This economic crisis RULES!

[VanillaCone]

OK, so this might be one of those USA-centric posts, for which I apologize, which I guess makes me a traitor in the eyes of my countrymen.

The housing and credit crisis we're experiencing now isn't a laughing matter by any means. A lot of people are suffering, and many are losing their homes and life's savings. And, of course, that's a terrible tragedy.

But I've noticed a silver lining begin to materialize around the cloud, and I'm wondering if anyone else has seen it, too. I'm picking up on a gradual increase in people thinking and speaking more rationally about government policies and political ideologies, as if somehow this crisis has shocked them into a newfound awareness of the true forces at work around them.

I even found quite a bit of rational discussion occurring tonight in the unlikeliest of places: the Fox News message boards. In between the posts by your typical racist trolls and crabby conservatives, there appeared to be some real discussion happening, some emergence of a reasonable viewpoint among people who otherwise would not have taken the time to reconsider their facile views.

Did somebody spike my Kool-Aid tonight, or am I seeing what could be the dawn of a more rational society in America, rising from the ashes of this economic disaster?

[mrbaracuda]

Thanks for the opportunity to learn a new word: crabby.
Oh and as for your question: That'll go away. ;)

[VanillaCone]

I suppose you're right, which makes me extra crabby.

[Clippy]

OK, so this might be one of those USA-centric posts, for which I apologize, which I guess makes me a traitor in the eyes of my countrymen.

The housing and credit crisis we're experiencing now isn't a laughing matter by any means. A lot of people are suffering, and many are losing their homes and life's savings. And, of course, that's a terrible tragedy.

But I've noticed a silver lining begin to materialize around the cloud, and I'm wondering if anyone else has seen it, too. I'm picking up on a gradual increase in people thinking and speaking more rationally about government policies and political ideologies, as if somehow this crisis has shocked them into a newfound awareness of the true forces at work around them.

I even found quite a bit of rational discussion occurring tonight in the unlikeliest of places: the Fox News message boards. In between the posts by your typical racist trolls and crabby conservatives, there appeared to be some real discussion happening, some emergence of a reasonable viewpoint among people who otherwise would not have taken the time to reconsider their facile views.

Did somebody spike my Kool-Aid tonight, or am I seeing what could be the dawn of a more rational society in America, rising from the ashes of this economic disaster?

And less than an hour later you refer to Ron Paul (the only candidate who really had a different message in the Republican primaries) as a radical loon. :boggled:

[ZouPrime]

There's also all these cheap index funds, just waiting to be bought.

[GreyICE]

We might weaken the dollar enough to get some more domestic manufacturing.

[MattusMaximus]

Nothing like a legitimate disaster to get people to see past the muck & noise and start thinking seriously about their future. Imagine that.

ETA: To me, the sad thing is that it takes a disaster before many people get into such a mode of thinking. But is that just basic human nature?

[Nyarlathotep]

I think its your imagination.

If anything, people are getting stupider by the minute from my POV.

[MattusMaximus]

Some are getting more stupid, while others are wising up. On balance, I think it's the latter - at least for now.

[Nyarlathotep]

Some are getting more stupid, while others are wising up. On balance, I think it's the latter - at least for now.

Let's just say that I think the movie Idiocracy borders on being true prophecy.