This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Yes, It Is Halftime In America
Yes, It Is Halftime In America – So Now Is The Time To Get Your Financial Priorities In Order
Courtesy of Michael Snyder of Economic Collapse
Did you see the Chrysler commercial featuring Clint Eastwood that aired during the Super Bowl the other night? It was entitled "It's Halftime In America", and it was truly a great ad. To me, it was the most memorable Super Bowl ad this year by far. It conjured up images of the America that so many of us remember so fondly. It reminded us of how life in this country used to be. Unfortunately, America is currently headed down a road that is taking us in the opposite direction.
Yes, it is halftime in America, but there is no guarantee that what is ahead is going to be great. In fact, if we continue to make the same choices that we have been making, a national nightmare is inevitable. Let us hope and pray for a fundamental change of direction for America, but let us also prepare for what is going to happen if that does not take place. There is a "pause in the action" at the moment, so now is the time to get your financial priorities in order. Now is the time to prepare for the storm that is coming. If you wait until the storm is right on top of you it will probably be too late.
But I must admit that I really loved that ad. First of all, any Super Bowl ad that includes Clint Eastwood is almost automatically going to be a great ad. Secondly, it was very refreshing to see a commercial address some of the very serious problems that this country is facing.
The ad ended with Eastwood making the following statement....
"This country can't be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again, and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines. Ya, it's halftime in America, and our second half is about to begin"
A video of the complete ad is posted below....
Kudos to Chrysler for producing such an extraordinary ad. I have to admit that I actually prefer Chrysler to Ford and GM. I like their style and I think they make some very nice vehicles.
But Chrysler is far from out of the woods. They almost went under during the last recession, and if the U.S. economy experiences another major recession they might not survive it.
Yes, Chrysler did earn $183 million in 2011.
But in 2010, Chrysler lost $652 million.
Hopefully Chrysler can string a few more profitable years together, but there is certainly no guarantee that is going to happen.
As I have written about previously, the U.S. auto industry is in the midst of a nightmarish long-term decline.
The combined U.S. market share of the "Big Three" U.S. automakers fell from 70% in 1998 to 53% in 2008.
When you examine the numbers over a longer time frame, they are even more striking.
For example, in 1970 General Motors had about a 60 percent share of the U.S. automobile market, but today that figure is down to about 20 percent.
In an effort to cut costs, U.S. automakers have been eliminating jobs and sending jobs out of the country.
In the year 2000, the U.S. auto industry employed more than 1.3 million Americans. Today, the U.S. auto industry employs about 698,000 people.
So the U.S. auto industry has not exactly bounced back.
They have survived for now, but there is no guarantee that this is going to be permanent.
Many considered the Chrysler Super Bowl ad to be an endorsement of the auto bailouts and of the economic policies of the Obama administration.
But that wasn't the case at all. In fact, it turns out that Clint Eastwood was actually a harsh critic of the auto bailouts as Reuters recently noted....
"We shouldn't be bailing out the banks and car companies," actor, director and Academy Award winner Eastwood told the Los Angeles Times in November 2011. "If a CEO can't figure out how to make his company profitable, then he shouldn't be the CEO."
And Clint Eastwood certainly did not mean to endorse Obama during the commercial. The following is what Eastwood told Fox News about the ad....
"I just want to say that the spin stops with you guys, and there is no spin in that ad. On this I am certain.
l am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama. It was meant to be a message about just about job growth and the spirit of America. I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK."
The cold, hard reality of the matter is that America has not "bounced back" since 2008. Sadly, the truth is that we are even in worse condition than we were back then....
-Our national debt has risen by about 50 percent since 2008.
-Our states are in more debt than ever.
-Our local governments are in more debt than ever.
-The U.S. economy has lost about 6 million jobs since 2008.
-Approximately 14 million more Americans have gone on food stamps since Barack Obama became president.
-More Americans are living in poverty than ever before.
-New home sales in the United States hit a brand new all-time record low during 2011.
-The number of "long-term unemployed workers" has more than doubled since Barack Obama entered the White House.
-The amount of money that the federal government gives directly to Americans has increased by 32 percent since Barack Obama entered the White House.
-Despite claims that things are "getting better", the truth is that the percentage of Americans that actually have jobs is almost exactly the same as it was two years ago.
Amazingly, Barack Obama seems to think that he has done a good job and that he deserves a second term. On Sunday, Obama told NBC's Matt Lauer the following....
"I deserve a second term, but we’re not done"
Many Americans are buying into the hype. A new ABC News/Washington Post poll has found that Barack Obama's approval rating is actually rising.
But it won't last long. As the economy crumbles his approval rating will start going down once again.
The sad truth is that America is in the middle of a long-term economic decline because our economy is not built on a solid foundation.
The false prosperity that we are enjoying now is being fueled by the biggest debt bubble in the history of the world. We consume far more wealth than we produce, and we pay for it by constantly going into more debt.
