LAist: Barack Obama Wins the Presidency

QuietTristan

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:55:48 -0800

Can someone slip something into trogans 2002 drink so he can pass out and we can ship him off somewhere.

BingosDingo

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:34:35 -0800

Trojan2002: You must be a student of the new financial models, you know, like Joe Cassano and Richard Fuld. >Capitalism and GREED are two different things. You mean like "insuring" loans with with Credit Default Swap and making sure the word "insurance" is never used since insurance (real insurance) is required to have financial and or collateral backing unlike the a fore mentioned CDS? Nothing like making a bleeping fortune selling paper that isn't worth the *ahem* paper it's written on. You mean like putting all of your assets into risky sub prime loans and then wondering what the hell happened with there's nothing to back up the defaults? You mean like selling loans, knowingly, to people who cannot realistically afford or carry them? Color me strange, but any financial institution that does that is begging to go under. Don't blame just the borrower; the lender is culpable too. Especially if the lender hasn't the good sense to protect it's own assets. You mean like Alan Greenspan who admitted to making a mistake? Not a one of these bozos have apologized, but with the Trojan2002 financial model there's no need. Simple cross your arms, point in different directions and state calmly and with total certainty that "it's all their fault."

samkim

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:39:31 -0800

"Capitalism is what made America... FROM DAY ONE." Hey didn't allan greenspan just come out and say that the free market system doesn't work? obama just wants the taxes to go back to the levels it was in the past. if you're for capitalism we need to get rid of basically every sort of social service, privatize education, etc. you really think thats going to work? and regulation is not a part of capitalism, it is a response to the dangers of capitalism. no one system is perfect. everything has its flaws.

Hindinwood

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:59:22 -0800

Trojan2002: I agree with you that capitalism does not have to be destructive with the proper regulation, but that has been severly lacking in the past 7 years. As a result, companies have been allowed to get away with some outrageous behavior. For your clarification, from the Obama website; "Families making more than $250,000 will pay either the same or lower tax rates than they paid in the 1990s. Obama will ask the wealthiest 2% of families to give back a portion of the tax cuts they have received over the past eight years to ensure we are restoring fairness and returning to fiscal responsibility. But no family will pay higher tax rates than they would have paid in the 1990s. In fact, dividend rates would be 39 percent lower than what President Bush proposed in his 2001 tax cut." Not only that, but he proposes tax cuts for companies creating jobs in the US, as well as credits for companies investing in technological innovations, etc. Don't be afraid!

trojan2002

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:48:48 -0800

No hindi. I worked my ass through HS to have money. Then got lucky with starting a business from my grandparents house that made me enough money to pay for school. Although I never paid rent, and lived at home. So i had some help with that. I know my post was long, but you missed that I agree regulation is needed and that would keep greed in check. My concern with socialism, and yes I admit to tyring to foster a red scare, because it scares me that much, is that Obama and the democrats will increase taxes too much ($100K was the last figure I saw when Obama said only 6% make more than that), and that will shut down our economy, innovation, and further growth. But regulation is a part of capitalism. capitalism is not an anarchist system as some would like to make it out to be.

Hindinwood

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:30:42 -0800

Trojan2002, if this were truly socialism we (including the wealthy) would be paying MUCH more in taxes. Don't hyperbolize the tax increase he is proposing just so you can use Red Scare era buzz words. By the way, the tax increase minimum is $200k, not $100K. Greed and Capitalism ARE two different things. But what you fail to realize is that Capitalism has become a very hospitable environment for greed to flourish virtually unchecked, and hopefully this administration will address that enormous problem. It's not about "punishing" those who do well - stop being such a victim. We have a huge problem in this country with poverty and crime (which are linked, obviously), and social programs are needed to deal with it. The more you ignore the problem the worse it gets. It's a cause and effect relationship. As far as working through high school to pay for college, do you really mean to tell me you saved up $160k with your high school job?

