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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: disco_stu on September 17, 2010, 04:57:49 PM

Title: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: disco_stu on September 17, 2010, 04:57:49 PM
..is a country wide cultural change...which isnt going to happen quickly- or maybe at all.

citizens need to alter their thinking from a "what makes MY life better" to a "what will make a better society"..mentality.

that means some things will make an individual's life worse, some indirectly worse, some indirectly and directly better.

at the moment all i hear from americans is about how this and that is best for them and if its worse for someone else well then its their problem not mine.

this disaster has been a long time coming. outsiders could see it..greedy american citizens ignored it as long as they were benefiting.

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: dov on September 17, 2010, 05:03:06 PM
Well stated. Agreed
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: disco_stu on September 17, 2010, 05:08:15 PM
to make it clear- im not saying that only americans are greedy.

what i am saying is that a society that allows greed, breeds greed. freedom is a fine principle but freedom at someone else's expense is ridiculous.

other countries may not be as free as the US, and dont have some of the high flying opportunities, but they have a greater level of equality and hence less desperation and greed.

a place that allows some people to have way too much, and others way too little, is not a workable solution. its a slow motion train wreck.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: JOHN MATRIX on September 17, 2010, 05:14:56 PM
other countries may not be as free as the US, and dont have some of the high flying opportunities, but they have a greater level of equality and hence less desperation and greed.

a place that allows some people to have way too much, and others way too little, is not a workable solution. its a slow motion train wreck.

its the nature of our system. do whatever you can to exploit others in order to gain as much for yourself as you can.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Cy Tolliver on September 17, 2010, 07:10:54 PM
to make it clear- im not saying that only americans are greedy.

what i am saying is that a society that allows greed, breeds greed. freedom is a fine principle but freedom at someone else's expense is ridiculous.

other countries may not be as free as the US, and dont have some of the high flying opportunities, but they have a greater level of equality and hence less desperation and greed.

a place that allows some people to have way too much, and others way too little, is not a workable solution. its a slow motion train wreck.

thats weird i mostly agree but the problem is too much meddling by th government and too much about equality and lets help this group and that group while letting the middle class of america who supports everyone else get the shaft
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 17, 2010, 07:13:58 PM
a place that allows some people to have way too much, and others way too little, is not a workable solution. its a slow motion train wreck.

It's called the American Dream.

I'm not going to say anything else because I think you are 100% right (IMO).
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 2ND COMING on September 17, 2010, 07:40:18 PM
..is a country wide cultural change...which isnt going to happen quickly- or maybe at all.

citizens need to alter their thinking from a "what makes MY life better" to a "what will make a better society"..mentality.

that means some things will make an individual's life worse, some indirectly worse, some indirectly and directly better.

at the moment all i hear from americans is about how this and that is best for them and if its worse for someone else well then its their problem not mine.

this disaster has been a long time coming. outsiders could see it..greedy american citizens ignored it as long as they were benefiting.



for the love of god - SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 17, 2010, 07:44:50 PM
its the nature of our system. do whatever you can to exploit others in order to gain as much for yourself as you can.

This graph pretty much sumarizes what you say:

(http://www.leftcommunism.org/IMG/jpg/Graph_2.jpg)

Somebody's getting paid that increase in productivity and stagnant wages (which are going to someone else)... it sure ain't middle America.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Kazan on September 17, 2010, 07:55:14 PM
for the love of god - SHUT THE FUCK UP!

X2 its always someone has to little, well what are they doing about it? My guess is nothing, so why am I supposed to care? I worked my ass off, going to school and working full time, so that I could provide a better life for me and my family. The only thing that will save the USA is for those that suckle at the government teat, to get off their ass and take responsibility for their station in life.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 17, 2010, 08:22:37 PM
This graph pretty much sumarizes what you say:

(http://www.leftcommunism.org/IMG/jpg/Graph_2.jpg)

Somebody's getting paid that increase in productivity and stagnant wages (which are going to someone else)... it sure ain't middle America.
LMAO well seeing as the majority of america has at will work laws then if you dont like it take your happy ass somewhere else and find a job.

Dont sit and bitch about not making enough money for doing a menial job(not that there is anything wrong with that) if you want to make money you need to take steps to assure that you are in the place to make money.

who says ppl have to give you more money just b/c the company makes more money? If you play an integral part in that profit than you should share in it but the factory line/field worker doesnt possess special skills that cant be replaced or have knowledge that allows for the company to turn out profit in 100 different ways.

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: JOHN MATRIX on September 17, 2010, 10:02:13 PM
This graph pretty much sumarizes what you say:

(http://www.leftcommunism.org/IMG/jpg/Graph_2.jpg)

Somebody's getting paid that increase in productivity and stagnant wages (which are going to someone else)... it sure ain't middle America.

yep...its a system where 1% of the population *earns* more money than the other 99% combined.

the brutal irony is that typically speaking, those who do the necessary, important, real hard work typically *earn* the least amount of money, whilst those who *earn* the most money tend to do the least actual work.

gotta love it.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Arnold jr on September 17, 2010, 10:56:55 PM
yep...its a system where 1% of the population *earns* more money than the other 99% combined.

the brutal irony is that typically speaking, those who do the necessary, important, real hard work typically *earn* the least amount of money, whilst those who *earn* the most money tend to do the least actual work.

gotta love it.


