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Obama Appoints Ultimate Wall Street Insiders to Top Posts ... Again
Obama is replacing his chief economic adviser - Larry Summers - with Gene Sperling.
Sperling is currently a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and is now being appointed as Obama's chief economic adviser. He's been there before: Sperling will hold the exact same post he held under Bill Clinton - National Economic Adviser to Clinton and director of the National Economic Council.
In
that post, Sperling was principal negotiator with Treasury Secretary
Lawrence Summers in finalizing the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act Financial
Modernization Bill which repealed Glass-Steagal.
And Shahien Nasiripour notes:
Sperling
... served as a consultant to Goldman Sachs, and in 2008 harvested
sums reaching seven-figures for his work there and in delivering
speeches to the highest ranks of the financial services realm.
***
Economist
Dean Baker and the liberal pundit Robert Kuttner [note that] a key
item on Sperling's resume is the nearly $900,000 he earned as a
consultant for Goldman Sachs, at the very time the bank was playing a leading role in the worst financial crisis since the Depression.***
Sperling
earned Obama's enduring gratitude late last year when he played an
instrumental role in delivering the deal to extend the tax cuts handed
out by President George W. Bush to the wealthiest Americans in exchange
for continuing emergency unemployment benefits.
(Granted,
many on the left and right say that Sperling has a warm, cuddly streak,
and he has done some good things, his background and past actions
indicate that he think exactly the same as Summers. See this and this.)
Obama is also replacing chief of staff Rahm Emanuel with William Daley.
Daley is a senior executive VP of JP Morgan. He was Emanuel's mentor, and President Clinton's Secretary of Commerce. And yes, he is a scion of the Daley family of Chicago political fame.
Different day, same crowd ...
- advertisements -
I mean just look at Africa not a single functioning Government(by our standards)
To hell with your standards.
"(by our standards)"
let me try it in french: FUCK YOUR STANDARDS! take that exceptionalist jingo shit to stormfront or hannity's shitshow.
our standards and exceptionalism:
Just How Exceptional is the US? The Myth of American PrimacyBy DAVID ROSEN
The New Year season is a good time to reflect on the U.S.'s true standing in the world.
Politicians of every stripe ceaselessly repeat the well-worn clichés about America's uniqueness and prowess at 4th of July, Memorial Day, election campaign and other patriotic celebrations.
But how exceptional are we?
The following list of some 35 categories compares our standing to other nations.
Sadly, the five categories in which America ranks #1 are Military Expenditure, Incarceration, Marriage, Cosmetic Procedures and Obesity.
Read on …
U.S. Ranked #1
Military Expenditures (2008)
#1 — U.S. = $663.2 billion (4% of GDP)
#2 — China = $98.8 billion (2% of GDP)
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database (2009)
Military Expenditure per GDP (2005)
#1 — Omar = 11.4%
#25 — U.S. = 4.2%
Source: CIA Factbook
Incarceration Rate
#1 — U.S. = 756 per 100,000 (1,613,740 in 2009) 1 in 31 and 1 in 7 see pew!
#2 — Russia = 629 per 100,000 (86,9814 in 2006)
Source: King's College London International Centre for Prison Studies: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Marriage Rate ("crude," 2007)
#1 — U.S. = 7.4 per 1,000
#7 — Denmark = 6.7 per 1,000
Source: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
Cosmetic Surgical Procedures (2009)
#1 — U.S. = 1.5 mil
#2 — Brazil = 1.0 million
Source: ISAPS
Obesity Rate
#1 — U.S. = 34% (2008)
#2 — Mexico = 30% (2006)
Source: OECD
Happiness
#1 — Costa Rica = 76.1
#114 — U.S. = 30.7
Source: Happy Planet Index 2.0
Satisfaction with Life Index (2006)
#1 — Denmark = 273.4
#23 — U.S. = 246.7
Source: Adrian White, "A Global Projection of Subjective Well-being: A Challenge To Positive Psychology?"
Subjective Well-Being (2007)
#1 — Denmark = 4.24
#16 — U.S. = 3.55
Source: World Values Surveys
National Economy
Gross Domestic Product (2009)
#1 — European Union = $14.4 trillion
#2 — U.S. = $14.1 trillion
Source: CIA Factbook
Per Capita GDP
#1 — Lichtenstein = $122,100 (2007)
#11 — U.S. = $46,000 (2009)
Source: CIA Factbook
Human Poverty Index (2007-2008, lowest)
#1 — Sweden = 6.3
#17 — U.S. = 15.4
Source: Human Development Index
Current Account Balance (2009)
#1 — China = $297.1 billion
#190 — U.S. = ($378.4 billion)
Source: CIA Factbook
Competitive Economy
#1 — Switzerland
#4 — U.S. riiiiiiiiight!
Source: World Economic Forum
Digital Economy
#1 — Sweden
#3 — U.S.
Source: Economist Intelligence Group's "e-readiness"
Information Technology
#1 — Sweden
#4 — U.S.