At some point the merry-go-round is going to stop and when it does it is going to be incredibly painful.
An increasing number of Americans are waking up to this reality. One recent survey found that 61 percent of all Americans believe that there will be "a major catastrophic event" in the United States within the next 20 years. A significant portion of them believe that the "catastrophic event" will be economic in nature.
That same survey found that only 15 percent of all Americans feel as though they are completely prepared for the coming catastrophic event.
Remember what happened back in 2008. When the financial crisis struck, millions of Americans lost their jobs very rapidly. Since many of them did not have any money stored up, a lot of them lost their homes as well.
Since it is "halftime in America", now is the time to get prepared for the next great financial crisis.
Now is the time to reduce your expenses.
Now is the time to get out of debt.
Now is the time to set aside some money so that you will have something to live on if you do happen to lose your job. I typically recommend that you have at least 6 months of living expenses stored up.
Now is the time to start a side business. Even if you are broke, there are some businesses out there that you can start up for no money. It isn't easy to start a business with no money, but it can be done.
Now is the time to grow a garden. Fruits and vegetables are often some of the most expensive items at the grocery store, and by growing them yourself you become less dependent on the system.
And that is the key. We all want to try to become less dependent on the system.
There is no guarantee that your job will always be there.
There is no guarantee that your insurance company or the financial institutions that you are working with today will always be there.
There is no guarantee that the government will be there "to save you" when you really need it.
Yes, it is halftime in America.
So get ready for the second half, because it is going to be a real nightmare.
»
- ilene's blog
- 20923 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -
Halftime? You sentimental types need to stop reading Chicken Soup for the American Sap and get busy making other plans. The America of your childhood is g-o-n-e and ain't never coming back. Look to Bladerunner, Idiocracy, and the USSR to see your future. Oh, and get familiar with the term, Casino-Gulag.
We are way beyond bankrupt in character, competency, money, and in government. This is a turd-world nation now, complete with a rapidly multiplying herd of real-live turd-worlders. The original inhabitants are, by every academic test, getting stupider by the minute. The old folks who created this mess are sucking more than their fair share of government titty. The banksters and all government officials are having non-stop baccanalias while the middle class vaporizes. The Dempublicans demand even more of this corruption and free money, and the Republicrats demand that we leave our windows open wider for the banksters' nightly visits.
Just finished Michael Lewis' latest book and he comes to some of the same conclusions as Rusty about civic responsibility and the "i got/am getting mine; fuck you!!" attitude that is so pervasive at every level of american society. At this point if you are honest, responsible and hard working you are looked at by many others a a sort of chump. The levels of literacy in places like Detroit is just staggering, I mean seriously there is a whole generation that is not even capable of learning new skills because they can't fucking read. Things like basic national and world geography are mysteries to most people and I am talking about people I personally know in my age group who have graduated college. Where is Iraq? is just as hard as making the distinction between Persians, Arabs, and Sikhs, they have no fucking clue, they might all be countries to most people. No clue couldn't care and are proud of their ignorance; yes fucking proud of their ignorance.
Great rants today Harrison. I actually know people that instead of preparing for any sort of emergency, or paying down debts any more, even fixing a car that needs repair, will run out and spend thier tax money in one shot... a consumer orgy for next big-ass flat screen tv and iThing. Heck, I even know someone who went rent-to-own at a shitty price just because he could not wait a month to get his tax refund! Holy crap. This is what the larger segment of our society has become. They now outnumber the responsible folks. Now, add in the retiring baby-boomers and do the math. Yeah, it's game fucking over soon enough in one way or another.
Thanks
@rustymason
It' so uplifting, what you say.
There is a storm coming.
You can prepare or pretend it does not exist.
If you buy into this commercial as being all good, then it was nice knowing you.
Me? I will be seeking shelter.
Generational warfare is not solving shit.........focus on the ones who are KILLING you.
Yeah, I thought that commercial was so awfully sappy. An out of control financial sector that's become little more than a government sanctioned casino with privatized profits and socialized losses, a corporate media that might report some significant news if and only if it doesn't interfere with their gravy train or offend a corporate controlled government, combined with a uninformed, propagandized population that doesn't really understand how or how badly they're being screwed makes me think that it's way past halftime and we're losing by a few dozen touchdowns.
I'm not optimistic (in case you couldn't tell)...
What's really scary is that all of Obama's hopey changy shit may end up being the catalyst for the next civil war in this country...and i do not say that lightly. He seems to have forgotten that we are a country of many divergent views and opinions and that all of those views need to be involved in the mix. As soon as someone in this country says I know better than everyone else andI know what's best for you (which, as an elitist, he has done) we are in trouble. One example is seventy six million catholics are not going to accept their tax dollars being used to fund abortion...the next will be when OWS and the Tea Party join forces to oppose corruption and government intervention on Wall Street...Our prez is acting more like a dictator every day, he takes care of his rich supporters and lies to everyone else...