Those who earn the most typically have earned the right to earn the most.

Look at it this way, you invent a widget, you take out a personal loan in order to produce your widget, you take a risk that is yours and yours alone, you open a factory to produce and sell your widgets. You have guys on the factory line who put the widgets you created together in mass amounts, they pack your widgets and ship your widgets out. Without your idea there is no widget, without your idea there is no job for these factory workers at your widget factory, without your idea and willingness to take a risk there is no widget, no factory, no jobs.

In that story about your widget factory, who does the largest lump of money belong to? You, the creator and inventor of the widget, the one who invested in the widget company at his risk, the head of the widget company, the person who gave jobs to all the widget employees who would be unemployed if it weren't for you, or does that money belong to the guy who loads widget boxes on to the back of a truck all day who has taken no risk nor come up with an idea that is his own...who does the money belong to?

Can you honestly say it doesn't belong to you, the widget owner and risk taker? If you can say that, please give me some good reasons.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Dos Equis on September 17, 2010, 11:39:10 PM
Disco your brush is a bit too broad.  There are lots of people and organizations that think about the "greater good."  There are plenty of people who donate to charity, work on saving the environment, do volunteer work, work public interest jobs, etc. 
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 18, 2010, 02:23:11 AM
its the nature of our system. do whatever you can to exploit others in order to gain as much for yourself as you can.

Now that's just sad.  :'(
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 18, 2010, 02:24:45 AM

It's called the American Dream.


The only reason it's called "The American Dream" is because you gotta be asleep to believe it! ~~George Carlin  ;D
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Soul Crusher on September 18, 2010, 04:44:33 AM
..is a country wide cultural change...which isnt going to happen quickly- or maybe at all.

citizens need to alter their thinking from a "what makes MY life better" to a "what will make a better society"..mentality.

that means some things will make an individual's life worse, some indirectly worse, some indirectly and directly better.

at the moment all i hear from americans is about how this and that is best for them and if its worse for someone else well then its their problem not mine.

this disaster has been a long time coming. outsiders could see it..greedy american citizens ignored it as long as they were benefiting.




So who is the genius you want to decide for others how assets and resources are allocated?
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: George Whorewell on September 18, 2010, 05:48:53 AM
The "greater good" is for suckers and poor people.

Disco Stu got hooked on the white stuff in the seventies.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Soul Crusher on September 18, 2010, 05:58:24 AM
The "greater good" is for suckers and poor people.

Disco Stu got hooked on the white stuff in the seventies.

Yeah, if we only modeled ourselves after cuba, on wait, they have health care, oh wait . . .
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Lundgren on September 18, 2010, 07:57:06 PM
America needs to make tough choices and it needs its people to agree with the choices that are made. No rhetoric or ideals, a straight up action plan.This crisis is like a cancer, you either gotta  cut the leg off or do chemo. Instead their going to a witch doctor because it's far less painful and completely ineffective.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 18, 2010, 08:02:46 PM
America needs to make tough choices and it needs its people to agree with the choices that are made. No rhetoric or ideals, a straight up action plan.This crisis is like a cancer, you either gotta  cut the leg off or do chemo. Instead their going to a witch doctor because it's far less painful and completely ineffective.
lol break it down for us lundgren...tell us about this crisis...the causes, the reasons its puddered along like it has and how we get out of it?
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Lundgren on September 18, 2010, 08:05:42 PM
lol break it down for us lundgren...tell us about this crisis...the causes, the reasons its puddered along like it has and how we get out of it?
Lol I hade import labour suggestion, it has a good premise, but we all know something has to be done, and the usually bearaucy can't get in the way.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 18, 2010, 08:12:43 PM
Lol I hade import labour suggestion, it has a good premise, but we all know something has to be done, and the usually bearaucy can't get in the way.
again will never happen, I would say that imposing some restrictions on business within the US but that wouldnt work either b/c you would be crippling them against other companies without those restrictions...

but please do tell us about the crisis and how it started, why its gone on so long and what we can do...

the problem is most ppl have no idea what caused this and possible ways to get out they just hear stuff on tv and parrot it...politics isnt reality
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Lundgren on September 18, 2010, 08:23:09 PM
again will never happen, I would say that imposing some restrictions on business within the US but that wouldnt work either b/c you would be crippling them against other companies without those restrictions...

but please do tell us about the crisis and how it started, why its gone on so long and what we can do...

the problem is most ppl have no idea what caused this and possible ways to get out they just hear stuff on tv and parrot it...politics isnt reality
Over inflated housing markets. Oil prices, America's poor balance of trade, Labour unions getting too much power. China Doubling it's gdp every 10 years, Free trade agreements with mexico. The trans atlantic interreliance. Dereg in banking. Government waste. American's taking on insane amounts of debt, and loads of corruption in banking, The insane amount of debt of the usa. Finally overexpansion of the American dollar.  I'm sure their are 100 other things.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 18, 2010, 08:26:20 PM
Over inflated housing markets. Oil prices, America's poor balance of trade, Labour unions getting too much power. China Doubling it's gdp every 10 years, Free trade agreements with mexico. The trans atlantic interreliance. Dereg in banking. Government waste. American's taking on insane amounts of debt, and loads of corruption in banking, The insane amount of debt of the usa. Finally overexpansion of the American dollar.  I'm sure their are 100 other things.
the specifics, specifics...all of those are talking points not specifics...specifically what caused this crisis?
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Lundgren on September 18, 2010, 08:29:24 PM
the specifics, specifics...all of those are talking points not specifics...specifically what caused this crisis?
Sally rendfield on june 23 2006 decided to buy a home that was out of their buggest by 26 points ::)
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 18, 2010, 08:38:50 PM
Sally rendfield on june 23 2006 decided to buy a home that was out of their buggest by 26 points ::)
hahahahah...i like your style but that alone caused it?

