After feeling the love here at the DU

[renie408]

I am thinking I need to take a break for a bit. After having been told that my 55 year old brother deserves to lose his 401K and that my 77 year old mother equally deserves to have lost a third of the money she relies on for income, I am not sure I can take the Monday morning quarterbacks.

It is a strange thing that the only people in the entire country who really understand this problem and realize that NOT passing the bailout is a good thing are here and at the Free Republic. You guys should really get yourselves to Washington and set them straight. Oh, and call Warren Buffet. Apparently that moron didn't understand this whole thing nearly as well as some of the people here do. He could use some of the brilliant advice I feel sure some members of the DU (and the Free Republic) can give him.

[Joe the Revelator]

1. I agree...the reaction by the wacky bunch has made me consider divorcing this board for awhile

The need for some people to whistle past every graveyard they pass is too much.

[msallied]

37. Amen on that.

[HughMoran]

44. I've been devastated by this crisis - I think some people think it's funny

Haha - look at the kid who worked his ass off to get out of the slums suffering - haha - welcome to my world.

:( :( :(

[slay]

64. I definitely don't think it's funny - but I don't think this was the right bill either

I just really don't think Dennis Kucinich, who also was against this bill, is out to screw the average citizen -- Local Congressmen Explain Voting Against Bailout(Kucinich and Latourette): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3518896

* edited - left out a word.. doh

[HughMoran]

68. I agree that the bill sucks, but I'm losing money hand over fist

I'm going nuts - I just want somebody to do something to stabilize things before I lose the money I've been saving for the past 25 years! :(

I really want to send the kids to college and be able to retire someday without begging on the street :(

[slay]

75. I hear ya - my parents have stock in one of the banks that failed.. now it is worthless

Ever since 9/11 I've seen how the Bush people try to play off people's fears and get them to accept a bad deal based on those fears. This time, unlike the so called threat from Iraq back then, there seems to be real reasons to be worried. If we get this wrong though - give too much money and power to the wrong people, it could be even worse in the long term IMO. We're all on this ride through shitville together so I would really hope everyone wants the best outcome for this, even if opinions on how to arrive at that outcome differ. Personally, even though things look bad now, I honestly think in the long term it was correct to reject this deal. We all know the Bush people have seen this coming for a LONG time, and yet they waited til the last minute to spring it on us, hoping to screw us one more time. I don't blame the American people for being deeply suspisious over this - I know I am. Unfortunatly we trusted Wall Street with our money and they fucked us. I'm not sure what the best way out is, but many, many people felt this to be a bad deal. I too hope to see some positive developments soon. My parents can not live off of social security alone. :(

[LooseWilly]

100. Ok, to play Devil's advocate...

... maybe I'm the only one.... but I do think it's kind of funny. Maybe it's because I have next to nothing in Money Markets. Maybe it's because the only 401k I have is what I've inherited from my mom when she died. Maybe it's because I own nothing because I've been working for cash for the last 10 years. Maybe it's because I don't own anything... and now the prices are liable to drop like stones and I'll actually have a chance to maybe afford something...

I mean, let's just say it. A credit crunch is only really an issue for those who have credit, and those who expect to be able to get more. Those of us who've been laughed at when we apply for credit cards for the last 10 years or more... credit crunches affect us how?

Ohh yeah... and all those who had credit, bought houses, and set up 401k's.... you all did what, again, for those of us who didn't qualify for any of the above?...
We're expected to shit bricks over what might happen to your investments, when we weren't considered worthy of making such investments?... even in a market that was obviously gambling on people who were so incapable that they would wind up choking up the entire financial system....

Ohh, whoah is me... ohh, that's right... appeal to my sense of... what's that fucking word? Charity?...

What if I say all the retirees who've been robbed should join me driving a taxi... 12 hour driving shifts really aren't as bad as 8 hour shifts doing retail?... and being murdered on the job is a financially sound retirement program... at least as far as relatives are concerned... just be sure to invest in some life insurance...

