Fishsticks, I’d say the business mood here in Japan is better than in the States but it is prone to stay more toward the mean culturally. Unemployment is over 5% now which is historically obscene, and talking with people it is evident the workers are pretty miserable and worn out. Even in robust Tokyo job changes are a bear because nobody is hiring so people are just tolerating what they have. Govt’s attempts to correct things have done nothing but make life worse in general. Unlike Americans, I dont find the Japanese to be a bunch if dingleberries clinging to the anus of government, and as such they are less whiny than the average gringo poosae who keeps screaming how everyone owes them something while they are too lazy to do something for themselves.

Best line ever was a twist on JFK’s inaugural BS ….
…… “ask not what your country can do for you, … ask what your can do for yourself!”
and then get off your butt and do it.

Take for example, the electric business (as in actually selling electricity). Deregulation in many states such as Texas has created a small but growing market for “wholesale electric” marketed to mid-sized businesses, saving them up to 50%.

But increased regulation, such as in the business sector, has pushed MANY investment and foreign monetary exchange companies OUT of America.

So how has self-regulation failed? Aside from some minimum requirements, such as minimum wage, safety regulations (but not to the extent of allowing an employer to sue for the smallest of injuries. Most places are scared to hire for that reason!) and some other business regulations, America has done well for the past 200 years. China is successful with it, and conditions are finally improving.

Is the economic mood in Japan even worse than here? Twenty years of stimulus, quantitative easing, perpetually low interest rates and huge infrastructure projects to nowhere (sound like a familiar plan?). For those not in Japan, there stock market is 75% below its 1989 peak.

LWA, I’ve been socially liberal and fiscally conservative all my life. To me socially liberal means people can do pretty much what they want – just dont dump their issues, failures, or irresponsibilities on me when it bites them in the butt. I dont dump mine on others so when the Fecalmatter In Chief blows his BS out about how we need to care for all the turds in the social toilet, all I gotta say is “look prez, you’re one of ‘em so go eff off and flush yourself and your crappy a$$ policies with you you bastard.”

Now, do I think a different admin would be better? Yes and no. I think the GOP is as full of crap as the dems and proved it sickeningly under Bush, but since we are stuck with both sides of the rancid political spectrum, both of which I despise with every hair of scrotum, I have always said there should be balance in DC, meaning the one-party BS like we have now or as with 2001-2006 is wrong because there is never compromise to a wider spectrum of population. So was McLame better than Oblowhard? – probably not, but the simple fact that one party would not dictate the gamut of political discourse would mean better policy. Hell, it cant get worse that these shîtheads blowing trillions at a time without even reading what they pass or giving a flip about the ramifications that are just a couple years away.

it’s also completely consistent to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative…but then again, the policy of the “conservatives” has changed a lot over the years…when it comes to things like deregulation, it’s pretty clear the conservative policy of letting the markets regulate themselves has completely and utterly failed…so, i’m against that…de-regulation to the extreme = bad…but does that imply i want to take money from your pocket?

well, in your specific case, sure but not generally…

the only thing i would counter your rage with, mayer, is that if you think for a second that if there was a different administration in office that DC wouldn’t be full of idiots that are also hellbent on screwing you over, you’re completely mistaken…when it comes to power in this country, you’re on the outside of the bubble…meaning you’re out there on your own just like everybody else who has to work and isn’t rich enough to say “eff off” the rest of the world…i truly think your fooling yourself if you feel that you’d be any better off with a different administration in office today…

Anyway, why do you have to make everything about bashing GM 1115 and all the other ones like him? It’s not like every blog post needs to turn into GM vs Toyota/Honda wars.

Other than that does anyone blame anybody for not buying now? I got the money and desire to get a new ride but why bother? Just to keep people employed who go and elect a set of DC idiots hellbent on screwing me over? Forget it. They can starve in the streets for all I care. I know if I were, they wouldnt care, so WTF.

Fletch, I understand your pessimism but I think you’re way off base. The world’s not getting any smaller and the fleet’s not getting any younger. Keep in mind that whole planned obsolescence conspiracy and it’ll help clear your mind. Happy thoughts now.

Leftwing – It especially sucks because they make you pay it up front too, so you need the money NOW to get a car. It’s no cheaper for cars now than a couple years ago, actually, it’s more expensive. Remember them raising the prices on everything last year?

That being said, I have a hard time believing this data – or rather, that 60% of those who answered that way WILL ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH on not buying for 4 years. Truth is, now’s a great time to buy. In fact, my wife’s Tahoe is 5.5 years old with 94K miles, and we’re thinking about getting a car this fall…probably an Enclave (unless I can talk her into a 2-row SRX!).

but i don’t think the market will go back to where it was before, at least not for a long time…before, the market was artificially inflated due to ever-increasing home prices and bogus home equity loans…now that the bubble has burst, the car market should shrink accordingly…and i mean shrink, not dip and quickly rebound…

For me, we probably going to trade in my wife’s 2007 Fusion in 2 and half years, that’s when we going to be pay off and get us another new car hehe. More people are not going out spend more people is going to be lay off.

Meanwhile I feel sorry for pavlindrom that he can’t get either his new Ford Fusion Hybrid or 2010 Taurus SHO Because of his cheap ass Boss.