thats a start now look up CDO's also look up the rating of those CDO's and then follow the cheese
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 18, 2010, 08:49:03 PM
hahahahah...i like your style but that alone caused it?

thats a start now look up CDO's also look up the rating of those CDO's and then follow the cheese

CDO's didn't start it... CDO's were merely a catalyst; a sympton of the larger problem.
They started digging the grave in 1913. The final nail was hammered into the coffin in 1971.
The patient has been living on borrowed time ever since {pun intended  :P} It's now time to call in the priest.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 18, 2010, 08:52:23 PM
CDO's didn't start it... CDO's were merely a catalyst; a sympton of the larger problem.
They started digging the grave in 1913. The final nail was hammered into the coffin in 1971.
The patient has been living on borrowed time ever since {pun intended  :P} It's now time to call in the priest.
lol i didnt say CDO's started it the problem started much earlier go back and reread my posts

CDO's are what brought the problem to fruition, also look at the ratings of those CDO's and the problems with that whole scenario
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Lundgren on September 18, 2010, 08:55:11 PM
hahahahah...i like your style but that alone caused it?

thats a start now look up CDO's also look up the rating of those CDO's and then follow the cheese
Their  is no direct cause it's a number of things all going wrong at once. The usa has had on going issues for decades now. Shit happened in the past no where near to this scale. The only people that can be blamed are clinton and bush or their supporters. If the USA wasn't so in debt it could atleast buy it's way out of it, but that's not even an option now.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 18, 2010, 08:58:17 PM
Their  is no direct cause it's a number of things all going wrong at once. The usa has had on going issues for decades now. Shit happened in the past no where near to this scale. The only people that can be blamed are clinton and bush or their supporters. If the USA wasn't so in debt it could atleast buy it's way out of it, but that's not even an option now.
how would we be able to buy our way out?

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Lundgren on September 18, 2010, 09:00:47 PM
how would we be able to buy our way out?


Massive tax cuts for industry to rebuild some sort of manufacturing base.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 18, 2010, 09:05:40 PM
Massive tax cuts for industry to rebuild some sort of manufacturing base.
we can give tax cuts right now, you dont need money in the bank to give tax cuts...

hahaha manufacturing of what? and what industry?

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Lundgren on September 18, 2010, 09:07:36 PM
we can give tax cuts right now, you dont need money in the bank to give tax cuts...

hahaha manufacturing of what? and what industry?


No idea what, part of the problem. You can't rely on grain exports, you won't even cover oil imports.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 20, 2010, 10:26:56 AM
LMAO well seeing as the majority of america has at will work laws then if you dont like it take your happy ass somewhere else and find a job.

Find a job... where?

Quote
Dont sit and bitch about not making enough money for doing a menial job(not that there is anything wrong with that) if you want to make money you need to take steps to assure that you are in the place to make money.

Right, it's called working. If you work hard you should be paid hard, regardless of job. If you do nothing but sign documents then you should not get paid 500 times what the next level down makes. It's Economics 101. Once you deviate from this simple fact you end up with an overhyerarchical authoritarian institution which distributes income in authoritarian ways.

Quote
who says ppl have to give you more money just b/c the company makes more money?

Hahahahahahahaha! No shit Shirlock! Might as well have them work for free! How about that "patriot"?


How about we invite them to leave just because they don't have the right "skillset"? How about we give the jobs to the Chinese and Indians? Real patriotic shit right there!


Quote
If you play an integral part in that profit than you should share in it but the factory line/field worker doesnt possess special skills that cant be replaced or have knowledge that allows for the company to turn out profit in 100 different ways

No one is talking profits here. We're talking about the American worker making less and less money every year since the early 70s. While they were making less money, they were producing more, a lot more. Isn't it fair to ask to be compensated accordingly to what is produced?

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Soul Crusher on September 20, 2010, 10:28:47 AM
Find a job... where?

Right, it's called working. If you work hard you should be paid hard, regardless of job. If you do nothing but sign documents then you should not get paid 500 times what the next level down makes. It's Economics 101. Once you deviate from this simple fact you end up with an overhyerarchical authoritarian institution which distributes income in authoritarian ways.

Hahahahahahahaha! No shit Shirlock! Might as well have them work for free! How about that "patriot"?
 How about we invite them to leave just because they don't have the right "skillset"? How about we give the jobs to the Chinese and Indians? Real patriotic shit right there!


No one is talking profits here. We're talking about the American worker making less and less money every year since the early 70s. While they were making less money, they were producing more, a lot more. Wouldn't it be fair to ask to be compensated accordingly to what is produced?

Get a freaking clue slapper. 

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 20, 2010, 10:30:58 AM
Get a freaking clue slapper.

Hey, you know I live in one of the most expensive areas in one of the most expensive counties in the country.

