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Banks, Bailout, Bonuses

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pixelsmith said:
over 10 years ago Alex Jones and others forewarned us of this. no big news here. yawn.
Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!
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Yes, Alex Jones - another futurist with a message that is so vital for him to get out to the entire world. What a good thing that we live in an age that that message can be delivered literally for nothing by putting it into digital format for download or email distribution. Oh, wait, he wants money for all of this most important news he has for mankind. So, he just can't use donations from people that believe in his cause, he has to scare you and tell you that you MUST know this, it is of vital importance for your survival, and for 17.95 you will know what you need to know. Pfft.

He may have some info, but his whole modus operandi is a big infomercial. Scare tactics a la Kevin Trudeau.
 
Title: After $25 Billion Bailout, Wells Fargo Goes to Vegas
Source: Fox News
URL Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/03/billion-bailout-wells-fargo-goes-vegas/
Published: Feb 3, 2009
Author: Fox News
After $25 Billion Bailout, Wells Fargo Goes to Vegas
Wells Fargo, once one of the nation's top subprime mortgage lenders, is still planning a corporate retreat for its top mortgage officers in Las Vegas even though it took $25 billion of taxpayer money from the government.
WASHINGTON -- Wells Fargo & Co., which received $25 billion in taxpayer bailout money, is planning a series of corporate junkets to Las Vegas casinos this month.
Wells Fargo, once among the nation's top writers of subprime mortgages, has booked 12 nights at the Wynn Las Vegas and its sister hotel, the Encore Las Vegas beginning Friday, said Wynn spokeswoman Michelle Loosbrock. The hotels will host the annual conference for company's top mortgage officers.
The conference is a Wells Fargo tradition. Previous years have included all-expense-paid helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert in the Bahamas for more than 1,000 employees and guests.
"I was amazed with just how lavish it was," said Debra Rickard, a former Wells Fargo mortgage employee from Colorado who attended the events regularly until she left the company in 2004. "We stayed in top hotels, the entertainment was just unbelievable, and there were awards -- you got plaques or trophies."
While the nation's recession has led other banks, such as Bank of America, to cancel employee recognition outings, Wells Fargo has not.
"Recognition events are still part of our culture," spokeswoman Melissa Murray said. "It's really important that our team members are still valued and recognized."
Corporate retreats have attracted criticism since the bank bailout last fall. Congress scolded insurance giant American International Group Inc. for spending $440,000 on spa treatments for executives just days after the company took $85 billion from taxpayers.
AIG has since canceled all such outings.
Beginning Feb. 25, Wells Fargo's insurance division is hosting a 40-person team meeting at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Murray did not immediately have details about the size or cost of the events or what was planned
In previous years, top loan officers were treated to performances by Cher, Jay Leno and Huey Lewis. One year, the company provided fortune tellers and offered camel rides, Rickard said.
Every night when employees returned to their rooms, there was a new gift on their pillows, she said.
Wells Fargo Chairman Richard Kovacevich has traditionally greeted every employee personally when they arrived.
Rooms at the Wynn and the Encore are consistently among the most expensive in Las Vegas.
The $2.3 billion Encore opened in December as sister hotel to the Wynn. Its decor includes a 27-foot Asian dragon made from 90,000 Swarovski crystals and artwork by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. One of the restaurants features Frank Sinatra's 1953 Oscar.
Both properties have high-end retail stores, including Manolo Blahnik at Wynn and Chanel at Encore.
 
bobheck said:
Ok, let me try this again.

Ahem...How can I watch it for free legally? Where someone has not posted copyrighted content without consent.
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It is legal. He posts them up there HIMSELF. Jones has authorized his movies to be distributed under "fair use". Anyone who wants to can screen, post or make copies of his films.
 
Here's something. I was perusing the entire stimulus bill, and it's got some real eye openers in there. H.R. 40 is in there.

I can tell you all this much, if Reparations for slavery become a reality in this country, I will take myself, and my family out of the United Fakes Of AmeriSHAM.

This plan is payback, CHICAGO STYLE. Everyone who helped Obama out, is getting something out of this bill, and it's a SPENDING BILL< not a STIMULUS BILL.
 
CapnG said:
It is legal. He posts them up there HIMSELF. Jones has authorized his movies to be distributed under "fair use". Anyone who wants to can screen, post or make copies of his films.
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Then I obviously stand corrected -- and will indeed watch some of them. :o
 
skunkape said:
Land of the Meek, Home of the Slaves.
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Why be the only sane voice screaming in a forest full of fucking morons who deserve nothing less than my contempt???

Especially when 99 percent of the people of this country will gladly turn your ass in as a terrorist or worse if it means they might get another helping from the slop trough.

I've been looking at moving overseas for about 3 years now. Not because I'm afraid of what's coming, but because it would actually be better for my business. The notion of one dime of my taxes going to something that My Ancestors never had any part of, is an affront to justice.
 
Tommy Allison said:
I can tell you all this much, if Reparations for slavery become a reality in this country, I will take myself, and my family out of the United Fakes Of AmeriSHAM.
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Genuine question, Tommy. In Canada, we have paid reparation to the Japanese displaced during WWII, and Aboriginals mistreated in our residential schools (in progress), and refunded the Head Tax to the Chinese immigrants (or their families).

Once done, it seems as if both sides move on with a bit less guilt/anger between them.

So, to get to my question: why would you be so bothered if the US finds a way to pay reparation for slavery? Especially if those families who profited most from it paid some of that profit into the reparation?