I've long argued that the obvious plan of the US economy was to turn the country into a 3rd world economy... I would be delighted to hear a Yahweh's Advocate tell me I'm wrong...

[blondeatlast]

113. It's all about you. How nice. (sarcasm)

[HughMoran]

117. I surely don't lack sympathy for your situation

So, if you're expecting me to say it's all about me, then no - I can feel for anybody who's in a tough circumstance.

Me? I grew up in an appartment in an inner city slum and played by the rules - working co-op jobs to get through college and then working 12 hour days until I had proven myself somewhat competant to the right-wing ass holes in the field I was in.

I never suggested that you shit bricks over MY investments (money I've managed to save over 25 years of never taking vacations for fear of losing my job.) If this only effects you in a positive way if anything - why post here to rub it in my face? I don't use credit cards because I don't believe anybody should use them, so that's not a difference between us. Why judge others who you don't even know? That's not a very liberal point of view.

[Vote2008]

2. Freaking calm down. 20 PHD economists can't even agree on this crisis....

so why are you letting any DU members bother you??

If you are that sensitive then leave for good.

[1corona4u]

8. So, you chase this poster to another thread to taunt her?

Heartless.

[Vote2008]

9. What thread???

[endthewar]

28. You're insulting again

:hi:

[1corona4u]

33. Hey, I'm just tired of the 'holier than thou'....

:hi:

[endthewar]

41. I think people should have leeway on this important issue

Agree with people or not, but some feel VERY strongly either for or against this bailout. I think people should be allowed to give a vehement defense of their position.

[1corona4u]

43. And so should I.

Freedom of speech doesn't guarantee freedom from repercussion.

[endthewar]

48. Agreed, but making it personal helps nobody here.

I think a lot of people are still feeling out their position on this bailout crisis. If anything, hands should be reached out to others to try to bring them on board with your position.

Me personally, I was against the bailout, but I do think that some kind of legislation should be passed to help solve this problem. The deal breaker for me was when Congress asked Paulson how he came up with $700 billion. He basically said that it was an arbitrary amount of money, he just wanted a pile of money, just as long as the pile was big. Paulson and Bush need to do a better job of selling this to the American people. Some people in Congress have people calling them 20 or 50 to 1 against this bailout.

[1corona4u]

53. I really don't care to bring people to my POV....it's futile.

Been there, done that, got tired of fighting people who really don't have open minds. We're talking about people who see it their way, or the highway.

Sorry. You seem like a nice person. Maybe too nice for this board. However, instead of you constantly schooling me, and pointing out my post, you might just want to put me on ignore, because I always, always speak mind. Popular or not.

[endthewar]

57. I never use ignore

Just because I disagree with you on something, I don't really view that as a big problem. I enjoy conversing with people who have an open mind, people like you. People who have a closed mind, it's interesting to try to understand why they hold those views. I think it's important to realize, however, that people on this board have a LOT more in common than they have differences.

I think with this bailout people just don't trust Bush. This just seems too much like the Iraq War. Condi was warning us about mushroom clouds and whatnot. Turns out they lied to us. Looking at it from that perspective, I can understand why some are very opposed to this bailout. Bush wants a blank check for billions of dollars. I can't be mad at anyone who wants a little bit more than a week to consider his proposal.

[1corona4u]

63. Yeah, I get that...

But, remember this;



There was a Shepherd Boy who tended his sheep at the foot of a mountain near a dark forest. It was lonely for him, so he devised a plan to get a little company. He rushed down towards the village calling out "Wolf, Wolf," and the villagers came out to meet him. This pleased the boy so much that a few days after he tried the same trick, and again the villagers came to his help. Shortly after this a Wolf actually did come out from the forest. The boy cried out "Wolf, Wolf," still louder than before. But this time the villagers, who had been fooled twice before, thought the boy was again lying, and nobody came to his aid. So the Wolf made a good meal off the boy's flock.



Just saying....

