The Upside of Economic Carnage

Reader Comments
Back to blog

My old friend ,who studied history all of his life, became a multi- millionaire,and has since passed on,told me on several occasions" there will be another depression, and there will be another civil war" . I did not want to believe that when he told me, I still have young children to raise. It seems to me ,the first part has come true, I hope and pray the second part does not.
What concerns me most is,what will happen when the unemployment runs out for millions of people.Then what?

tg akron ohio of OH 3:09PM January 29, 2010

Doesn't anybody want to talk about class separation? Doesn't anyone want to slow down the thievery and lust for financial supremacy before this repeat of human ignorance leads to the uprising of the poor and starving masses of society? You people are losing control of your evil intentions again and can only talk about how to survive it while leaving others to a desperate fate. You have the reasons for the dilapidation of the social structure written right here when it is stated that "We're probably no longer going to see the massive accumulation of wealth". Isn't this what everyone is really upset about? Don't you all wish you were smart enough to rape the general public at the level that these financial geniuses have? The truth is that 90% of us would feel secure only if we've landed enough financial leverage to be assured that the gaurds at the gate remain loyal to us as we know the masses will be banging at it soon. Don't forget that these gaurds have family and friends less fortunate than us. Don't forget that blood is thicker than water. At a time when you people see fit to cast your brother to the ditch , remember there is space for you in here to!

GP III of PA 12:57AM October 19, 2009

It's hard to be positive right now when it's obvious that the stimulous money is NOT being used to stimulate the economy. In South Carolina, part of the stimulous is going to buy new school buses. More is going to pay for a new recreation center (Charleston). How is that going to stimulate the economy? Maybe for the guys who make the school buses or for the construction workers who will build the recreation facility. BUT how is this going to open the door to industries that we need to provide permanent jobs for our people? This is ridiculous. It would be better for the government to just give each citizen a sizable check and let them decide how to spend it than to keep throwing tax dollars at car makers and insurance companies and big banks. That doesn't help us at all!

Sharon of SC 3:12PM July 11, 2009

Seeing opportunities while others consider as risk...so you can jump ahead.

June Lee of NY 11:29PM June 26, 2009

Gee, I wish we had had enough regulation to stifle "credit swaps". Then we wouldn't be in this mess.

B Cook of IN 11:47PM June 14, 2009

I love how you talk about "decentralized energy production", and "decentralized food production", and "decentralized recycling of wealth"...
All of that comes along with an ever increasingly more powerful centralized form of national government...
What an empty-minded, toothless take...Cheesemakers in Switzerland would be proud of that little missive of yours after realizing how many holes were in it...

Cursed with self awareness... of LA 7:41PM May 23, 2009

Honk if you were paying my mortgage! Upside? Double the estate tax! Take money from wealthy trust babies and give it to Obama to buy Automobile companies with so the UAW can learn Biz 101, Upside?
Tell Arnold that the money he and his colleagues are spending is not Monopoly money and just because Nancy has a printing press doesn't mean she intends to share with him! Upside?
There are good upsides however. When gasoline is $5 or $6 bucks a gallon it'll reduce traffic on the road. The poor people will have to ride a bike to work, because not only can they not afford it, their credit is so screwed up they can't buy a GM version of a solar fiat and so all you will see is Mercedez Benz and politicians in Gov't fleet vehicles on the road!
This article is an oxymoron but so so true! Rome fell so others could rise! Upside!!

Tom in San Diego of CA 10:39PM May 22, 2009

The old world is dying. A new sustainable world will rise and flourish, because that is the only choice we have. By definition, the old ways are NOT sustainable, so we need to think in terms of survival.
Decentralized energy production.
Decentralized food production.
Decentralized recycling of wealth - the profitsharing tax credit.
see www.profitsharinguprising.com
At first glance it is like "fire and vengeance". But in reality it is "light and mercy".
We will continue to flounder with failure until we beat ourselves up enough to give sustainability its due.

Darian L. Smith of NC 10:45AM May 22, 2009

Like your thinking, go deep when everyone is scared.
Ever read "Psychology of the Call"?
They do a lot of this kind of blogging.
Good interview and def an insightful piece.

Adam of CA 8:12PM May 21, 2009

It is simple minded to think creative destrution. World War I ended kings and Queens as a ruling class. This was followed by Hitler and World War II which was simply more destruction and not very creative. Maybe some minor things occur that maybe called creative in between all this. Lets us call destruction for what is really is, Hell!

Arthur Gittleman of AR 2:42PM May 21, 2009