trojan2002

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:10:11 -0800

Capitalism and GREED are two different things. Hindinwood, read the polls that came out 2 weeks on those with assets of 1-10Mil, and those with $10mil. Those with 10+ were in support of higher taxes on high income earners and higher corporate tax. those would be the trust fund babies. Yes, trojan means a $40K/yr education. But it also means hard work. Because I don't have $160k in student loans. I worked while in HS, and started my own business after. How did I pay for school? My job! Yeah, i had that luxury. Greed and capitalism are two different things. Greed is the person making $35K/yr buying a $400K house interest only on the assumption they can flip it. Greed is a mortgage telemarketer that has no license or training selling a product that have no idea about. Greed is their employer. Capitalism is what the banks did. Keep in mind that most of the mortgage bonds they bought were AAA rated! meaning they were taking NO risks. They got screwed! Now, we've all been screwed. The 1930s was different. There was no REGULATION. You seem to believe that Capitalist and FREE marketers are against rules. No, we are not. Instead of worrying about taxing people, what the government should do is solve the root of the current problem. 1. state regulation body for mortgage indsutry 2. regulation on how to rate bonds 3. Exchange body/system for derivatives 4. Spin off of fannie and freddie into privately run entities with NO government back drop. But hey, I'm living in a state that approves bonds and taxes to SPEND MORE, instead of first finding a way to solve our budget shortfalls. What I am against is a system that punishes those who do well. I understand that too many people don't get paid well. Is the answer to pay their bosses less? You think if a CEO has a government established pay limit the employees would see that money? NO! That would create a barrier for everyone. Obama does not propose any of that. Obama wants to increase taxes on those making $100K to provide government programs to help others. That does not solve the current problem or prevent it from happening again.Obama wants to close regulate executive pay, take away private choice with regards to health coverage, and some more stuff. That is not any type of capitalism. That is socialism. And yes, CAPITALISM is my g-d. It is what has created me, and my life.

BingosDingo

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:33:19 -0800

Unrestrained capitalism has brought us to the brink of a financial collapse so deep and dire that its like has not been seen since the 1930s. And yet there are those out there who insist that the system can correct itself without government intervention. Where will I be when this happens. Living in a shanty with an outhouse and depression garden? That trojan2002 thinks this is right and proper indicates, to me at least, that there is indeed a disease destroying our country. A disease fed by greed and extreme short-sightedness. The American Dream should be there for anyone who wishes to pursue it. Sequestering 81% or more of this nations wealth into less than 20% of the population's hands is not conducive to that dream.

Hindinwood

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:32:46 -0800

"You've never had to WORK HARD for your money" Oh really? Been working since I was 15. "...and don't understand that anyone in this country with a brain, ambition, and determination can become wealthy and successful." You sir, are living in a fantasy world if you think that's true, and it's delusional thinking like yours that has driven this country to the crisis which it currently faces. http://www.laane.org/docs/research/Poverty_Jobs_and_the_Los_Angeles_Economy.pdf Read the Executive Summary, in particular the line "One of the chief causes of Los Angeles’ woes is an economy that produces too many low-wage jobs." "Hindinwood, you must be a trust fund baby or some other type of spoiled LA baby to be so against capitalism." Please re-read what you just wrote and take a deep breath. Okay, now you do realize that it makes literally NO sense, right? If I were a "trust fund baby" I'm pretty sure I would be singing Capitalism's praises from the rooftops. Oh, and I assume "Trojan" refers to USC aka. a school that costs 40K + a year to attend. And no, (modern) Capitalism is not America. When the country was founded, how many Rupert Murdochs or JP Morgans do you think were around? The system was not designed to accomodate or account for the corporate and industrial giants that exist today. Corruption was supposed to be prevented by a system of checks and balances in the three branchs, but that doesn't work so well when the government is in bed with corporations and there's money to be made (Haliburton anyone?). No one is saying America should become a Socialist country, but for Christsake stop talking about Capitalism as if it were your God.

