Who is to blame for the financial crisis in the US (pls see details)?
As we have been told time and time again, statistics (supposedly) show that women are the ones who make purchasing decisions in the US whether they work for wages or not. I have seen numbers as high as 80% when it comes to decision making, decisions such as new home, new floors, new appliances, new countertops etc. Having worked in construction/design, I can tell you there is some truth to this. Men don't care what they put on the floor or the counter tops except in very rare instances. In addition, there are plenty of women who have spending issues - Prada purses, Gucci watches, Coach wallets and other useless crap. We've seen many of them on TV seeking help for spending addictions, but not so many guys. According to common belief here in GWS, feminists don't participate in this sort of spending since they are "butch." So. IF I were a feminist and this was true, then, I wouldn't even waste money on razors since I don't shave. Right? An exaggeration, but I think you see what I mean. Now I'm not trying to start a fight between all of you, and I chose to remain neutral like Norway when it comes to feminism and masculism, but, you have to admit, certain women are starting to look bad in this economy if the stats are correct. So I ask you - who, in your opinion, is responsible for this spending that doomed the entire country? Men or women? And can we come up with a profile for these individuals? Thanks Gaspari, take a number. Tracey (clone?) has already approached me about 5 min ago. ;-)
Gender Studies - 15 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
In fairness, this has nothing to do with ladies nor men. This was a predatory scam that allowed greedy companies and wall street to get away with murder. The consumer can only hold the economy for so long until it tanks. Now we're seeing the consequences of the Clinton Administration and the utter lack of oversight as it pertains to Wall Street. In all fairness, Fex, I'd do you in a heartbeat, for real (given the pleasure).
2 :
Women are to blame. Men wouldn't have required banks to make bad loans.
3 :
Alan Greenspan heads a very long, very grey suited queue of 'blameworthies', which includes company directors like Richard Fuld who took MILLIONS in 'bonuses' while they steered centuries old firms onto the rocks. And of course, consider the average citizen who wants the Chinese and Swiss to fund his or her infrastructure and feels that every cent paid in tax is some kind of personal affront. The US owes TRILLIONS and domestic debt is a tiny fraction of that. Add together every refrigerator, car and X-Box people have purchased, every Prada purse and kitchen bench top, add the houses people are now losing thanks to shoddy regulation and legal fraud, and it is a drop in the bucket of government spending on war, dams, roads, schools and all the other niceties people in other countries pay for themselves ~ through taxes. Consumers owe billions? It's nothing. Literally nothing compared to the trillions of debt the US has racked up all over the place trying to pay for the wants of people who don't want to pay their own way. Talk about irresponsible. And who's sitting on top of this pile, crowing about it? Yep, Bush and his hench-idiots. From all the little folks who've behaved responsibly for years, out here in the REAL world where governments have SURPLUSES, thanks a trillion (or two). But hey, enjoy those tax breaks come November! Cheers :-)
4 :
Both. Men like their cars and women like their Prada Purses:) EDIT @ Tracey Troll: You know what? Ronnie never said anything about a specific race, yet you called him a racist. It's funny how you automatically assume he was talking about another race, which makes me think that YOU need to take the stick out of your butt, please.
5 :
I'd like to start by saying I agree with R. Gaspari (except for his last sentence, thank you). As far as to the people who are doing the spending, that actually helps the economy - not hurts it. That is, if they only spend what they have the money for; not tacking everything on their card. I do spend more frivolously than my husband does (ie. candles, gifts for people for no particular reason). I have already cut back on doing that. Funny you should mention construction, specifically counter tops. We are in the middle of a kitchen rehab. My husband wants our top to be granite - I said that it was way too much and would be happy with laminate. We're still haggling. ;) I don't see the small purchases in life to be the blame for the economy. It's more the fault of people who purchased a house with 0 money down and interest deferred for a period of time. I know someone personally who did that and have lost the house in less than two years after signing. Very foolish. And banks never, ever should have allowed that to happen.
6 :
Three things are to blame: 1. Greed 2. Stupidity 3. Lack of education From both men AND women. Can't blame a gender on this one.
7 :
Unregulated markets, trading and lending pure and simple. When these are allowed every person's greedy whim is indulged. This time it's hard to blame it on simple market fluctuations. There's no point blaming it on poor people for trying to lend and spend out of their range, the markets have been offering this for 15+ years as a way of making 'markets enrich everyone'. Now it has proven itself as a failure. House ownership is too idolized and sought after, yet impossible for some. If the citizens of the world are happy to sit back and pay for this mess to be temporarily fixed then more fool them. It will take 5+ years for the economies to pick up and then governments will sell back the companies they bought to private investors at a loss. As they generally do. I've seen it before. And then we are back to the same old business. Give it half a decade and another crisis will ensue. The economic system is rotten and trying to rescue rotten things is a failure.
8 :
your president is to blame for financial problems.
9 :
It isn't retail spending that caused the financial crisis. It's overspending on mortgages people couldn't afford.
10 :
Once again I agree with Gaspare..I have to watch, this could become some weird habit... Both sexes are to blame for the current economic state. Both sexes are equally guilty of living beyoned their means (watch some of the senate hearings - all the CEO's that are running away with millions are men lol). Both sexes were stupid enough to buy homes that they couldn't possibly afford. Get a grip, start watching CNN or Fox for explanations rather than trolling on Yahoo Answers.
11 :
As a Christian Man, I would say we have replaced God in exchange for Idols (Houses, Cars, Cloths). We have increased our possessions, while reducing our value. Most people don't know that the most talked about subject in the New Testament is Money. It is actually a sin to go in to debt for foolish reasons and immediate gratification. The underlying reason in my humble opinion is we have turned away from God.
12 :
Predatory lenders of sub-rate mortgages are largely to blame for the state of the US economy. Things always get a little weird right before an election. And, TD me if you want to, but the war in Iraq is not helping. Things have not been the same since 9/11.
13 :
Well I would have to say corporate greed is what caused the problem we are facing.
14 :
You are to blame. It's all your fault.
15 :
Conversely, in England, men are getting the blame by some of the article authors for the MSM.
