your ignorance shines'
Troll, everything I put to you , is a matter of record. Your denial doesn't make any of it disappear in the real world, like it does in your head.
Each and every time you descend into name-calling, you forfeit the debate. Of course, you are not really interested in debate, because that might mean facing some harsh realities.
I tolerate you, because I feel sorry for you. I see you as a victim of the most cynical politics, where your cultural anger is used to achieve economic ends that will never benefit you or your family. You have been used and abused into 'supporting the social arrangements of capitalism, regardless of what capitalism' did to you.
oh gee I'm glad you tolerate me. Especially since I'm the one that has the power to delete comments and you don't.
only two companies in the world can do what Halliburton does and the other is French.
Do you think were going to let the French profit from our spilt blood?
You live in a fantasy world where capitalism is the boogeyman. Your concept of economics is based on no reality at all
'oh gee I'm glad you tolerate me. Especially since I'm the one that has the power to delete comments and you don't.'
Now Troll, you would never do anything so cowardly or cry babyish, would you? LOL
''only two companies in the world can do what Halliburton does and the other is French.
Do you think were going to let the French profit from our spilt blood?
You live in a fantasy world where capitalism is the boogeyman. Your concept of economics is based on no reality at all''
I happen to be a Capitalist Troll, and enjoy very much the fruits of your labour :-)
no that would make you a leach...
a capitailist enjoys the fruit of their OWN labor
no that would make you a leach...
a capitailist enjoys the fruit of their OWN labor
Thank you for the tax-cuts, Troll. From the bottom of my heart!!! :LOL
Pinky,Does the irish Constitution allow deficit spending?
'Pinky,Does the irish Constitution allow deficit spending?'
Like every other constitution, I suspect, the Irish Constitution can be made to allow anything at all, Charles.
Does the US Constitution allow torture, spying on US citizens, etc etc???
Oh wind yer neck back in Pinks, the reason I asked is that I heard a report that the ROI could go bankrupt in a year, which didn't make sense to me. Or is the EU in charge of monetary policy.
Jaysus woman, you make asking a question a big deal!
'Oh wind yer neck back in Pinks, the reason I asked is that I heard a report that the ROI could go bankrupt in a year, which didn't make sense to me. Or is the EU in charge of monetary policy.
Jaysus woman, you make asking a question a big deal'
Charles, I was kinda sorta joking really.
Or maybe showing no revernce for constitutions. It was not a shot at you. Sorry if I touched a wee Texas nerve.
It is very possible that the ROI could go bankrupt next year. In fact, I would say it is likely. While the EU does have certain strangleholds over the economy- the Irish government has never been afraid to snub its nose at the EU or anyone else. Take for example corporate tax rates- the Irish government has gone out on its own with that. Also recently, the Irish government went ahead to insure deposits in banks- ( can't remember what the exact sum is), but it ruffled a few feathers in EU and then most members followed suit.
Also Charles:
The EU could be vindictive and let the Irish get into trouble because of their recent NO vote.
Sorry Pinky, I AM on edge! Thanks for the explanation. ;)
Sorry Pinky, I AM on edge! Thanks for the explanation. ;)
No problem Charles, Try a spot of tea- it always soothes my nerves.