[REDEYE]

Today's retail sales, banking horror stories and housing figures confirm something really big. Our Matrix economy--based on fogging the consumer's mind with a glittering, empty, lifestyle array of SUVs, IPhones, video games and other toys--is collapsing. Falling apart under the weight of such reality factors as oil and natural gas (and possibly coal) supply and demand imbalances. And of course, just plain greed.

My friends (as John McCain would say), The Matrix--the fantasy world of rampant consumerism--is dead. Long live reality!

[coonskincapp]

Hallelujah!

[TWilliam]

You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependant on the system, that they will fight to protect it. ~ Morpheus, The Matrix

[I_Like_Plants]

Joe Bageant's article on The American Hologram (or something like that) is excellent and well worth reading.

He's such a good writer.

[jboogy]

MORPHEUS
It's that feeling you have had all
your life. That feeling that
something was wrong with the
world. You don't know what it is
but it's there, like a splinter in
your mind, driving you mad,
driving you to me. But what is
it?

The LEATHER CREAKS as he leans back.

MORPHEUS
The Matrix is everywhere, it's all
around us, here even in this room.
You can see it out your window, or
on your television. You feel it
when you go to work, or go to
church or pay your taxes. It is
the world that has been pulled
over your eyes to blind you from
the truth.

NEO
What truth?

MORPHEUS
That you are a slave, Neo. That
you, like everyone else, was born
into bondage...
... kept inside a prison that you
cannot smell, taste, or touch. A
prison for your mind.

[jasonraymondson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jboogy', '
') It's that feeling you have had all
your life. That feeling that
something was wrong with the
world. You don't know what it is
but it's there, like a splinter in
your mind, driving you mad,
driving you to me. But what is
it?

[DrBang]

jboogy

I really liked the Matrix as a movie and a concept. That quote you put up though is scarily appropriate!!!!! Every single word.

good one

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('REDEYE', 'L')ong live reality!

[Armageddon]

Hallelujah

praise ye Jehovah, frequently rendered "Praise ye the LORD," stands at the beginning of ten of the psalms (106, 111-113, 135, 146-150), hence called "hallelujah psalms." From its frequent occurrence it grew into a formula of praise. The Greek form of the word (alleluia) is found in Rev. 19:1, 3, 4, 6.


Hallelu= praise in Hebrew
Jah= short for Jehovah in Hebrew

Hallelujah = praise Jehovah

[mmasters]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('REDEYE', 'T')oday's retail sales, banking horror stories and housing figures confirm something really big. Our Matrix economy--based on fogging the consumer's mind with a glittering, empty, lifestyle array of SUVs, IPhones, video games and other toys--is collapsing. Falling apart under the weight of such reality factors as oil and natural gas (and possibly coal) supply and demand imbalances. And of course, just plain greed.

My friends (as John McCain would say), The Matrix--the fantasy world of rampant consumerism--is dead. Long live reality!

[Oil-Finder]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('REDEYE', 'T')oday's retail sales . . . confirm something really big. Our Matrix economy--based on fogging the consumer's mind with a glittering, empty, lifestyle array of SUVs, IPhones, video games and other toys--is collapsing. Falling apart under the weight of such reality factors as oil and natural gas (and possibly coal) supply and demand imbalances. And of course, just plain greed.

My friends (as John McCain would say), The Matrix--the fantasy world of rampant consumerism--is dead. Long live reality!

[Oil-Finder]

Also . . .
Retail sales rose 0.3% in January, beating forecasts

Sorry.

[seahorse]

Oilfinder,

Of course, sales have risen 2% at Wally World, but you forget to add that the CPI, year over year, rose more than that, so, sales didn't really increase more than inflation. But, be that as it may,
why don't you quote the other statistics of the day to balance out your message, like home foreclosures rising, negative equities in home rise for the first time in about 50 years, negative savings rates, unemployment rising to 5%, all the numerous bank write down on assets, dollar dropping, bankruptcies rising, 30k layoffs expected at Citi Bank, just to name a few.

[DantesPeak]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oil-Finder', 'A')lso . . .
Retail sales rose 0.3% in January, beating forecasts

Sorry.

[Oil-Finder]

If I'm not mistaken, those numbers are adjusted for inflation. But I could be wrong.

Yes, of course in an economic downturn Wally World and places like it are going to benefit relatively. But at least folks are still buying, they're just buying cheaper stuff.

[seahorse]

Speaking of "Wally World", Mr. Bill has pointed out an interesting issue which we will see unfold over the next year or so (this applies to all cheap retailers, not just Wally World, but you all know what I mean). That issue is this, will the giant retailer model be able to survive with rising inflation? Kunstler writes about this also. Basically, the big retailer model has worked bc we can buy cheap goods from overseas and ship them here. For many reasons, not the least of which is China's currency manipulation, China's inflation is rising at a fairly high rate. Soon, those higher costs will be priced into the imports, and those once cheap costs will begin to rise. This problem of the rising costs of imports will be compounded with a dollar dropping in value. Thus, will the big retailer model which has been built around cheap imports continue? We shall see.

[billbrasky]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'J')oe Bageant's article on The American Hologram (or something like that) is excellent and well worth reading.

He's such a good writer.

[Cloud9]

Those on the far right and the far left know nothing but believe everything. Reason ends where faith begins.

[FourOfSwords]

'Reason ends where faith begins' Cloud9, interesting statement.
Which do you think is more important?
Cheers
Alex

[wisconsin_cur]

I love it that no one has taken up the implicit challenge in mmasters comment:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t's not dead by any means just going into a different phase.