No, he hasn't forgotten that. He wants it to be the catalyst for revolution. A revolution that will require a ruler, not a leader. He has indicated at every turn that he wants to rule. Considering he has not led, at all, its the only conclusion.
The coming economic collapse blended with class warfare and "diversity" BS is designed to make taking the government and stealing whats left of the freedom much easier. the welfare state is a fine vote buying mechanism, but it makes even better pliable, non-self-reliant, uneducated Worlocks for the Eloi to exploit.
That famous Fabyan, HG Wells, has already laid out the plan in novel form.
"Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State."
~ Vladimir Lenin
“The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.”
~ Vladimir Lenin
You really should've had that syphillis treated..now it's too late.
birth control is not abortion and most catholics are not going to care that much. But I think you have a point, I can easily see the day when something bad, like really bad happens in a 2nd Obama term and he cracks a little on national TV and the Bernak fires up the presses in the months up to it and the people have a Ceausescu moment and in response he declares martial law, which increases panic and then not long after it starts to look like the French Revolution, complete with nihilistic anarchists( not to be confused with other anarchists), far right factions and a total balkanization of the country. I'd bet something akin to the French Terror takes hold or maybe the dynamic is like the Spanish Civil war. But God knows the pace we are going at the proles grow hungrier by the day as they realize the dream has been sold out so that some asshole can buy a new bentley every year instead of every 2 years.
Well put Rusty.Feel good shit is not gonna work against Globalist Agenda.Why just today the shit heads were acting up at the mall over shit goods and they had to close shop.Keep in mind thats just for garbage,wait till it.s for essentials.And feel good shit like ole America is dead.
Halftime? So we've peaked and it's all downhill from here until the endgame. Sounds about right.
President 2 & 0 is gonna make it 3 & 0 in Syria. Cut your bitchen!
The guy is a winner alright. No Vietnams for this President!!!!!!
watch the TV, it is free,
you are a wage slave, but you believe you are free.
watch the half time show and advertisements too,
you will want to buy those things too.
work slave work
spend slave spend
we are the elite 1% who control the show,
half time is over, back to the reality show.
The pensions should have been "rationalized".
I love Clint, but GM and Chrysler should have been shut down.
I don't like Clint after this but he is 92 and I knew a few really old people who voted for the muslim. They are old and senile or have been stupid their entire life.
GM and Chrysler should have gone through bankruptcy court. This is why we have bankruptcy laws. The UAW contracts would have been thrown out and the bond holders would have gotten a fair shake.
Since the Democrats prophet Mohammed - there are no laws for the elites.
He is 82.
Another (long) homer in Widowmaker's portfolio is F for exactly the reason you wrote.
Down with welfare for the rich and incorporated fools!
along with GS, JPM, BAC, CITI and Wells Fargo
Abso-fucking-lutely dead on. We left the vampires alive when we could have had them dead.
and don't forget the biggest company American tax dollars can support....GE
and don't forget that the infomercial was aired on NBS, which is now only 49% owned by GE. So, a hedge fund is bailed out by the USG, bonds get wiped out in favour of the UAW, the POS gets foisted off onto FIAT (how appropriate is that???), then Clint Easterwood comes on the air in pricey mode and touts all of the above. Did I mention GE?
- Ned
Not even Clint Eastwood is inmune.
Well, Chuck Norris is supporting Newt the Grinch, so go figure.
For example, in 1970 General Motors had about a 60 percent share of the U.S. automobile market, but today that figure is down to about 20 percent.
THE SOLE reason for that idiocy,was the BIG 3 kept on making crap cars,while the foreigners were innovating.
The Big 3 woke up, when they figured out that HEY!!!!, maybe we have to change our ways.
Give value and build some real vehicles.
Which they finally did.
I have driven both well in excess of 200k,(had more expensive repairs w/ the foreign name brand vehicles) and I would put most American cars and trucks up against most foreign models today, they last as long (if cared for), and are usually more comfortable.
punk, you think I have no bullets left, did you count them? Was it 5 or 6? Is there one left?
Solid advice, save that 6 months of fiat set aside won't be worth using as ass wipe. Unless by Money you mean silver, gold, lead, brass cheap vodka and little ziplock bags of calcium hypochlorite with water purification instructions printed on it.
It's late in the 4th quarter, and ZOG leads 666::0. Massive kill-off coming.
Check the commercial that was to be instead.
http://www.therightscoop.com/rush-parody-of-clint-eastwoods-halftime-in-america/
He's promoting Edgar J 'cause he didn't get a nomination.
Yeah cause all our problems come from the darkie president.</sarc>
I mean I don't like a lot of what I have seen but to act like Bush and the rest of the statists leading up to him in the false left /right paradigm didn't start us down this road to perdition is racist idiocy.
I used to like Clint and Rush but F both of them. Rush makes fun of Ron Paul so Rush can F himself. Clint is a senile old man who is a libtard suck up now.
Its like Jay Leno said: "Its halftime, the Chinese have the ball and we are down 16 trillion."