I suspect I have a "clue".

 8) 8)

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Soul Crusher on September 20, 2010, 10:33:39 AM
Hey, you know I live in one of the most expensive areas in one of the most expensive counties in the country.

I suspect I have a "clue".

 8) 8)



After you read that book, a lot will make perfect sense to you.   read it if you dare, and I promise afterwards, you will never look at the issues the same again. 

Its about how the Fed Reserve devalues the dollar to where the dollars we make are worth less and less and less.   
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 20, 2010, 01:07:15 PM
Those who earn the most typically have earned the right to earn the most.

Says the fucking who? Since when is "earning more" a right?

Quote
Look at it this way, you invent a widget, you take out a personal loan in order to produce your widget, you take a risk that is yours and yours alone, you open a factory to produce and sell your widgets. You have guys on the factory line who put the widgets you created together in mass amounts, they pack your widgets and ship your widgets out. Without your idea there is no widget, without your idea there is no job for these factory workers at your widget factory, without your idea and willingness to take a risk there is no widget, no factory, no jobs.

And without the workers you only have an idea, a factory and widgets. What's your fucking point? No one here is talking about the owner of the business taking the largest slice of the pie. What we're talking about is the people the owner hired to manage the company, from the CEO to the supervisor levels, are getting 99% of the pie, while the people who ACTUALLY assemble the widgets, hence are key to profit-making, make less REAL money every year. This is, obviously, an unsustainable situation. One that is going to drive America into some sort of modern day feudalism. 
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Dos Equis on September 20, 2010, 01:11:06 PM
Says the fucking who? Since when is "earning more" a right?


It's that whole life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness thing. 
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Arnold jr on September 20, 2010, 01:43:47 PM
It's that whole life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness thing. 

Guys like Slapper buy into a different slogan, the one that chants "Workers of the World Unite."
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Dos Equis on September 20, 2010, 02:12:46 PM
Guys like Slapper buy into a different slogan, the one that chants "Workers of the World Unite."

Slapper has a very pessimistic view of the American way of life. 
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: George Whorewell on September 20, 2010, 02:34:39 PM
Slapper feels that gender equality is exemplified by his enthusiasm for gay prostitutes.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 20, 2010, 04:44:25 PM
 ;D ;D ;D

That all ya got?
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 07:36:37 PM
Their  is no direct cause it's a number of things all going wrong at once. The usa has had on going issues for decades now. Shit happened in the past no where near to this scale. The only people that can be blamed are clinton and bush or their supporters. If the USA wasn't so in debt it could atleast buy it's way out of it, but that's not even an option now.

I think Presidents Wilson & Nixon should share a wee bit of credit at least. the seeds for this go that far back.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 07:40:35 PM

No one is talking profits here. We're talking about the American worker making less and less money every year since the early 70s. While they were making less money, they were producing more, a lot more. Isn't it fair to ask to be compensated accordingly to what is produced?


Since when have slaves been entitled to compensation for what they have produced?   ???

There is a reason why the American culture stresses hard work more so than European cultures.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: benchmstr on September 21, 2010, 07:42:05 PM
..is a country wide cultural change...which isnt going to happen quickly- or maybe at all.

citizens need to alter their thinking from a "what makes MY life better" to a "what will make a better society"..mentality.

that means some things will make an individual's life worse, some indirectly worse, some indirectly and directly better.

at the moment all i hear from americans is about how this and that is best for them and if its worse for someone else well then its their problem not mine.

this disaster has been a long time coming. outsiders could see it..greedy american citizens ignored it as long as they were benefiting.


hahaha that will never happen...i dont give a shit about anyone besides myself,family, and my dog...and i never will....

bench
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 07:49:41 PM
hahaha that will never happen...i dont give a shit about anyone besides myself,family, and my dog...and i never will....

bench

It could happen, ...but the change will not be a swift one, ...not in the USA.
the USA has much farther to go, and much more pain to experience before it can get to that point.

It could happen, ...but I doubt it would occur overnight.  :-\

BTW - If as you say you don't give a poop about anyone besides yourself, your family and your dog,
...why did you choose to go into law enforcement? Do you have a small pee pee and a need to compensate by carrying a gun?  ;) j/k Seriously. What prompted you to go into law enforcement to begin with? Was it a sense of power?
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Arnold jr on September 21, 2010, 08:11:58 PM
It could happen, ...but the change will not be a swift one, ...not in the USA.
the USA has much farther to go, and much more pain to experience before it can get to that point.

It could happen, ...but I doubt it would occur overnight.  :-\

BTW - If as you say you don't give a poop about anyone besides yourself, your family and your dog,
...why did you choose to go into law enforcement? Do you have a small pee pee and a need to compensate by carrying a gun?  ;) j/k Seriously. What prompted you to go into law enforcement to begin with? Was it a sense of power?

Funny how you speak as if the U.S. is a little child that needs maturing while the rest of the world is an example of fine distinguished elite minds.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 08:15:11 PM
Funny how you speak as if the U.S. is a little child that needs maturing while the rest of the world is an example of fine distinguished elite minds.

The USA is a little child who has been running with scissors for years.

As a country you are what ... just over 200 years old. That's a baby relative to other cultures.

