kahall on February 24, 2009 at 8:09 PM

I’m afraid that you are missing the point. The government, out of the goodness of its heart, gave that money to the bank, expecting in return that said bank would be kind enough to become the government’s slave, and stop doing business in the old, well established way, and instead, start chanting “yes sir, yes, sir, three bags full, sir – just like they are supposed to./

If you insist on foregoing accountability, fine with me. That’ll be your problem.
sethstorm on February 24, 2009 at 7:19 PM

Oh, I’m not foregoing accountability. Did you even read the article that was linked to which caused me to leave the comment? This is near the bottom, maybe you missed it.

Here’s what’s absolutely amazing — the United States Government flat out gave Northern Trust the $1.6 billion in bailout money, and the bank didn’t even request it!

So, they were forced to take the money and now we (and the government) get to tell them how to run their business? That is not how it works. They were entertaining clients which is a legitimate expense in almost any business and it definitely stimulated the economy. Seriously, how would you be better off today if this bank had not thrown this party?

Nope. Still not any of my business.

kahall on February 24, 2009 at 1:30 PM

If you insist on foregoing accountability, fine with me. That’ll be your problem.

We also need people who are so committed that they can infiltrate the enemy camps,become committed journalists etc to defang the opposition.

promachus on February 24, 2009 at 2:36 PM

They’ll be the first to hit the layoff rolls.

Also, as for business offering an incentive to the workforce: they always have – work or starve. The nanny state has effectively removed that incentive, so anything that business now does, so as to protect its own interests, is only logical. If business people were to go back to the days of running a one-man show, hiring no-one, these Leftists would soon blame business for the mass starvation that would follow. They would demand that jobs be supplied – all the while ignoring the logical truth that beggars can’t be choosers.

Finally, I think that talking to the Left is counterproductive – they won’t listen, and we have only weakened ourselves by showing a willingness to compromise. It may already be too late – business should have stood firm more than a century ago.

ladyhawke53 on February 24, 2009 at 7:23 AM

OOPS sorry ladyhawke53, I meant to include your name at the end of your quote.

I love this quote from one of my favorite movies Independence Day (The strike outs and emphasis are my edits)
Mankind.” That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it’s fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom… Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution… but from and annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world we declared in one voice: “We will not go quietly into the night!” We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!

maybe a “little” over the top :-) but valid imho nonetheless

I don’t think it’s over the top at all! Independence Day is one of my all time favorite movies and that scene is my favorite from the movie. I got massive chill bumps when I saw/heard it the first time, and I get them every time I watch it on DVD, and I got them today, just from reading this!!!!!

It just PUMPS (clap hands and flex) me up!! (thanks Hanz and Franz)

We need to take back universities one by one and defang the liberal praxis.

FloatingRock on February 24, 2009 at 4:27 AM

I have been thinking the same thing. We need activist pressure groups like ACORN but for our side. If CAIR can pressure Hollywood to drop Muslim reference from The Sum of All Fears, we can do the samething. Maybe Society for Promotion of American Values which can fight with Hollywood everytime there’s an anti-american, anti-military movie is produced. Same goes for every other sector.

We need to master the art of protesting. All these tea parties are a good start, don’t let go of the connections you make, form more lasting groups from these connections and let a movement grow.

We also need people who are so committed that they can infiltrate the enemy camps,become committed journalists etc to defang the opposition.

Let’s roll.

angryed on February 24, 2009 at 9:57 AM

I think a lot of the discrepancy here has to do with how the DJIA is calculated today vs in 1900. Additionally, there are more stocks involved now than in 1900.

The DJIA probably isn’t the best way to calculate the strength of the economy historically without adjusting for those differences.

I can’t offer any other solutions here, just a thought.

Clarified:

When bailout money goes into it, it is.

sethstorm on February 24, 2009 at 12:42 PM

sethstorm on February 24, 2009 at 12:43 PM

Nope. Still not any of my business.

When bailout money goes into it, it is.

sethstorm on February 24, 2009 at 12:42 PM

It is really none of my business how a bank runs its business or entertains clients.

kahall on February 24, 2009 at 12:37 PM

When your money goes into it, it is.

Groan. Another bailout bank blows millions

http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/24/northern-trust-bank-bailout/print

eaglescout1998 on February 24, 2009 at 7:32 AM

It is really none of my business how a bank runs its business or entertains clients.