[endthewar]

65. Yeah, but how do we know that the wolf is out there this time?

It's like the little boy came to the town and asked everybody for $3000 by the end of the week, else the wolf will eat all of their sheep. If Bush came to my door and told me that he needed $3000 in one week to save the world, I wouldn't give it to him.

Plus, everybody knows that the fix is in to some degree. Some people will be making a huge profit off of this crisis.

[musicblind]

76. Wow. Endthewar. I think you and I have VERY similar philosophies on life. I respect you a lot for

what you said. :hug:

[endthewar]

90. Ahhh...thanks :-)

:hug:

I guess I try to lead my life like Obama's foreign policy. Sure, we can isolate those who disagree with us, but then the problems just fester and remain unsolved. I think that people are the sum of their life experiences. To understand someone else's point of view is to understand what their life has been like.

[girl gone mad]

74. What do you add to any of these discussions..

aside from personal attacks?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[endthewar]

29. Probably better to provide a link with economists disagreeing with the bailout

Might make your point clearer. I think that HuffPo had a link to this last week. :hi:

[Fresh_Start]

3. more of the dog eat dog attitude that serves us all so well

in the olden days the rich didn't have to abuse the poorest class
the members of the not quite as poor class did it for them

we have learned nothing

[NoSheep]

34. ding.

[musicblind]

78. Another ding.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

94. Make it 3 dings

I might be able to see the lack of sympathy for the fat cats on Wallstreet, but the lack of compassion for our own is frightening

[timber84]

4. I can understand.

[lostnotforgotten]

5. Too Bad You Trusted Bush's Cabal Of Financial Investment Hucksters

You only have yourself to blame.

Many of us have been out of the market for YEARS.

Why, because we knew these people were crooks from the gitgo!

[Joe the Revelator]

7. Case in point....

[1corona4u]

10. yeah, then if you knew all along, you are just as responsible for letting it happen.

What did you do to stop it? Post on a fucking message board?

Leave this poster alone.

[Joe the Revelator]

11. Dude...he's been off the grid for years...hiding his cash in mason jars....

You're just stooopid for not having followed his lead

[1corona4u]

14. Jeez..I guess so....

I have to get some jars tomorrow....

[Joe the Revelator]

17. Don't forget a shovel....

[1corona4u]

22. Check, got it.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[msallied]

39. This poster has been posting that shit since this whole thing started.

Cares nothing for anyone but himself. He's been poor so he's got nothing to lose. I'm paraphrasing his bullshit so maybe he won't have to go to the trouble to do it again. Believe me, my words are far kinder than his own.

[seabeyond]

45. a bunch of petty little people. i prefer to work on win win win.....

that would include this particular poster. this poster is what most of us are fighting so hard for.... and you know what, i dont have to. i can be a me me me and get more voting for the other party. fuck that shit.... i dont need more, and others do. that is what i and all the others are fighting for voting in obama.

then this petty little mouth

thank you

[msallied]

49. I agree completely.

As Barack himself said "I am my brother's keeper."

[HughMoran]

50. Pretty filthy that poster - how much of an ass hole can someone be?

Talk about laughing at the majority of people here and in your country. What an ass that poster is!

[seabeyond]

59. the worst of who we are.

:hi:

[HughMoran]

69. Yep

And we (you and I) have argued on more than one occasion - this person is bringing together arch enemies!!

:hug:

[seabeyond]

110. for the most part

i really dont pay attention to a name that i am in argument with. cause on the next thread i may be right there agreeing and i dont want any mental conflict in agreeing or disagreeing cause of past discussion on different subject

i just kinda go with the wind on that kinda thing

but it is nifty to see agreement in some areas, maybe not all

i was poor different parts of my life. i still have a branch of family that lives that way. and much of it is by choice. i dont apologize cause i dont anymore, and i am still empathitic and helpful with that part of my family. and when i was poor, i didnt have it out for those that were comforted.