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: benchmstr on September 21, 2010, 08:15:40 PM
It could happen, ...but the change will not be a swift one, ...not in the USA.
the USA has much farther to go, and much more pain to experience before it can get to that point.

It could happen, ...but I doubt it would occur overnight.  :-\

BTW - If as you say you don't give a poop about anyone besides yourself, your family and your dog,
...why did you choose to go into law enforcement? Do you have a small pee pee and a need to compensate by carrying a gun?  ;) j/k Seriously. What prompted you to go into law enforcement to begin with? Was it a sense of power?
was NOT for a sense of power....i already have that, dont need a job for it...after college i went to iraq/astan...when i got back i had a lot of options..the top ones being

1)do nothing..because i dont have to..but i am not lazy so that choice was killed early on
2)go into the mechanical engineering field...since thats what i went to college for
3)or do what i was good at....being in stressfull situations...i just have a knack for it....you wont find a lot of people that are better at my type of job than me...i really dont have the passion for it anymore...but its addicting, and i kickass at it..

my options if i stop LE

1)i have been a certified sniper instructor for some time now....i have deeply considered doing that...
2)go back and play in astan, and any other country needing soldiers for hire..
3)nothing...wont happen though
bench
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Arnold jr on September 21, 2010, 08:29:20 PM
The USA is a little child who has been running with scissors for years.

As a country you are what ... just over 200 years old. That's a baby relative to other cultures.



And then there's Canada that you speak so highly of and it's 100yrs younger than America. Point being, I really don't think the age of a country really has anything to do with what I said in my last reply.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 08:46:24 PM
was NOT for a sense of power....i already have that, dont need a job for it...after college i went to iraq/astan...when i got back i had a lot of options..the top ones being

1)do nothing..because i dont have to..but i am not lazy so that choice was killed early on
2)go into the mechanical engineering field...since thats what i went to college for
3)or do what i was good at....being in stressfull situations...i just have a knack for it....you wont find a lot of people that are better at my type of job than me...i really dont have the passion for it anymore...but its addicting, and i kickass at it..

my options if i stop LE

1)i have been a certified sniper instructor for some time now....i have deeply considered doing that...
2)go back and play in astan, and any other country needing soldiers for hire..
3)nothing...wont happen though
bench

Thanks for the reply.  :)

btw Bench, ...did I ever mention that you skeer me?  :D

Anybody that would go charging head first into a building in iraq knowing there are gun men on the other side, and that he'll probably get shot, is skeery.  :-\
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 08:54:10 PM
And then there's Canada that you speak so highly of and it's 100yrs younger than America. Point being, I really don't think the age of a country really has anything to do with what I said in my last reply.

True... Perhaps my use of the USA's chronological age as a means of bolstering my argument was a poor example. Chronological age really means very little, ...it's maturity that counts, and the USA has demonstrated time & time again that it has the maturity of a selfish, immature child running with scissors; one ready to throw a temper tantrum should the application of wisdom thwart it's selfish & myopic desires for immediate satisfaction.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 21, 2010, 09:14:10 PM
True... Perhaps my use of the USA's chronological age as a means of bolstering my argument was a poor example. Chronological age really means very little, ...it's maturity that counts, and the USA has demonstrated time & time again that it has the maturity of a selfish, immature child running with scissors; one ready to throw a temper tantrum should the application of wisdom thwart it's selfish & myopic desires for immediate satisfaction.
LOL says the little fish in the big pond...sorry hun it pays to swing a big stick and we have one if canada had one they would do the same...
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: benchmstr on September 21, 2010, 09:19:59 PM
Thanks for the reply.  :)

btw Bench, ...did I ever mention that you skeer me?  :D

Anybody that would go charging head first into a building in iraq knowing there are gun men on the other side, and that he'll probably get shot, is skeery.  :-\

you gotta die somehow...might as well have a cool story for people to hear at the funeral.....and that isnt isnt even close to some of the funniest stuff i have done...not even top 15...

bench
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Arnold jr on September 21, 2010, 09:52:49 PM
True... Perhaps my use of the USA's chronological age as a means of bolstering my argument was a poor example. Chronological age really means very little, ...it's maturity that counts, and the USA has demonstrated time & time again that it has the maturity of a selfish, immature child running with scissors; one ready to throw a temper tantrum should the application of wisdom thwart it's selfish & myopic desires for immediate satisfaction.

Yet which country gives more than any other on the planet? Who's citizens give more to humanitarian aid than all the citizens of the world combined? Which country is always at the forefront of trying to help other nations when disaster strikes?

I'll give you a clue:

It's not Spain
It's not France
It's not England
It's not Canada
It's not Russia
It's not Iran
It's not Australia
It's not Italy
It's not Japan
It's not Germany
It's not Egypt
It's not China
It's not Greece
It's not Korea
It's not Brazil
It's not Cuba
It's not Poland
It's not Denmark
It's not Slovakia
It's not Venezuela
It's not Mexico
It's not India
It's not South Africa
It's not Austria
It's not Ghana
It's not Moldova
It's not Saudi Arabia


Need more clues?
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: benchmstr on September 21, 2010, 09:58:41 PM
Yet which country gives more than any other on the planet? Who's citizens give more to humanitarian aid than all the citizens of the world combined? Which country is always at the forefront of trying to help other nations when disaster strikes?

