Follow the flowcharts
March 14, 2009 4:06 PM   Subscribe

 
Good post. Does what it says on the box. But I'm less concerned these days with how it happened and more concerned about how we get out of it.

For laypeople like me, it seems like the world is falling apart all around us and while focusing on how it happened is no doubt important, it seems that finding the path out of the darkness, right now, is the most pressing thing to turn our minds too.
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:34 PM on March 14, 2009


Effigy2000: We just have to trust in Obama. Because obviously he's decided to just let Tim Geithner and Larry Summers do whatever the fuck they want and doesn't really care what anyone else thinks.

Sure you know, everyone understands we need to nationalize the banks, but "That's not our Culture", apparently. And you know, cultural sensitivity worked so well for the Japanese.
posted by delmoi at 4:39 PM on March 14, 2009


According to the Klimiuk diagram, there was this guy who had unexplained, suggestive bulges in his pants. Something came flying out of one of these bulges, leading to awkward questions.

I'm sure there's an apt metaphor for our financial crisis in there somewhere.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 5:57 PM on March 14, 2009


Here's a good post on The Baseline Scenario that goes over what seems to be going on.
posted by delmoi at 6:06 PM on March 14, 2009


merci! nothing like a bit of edutainment on a Saturday night.

*sigh*
posted by LMGM at 6:21 PM on March 14, 2009


While I agree with Effigy2000 about the "falling apart", I do think that we need to take some action as individuals. Yes, there were decision makers that probably helped this crisis along, but we as a whole need to take some responsibility in making things better. While I am not a complete believer in the "bootstraps" line of thought, I do think that people need to be more accountable for their actions. Those who knowingly applied for, and were knowingly granted, mortgages way beyond their means need to take a look at their role in this. That is not to say that these people are single-handedly responsible. What I am trying to convey is the concept of personal responsibility and accountability. And I am using these folks simply as an example. There are many more, from the banks to the people that extended their credit cards, to the people that live(d) beyond their means. We are all responsible for this.

We cannot sit back and hope that our government saves us. Bottom line, people are responsible for themselves and we need to do everything we can to make sure that we take care of ourselves, by living responsibly and understanding our limits.

There are no magic words, spells or government, that is/are going to help us pull ourselves out of this. We need to stop depending on others to help us and just fucking help ourselves.


JMO
posted by mnb64 at 6:52 PM on March 14, 2009


The one called "Crisis of Credit" is great - it's a nice ten minute animated summary of the origins of the credit crisis. Thanks for the post, desjardins.
posted by storybored at 6:59 PM on March 14, 2009


This is my favorite chart (not in the FPP). They keep it updated daily.
posted by stbalbach at 7:06 PM on March 14, 2009 [2 favorites]


Until we put an end to recent Wall Street practices, the problem is not solved and the market will fall back to where it should be — which is a point somewhat above where it was when the curve went exponential.

There has been a fundamental shift in the way work is done. Manufacturing of mechanical things is no longer the foundation of the economy. The new wealth-creation tools do not work quite like the old ones; the way we evaluate value needs to change.

But regardless how we change them, they are not going to support exponential growth. I think that is the mistake we have made and the mistake we are going to have to correct before we can get back into a sustainable Wall Street.

Sustainable growth is linear.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:10 PM on March 14, 2009


This is a great post because it is a metaphor for the problems in America that have led up to this point. People want to understand the most complicated financial situation since the invention of money, but they want it explained to them in what amounts to comic book form.

Pick. Up. A. Book.
posted by Pastabagel at 7:24 PM on March 14, 2009 [2 favorites]


But I'm less concerned these days with how it happened and more concerned about how we get out of it.

I had a similar thought. This is infographics explaining last fall and the years leading up to it.

What we need now are infographics explaining why stimulus spending is not an immoral "generational theft" (or at least giving a sound counterargument).
posted by dhartung at 9:54 PM on March 14, 2009


Pastabagel: "Pick. Up. A. Book."

Who can afford one of those in this market?

Besides, comic books thrived during The Great Depression. They were cheap alternatives to expensive, 'proper' books. So comics may well do big business again if the situation gets as bad as it did back then.

These charts may just be ahead of their time, or a sign of the times. Either way, I think they're good and pretty useful.
posted by Effigy2000 at 2:21 AM on March 15, 2009


Pastabagel, do you have a suggestion for a good book on this topic?
posted by P.o.B. at 7:32 PM on March 15, 2009


I'm less concerned these days with how it happened and more concerned about how we get out of it.

Effigy2k, I'm happy to say I've found a visual representation that addresses this concern right here
posted by never used baby shoes at 11:32 AM on March 16, 2009


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