I don't know if would call the 401K a bad idea. You had the opportunity to choose fixed investments, didn't you? Many chose to go with more risky investments because of the possibility of higher gains. Those same people knew there was a chance the bottom could fall out but you paid no attention and went right ahead and went with those high yields investment. I'm sorry but YOU WERE WARNED!

Go both ways.

please do not put words in my mouth! No where did I say it to be true or that I personally believe it. I said this was something brought up during a morning conversation and asked your opinion if this could have been possible!

obviously this food for thought is really just a non-committal conspiracy theory. it's like if i said
"here's something to think about...john mccain hates america. he has constantly voted against regulation of the financial strongholds and now that they have crumbled (due to lack of regulation and excess greed), the economy is tanking. now, what if mccain wanted this all along? it's just something to think about, i'm not saying that i believe it (but i obviously do)."

you see, it's not a simple suggestion. if you were to tell me that you were a democrat, i'm pretty sure you'd be lying.

Actually I am registered as an Independent..

while some states require you to register as a particular political party supporter or independent, there is no such rule in Georgia...here you are either registered to vote or not. Sorry. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport

I believe they have had control for 4 years. I believe the break down in the senate was 49 to 49 with 2 independents who typically side with the Democrats.

I think these questions stem more from the fact that reform legislation was blocked by the democrats. I do not believe anyone was laying blame solely on the democrats for getting us into this mess but rather not delivering the fix early enough.

It is kind of like taking medicine after you are sick. If you went and saw the doctor once you started to notice something wrong, he/she may have given you something to get rid of the illness before it became to severe or at least making it less severe.

As for the war, I do not think either side is to blame there. This was a tragic event which called for serious measures.

first off, 2006 is when democrats took control of the house and senate...this isn't debatable and is not something based upon "belief."

i'm not sure what mess it is that you're talking about...i watched the news a few months ago and bush and mccain both told me our economy was strong. i do recall though that republicans have constantly sought to deregulate major financial institutions and then insure them...so essentially, in '99 some republicans thought it would be a good idea to deregulate wall street...they did...wall street starts investing recklessly...republicans look foolish...but still refuse initial bailout because it does not embrace their ideals...and two thirds of republicans vote against initial bill...and then you, joe six pack, say that the democrats did not act fast enough...

p.s.what do you mean by tragic event? do you mean 9/11? because you know that they have proven that iraq DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANY ATTACKS and that THEY DIDN'T HAVE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION! so in fact, no serious measure was called for. no no, before you disagree, democrats AND republicans both said that when you looked at the facts, we just presented shaky evidence that didn't really add up. you can't just go around saying things like this fluffybear, it keeps the ball of ignorance rolling.

Did I say Iraq?? NO!!! Go back and read your buddies (JeffC) message a little closer this time. Had you done this, you might have discovered he stated Bush started 2 wars. I'm sorry but I do not feel Afghanistan and the hunt for Osama Bid Laden was not justified.

I saw an interview a couple of weeks back (I think it was on 10/1 and has been replayed on several networks recently) with Bill Clinton (you remember him) in which he stated in his opinion the democrats were responsible by not siding with republican plans for reform.

The war in Afghanistan and the hunt for bin Laden was entirely justified. Bush and the R's are hurt politically by the mismanagement which includes the economic effects.

Does anyone honestly believe that the financial crisis would have happened if Bush had kept the budget surpluses that he inherited going?

again, i know that you think the democrats somehow caused this, bless your heart...and i'm sure that you think that the deregulation of wall street that was led by republicans has nothing to do with the foolish investments (that no one could have made otherwise) that have tanked our economy, and that's just so adorable. but it's time to grow up. you say in your last paragraph that both sides voted for it, but you begin by saying that this is all the democrats fault...but you know that republicans wanted this too...which is all the more baffling because republicans want deregulation, SMALL government (we have the biggest ever right now), and most republicans i know want to do away with any social programs...but they still get mad if the schools aren't good enough or if their roads have potholes or if their economy stinks...it's just baffling to me because so many republicans will say that they don't believe in big government, that is until their own wallets are pinched and they need help.

The Dems tried to steal the election in 2000, then they bring in Kerry in 2004 not much of a chance, all while grooming Obama. Hills was to polarizing to the country. Add some economic hard times and pinch the wallets of the "Joe six pack" crowd and BAM!! Here we are the Dems had a plan all along... you could definitely be on to something.