If this is the case, he’d better be very careful with the Defense budget. Oh, wait…

How do you “take the fight” to the over 60 percent who are in favor of what is happening?

The mob wants this to happen. Blind fools.

“TARGET profit falls 41%…
MACY’S reports 59% drop…
OFFICE DEPOT shows $1.5B loss…
Home prices post record decline…”
getalife on February 24, 2009 at 11:31 AM

These numbers are a result of a lack of “non-essential” spending. While Target surprises me some, the others do not. If I need clothing or some other item, I will not be going to Macy’s to buy it, but rather WalMart where my dollar goes further. My discretionary spending at Office Depot has diminished to paper and ink and still I’ll go to WalMart first. A new house?? forget it. Although if I had some money, now would be the time to buy.

Mark had valid points, he’s a business owner, those of us who are not rely on him and others like him for a job. If his profitability is affected, he’s not going to hire me. He’s absolutely right, he took the risks, he has all the liability and if he’s unable to maintain due to excessive costs, he’s going to lay people off or worse close. Unless businesses are given incentives (ie:tax cuts, not bailouts) they are going to further tighten their belts. Which will lead to more profitability losses as you’ve noted already. It’s a vicious circle. This porkulous bill is not the answer. Businesses NEED incentives to put us back to work, at which time I’ll spend more money, which will increase profits for all businesses. You have to eat, you have to have a roof over your head and you have to pay your utilities. Beyond that….I’m going to be very choosy.

I’m not asking the government for a handout, I just want them out of my pocket and allow me to continue to support myself. But at the rate our esteemed elected officials are acting, I’m with Mark… why should I continue to work and give it all away to someone who wants everything for nothing and didn’t have the good sense to live within their means?

That’s the problem most of us have….. being robbed blind in order to support people with poor judgment. And the robbers just don’t give a $h!+

All very good points on this board.
Here is an idea. Why do we sit here and talk amongst ourselves? We need to take the fight to the enemy.

vsunited on February 24, 2009 at 10:20 AM

Agreed, our nation is at stake.

It’s time to take the fight to the enemy, hold them by the nose, and kick them in the Ass

Drudge.

I don’t think you will be hiring in a depression Mark.

Still you will never admit your ideology might have something to do with the depression.

Have a good day.

So, are you advocating Legislated Socialism as a punitive measure toward business owners to “level out the playing field”?

kingsjester on February 24, 2009 at 8:53 AM

If business isn’t willing to step up and offer an incentive, then it may have to be an option. It would be a good time for them to dust off some sociology books to see where profitability intersected with humanity. The only thing business has done is revert to a form of Taylorism. Perhaps it may be time for them to read a few pages of Deming again before they act.

Indeed Mark.

Forget it.

Try a tiny bit of intellectual honesty and I might engage.

getalife on February 24, 2009 at 11:00 AM

np… When unemployment reaches 22% like it was during Carter, please remember this post. Unemployment is a direct reflection on the taxes and expenses a business must pay, the cost of regulations and MY PERSONAL bottom line… I will not work for less, I will cut people to remain at my level, it’s MY business… I took the risks, made the efforts, worked for sucess… So if your kind want me to hire more, give me a reason, give me more on my bottom line, get regualtions out of my way to compete, tell unions to get the heck out of my business and I will hire many, many more… It really is simple and not sure what your issue is about the facts…

Forget it.

Try a tiny bit of intellectual honesty and I might engage.

getalife on February 24, 2009 at 10:49 AM

Forget it, you refuse to understand that the government and your Messiah will drive unemployment to over 25% within months. I owned a small business for over 15 years as I have stated before. I’m sure you have not. I would NEVER HIRE one single more perosn and pay higher and take home less for me and my family… So as long as you want to hammer on us rich and evil and tax us into closing, reap what you sow… Business that can’t make AND KEEP their profits will close causing more and more unemployment… The ones still working will not be able to pay for the ones not working… What do you not understand? If you take my money and give it to loosers, I will also stop producing and get on the dole… I will close, I will lay off… I will becaome one of the cult and suck the teet dry along with all the other morons that want to blame the small “rich” people….

This disaster is real.

Forget your failed ideology and if you want an enemy that got greedy, it is Wall Street.

What should the President do to try to save the cost of a global depression?

Now, you are in his shoes.

The achievers in this country need focus on one important fact:

The Social-fascist Dhimicraps are going to take it from you anyways if you stand by and do nothing.

The time is rapidly approaching for patriots to stand up and refuse to be feed upon by the looters.