Source: World Economic Forum
Environmental Impact
Renewable Electricity Production (2009)
#1 — China = 682.1
#3 — U.S. = 413.2
Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2009
Environmental Impact (worst to best)
#1 — Brazil
#2 — U.S.
Source: University of Adelaide's Environment Institute in Australia
CO-2 Emissions (Climate Change Performance Index, of 56 countries, 2008, best to worst)
#2 — Germany = 3.0% share
#55 — U.S. = 21.4% share
Source: Germanwatch
Wellness
Life Expectancy
#1 — Japan = 82.6 years
#38 — U.S. = 78.2 years
Source: United Nations (2005-2010)
Infant mortality (to 1,000 live births, 2009)
#1 — Iceland = 2.9
#33 — U.S. = 6.3
Source: UN Population Division
National Health Systems
#1 — France
#37 — U.S.
Source: World Health Organization
Health Care Expenditures (% of GDP, 2006)
#1 — France = 11.0%
#37 — U.S. = 15.8%
Source: OECD
Overweight Rate
#1 — Mexico = 70% (2006)
#2 — U.S. = 68% (2008)
Source: OECD
Domestic Life
Divorce Rate (of marriages, 2002)
#1 — Sweden = 54.9%
#7 — U.S. = 45.7%
Source: Americans for Divorce Reform
Cohabitation Rate (20 year-old plus, 2007)
#1 — France = 14.4%
#6 — U.S. = 5.5%
Source: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
Non-Married Childbirths (2007, US and Europe)
#1 — Sweden = 54.7%
#6 — U.S. Denmark = 38.5%
Source: National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
Motherhood Ranking (best to worst)
#1 — Norway
#28 — U.S.!!!!!!!
Source: Save the Children "Mothers Index"
Gender Gap (narrowest to widest)
#1 — Iceland
#19 — U.S. ahaahhahahahahahahahhaa!
Source: World Economic Forum
Education
Secondary School Graduates (2008)
#1 — S. Korea = 93%
#18 — U.S.= 73%
Source: OECD
College Graduates (25-34) (2007)
#1 — Canada = 55.8%
#12 — U.S. = 40.3%
Source: the College Board
Reading
#1 — Korea = 539
#15 — U.S. = 500 !!!!!!!!!!!
China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and Shanghai and Hong Kong out-performed the U.S).
Source: OECD PISA
Science Education
#1 — Finland = 554
#20 — U.S. = 502
China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and each out-performed the U.S.
Source: OECD PISA
Math Education
#1 — Singapore = 562
#28— U.S. = 487 !!!!!!!!!!!
China was divided into three regions (Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao) and each out-performed the U.S.
Source: OECD PISA
Telecommunications Services
Internet Users (2008)
#1 — China = 298 million
#2 — U.S. = 231 million
Source: CIA Factbook
Wired Broadband (2010)
#1 — Netherlands = 37.8 per 100 (6.2 mil subscribers)
#14 — U.S. = 27.1 per 100 (183.3 mil subscribers)
Source: OCED
Wireless Broadband (2010)
#1 — Korea = 95.0 per 100 (146.3 mil subscribers)
#9 — U.S. = 44.4 per 100 (136.3 mil subscribers)
Source: OCED
Broadband Data Rate (downsteam)
#1 — Korea = 36.9 Mb/s
#31 — U.S. = 9.9 Mb/s haahhahahahahahahaha
Source: Speedtest
Broadband Data Rate (upsteam)
#1 — Korea = 20.3 Mb/s
#33 — U.S. = 2.5 Mb/s pathetic!
Source: Speedtest
http://www.counterpunch.org/rosen01072011.html
use your illusions - gnr
Zero Hedge seems to have no problem with racists.
It's called Freedom of Speach and it's in the Constitution on the 1st place, go ahead and read it
You lost The Civil War once already. Wonna have another go??
Go fuck yourself, uncle tom.
what he said was correct
Well I should have said civilized standards, the problem with 'standards' is that pretty much no 'civilization' ever in histroy has achieved them but some came close, the last 1 remember was Ancient Greece, and it has been down hill ever since
The reason Africa doesn't have any 'functioning' gov'ts is because of US interference, period. The US Corporatocracy doesn't want them being independant and free people. Too much money at stake. Just take a look at Kenya via the wikileaks cables! A fledgling democracy in it's infant stages bringing stability and prosperity to it's people.... CAN'T HAVE THAT! So, the US State Dept (and CIA no doubt) busted watering the seeds of discontent and strife there now.
With friends like us (US), who needs enemies!
Look at Nigeria and Dick Cheney/Haliburton.
Can't have an independant state there... might interfere with profits! Time to foment civil war and bribe their leaders!!!
It's a proven business model, you know?
Well now I've been educated to the Hutu-Tutsi strife in the 15th Century.
sarc/
complete bullshit.
The reason Africa doesn't have good governments is because of Africans.
There are diamond mines in Australia; no civil wars there...ETC.
Stop blaming white people because our societies function
The reason Africa doesn't have good governments is because of Africans.
I blame Multiculturalism. And Money.
