Comments on: Obama Hostage to Wall Street, Americans Hostage to Consumerism http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/ Whiskey and Gunpowder features articles on gold, oil, currencies, emerging markets, energy, and more. Thu, 24 May 2012 13:38:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Linda Brady Traynham http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4779 Linda Brady Traynham Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:57:11 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4779 Great response, Bill--and lots! Let me answer you under some other thing I've got up--new one for you all tomorrow, with luck--because this is about to drop off. Linda Great response, Bill–and lots! Let me answer you under some other thing I’ve got up–new one for you all tomorrow, with luck–because this is about to drop off. Linda

]]> By: Bill Simmons http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4665 Bill Simmons Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:54:23 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4665 Linda, Sorry I'm talking about survival in a comment section about consumerism, but you and JHK have got me thinking about the relationship between the two ideas. The way I see it, in defense of consumerism, it is itself a survival strategy of the masses coping with the environment in which they find themselves- not exactly a awful environment by any stretch of the imagination despite JHK's derision of modern American life, but nevertheless a world in which everyone must consume intelligently to prosper and survive the benign challenges of 21st century living. How to spend your disposable income and how to invest your savings in light of the trouble brewing? I can think of a few interesting TEOTWAWKIT-or-not outcomes that might occur: 1. Planning for disaster and being ready for it when it does arrive. 2. Planning for disaster and wasting resources in needless preparation. 3. Planning for status-quo and being blind-sided by disaster. 4. Planning for status-quo and actually reaping the benefits. 5. Planning for status-quo and hedging for disaster. 6. Planning for disaster and hedging for status-quo. Other possibilities? Bill Linda,
Sorry I’m talking about survival in a comment section about consumerism, but you and JHK have got me thinking about the relationship between the two ideas. The way I see it, in defense of consumerism, it is itself a survival strategy of the masses coping with the environment in which they find themselves- not exactly a awful environment by any stretch of the imagination despite JHK’s derision of modern American life, but nevertheless a world in which everyone must consume intelligently to prosper and survive the benign challenges of 21st century living. How to spend your disposable income and how to invest your savings in light of the trouble brewing?
I can think of a few interesting TEOTWAWKIT-or-not outcomes that might occur:
1. Planning for disaster and being ready for it when it does arrive.
2. Planning for disaster and wasting resources in needless preparation.
3. Planning for status-quo and being blind-sided by disaster.
4. Planning for status-quo and actually reaping the benefits.
5. Planning for status-quo and hedging for disaster.
6. Planning for disaster and hedging for status-quo.
Other possibilities?
Bill