I'll give you a clue:

It's not Spain
It's not France
It's not England
It's not Canada
It's not Russia
It's not Iran
It's not Australia
It's not Italy
It's not Japan
It's not Germany
It's not Egypt
It's not China
It's not Greece
It's not Korea
It's not Brazil
It's not Cuba
It's not Poland
It's not Denmark
It's not Slovakia
It's not Venezuela
It's not Mexico
It's not India
It's not South Africa
It's not Austria
It's not Ghana
It's not Moldova
It's not Saudi Arabia


Need more clues?

and we need to stop all that shit....fuck everyone else....we need to build a snow cone machine on every corner(that my dream) and that shit isnt going to happen if we keep giving money to countries that are too stupid for early warning...

bench
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Arnold jr on September 21, 2010, 10:17:50 PM
and we need to stop all that shit....fuck everyone else....we need to build a snow cone machine on every corner(that my dream) and that shit isnt going to happen if we keep giving money to countries that are too stupid for early warning...

bench

I was referring to what our citizens do, not our government. I agree, our government has no business giving all the money away it does, I agree with you 100%.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: AbrahamG on September 21, 2010, 10:19:10 PM
Those who earn the most typically have earned the right to earn the most.

Look at it this way, you invent a widget, you take out a personal loan in order to produce your widget, you take a risk that is yours and yours alone, you open a factory to produce and sell your widgets. You have guys on the factory line who put the widgets you created together in mass amounts, they pack your widgets and ship your widgets out. Without your idea there is no widget, without your idea there is no job for these factory workers at your widget factory, without your idea and willingness to take a risk there is no widget, no factory, no jobs.

In that story about your widget factory, who does the largest lump of money belong to? You, the creator and inventor of the widget, the one who invested in the widget company at his risk, the head of the widget company, the person who gave jobs to all the widget employees who would be unemployed if it weren't for you, or does that money belong to the guy who loads widget boxes on to the back of a truck all day who has taken no risk nor come up with an idea that is his own...who does the money belong to?

Can you honestly say it doesn't belong to you, the widget owner and risk taker? If you can say that, please give me some good reasons.
Bullshit.  Most of that 1% are trust fund babies or criminals.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 21, 2010, 10:24:16 PM
Bullshit.  Most of that 1% are trust fund babies or criminals.
way of the world...why should you prosper b/c of what their parents did then?

fact of the matter is slapper thinks that the CFO, CEO, managers etc...should make the same or about the same as ppl in the factory...the problem is the CFO, CEO could go do their jobs they could the factory jobs if they had to...the factory workers could not go do the CFO, CEO, executives jobs...thats why they get paid more b/c they have more responsibility and require more education and know how of certain issues than other positions...

if the factory worker wants more money they need to make moves to insure that not try and get more money for a job that someone off the street can do.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Arnold jr on September 21, 2010, 11:05:37 PM
Bullshit.  Most of that 1% are trust fund babies or criminals.

First off, everything tony said above is right on the money. Secondly, do you have any idea how many self-made millionaires make up the wealthy population? A lot more of those than your so called trust-fund babies.

Also, you do realize that this carries over to the smaller business owner as well, he may not be making millions but it's HIS business. it exist because of HIM.

People that say things like you just said, if you really feel that way and believe that's what's right, start sharing your paycheck with others, open the doors of your home to homeless people and let as many of them crash there as you can fit in. It may be your house but by the reasoning you're using there is no reason you shouldn't allow 100 squatters into your home.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 11:49:14 PM
I was referring to what our citizens do, not our government. I agree, our government has no business giving all the money away it does, I agree with you 100%.

Arnold, just so you know... my references were to your government, NOT your citizens.
They have no power or control over their government's actions.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: 24KT on September 21, 2010, 11:52:23 PM
LOL says the little fish in the big pond...sorry hun it pays to swing a big stick and we have one if canada had one they would do the same...

We're talking international relationships & co-existence on this planet, ...not ladies night at the male strip club.  :P
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 22, 2010, 07:19:13 AM
After you read that book, a lot will make perfect sense to you.   read it if you dare, and I promise afterwards, you will never look at the issues the same again.  

Its about how the Fed Reserve devalues the dollar to where the dollars we make are worth less and less and less.  

The the value of the dollar is down the drain is something most people know already. All you have to do is remember what you used to be able to buy with $ 100.00 when you were young vs. what you're able to buy with $ 100.00 today.

The biggest problem for the dollar, and it's a huge one, is that it's going to lose reserve currency status soon. When that happens either our government keeps their shit together or the dollar is going to sink further. The ideal is to soften the fall and eventually end up with something like the British Pound, which kept most of its value.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: AbrahamG on September 22, 2010, 06:09:57 PM
First off, everything tony said above is right on the money. Secondly, do you have any idea how many self-made millionaires make up the wealthy population? A lot more of those than your so called trust-fund babies.

Also, you do realize that this carries over to the smaller business owner as well, he may not be making millions but it's HIS business. it exist because of HIM.

People that say things like you just said, if you really feel that way and believe that's what's right, start sharing your paycheck with others, open the doors of your home to homeless people and let as many of them crash there as you can fit in. It may be your house but by the reasoning you're using there is no reason you shouldn't allow 100 squatters into your home.

