NYT, pg1: Overseas Investors Buy Aggressively in U.S.; "U.S. on sale at discount prices"

[DeepModem Mom]

Overseas Investors Buy Aggressively in U.S.
By PETER S. GOODMAN and LOUISE STORY
Published: January 20, 2008

....For much of the world, the United States is now on sale at discount prices. With credit tight, unemployment growing and worries mounting about a potential recession, American business and government leaders are courting foreign money to keep the economy growing. Foreign investors are buying aggressively, taking advantage of American duress and a weak dollar to snap up what many see as bargains, while making inroads to the world’s largest market.

Last year, foreign investors poured a record $414 billion into securing stakes in American companies, factories and other properties through private deals and purchases of publicly traded stock, according to Thomson Financial, a research firm. That was up 90 percent from the previous year and more than double the average for the last decade. It amounted to more than one-fourth of all announced deals for the year, Thomson said.

During the first two weeks of this year, foreign businesses agreed to invest another $22.6 billion for stakes in American companies — more than half the value of all announced deals. If a recession now unfolds and the dollar drops further, the pace could accelerate, economists say.

The surge of foreign money has injected fresh tension into a running debate about America’s place in the global economy. It has supplied state governors with a new development strategy — attracting foreign money. And it has reinvigorated sometimes jingoistic worries about foreigners securing control of America’s fortunes, a narrative last heard in the 1980s as Americans bought up Hondas and Rockefeller Center landed in Japanese hands.

With a growing share of investment coming from so-called sovereign wealth funds — vast pools of money controlled by governments from China to the Middle East — lawmakers and regulators are calling for greater scrutiny to ensure that foreign countries do not gain influence over the financial system or military-related technology. On the presidential campaign trail, the Democratic candidates have begun to focus on these foreign funds, calling for international rules that would make them more transparent....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/business/20invest.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all

[madrchsod]

1. going out of business sale

[jimshoes]

2. I swear, one morning we are going to wake

up and be completely owned by foriegners. The kind that believe in slavery and all that good shit. Sounds kind of science fictiony, but the way things are going, I just don't know.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[peacetalksforall]

4. I remember when this happened during the Reagan administration.

I feel this is all planned. A part of the one world agenda of barons, foundations, and corporations. Some of us will be removed from the earthly delights tomake our size more manageable; the remainder will be used and all their habits and thoughts will be recorded for purposes of total control so they may own the land under our feet while they gather up all the money.

There can be no other reason for selling us.

This consortium of barons, foundations, and corporations is international. There is only a United States of America in the history books.

We mean as much to them whether we are collecting brush barefoot or going out with a shave or a Target or a Vuitton bag. IF we don't know about and learn what is going on, can we stop it? Can we stop it if we know about it? Our leaders who claim to represent us lie, big time.

It's Reagan all over again many, many times worse. The exact same players are working for the consortium. They moved up the ladder from where they were in Ronnie's day - just as there are other moving on up right now - except for a few in jail. It will continue until there is nothing left except third world level workers - obedient, subservient, and non-protesting. Send us to war for them so one group of leaders can fight another group of leaders? No problem. Keep us in the dark and just tell us how to think and what to do.

[Elspeth]

5. This is the real story. the USA has been sold, piecemeal, to the global wealthy

We are now Argentina. And we even have the banana republic elections to prove it.

[bemildred]

6. Do you think any of these guys would want to buy my house? nt

[DeepModem Mom]

7. A sad one, but a GOOD one, bemildred! nt