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4663 Linda Brady Traynham Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:43:14 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4663 Bill, you wrote: "On the other hand, If things continue to muddle along into the progressively improving future as they always have in the grand scheme of things..." and I suggest that for the first time in our enjoyable growing acquaintance that you had better check your premise, Buddy. Start with a period known as "The Dark Ages!" Or work your way backwards using Japan as a good example of how things do NOT improve progressively. Zimbabwe, Iceland, the USA.. In between you will find innumerable periods where nothing much happened and others were there was alternating forwards and backwards movement with occasional side drifts. I laughed delightedly over the comment here somewhere of "You had me from the moment of Low Tech Linda," which we could immortalize as LTLT, but I find the ancient Egyptians very sensible much of the time. Above all else they prized STABILITY. I've said this before, but for new readers Pharoah's idea of an excellent century was one in which he won any wars others insisted upon and built gaudy monuments to his prowess when he lost. A MAGNIFICENT century was one during which absolutely NOTHING changed. Don't mess with success. Build your tombs and temples, keep the nobility and priesthood under control, make good dynastic marriages, summer time an' th' livin' is easy. "Improve" the lot of the peasants? Whatever for?! They're happy and employed, and if you go and develop a bigger middle class they'll rock the boat wanting what the upper class has and leave a shortage of labor. The Egyptians went to great pains to make it difficult to learn to read! THAT was reserved for the elites--the court, the priests, those with a genuine need to know, and the scribes who did it professionally. They knew instinctively that no good could come of educating the working classes. You will find the writings of the English landed gentry and above on the social scale quite instructive, and their arguments were ineluctable, not that such good sense halted the Industrial Revolution. I have spoken of the "anti-industrial" revolution many times since I began writing here; it is coming, and it will be very beneficial. I am NOT, of course, speaking of destroying our industrial base through Cap and Tax and even more strangling regulations. I am speaking of a sea change more and more are calling for: sustainable levels of comfort for those who work, and backing off the unattainable dream of every new generation having "more" than their parents did, far less attempting to "give" 3rd world nations the lifestyle that makes many in first world areas miserable at unsustainable costs in numerous areas. "The enemy of good is 'better.'" A theme that runs through correspondence here is how greatly those of us who pull away from "civilization" improve our lives. By giving up externals which cost far more than they were ever worth we have consistent large amounts of precious leisure and raise our standards of living sharply. No...a "progressively improving future" is a false idol that has failed to bring happiness for rising two hundred years. We should have quit with indoor plumbing and gas lighting! Hug, Linda Bill, you wrote: “On the other hand, If things continue to muddle along into the progressively improving future as they always have in the grand scheme of things…” and I suggest that for the first time in our enjoyable growing acquaintance that you had better check your premise, Buddy. Start with a period known as “The Dark Ages!” Or work your way backwards using Japan as a good example of how things do NOT improve progressively. Zimbabwe, Iceland, the USA.. In between you will find innumerable periods where nothing much happened and others were there was alternating forwards and backwards movement with occasional side drifts. I laughed delightedly over the comment here somewhere of “You had me from the moment of Low Tech Linda,” which we could immortalize as LTLT, but I find the ancient Egyptians very sensible much of the time. Above all else they prized STABILITY. I’ve said this before, but for new readers Pharoah’s idea of an excellent century was one in which he won any wars others insisted upon and built gaudy monuments to his prowess when he lost. A MAGNIFICENT century was one during which absolutely NOTHING changed. Don’t mess with success. Build your tombs and temples, keep the nobility and priesthood under control, make good dynastic marriages, summer time an’ th’ livin’ is easy. “Improve” the lot of the peasants? Whatever for?! They’re happy and employed, and if you go and develop a bigger middle class they’ll rock the boat wanting what the upper class has and leave a shortage of labor. The Egyptians went to great pains to make it difficult to learn to read! THAT was reserved for the elites–the court, the priests, those with a genuine need to know, and the scribes who did it professionally. They knew instinctively that no good could come of educating the working classes. You will find the writings of the English landed gentry and above on the social scale quite instructive, and their arguments were ineluctable, not that such good sense halted the Industrial Revolution. I have spoken of the “anti-industrial” revolution many times since I began writing here; it is coming, and it will be very beneficial. I am NOT, of course, speaking of destroying our industrial base through Cap and Tax and even more strangling regulations. I am speaking of a sea change more and more are calling for: sustainable levels of comfort for those who work, and backing off the unattainable dream of every new generation having “more” than their parents did, far less attempting to “give” 3rd world nations the lifestyle that makes many in first world areas miserable at unsustainable costs in numerous areas. “The enemy of good is ‘better.’” A theme that runs through correspondence here is how greatly those of us who pull away from “civilization” improve our lives. By giving up externals which cost far more than they were ever worth we have consistent large amounts of precious leisure and raise our standards of living sharply. No…a “progressively improving future” is a false idol that has failed to bring happiness for rising two hundred years. We should have quit with indoor plumbing and gas lighting! Hug, Linda

]]> By: Week in review « Craig W. Wright http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4662 Week in review « Craig W. Wright Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:16:59 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4662 [...] Obama Hostage to Wall Street, Americans Hostage to Consumerism [...] [...] Obama Hostage to Wall Street, Americans Hostage to Consumerism [...]

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4661 Linda Brady Traynham Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:13:29 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4661 Bill, I would NOT invest in Home Depot and Lowes--bearing in mind that what I do and do not do is not the professional advise of a Gary North or Justice Litle. DYI is in a slump because of the economy; expansions and upgrades have to be taken off the for non-essentials such as new decks. It would not surprise me to see one or the other of them go under, and Ace Hardware must be far worse of because it is smaller with more expensive merchandise. Tractor Supply is seeing an upswing in business AND taking precautions; remember my friend who reported that ALL credit cards were being checked actively via telephone and debit cards were not taken during a recent sale. I don't know RSOL, so thanks for bringing it to my attention. As for e-Bay...yes, if I were going to put anything into stocks, that could tempt me. The dynamite lady CEO for the last 15 years plans on taking on Schwartzenegger in the next gubernatorial race. Bill, I would NOT invest in Home Depot and Lowes–bearing in mind that what I do and do not do is not the professional advise of a Gary North or Justice Litle. DYI is in a slump because of the economy; expansions and upgrades have to be taken off the for non-essentials such as new decks. It would not surprise me to see one or the other of them go under, and Ace Hardware must be far worse of because it is smaller with more expensive merchandise. Tractor Supply is seeing an upswing in business AND taking precautions; remember my friend who reported that ALL credit cards were being checked actively via telephone and debit cards were not taken during a recent sale. I don’t know RSOL, so thanks for bringing it to my attention. As for e-Bay…yes, if I were going to put anything into stocks, that could tempt me. The dynamite lady CEO for the last 15 years plans on taking on Schwartzenegger in the next gubernatorial race.

