Sure there were some atrocities there always are but there were a lot of large military battles between armies which accounted for most of the casualties I suspect eg Shiloh

Did civilians get killed in the Civil war????

It seems to me the mistake these governments made was insuring all the losses the banks incurred. This increased the deficits the countries were running and now some or many can’t pay. Not suprisingly if these countries want to borrow more money they are going to have to pay higher interest rates. If they default and devalue there currency any imports in the future (oil,food,consumer goods will be more expensive).

Expected savings in these schemes are never realized. Actual expenditures are always higher than budgeted.

The Wall Street Journal thinks the referendum is a great idea based on the editorial this morning. I would agree the bankers should take a haircut.

What austerity??? The US government spent 3.6 trillion fiscal 2011, the most ever up from 3.4 trillion fiscal 2010. Last I looked unemployment still is at 9%. That spending’s really working…

Wall Street Journal on the editorial page today agrees that the Greek referendum is a good idea and a lesson in democracy

Most people in the US aren’t hungry; have you seen the obesity rates? Regarding Greece you can’t spend what you don’t have, at least not forever. It seems like most of the commenters here are upset that Germany et al are putting conditions on keeping the loan spigots turned on. Who can blame them if it costs 58% up front to insure the debt?

Do all you naysayers and Obama haters really want more Republicans in congress and in the White House? So he hasn’t been as progressive as you want. Get over it and get behind him!! I feel certain that the alternative is even less palatable to you.

Do we really want the dollar to fall any further?? Sure that helps exports but it makes everything else cost more!!

Folks should save money for retirement; don’t assume that the government is going to support you when you retire. You should start saving right away when you start working; you get more compounding of the interest the longer you are invested. If you’re near retirement age, don’t have your money invested in instruments that are volatile and might decrease in value abruptly. Be responsible (as much as possible) for your own finacial security. Others are not looking out for you (and really should they?).

What law did Goldman break exactly? Sure they may have sold some lousy investments to clients and bet against these investments with their own money, but the buyer should beware. This isn’t even remotely new. Michael Lewis wrote extensively about “jamming” bonds in Liar’s Poker back in the 80′s. If you are an investor in an instrument that you don’t understand well, like say complex mortgage bond simulators, you are a FOOL.

Good point. Certainly there are many taxes other than federal income tax. Some of these hit lower income folk disproportionately.

Austerity?? What austerity?? We’ve run the highest deficits ever by a large margin the last 3 years; spending is at levels of GDP well above historical averages, and all we’ve gotten out of it is 8.8% unemployment and 1.8% growth the last quarter. The spending hasn’t worked guys!!

This seems like much ado about nothing to me. I was a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against a wireless carrier (I didn’t know I was a plaintiff). Our class evidently won the suit and I got a coupon. I bet the attorneys for the class got money not coupons.

I don’t object to disclosure, but why are labor unions exempted from the proprosal.

Are you sure your reference refers to all taxes — municipal, state, and federal. It doesn’t seem to specify; if so I stand corrected.