[HughMoran]

46. "You only have yourself to blame". Smarmy smart alec remarks will make everyone hate you

What a jerky thing to say - I've lost tons of money and I couldn't get out before - only redirect future investments. I came form the slums and worked my ass off - you "you deserve it". You really make me sick! :puke:

[kath]

61. Yep - our 401K has been in bonds since the last time the stock market took a big dive - 2002.

Hasn't made a lot of money, but it has made some - if I'd kept it in the stock fund it was in before, it would be down 25% for the year.

And, oh yeah, a 77-year-old should NOT have money that she needs in stocks.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

77. "...a 77-year-old should NOT have money that she needs in stocks."

Amen to that.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

95. Too bad you didn't understand the first word of what Obama said

about us being ONE nation, ONE people. You couldn't sound more like W if you were trying, don't you see that?

[blondeatlast]

114. Open thread. Shit on a hurting DUer.

I don't need "ignore" to demonstrate how much gravitas to give your opinion.

[1corona4u]

6. Some people are really heartless here. I don't blame you at all.

You have to have skin like leather to stay on this board sometimes. I'm sorry about your families troubles, and there will, unfortunately, be more stories like yours in the days to follow.

Take care.

[jwirr]

12. Sorry about your mother and brother but it is also important that any

bill that passes be one that actually helps the country not just the investment companies. This is very much like Enron where the big investors pulled out and left the small investors to lose everything. I would also say that this is not over. They will come back with a better bill and that is what many of us have been pushing for - the bill the way it was first presented would have not stopped a market crash for very long. My son-in-law also has a 401K at risk but my daughter said that he knew he was risking his money when he put it in there. Hopefully there will be a better tomorrow.

[loudsue]

66. A voice of kindness and reason doesn't get a reply?? Thank you jwirr

I'm still not even convinced we need THIS KIND of a bill, and I don't trust either side right now....the Dems have been supporting bills that make me think someone has pictures of all of them in an orgie with a bunch of goats or gorillas or something. This bill today was really really really bad, and I'm glad it didn't become the law of the land today. They need to think this thing through a LOT more, and next week is going to be a really good time to get into the market. Between now & then, it's prolly going to tank, because everyone wants to panic.

But they're going to get over it! Just hide and watch. All the markets are taking a hit, but the sky isn't really falling. There is time to fix this thing. By Halloween, we'll have seen a MUCH different picture than the one we're seeing now.

I don't trust ANY of the pundits, NOR the "experts". Same experts we've been hearing for the past 8 years. They just don't know.

[jwirr]

71. I agree that it is very hard to know who to trust. That is the blowback

when Democrats vote for things like wiretapping, etc. Once a long time ago I would have trusted any Democrat but that kind of died a slow death. Now I just take a step at a time and hold myself ready to back out if I have to. I and my family have also prepared for this kind of emergency by stocking up on foods and making ourselves as self-sufficient as we can.

[BrklynLiberal]

84. Speaking of the voice of reason.....

:thumbsup:

[knixphan]

106. seconded.

We need the 'MAIN STREET' version now.

[IndianaJones]

13. you'll find that the left is every bit as hateful as the right. nt.

[musicblind]

81. amen n/t

[regnaD kciN]

83. And, in some cases, every bit as prone...

...to emotion-driven oversimplification. :eyes:

[LooseWilly]

101. That's NOT TRUE!!

We NEVER overreact !!


hehe... that was fun to pretend...

Ohh, my offensive responses are somewhere else on the thread... feel free to flame me from either. I'm a hateful asshole... or maybe I'm just jealous of all the middle class folks that were able to get credit cards over the last 10 years... and maybe mortgages... while I couldn't get... anything... blah blah blah...

[pecwae]

111. Another amen.

As well, the Left is just as blind to their hypocrisy as is the Right.

[undergroundpanther]

16. It angers me

that corporate pigs forced 401k's on people.. the same pigs betting away your 401k's and want to privatize social security and place that money in the market,are whining for a bailout .These monsters have so gotten the working classes money tied to their wall street gambling rackets.
And to me that is so unjust it makes me want to scream.

