Ii is unfortunate that most people rely on one source for their news. Time was when CBS, NBC and ABC were trusted news sources. They are no longer sources of news as the anchors are prone to editorializing. What is interesting, those same news sources at on time were critical of Pravada for their state-controlled editorializing of news.

The Internet provides very good sources for news and history. People should read more history.

Few people remember the economic pain of the Carter years with double digit inflation. Or the Nixon and Ford years with gas rationing.

Henry Ford established 8 hour work days and 40 hour work weeks in the days before unions came along.

FDR is the patron saint of liberalism. He was opposed to public sector unions.

The stock market crash followed by the depression were significant events that shaped the world. Unfortunately, politicians have forgotten the events that lead to the cash and loosened some of the controls. Well, easy credit lead to the housing boom and ultimate bust.

History is full of examples where central government control has lead to collapse of governments (and societies).

We awe in a period of technical correction where increased government control will make it worse. And, the unions, especially the public sector unions, are contributing to the problem.

Yes, centralization and increased government control is a major problem that will stiffly progress.

We agree that bank deregulation caused problems such as non enfrocement of the Glass Steagall act. However banks were not forced to give out loans to unqualified people. They were forced to no longer turn down loans because of location and race if the other qualifications were met. When I first started talking about mortgage assistance I thought you were talking about some form of payment to people that help with mortgage that I did not know about.



Again I agree big time. This is one of the reasons the Glass Steagall act was started back then.

Data from IRS ---

1990 - 24% of the population paid no income tax
2010 - 42% of the population paid no income tax

And, these numbers exclude elderly receiving Social Security.

During the Clinton and Bush years, tax credits (Earned Icome, Child Care, and increased personal exemption) contributed to increasing the number paying no income tax.

This is federal income tax only. State data may or may not track. Everyone that spends money will pay some sort of tax (sales, use, excise, etc).