]]> By: Have Consumerism, Suburbanization and Government Corruption Crushed American Populism? http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4644 Have Consumerism, Suburbanization and Government Corruption Crushed American Populism? Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:24:41 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4644 [...] Also: It’s Jingle Hell out there, Christmas Consumerism, The handbag-full-of-manure theory, Obama Hostage to Wall Street, Americans Hostage to Consumerism, ’tis the season of secular consumerism, Can You Buy Religion To Transcend Materialism?, and [...] [...] Also: It’s Jingle Hell out there, Christmas Consumerism, The handbag-full-of-manure theory, Obama Hostage to Wall Street, Americans Hostage to Consumerism, ’tis the season of secular consumerism, Can You Buy Religion To Transcend Materialism?, and [...]

]]> By: Robert http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4638 Robert Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:24:16 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4638 Merry Christmas. Peace on earth, good will towards men, women and children, Take a snack, have a nap and give thanks for what we have. Merry Christmas.
Peace on earth, good will towards men, women and children,
Take a snack, have a nap and give thanks for what we have.

]]> By: Mitchieville » Blog Archive » Green Shoots & Leaves http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4637 Mitchieville » Blog Archive » Green Shoots & Leaves Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:15:38 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4637 [...] Whiskey & Gunpowder - Obama Hostage to Wall Street, Americans Hostage to Consumerism [...] [...] Whiskey & Gunpowder – Obama Hostage to Wall Street, Americans Hostage to Consumerism [...]

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4633 Linda Brady Traynham Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:21:46 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4633 Bill...it is a great compliment to speak of LBT in the same sentence as JHK, but the answer is YES. Yes to everything you suggested . Pare down to the essentials mentally, but throw out nothing until you run out of room because you don't KNOW what you will need when. One of the glories of country living is you don't run out of space and the neighbors don't complain. We mostly ALL collect junk. "Junk!" You are learning my methods, Watson! As Nero Wolfe always said, "Use intelligence guided by experience." It took me three years day in and day out working and thinking to invent my own, personal version of the wheel, based on what I had learned over a very long life, and I am quite proud of it. However, it is MY wheel; most of you would never spend money and space on a glossy doctor's buggy! You wouldn't think of 6 jars of wasabi mayonnaise.Mr. K and I differ primarily in FOCUS: in an old phrase, he "thinks globally" while I "act locally." VERY locally! I care about myself and mine. He is a visionary; I am a robber baron at heart. I am FEUDAL, in the sense that I TAKE CARE OF MINE; or do my best...my lands, my stock, my dependents...which means, basically, that I am a Mama by trade, not a city planner. Some loving person send me a place to down load WORLD MADE BY HAND or whatever it is and I'll read it, but I've been too busy to go look at HIS wheel because mine can always use another spoke for strength or picking out in glittering silver just for pretty. Uh...if I don't take my bronchial self off to town to fill a prescription and stop being emotional, Southern, and very ill, you'll all think I'm crazy instead of just passionate, Irish, and Southern. Hugs, Walt. Hail, JFK. May we both succeed. LBT Bill…it is a great compliment to speak of LBT in the same sentence as JHK, but the answer is YES. Yes to everything you suggested . Pare down to the essentials mentally, but throw out nothing until you run out of room because you don’t KNOW what you will need when. One of the glories of country living is you don’t run out of space and the neighbors don’t complain. We mostly ALL collect junk. “Junk!”

You are learning my methods, Watson! As Nero Wolfe always said, “Use intelligence guided by experience.” It took me three years day in and day out working and thinking to invent my own, personal version of the wheel, based on what I had learned over a very long life, and I am quite proud of it. However, it is MY wheel; most of you would never spend money and space on a glossy doctor’s buggy! You wouldn’t think of 6 jars of wasabi mayonnaise.Mr. K and I differ primarily in FOCUS: in an old phrase, he “thinks globally” while I “act locally.” VERY locally! I care about myself and mine. He is a visionary; I am a robber baron at heart. I am FEUDAL, in the sense that I TAKE CARE OF MINE; or do my best…my lands, my stock, my dependents…which means, basically, that I am a Mama by trade, not a city planner.

Some loving person send me a place to down load WORLD MADE BY HAND or whatever it is and I’ll read it, but I’ve been too busy to go look at HIS wheel because mine can always use another spoke for strength or picking out in glittering silver just for pretty.

Uh…if I don’t take my bronchial self off to town to fill a prescription and stop being emotional, Southern, and very ill, you’ll all think I’m crazy instead of just passionate, Irish, and Southern. Hugs, Walt. Hail, JFK. May we both succeed. LBT

]]> By: Is stimulous just a synonum for welfare? - VolNation http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/obama-hostage-to-wall-street-americans-hostage-to-consumerism/comment-page-1/#comment-4629 Is stimulous just a synonum for welfare? - VolNation Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:58:40 +0000 http://whiskeyandgunpowder.com/?p=6010#comment-4629 [...] [...] [...] [...]

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