Once again, bullshit.  If I am taxed at 40% for working a double time sunday, than these wall street criminals who you defend should pay the same rate on dividends, stock options and other scams of the like.  Ask Warren Buffet who shares a bigger percentage of his paycheck?  Him or his secretary.  I think you know the answer.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 22, 2010, 07:10:24 PM
Once again, bullshit.  If I am taxed at 40% for working a double time sunday, than these wall street criminals who you defend should pay the same rate on dividends, stock options and other scams of the like.  Ask Warren Buffet who shares a bigger percentage of his paycheck?  Him or his secretary.  I think you know the answer.
LMFAO how are dividends and stock options scams?

goodness gracious the amount of financial idiocy on this board is astounding  :o
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: AbrahamG on September 22, 2010, 08:40:54 PM
LMFAO how are dividends and stock options scams?

goodness gracious the amount of financial idiocy on this board is astounding  :o

The scam is they pay a significantly lesser percentage on those earnings than say somebody who punches a clock for a living.  For example, my CEO generally takes in an extra 10-15 million per year in stocks.  He pays no more than 15% on those where if I work Sunday and get paid double time, i pay 40%.  Actually, I'm fine with paying the 40%, it should also apply to the aforementioned stocks, bonds, dividends, etc.  When you speak of financial idiocy, you must be looking in the mirror.  The odds are overwhelming that since your posting on this board that you do not make the kind of money that the people your defending make.  With that said, it's kind of sad that your cutting off your nose to spite your face in the hopes that you might someday win the lottery or it's equivalent and make it to the promised land.  The right is selling a dream to working people and your buying into it at your own peril.  Good luck.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 23, 2010, 07:10:47 AM
[...]fact of the matter is slapper thinks that the CFO, CEO, managers etc...should make the same or about the same as ppl in the factory...the problem is the CFO, CEO could go do their jobs they could the factory jobs if they had to...the factory workers could not go do the CFO, CEO, executives jobs...thats why they get paid more b/c they have more responsibility and require more education and know how of certain issues than other positions[...]

I did not say I want CEOs and all managerial staff to make the same amount of money as a line worker. What I am saying is that ANY company nowadays is excessively hierarchical, and that the pay ratios between the line worker and the managerial staff is way out of whack with the production-for-pay magic formula. When you have 1% of the staff taking in 95% of the profits (within the company mind you) that is a bomb waiting to explode.

What I argue is that unless pay ratios get back to those from the 50s to early 80s (in which it was 20-40:1) we're up shit creek without a paddle.  Furthermore, American companies have to restructure internally and become MUCH less hierarchical. At my company, there's 3 levels between myself and the ED (executive director). That's a lot of fuckers making ¼ million bucks. To make matters worse, and because of the economy, most of the layoffs taking place right now are taking place, at my company, at the production levels. I'd say 75% of these jobs are being outsourced. This new "phenomenon" has created some funny situations at my company, like some departments having only executive and associate directors as well as supervisors, and yet... no one to supervise. Not a single soul.

My CEO could never do one thousandth of the jobs within the company. All jobs are specialized so they require training. On the other hand, any line worker could walk into any boardroom and do just as good as job as the company's CEO. Why? Because all boardrooms are full of advisors that kind of reduce all decisions to one or two possible options, letting the CEO make the final decision so that they can cover their asses. Any how, I think anyone here could've done a much better job than the CEOs of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, AIG, et cetera. Those people drove the companies to the ground. And you certainly don't need to go to school for that.

Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: The Showstoppa on September 23, 2010, 07:15:38 AM
I did not say I want CEOs and all managerial staff to make the same amount of money as a line worker. What I am saying is that ANY company nowadays is excessively hierarchical, and that the pay ratios between the line worker and the managerial staff is way out of whack with the production-for-pay magic formula. When you have 1% of the staff taking in 95% of the profits (within the company mind you) that is a bomb waiting to explode.

What I argue is that unless pay ratios get back to those from the 50s to early 80s (in which it was 20-40:1) we're up shit creek without a paddle.  Furthermore, American companies have to restructure internally and become MUCH less hierarchical. At my company, there's 3 levels between myself and the ED (executive director). That's a lot of fuckers making ¼ million bucks. To make matters worse, and because of the economy, most of the layoffs taking place right now are taking place, at my company, at the production levels. I'd say 75% of these jobs are being outsourced. This new "phenomenon" has created some funny situations at my company, like some departments having only executive and associate directors as well as supervisors, and yet... no one to supervise. Not a single soul.

My CEO could never do one thousandth of the jobs within the company. All jobs are specialized so they require training. On the other hand, any line worker could walk into any boardroom and do just as good as job as the company's CEO. Why? Because all boardrooms are full of advisors that kind of reduce all decisions to one or two possible options, letting the CEO make the final decision so that they can cover their asses. Any how, I think anyone here could've done a much better job than the CEOs of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, AIG, et cetera. Those people drove the companies to the ground. And you certainly don't need to go to school for that.



Begrudgingly, I have to agree with much of what you say.  Nothing wrong with a CEO doing well, especially if the company is, but often their pay is way out of proportion with many other highly trained individuals.  Great example is in a hospital setting.  CEO's who are basically fundraisers making 7 figures while many on the staff who are highly trained make 50k and worry about job security.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Slapper on September 23, 2010, 07:26:19 AM
Begrudgingly, I have to agree with much of what you say.  Nothing wrong with a CEO doing well, especially if the company is, but often their pay is way out of proportion with many other highly trained individuals.  Great example is in a hospital setting.  CEO's who are basically fundraisers making 7 figures while many on the staff who are highly trained make 50k and worry about job security.