I wish there was a way to CUT the rich greedy cancer out of this economy and still spare the working and retired people who were hoodwinked into giving their assets to these insane gamblers, and still let the gambling addicts fail and fall.
Sometimes to lance a boil to let the puss out hurts,but at least the boil can heal.Failing to lance a boil because it will hurt will only make the infection worse.

Think about it.This 700 billion is not going to do shit.In effect WE are paying for junk wall street can't sell,we are paying for their failure they can't tell us the value of this junk nor can they tell us it will gain us or even break even.

When will we lance this boil,now or put a band aid on it and wait until later when the infection has gone into our bloodstream?

[Union Thug]

35. You nailed it...

For years, many of us have been speaking out against deregulation, privatization, and the class war that Raygun amped up and has continued (yes, even under clinton (nafta)) until today. We screamed about the move from pensions to those bullshit 401ks. But people bought into it all. They bought the bullshit. And now the chickens have come how to roost.

The lesson that needs to be taken away from this is that it is US (working people) against THEM (the wealthy), and we cannot allow THEM to continue winning battles. Nothing has changed in the past 70+ years since the mini-civil wars that took place on the streets of Minneapolis and San Francisco. This is a reminder of that fact.

No war but the class war.

[LooseWilly]

103. Ok, I have no retirement to speak of...

... but I've gotten the impression that 401k s have been better than retirement plans through companies. Not so much because the stock market gains have gained much for it... but because, if I'm not mistaken... many retirement plans have simply been dumped into a ditch when they've grown to be inconvenient... and the Congress has just let the "breach of Contract" slide... knowing that the companies can always just for a subsidiary, transfer the debts to the subsidiary, then declare the subsidiary bankrupt... and 'fuck you very much'... at least 401K s are less likely to fuck the workers... until this week.
Now, let the Mexican style Market solution take care of the workers... and if the domestic workers don't like it... Mexican workers will maybe fall for it for a while..

[johnaries]

42. It's not just about 401k's or investments. It's about businesses

being able to do business. We all stand to lose our jobs. Not just our investments, but our fucking jobs. Why can't people understand that?

[Fleshdancer]

19. I'm sorry you're experiencing such nastiness

Wishing ill of a DUer's family members is disgusting.

[undergroundpanther]

24. you misunderstood me

I was sad about her family.And sad for the people who had their retirements forced into 401k's and got their money tied to the market scam.
I am sad for the people like her,you,me and all the non-rich people here ,and do I hate the rich who exploited them.I really fucking mistrust them,and I feel the bailout is a shakedown.I have no reason to trust wall street at all.

[scheming daemons]

20. The far left and the far right are equally wrong about this..... some DUers are really clueless

[Joe the Revelator]

21. hear hear

[1corona4u]

23. Wow...I thought I was the only one that noticed that 'trend'.

[BlueIdaho]

27. So nice to see we could destroy the unified efforts for this election just in time

to re-assemble the circular firing squad.

[Marsala]

25. The "far center" doesn't like it, either

Really, there is just a lot of anger towards Wall Street by everyone, and few people actually understand how severe this crisis really is.

[msallied]

40. Good to hear others echoing my sentiments.

[lumberjack_jeff]

26. Maybe we both need a break.

I've been told it's my civic duty to give $12,000 (about 25% of our gross income) to bail out the wall street banks to prevent the possibility that some people might lose money in the stock market.

[Joe the Revelator]

30. Yes, because that is how it will work. Next year, Uncle Sam is going to walk up to you and demand

his blood money in full

At least TRY to be intellectually honest.

[lumberjack_jeff]

36. Oh. That's right. It's on my kids credit card. I feel better already. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

31. Here at DU and at Free Republic, the perfect is the enemy of the good.

You gave a "good" example in your previous OP but it seems that low-information ideologues on the left and right have much in
common, after all. I'm sorry to hear about your family's troubles. And don't let the turkeys get you down.