Poor Multicultural countries either break up along ethnic lines or end up as dictatorships ruled by the nastiest and most violent of all the tribes - but only after civil war(s) and ethnic cleansing.
Rich Multicultural countries become police-states run by oligharks for their own aggrandisement. The "ethnics" are mostly there to justify the heavy security apparatus and to absorb the anger of the mob so the elite perpetrators have time to grab their private planes to Geneva. So, the more useless and annoying a culture is to the majority, the more of that we must import. It is right out of the East India Company's "Population Management Referece Guide" - Trouble with the locals? Import tribes good at popping babies and stirring up trouble. Then loot in peace!
You hate Jews too, right? Are you that guy? Fuck you.
TPTB wants the resources of the African continent -- for themselves.
Native peoples and local governments are an obstacle to that desire.
Go read 'Confessions of an Economic Hit Man' and get a fucking clue.
I agree with the sentiments, but I wouldn't put any stock in ancient Greece either. The origin of democracy my foot! - Their homosexual paedophile rituals, infanticide, and general backwardness usually horrify first year classics students. Hollywood has yet again mitigated the truth.
i have no idea what you just wrote, read it 3 times fast and a 4th time real slow like, whatever man, im over it, you should quit while you're kinda still ahead...yes the slave holding, misogynistic and war all the time greeks got it right...delusions of grandeur...l'm not sure what you see when you look in the mirror, but what I see, at base, hasn't changed for never.
Thank You!
Your comment suddenly opened my eyes to the fact that we have no hope, no escape whatsoever!!
Either we fall in the hands of false agents of change that are cronies of the banksters or we have the choice to give everything back to dangerous outright fascists and racists like yourselves that will deliver us an imbecile worse than G.W.Bush and even worse and more murderous for the common people than this false agent of change in Washington today.
We are thouroughly, utterly, hopelessly fu c k ed, this country deserves to end in a smoking pile of rubbles.
But I'm oiling my AK 47, my only last feeble chance of personal freedom, and smile thinking than when the pooh hits the fan, anyone coming for me will have to pay a fair price...and that still elicit a smile.
And why do you think he got elected ? because of his experience, work in the field, general wisdom ?
He got elected because he's a smart looking, charismatic black guy. You might not like my racial prejudice but this guy got elected only because of a 'racial predijuce'(in the other direction).
And than they give him a Noble 2 week after taking office ? wtf how do you explain that
And no G.W.Bush was a white dope that barely knew his elbow from his ass
black/white/ left/right/red/blue my ass! what choice did they give us? the curmudgeonly old bitter short cripple with the alaskan bimbo or the tall, young and charismatic black camelot family with uncle joe? and let's not even mention that for the next 100 years there will NEVER be another minority elected to the wh in this country. is that the change you voted for?
No is not, certainly not. My ass feels exactly like someone had it repeatedly and throwing sand on it to make me feel it!!
I recoiled with horror from the Alaskan bimbo...to no avail, she will come back to haunt me again.
But the "other" camp proved the biggest delusion since I saw , as a child, JFK shot.It is like this banksta crony shot him again personally.
Now I know, now I am enlightened. Chairman Mao was right since then....if you are not in the moneyed elites, power can be had in only one way....from the barrel of the rifle.
"if you are not in the moneyed elites, power can be had in only one way....from the barrel of the rifle."
wiser words we never spoken...but i wonder if hu and wen feel like that still...
why would anyone take this shit job? because it affords barry bush the 3rd other interesting opportunites...like lying his ass off to billions around the world on just about everything without the people even realizing what they just heard...see barry is the ultimate corporatist fascist terrorist, so when the wedding party is in the reception hall and the bride is about to feed the cake to the groom, that's when you'll see barry's contribution, a smoldering giant hellfire hole in the ground, in the industry we call those collateral burns...it's such a blatant slap in the face he doesn't even pretend anymore, they just shove it in our faces arbusto style....does anyone have any doubt as to where barry gets stroked? he should've picked nucky thompson....boss tweed rolling in his grave...
Whoa... you ought to talk more...
Nice flag.
.
i talk too much
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. "
poor schmuck.. he thought he's THE HOPE... in reality he's choosen pawn.. who else would have agreed to take job after imbecile BUSH Jr.
alx
RE: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. "
Could hardly agree more!
Which is why its INSANE for voters to keep playing Tweedledum vs Tweedledee every couple of years...
It was obvious from very early in this new* administration that there was big trouble in Changeville when we saw the same exact masters-of-the-universe coming in to run rob the town.
You may not be able to 'fool all of the people all of the time'...
But apparently you can fool enough of them to terminally screw things up.
*NEW: In politics this refers to revising systems of obfuscation so as to conceal a lack of any change at all... sometimes known as camouflage, this allows its practitioners to spread enormous wads of what is technically knows as crapola while personally profiting. Crapola is generally useless... however in sufficient quantities it attracts huge fans... and then the crapola starts hitting it and going all over the place.
Investment Idea: Put your money in umbrellas and perfume.