trojan2002

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:06:32 -0800

Fuck Capitalism... Capitalism is a disease!!! Were the Mao red books handed out yet? I hope I don't get passed over when it does, because I'm still waiting for my Obama Kool Aid. Capitalism is what made America... FROM DAY ONE. W. is not a socialist. I don't agree with all of his policies but there's no doubt that his economic polocies WORKED. we have robust growth from 2003 until then end of 2006. We made several proposals to deal with the boom that was coming. But YOUR DEAR LEADER, reamined silent in his cush Senate job as Republicans pushed and Democrats said NO. Fuck Capitalism? What system do you prefer? Maybe the French, who with Sarkozy have made quick shift to the American form. Or maybe the British who went from being #1 to barely top 5. Or Germany, which like the UK does not provide universal education through grade 12, and offer very tough entrance exams for college. Fuck Capitalism. FUCK YOU. I promise you that this country will not stand by and let Obama move us to socialism. It won't happen. You can beg for it, you can continue to share sucking on his balls like MSNBC, but CAPITALISM will remain. Capitalism is America. Hindinwood, you must be a trust fund baby or some other type of spoiled LA baby to be so against capitalism. You've never had to WORK HARD for your money, and don't understand that anyone in this country with a brain, ambition, and determination can become wealthy and successful.

Hindinwood

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:43:43 -0800

Trojan2002: As well all know, Obama is not a Socialist (give me a break). But while we're on the subject, FUCK CAPITALISM! Sorry, just had to.

damian_z

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:15:38 -0800

huffybike, that was a great moment. As I told my party last night, if Bush had just said that (and meant it) eight years ago, the world would be a very different place.

Purp

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:36 -0800

Obama's campaign was financed by the nation's largest corporations, and he's against capitalism? Ok...do you even know what socialism is? If you were a socialist you would be really pissed off if Obama OR McCain won...

BRATMix

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:02:59 -0800

Was at the Century Plaza last night (so packed that we couldn't even get in). I have never seen such a display of joy and happiness. New Years has nothing on what I witnessed last night. It was nice to see my vote count again. Still trying to figure out how so many people voted Yes on 8.

huffybike

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:58:12 -0800

Here's where I lost it.

anna banana

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:42:24 -0800

Trojan2002 (and all the rest of the understandably very unhappy conservatives this morning): Welcome to our world. This is still (unfortunately) your country too. And if you don't think so anymore, you (like all the liberals who have suffered for the last eight years) are free to go to Canada. I'm sure any liberal can tell you where it is.

sarahwl

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:30:38 -0800

i have never been so proud to be an American. i finally feel like my vote has been counted, that my viewpoint has made a difference. i am so happy right now, and i hope that the next 4 years will change the rest of the world's outlook on our country.

panasonicyouth

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:38:30 -0800

Trojan2002 is so bitter! Free market capitalism is a disease.

db

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:50:22 -0800

dark clouds, go home

Jimmy Bramlett

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:11:56 -0800

People are on the street corners in Echo Park in Silverlake in absolute jubilee.

samkim

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:09:35 -0800

ahhh the socialism argument. never gets tiring. george bushs agendas are more "socialist" than obamas agendas. seriously, if you say that obamas tax policies are socialist any time you change the tax policy you can call it socialist...the tax policies are jsut going back to pre-george bush levels...nothing radical here

Schimonie

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:58:35 -0800

HELL yeah.

qwerty

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:44:37 -0800

First time in a long time that I've felt good about being an American.

trojan2002

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:25:48 -0800

Good day for who and what? This is a sad day in american history. Obama has ZERO experience, ZERO legislative accomplishments, is against capitalism, and is a repeated liar. HOPE and Change are great for hollywood campaigns, but this is the big boys league, and now the High School kids have elected the kool illprepared kid as student body president. Why? Because he promised us no more homework, better food in the cafeteria, and less hours in school. basically that's what Obama has offerred. Hope and change that can't be accomploshed without changing 200 years of american history. America today, said it wants Hope not experience, socialism not capitalism, a nanny state, not a liberated state. G-D help us all.

tp4free

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:15:56 -0800

oops sorry about the cut & paste.

tp4free

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:14:45 -0800

it was a good day the remastered version is located here: http://www.mininova.org/tor/1077234