:hug:

P.S. - I predict a scaled-down bill will be enacted by the end of the week.

[seabeyond]

52. scaled-down bill ... man

universal, back and forth energy of all this, yin and yang, .... i would like to see the exact opposite. i would like to see them sit at the table with a more reasonable for the american people. a loan, flat and simple.... tight regulations, caps, oversight, heavy control. i would like them to ramp up the bill more what the dems and american people would be willing to swallow. and say here.

and sell it to the american people

[ClarkUSA]

70. It will provide the Treasury with a first installment of $150 billion, more or less.

Treasury can use it to back Wall Street’s bad debts with lend no-interest loans of up to two years, until the housing market rebounds.
Or to invest in Wall Street houses directly, in exchange for stocks and stock warrants. There will be strict oversight. Congressional
leaders will promise further installments, but with conditions calling for limits on salaries and relief to distressed homeowners.
Revisions can and will be made during an Obama administration and a larger Democratic Congressional majority to expand the
market recovery plan, the first being a new Treasury Secretary.

[NoSheep]

32. How pitiful. No one said they deserved it. Some here understand things you have never thought of.

Really. We just think differently from you. We've HAD to. We see shit for what it really is. We've grown up in the school of hard knocks without shiny families. Maybe this is a great opportunity for you to learn something.

My mother is also 77. She's still working. For minimum wage in her deceased husband's business now run by his son.

My brother, oddly enough, is also 55! He has his own business laying carpet and tile and hanging wallpaper. He's had this business since he was 20. He lives a fairly comfortable life, every cent of his money he has made off the sweat of his back. He has no investments as he cannot afford to lose what he earns gambling it in the markets.

My sister...57...Senior VP at JP Morgan. She allows my mother to live on minimum wage.

I've seen it all. And I'm here to tell you about it.

[seabeyond]

55. you didnt say they deserved it. but yes, people are saying it.

and your post was an interesting read, thanks.

[NoSheep]

60. sure.

[Union Thug]

82. Thank you for this... It is a question of POV

My father is 72 and has never retired..He is forced to find odd jobs to survive because he can barely scrape by on SS and the small pension that was cut by the wall street motherfuckers who sold him and his generation down the line after years of fighting for basic workers rights in this country. None of my brothers and sisters will ever see retirement. Hell, out of all of us, I'm the most 'successful' in monetary terms and I will not ever see retirement either.

But we are working people. Pleebs. Peasants. Gadflys, necessary evils to the lil' monarchs that run this country. We all grew up paycheck to paycheck, and will die that way, as well. For thirty years we've seen the big red white and blue dick shoved further and further up our collective arses. We watched all the hard work and sacrifice of those who came before us get washed away in the glee of the CEO-worshipping, fantasy island wannabees - the RayGun democrat ilk, the free trade pricks, the cheerleaders for the 401k scams that have come to replace pensions. Thankfully, the SS scam was driven into the ditch, but that it was even considered was a clear sign that this society was thoroughly duped.

Bailout. Right. Whatever. Hey wall street, bail your own asses out. And for working people that bought into the scam, it hurts, but maybe now you'll realize that these people aren't your friends and you have no business trusting any of them with anything.

[NoSheep]

92. What he said.

;) The I'VE GOT MINE's of the country are having to stop and think. I say it's a good thing. Do I personally want to see anyone suffer, hell no. But I suffer every day seeing how stupid they are... Having to live in a society blind as bats. Having to accept the back-lash of their unexamined lives. Maybe it's time they did their fair share of the suffering.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

97. Sadly, you are mistaken

It most certainly was said, though I don't remember who said it I did see it. Broken down to each individual so it was repeated for effect. That it was good that they lost the money, because they deserved it, and because they were stupid.

Yes, it has been that nasty here tonight. Hard to believe it could be more depressing in here than out there in the world.

Tis a sad night indeed.

