Quote from Euler:
I am not saying I know the packages are wrong, but one thing seems beyond debate -- they haven't worked as proposed, so far. Why is the next package/bailout going to work?
You can't say they don't work, it's not like they will produce growth but if money is being spent on basic things like stimulus checks or prolonging unemployment benefits, the effects are concrete.
Quote from Euler:
In the hands of whom? Everyone group is suffering economically -- so who's left "consolidating power", the US government? At least it's elected, and maybe a collapse would deprive the overgrown lobbying industry of its lifeline.
No they're not. Look how brazen the bankers are to demand trillions to save their jobs. Look how Geithner won't even talk about firing some of the incompetent CEOs. Those who have huge assets and wealth will be able to prey more on those who are desperate for food. The US government will also have an excuse to expand, to crack down on angry mobs etc
zdreg said we have to let the mess clean itself out, true to a degree. There are 2 problems though.
First, the bank bailouts alone show that money is spent recklessly and the country will not do what's best for its economy, private interests fight for survival. What guarantee do we have that will change and the country will be put first once the worse has happened?
Second, severe recessions don't just claim those who sinned, they affect everyone. Look up at the 1870 depression, people who were first perfectly able to pay their debt obligations and were fiscally responsible were forced into bankruptcy. You get a downward spiral that goes far deeper than what was needed to clean the excesses.
The stimulus money right now is probably being wasted and will only hurt in the long run, but that's more of a function of the irrational way we've handled the banking crisis. You have expert after expert telling you of better ways to tackle the banking crisis.
I guess ultimately I believe that you can fix the banking crisis and then through the stimulus only have a recession that won't be self reinforcing.
That does become harder with all the money already wasted on the bank bailouts.