Sooner or later, even a government has to accept blame for doing the wrong thing, and if we get into the habit of doing reparations and apologies, I think it would only be the first step towards holding a governing body accountable for its decisions.

Some governments may feel they can ignore the consequences, as after all, the reparations come long after the misdeeds, but let a few roll on, and it seems the time period between the mistreatment, and the payback gets shorter and shorter. Our residential schools were active in the 60's, the Japanese were displaced in the 40's, the Chinese Head Tax was the 30's (I think - Capn G will correct me if I am wrong) and it looks like we are working our way up to a time period where some of our politicians were active within the government who made those decisions.

So, reparations... Sooner or later, somebody has to pay for a bad deed, discrimination, whatever. If it is the average joe or jane through their taxes, maybe we will be more careful about what we let our bureaucrats do, what we let our governments vote into existence.

It's a hope we will, that is. Cause after that giant bailout, if you/we aren't watching who spends our bucks now, we never will.
 
AnnetteMarie said:
Genuine question, Tommy. In Canada, we have paid reparation to the Japanese displaced during WWII, and Aboriginals mistreated in our residential schools (in progress), and refunded the Head Tax to the Chinese immigrants (or their families).

Once done, it seems as if both sides move on with a bit less guilt/anger between them.

So, to get to my question: why would you be so bothered if the US finds a way to pay reparation for slavery? Especially if those families who profited most from it paid some of that profit into the reparation?

Sooner or later, even a government has to accept blame for doing the wrong thing, and if we get into the habit of doing reparations and apologies, I think it would only be the first step towards holding a governing body accountable for its decisions.

Some governments may feel they can ignore the consequences, as after all, the reparations come long after the misdeeds, but let a few roll on, and it seems the time period between the mistreatment, and the payback gets shorter and shorter. Our residential schools were active in the 60's, the Japanese were displaced in the 40's, the Chinese Head Tax was the 30's (I think - Capn G will correct me if I am wrong) and it looks like we are working our way up to a time period where some of our politicians were active within the government who made those decisions.

So, reparations... Sooner or later, somebody has to pay for a bad deed, discrimination, whatever. If it is the average joe or jane through their taxes, maybe we will be more careful about what we let our bureaucrats do, what we let our governments vote into existence.

It's a hope we will, that is. Cause after that giant bailout, if you/we aren't watching who spends our bucks now, we never will.
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Here's the thing about Reparations. When Slavery ended, there were indeed reparations given. Remember 40 Acres and a mule? Lots of people got free land, and livestock. Lots of others were sent back to Africa.

My family never owned slaves. Not ONE of my family has EVER owned a slave, but am I to pay for the sins of other people's ancestors? If there are reparations given to blacks for slavery something that ended LONG before anyone currently alive was born, where does it end? Should we be giving reparations to the Irish who were denied jobs, shelter, and food? How about the Chinese who worked like slaves to build the railroads? How about the Native Americans? Where are THEIR Reparations?

How far does this go back? Do I deserve some kind of compensation for my Scottish Ancestors who were driven off their land by the English?

Reparations does nothing but make for an unending series of arguments by people who "Want My Share" of the Misery Pity Pie.

Not one dime of my tax money will be given to ANYONE based solely on the idea that their ancestors were mistreated. If that was the case, then I should get my family's land back that was STOLEN from them by banks during the great depression. My Father's Family owned huge tracts of land in Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri. They were cheated out of their prosperity because of fraud committed in the name of commerce.

Don't I deserve reparations?

No. Why? Because all of that loss, changes NOTHING now. I am my own person and make my own life choices. Everyone in this country has been equal for a good long time. I grew up in a town where there were different shades of white. White, and White Trash. I was considered the latter, but the funny thing is, you don't look at yourself that way until someone calls you that.

I am far from that lifestyle. I have a decent life that I built for myself in spite of all the bullshit in my life, and while I can say there have been many people who have stood in my way to prosperity, the only person who can ultimately affect my life, is ME.

This notion that racism exists is utter bullshit. Everyone in the world is racist. They are RACIST no matter what they tell you. Even the most open minded person who is tolerant of everyone has the racist gene, because it's inherent in every person, and in every species.

Reparations for mistreatment is something that I think should apply if it's done to you personally. If I was mistreated by the police, then I should get something for my trouble. If I'm mistreated by an employer, I should get some compensation.

If My Great Great Great Great Grandfather was mistreated??? Give me a FUCKING BREAK. My family has been treated extremely poorly by so many, but to think I deserve some kind of pay off because one of my ancestors was mistreated, or enslaved, is utter bullshit.

When you mentioned bank bailouts, don't think that I ever approved on those, because if it had been my choice, I would have let all the banks fail. Not after what's happened, and certainly not after seeing how that money was pissed away on nothing but the enrichment of liars and thieves.
 
well, that was a very educational answer to my question. and couched in arguments I cannot muster a disagreement towards, either.

I suppose our reparations are basically still current history, even the Head Tax had some payers living in Canada during the time it was apologised for, so under your argument, our reparations are not out-dated.

BTW, found some info on the Head Tax, I knew it started around the time of our great railroad construction push, but here is more accurate info than I had given.

What is the Chinese head tax?


It was a tax imposed on anyone coming to Canada from China between 1885 and 1923. The federal government first imposed a $50 head tax on Chinese immigrants in 1885. This amount was raised to $500 in 1903, the price of a house at the time or the equivalent of two years' salary in China. It was replaced in 1923 by the Exclusion Act, which barred all Chinese immigrants from Canada until 1947.
 
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