[MercutioATC]

38. I think everybody needs to lighten the fuck up.

I'm sure that nobody here was happy about somebody taking a huge 401k hit.

I'm also sure that there were some who expressed that one's finances are their responsibility and that somebody that chose to keep their money in a stock-based 401k was as deserving of the loss as somebody at a craps table....maybe even more so because stocks have been an almost guaranteed loser for at least six months. (this doesn't apply to people in 401k's that don't offer alternatives).

If you'd have listened to our elected representatives, they were receiving calls in the order of 50-1 against the bsilout, so it's not just DUers and Freepers...it's almost everybody.

As far as Buffet goes, he bought $5B worth of Goldman Sachs last week. You can bet that his desire to protect his investment has something to do with his cal for a bailout...


My point is that it's not personal. Nobody here is attacking anybody. We disagree about this bill, but we still share the same basic principles.

[BlueIdaho]

51. Share the same principles?

After reading many of the threads around here today - I sincerely doubt that.

edit typo

[1corona4u]

58. Well, congress may have been 'getting calls'

but the public opinon was just starting to come around, so I doubt that 50-1 number. I've seen it as high as 300 to 1. Here's a current version of public opinion, as of this morning;

What are people saying today? First, it is clear people are paying attention. Since 1985, Pew Research Center pollsters have been asking people how much attention they pay to various news stories. In the News Interest Index released this week, 49% said they were following the turmoil among financial institutions on Wall Street "very closely," a far higher level of interest than Pew found about the Fannie Mae (nyse: FNM - news - people ) and Freddie Mac (nyse: FRE - news - people ) takeover earlier this month, or even the 1989 savings and loan crisis.

How pollsters word their questions affects public opinion about what should be done. In the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 44% approved of "the steps the Federal Reserve and Treasury have taken to try to deal with the current situation involving the stock market and major financial institutions," while 42% disapproved.

In polling firm Zogby's question, which described the costs and benefits of a "sweeping bailout," 46% supported it and 46% were opposed. In Pew's question, 57% said the government was doing the right thing by "potentially investing billions to try and keep financial institutions and markets secure," but 30% said it was doing the wrong thing.

Though confidence in Wall Street is low and concern is high, just 28% told Fox News/Opinion Dynamics interviewers that, if they were given $10,000 today, they would put it under their mattress. Two-thirds said it would be safer in a bank.

http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/09/26/polls-wall-street-oped-cx_kb_0929bowman.html


People were just starting to 'get it'.

[girl gone mad]

47. I think I gave you some good advice for your friend.

It's a shame that you cherry-picked some critical comments and ignored the supportive, helpful ones.

[NoSheep]

54. pssst

doesn't want help. wants attention

[greyghost]

67. Amen

[girl gone mad]

73. I think there's been an outbreak of..

attention-seeking disorder tonight.

[jillan]

56. DU is not the real world, don't let it get to you.

Only people who are being affected at this moment understand.

[FrenchieCat]

62. Please stay.

I tried to let people know what was going on. They didn't believe me. Some still don't.
Not big sweat. they feel it soon....unfortunately.

[Better Today]

72. I'm sorry but every stock investment comes with a warning. . . even 401Ks

that say in no uncertain terms, do not invest money you cannot afford to lose.

[swishyfeet]

79. Good God. Just shut up!

We get it, we're fools for investing. Thanks for the lecture A-hole.

[Better Today]

80. With money you can't lose, yes, you are.

[regnaD kciN]

85. So you should just stick it in a hole in the ground...

...so that, every year, it will be eaten away a bit more by inflation? Brilliant idea! :eyes:

Like it or not, in our current system, we are either investors or broke. You have to keep swimming just to stay in the same place.

