Is the dollar on a fixed course for bankruptcy?

Will we soon need a bushel basket to carry enough dollars to buy a loaf of bread?

What will happen to the houses we all live in if we can't pay for them?

Will lenders take them all back by force?

How can the lenders take them back, if they, too, are bankrupt?

Will the pennies on the dollar bankruptcy buyers of the foreclosed loans have the force to commandeer possession of those occupied homes?

Will cutting spending fix the problem?

Will tax increases fix the problem?

Will government bailouts fix the problem?

Is a government bailout simply the transfer of debt from a company to taxpayers?

What do you think?

Can we open a dialog about interest rates...?

Question: Why is it that when the 'Fed' lowers interest rates and none of this discount ever reaches the consumer?

When the Fed lowers an interest rate, it is doing what, exactly? Is the Fed just lowering the amount of interest it charges to its own clients for the money it creates in the form of bonds?

If that's anywhere near correct, then when the Fed issues bonds, it further dilutes the value of the dollar, meaning the value of America.

So, if consumers who take loans from banks to buy beachfront property in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, or a home for sale in Driftwood Estates, don't get the discount from the Fed, who does?

Obvious answer, those who borrow directly from the Fed by purchasing bonds to serve as collateral for funds they loan to consumers.

Those borrowers are what... banks, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions?

So, can it be said that every time the Fed lowers their 'interest rate', the financial institutions get a raise?

Why can't we, consumers, borrow directly from the Fed? Cut out the middle man, so to say...

I just received the following affectionate message from Miss Prisca Doudou. I can barely contain my excitement?!! Prisca must be extremely wealthy and kind, as she would like to invest $9,500,000 in US manufacturing. That's great for the US economy because we don't manufacture a lot of things, we import most everything from China. Lucky me! All I have to do is provide Prisca my vital information such a bank accounts, credit cards, etc., which she will use to export the money here for investment in the US, and, here's the reward, Prisca will give me 15% commission for the service! I will earn $1,425,000 just for letting Prisca use my accounts to transfer the investment cash. Miss Doudou is certainly generous. Has anyone else been this fortunate?

"Dear ,

I would like to request your assistance in a financial transaction. cher I get your contact with a member of sit.I it your desire to invest in manufacturing and property management in your country.

I have nine million five hundred thousand United State dollars. USD ($ 9.500.000.00) to invest USD in the transaction and I need your help to receive the funds in your account in your country. I will gladly give you 15% of the total sum for your help. please, it is important that you contact me through this my e-mail directly (MissDoudou@xxxx.xxx)
for further explanations.

Awaiting your immediate response and God bless you.
Regards
Prisca Doudou."

Yesterday morning, around 8 am, I checked my time, and it was eight minutes after eight am on the eigth day of the eigth month of the eigth year into the 20th century following the death of Christ. This made me very hungry so I went str8 to the kitchen and 8 breakfast. The Chinese chose that d8 to open the Olympic games in Beijing.. I forgot to play the lottery. My wife heard on TV that a child was born at 8:08 am whose w8 was 8 pounds and 8 ounces. This probably the eigth time I've told this story. W8 a while, and I'll tell it again. All in all, it was a gr8 day for me, and I hope yours was gr8 also.

Let the games begin. I suppose most everyone say at least some of the festivities presented by the Chinese in Beijing to introduce the Olympic games of 2008... Guess everyone was impressed so far...

We were shown much about the technological capabilities of the Chinese. We got a glimpse of what can be done with the profits from all the stuff we buy from China.

By the end of the games, we will see many more amazing things. The Chinese will need to be treated with more respect henceforth, and will have more of a say in decisions that affect world governance.

Just trying to open an interesting topic of discussion... so what were your impressions?