So, if the Great Robber Baroney of the USA has formalised a monarchy, what happens to the war for democracy? Do we change the name on that, or what? I have long thought it odd that the UK, a monarchy with an upper house of hereditary peers, would wage war for democracy so openly. But whatever.

However, this American business seems rather vulgar. Why concentrate power in one man?

In Europe, when they gave the whole lot to the families who own the banks, they made a great show of it, and sold it very well. Europe has a commission that is appointed, unchecked by democratic process, and which owns money supply.

Switzerland is the only real democracy in the west.

Yeah the guy is kinda radical, but the quotes are (apparently) from the act itself.

from:

http://housingpanic.blogspot.com/2008/09/end-of-america-as-you-knew-it-is-at.html

— quote:

The Patriot Act of Finance, otherwise known as Paulson's $700 billion bailout bill, if passed in its present form will be the nail in the coffin for an America by, for and of the people.

Just like the Patriot Act appeared to be written before 9/11, so does this Patriot Act of Finance appear to be written before the housing crash. And yes, both were rushed through a panicked Congress and complacent media in the middle of the night.

A nation founded by the people, for the people will be given to a very select group of bankers. Legally. Without a shot fired. Because Americans were too distracted and too dumb to know what was going on.

Brilliant.

Here's how it will be done:

1) The key line in the proposed bill is this one:

"The Secretary's authority to purchase mortgage-related assets under this Act shall be limited to 700,000,000,000 dollars outstanding at any one time"

What this does is give Hank Paulson, acting as an emperor with unchecked control over the nation's treasury, a $700 billion line of credit in which he can buy up toxic debt for whatever price he'd like to pay, $700 billion at a time.

In other words – he could buy trillions. Trillions and trillions and trillions. Buying and selling, buying and selling.

He can sell the junk he buys from his banker friends for whatever price he wants, saddling the taxpayers with the loss. He keeps this process going, using his $700 billion credit card. Buy for 60 cents on the dollar, sell for 30 cents on the dollar. Buy for 80 cents on the dollar, sell for 5 cents on the dollar. He's in charge.

$700 billion folks IS JUST THE LINE OF CREDIT. He can purchase trillions and trillions of bad debt with this credit card, as long as only $700 billion is OUTSTANDING at any one time.

2) Hank Paulson, CEO of Goldman Sachs on leave, has complete and total control over the nation's treasure. He would be unchecked by Congress, unchecked by the President. He will be king. Here's the text:

"The Secretary is authorized to take such actions as the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the authorities in this Act, including, without limitation"

Using this power, Hank Paulson of Goldman Sachs could pay Goldman Sachs anything he wanted for their mortgage assets. Let's say the market value was 20 cents on the dollar. Hank Paulson could pay them 100 cents on the dollar. Its his decision and his alone. No oversight. No limitations. Hank Paulson could simply give the nation's treasure to Goldman Sachs.

Get it now?

3) Deputizing the banks and investment banks as "agents of the government". Seriously. Here's the text:

"Designating financial institutions as financial agents of the Government, and they shall perform all such reasonable duties related to this Act as financial agents of the Government as may be required of them"

4) Have no outside control over the firesale of assets and loss to the taxpayer. Again, Hank Paulson and Hank Paulson alone shall be in control. No auditors. No oversight. No multiple bids. No nothing. Hank Paulson and Hank Paulson alone. Here you go:

"Sale of Mortgage-Related Assets. The Secretary may, at any time, upon terms and conditions and at prices determined by the Secretary, sell, or enter into securities loans, repurchase transactions or other financial transactions in regard to, any mortgage-related asset purchased under this Act."

5) Hank Paulson has final say. Hank Paulson knows what's best. Hank Paulson cannot be reversed. Hank Paulson cannot be sued. Hank Paulson is king.

"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency"

– end quote–

Why are you so darn cynical? At least post the POSSIBILITY:

4- They are simply selling them as faster than they can make and ship them!

I mean – you gotta admit that this is a possible cause!

Ha, yeah right. What other company and product inventory is being tracked (and wildly speculated upon) with such fervor.

As for Apple as a stock and its share price…I read an article that said the company may well go on to sell 4.1 million units in this quarter alone. That should get analysts re-estimating the company's value. And that's just THIS quarter. Next quarter is the holiday season, which should bring a windfall in sales.

Mac naysayers always tend to underestimate the company just b/c their sales of computers don't rival that of the major PC suppliers like Dell, Sony, Toshiba, etc… When they get a gander at their final sales figure for the years, perhaps they'll rethink their position.

Consider, all those erstwhile parasites in suits (hello banking community) were advocating investments in worthless mortgage securities at the same time as they were cautious on Apple stock.

Explanation? Bankers are dumb herd animals who gamble with your cash. And, of course, Apple crazies scare away the sort of low key, mass migration towards a trend that ensures it becomes truly MEGA. Like, for instance, energy drinks and playstation.

Check out the Ireland Apple store opening for further hard evidence that Apple is a bona fida cult.