[regnaD kciN]

86. I want to thank everyone for their participation in this thread...

...it's given me a whole new group of posters to add to my ignore list. ;-)

[vaberella]

89. Agreed...some of these low count posters are pissing me off. n/t

[PVnRT]

112. It has, hasn't it?

[Better Today]

88. Pishaw, there are other forms of savings that give less, but are much safer and not stagnant.

[vaberella]

87. All I can say is don't listen and have faith something will be done.

It's stories like yours and the millions more, and my own that freak me out that the Republicans are playing russian roulette with our lives because of their damn egos. Fuckin' hell, they fucked us up and they're willing to let us die.

[grantcart]

91. unbelievable sentiments have been expressed

millions are seeing their life work devalued and every story including your families is very sad.

Keep your spirit up my friend.

[cboy4]

93. There are some very radical, ridiciulous extremists who

populate DU and spout their stupidity often.

On one hand, it's frightening.

On the other hand, it's a discussion board and it makes it interesting to read lots of point of view.

But yea, there are some A-1 idiots .. no question about it.

I wouldn't allow nuts to chase you off .. as frustrating as it gets.

[TooRaLoo]

96. I'm sorry that's happening to you.

I can't take a definitive stance on this issue since I don't know economics from a hole in the ground. I know we have to do something, but even after reading all these threads, I'm at a loss at to what. I hope you come back soon. :toast:

[Eyes_wide_ open]

98. Take a break if you need one

but please don't stay gone too long, we need a few rational voices here okay? I think they'll do something soon, I think they'll have to.

DU is just ... DU. It's not for the faint-hearted or emotionally sensitive.

[TheKentuckian]

99. The "I gotz mine and you were dumb" people shock the hell

out of me.

Seems terribly at odds with the spirit of the party to me.

[Raine]

102. I'm sorry you're having a rough time.

So much for "liberal bleeding hearts" because some liberals especially here seem to have no heart at all. I'm not sure which side I come down on regarding the bail out but I think people here should have enough heart to give a kind word to those who are hurting financially. Hugs to you and your family ... :hug:

[lamp_shade]

104. I just read your other thread about this Renie and I understand.

I really mean it. I'm a year or two from retirement and have just watched my retirement funds drop 30-40%. You'll be hearing a lot of stories starting today about other people and businesses who've been devastated by this mess. Keep your chin up.. you're not alone.

[stuntcat]

105. do not

don't let loudmouths represent all the thoughtful people around here. I've been disappointing in people ever since I first came here but most are just normal thoughtful and nice.

[Coexist]

107. excuse me? I fought for it here, and argued for it here

and wrote my idiot congressperson. I'm just not as loud and mean as some.

[Raineyb]

115. Not everyone who was against the bill is mean

I didn't support this bill because it doesn't have regulatory changes needed to make sure that Wall Street doesn't come back later for yet another bailout. I happen to think that's a legitimate reason for not supporting this rushed bill.

Regards

[cabbage08]

108. K&R n/t

[CreekDog]

109. I think what was said to you is wrong, I supported the bailout bill, but why leave?

is there any board that isn't going to have it's share of differing opinions?

most of us are pretty level headed and many of us have argued against the sentiments you complained about (which are in the minority).

why leave because of a few knuckleheads? they aren't in the majority here, not by a long shot.

i hope you stay and if any of us left a board because a few loud knuckleheads made obnoxious comments, then there is no board we could post on --and this is one of the best sources of information and exchange around.

[treestar]

116. It is likely they are people who had nothing to invest in the first place

If someone never had any money to invest in stocks, why would they feel sorry for someone who had?

And those who did invest always knew this could happen, didn't they? The stock market goes up and down. Even now, it will recover one day.

You're overly dramatic. The relatives you mention won't suffer that much, and their funds will recover. Playing the pity card that they "deserve" to lose, anyone who gambles "deserves" the result. Nothing about stocks entitles the investor to always win, he/she could always lose.

This is why we need more socialism. People don't really want to risk their funds in investments. Your post shows that. You expected that your relatives would always get a good return, yet had no good reason to expect that, knowing the investments always carried risk with them. And your post indicates you expect people much poorer, who could never even enter the game, to feel bad about it!