You also brought up a good point: Job security. Whitout it, my fellow Gringos don't buy cars, don't buy houses, don't buy electronics. You know, all those things that make the American economy the # 1 economy in the world. So... either The Changer puts an end to this outsourcing bullshit or he's toast. Because whithout job security there is no economy. It's just that simple.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: The Showstoppa on September 23, 2010, 07:34:09 AM
You also brought up a good point: Job security. Whitout it, my fellow Gringos don't buy cars, don't buy houses, don't buy electronics. You know, all those things that make the American economy the # 1 economy in the world. So... either The Changer puts an end to this outsourcing bullshit or he's toast. Because whithout job security there is no economy. It's just that simple.

Very true.  Label it consumer confidence or whatever, but if people are not secure, of course they are going to stash the money away or at the very least delay buying.  Of course the bottom rung is going to continue to buy cigs, booze, etc... but I'm talking about the "working class."
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Soul Crusher on September 23, 2010, 07:42:36 AM
Very true.  Label it consumer confidence or whatever, but if people are not secure, of course they are going to stash the money away or at the very least delay buying.  Of course the bottom rung is going to continue to buy cigs, booze, etc... but I'm talking about the "working class."

Yup - all of my contractor clients are in literal lock down mode.  No one is spending or doing anything.  Everyone is in mattress mode.   
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: tonymctones on September 23, 2010, 11:10:49 AM
The scam is they pay a significantly lesser percentage on those earnings than say somebody who punches a clock for a living.  For example, my CEO generally takes in an extra 10-15 million per year in stocks.  He pays no more than 15% on those where if I work Sunday and get paid double time, i pay 40%.  Actually, I'm fine with paying the 40%, it should also apply to the aforementioned stocks, bonds, dividends, etc.  When you speak of financial idiocy, you must be looking in the mirror.  The odds are overwhelming that since your posting on this board that you do not make the kind of money that the people your defending make.  With that said, it's kind of sad that your cutting off your nose to spite your face in the hopes that you might someday win the lottery or it's equivalent and make it to the promised land.  The right is selling a dream to working people and your buying into it at your own peril.  Good luck.
LOL well first of all those are options and they are not necissarily taken where as you will get paid for working a double on sunday they may not exercise those options due to performance if they have stock options coming due this year they probably arent going to take them...that doesnt make dividends and stock options scams...you can basically do the same thing by shorting or going long on stocks or investing in stocks that traditionally give dividens...so why is it not fair again?  ::) these ppl get taxed for salaries same as you do probably more unless your in the 35% tax bracket...you can invest and take advantage of stocks and im sure if your company gives stock options to execs they probably give stock options to lower level employees as well... ::) again its not scam its ignorance...

Im not buying into anything but im not sitting here bitching about anything like you and slapper are either...you want more money get up and go get it...
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: AbrahamG on September 27, 2010, 10:48:06 PM
LOL well first of all those are options and they are not necissarily taken where as you will get paid for working a double on sunday they may not exercise those options due to performance if they have stock options coming due this year they probably arent going to take them...that doesnt make dividends and stock options scams...you can basically do the same thing by shorting or going long on stocks or investing in stocks that traditionally give dividens...so why is it not fair again?  ::) these ppl get taxed for salaries same as you do probably more unless your in the 35% tax bracket...you can invest and take advantage of stocks and im sure if your company gives stock options to execs they probably give stock options to lower level employees as well... ::) again its not scam its ignorance...

Im not buying into anything but im not sitting here bitching about anything like you and slapper are either...you want more money get up and go get it...
The difference is that working people have to purchase their own stocks.  It is their own money.  CEO's are GIVEN options.  Meaning they don't take any risk of their own.  So when they guess right or perform insider trading along with all their cronies on the board they are making tons of money and not paying their fair share of taxes.  For example, my CEO was given on top his salary and bonus 500,000 options and at the time our stock was in the tank.  Roughly $1.25 per share.  So 6 months later when that stock surpassed $21 per share and he sold, you do the math.  $21 X 500,000 and taxed at a max of 15%.......I work a doubletime sunday and gross $500 and am lucky to keep $300 of it.  I'll never understand why working class people side with the rich and privileged and bash and self hate the working class so much.
Title: Re: the only thing that will save the USA
Post by: Soul Crusher on September 28, 2010, 05:00:56 AM
The difference is that working people have to purchase their own stocks.  It is their own money.  CEO's are GIVEN options.  Meaning they don't take any risk of their own.  So when they guess right or perform insider trading along with all their cronies on the board they are making tons of money and not paying their fair share of taxes.  For example, my CEO was given on top his salary and bonus 500,000 options and at the time our stock was in the tank.  Roughly $1.25 per share.  So 6 months later when that stock surpassed $21 per share and he sold, you do the math.  $21 X 500,000 and taxed at a max of 15%.......I work a doubletime sunday and gross $500 and am lucky to keep $300 of it.  I'll never understand why working class people side with the rich and privileged and bash and self hate the working class so much.

Because the idea that making one group of people richer at the expense of others is nothing but pure nonsense and fantasy.  All that ever happens is shared poverty.