Redistribution ....

And we all know that the wealthy conservative elite give thier workers extra pay to make up for the tax increase. We all know how the wealthy conservative elite gripe and moan about only having to pay little or no taxes. Its very cynical to believe that EVERY business is in it to make huge profits. Some folks really arent that greedy. Sure everyone likes making alot of money. But not ALL are hoping take over the world, as it were. ''Allowing you to put food on the table''. Thats great. Its not like you earn the money they ''allow'' you to be paid.

 

Never said they were.

 

Ahh yes...too big to fail I suppose. Well, the work that I agreed to perform in exchange for their wage, as was recently pointed out, was EARNED. Nothing was given. The work that I perform helps make them the success they strive to be, and without me, or someone like me, doing the work FOR them...they don't profit. You'd think they might be appreciative of that fact (if you insist on looking at it with the attitude of "who needs to be grateful). Without someone "turning the wheels" in exchange for the comparatively minute salary they "give" us, their continued expanding wealth goes away. You'd think instead of continually trying to find more ways to strip away meat from a bone., they'd treat you well.."take care of you", so to speak. But the MAJORITY of us know that doesn't happen. Rather, many sit behind a keyboard or some other form "virtual" insulation, and look for MORE ways of slimming already near "slave" labor costs, then will kick you out the door in lieu of "profit". Some CEO pats himself on the back for doing a great job and is rewarded with a healthy bonus for un-employing so many people or tripling the workload of the left over labor. The stock market further rewards the company with higher stock prices for the ongoing casino of the rich to continue to play with untold numbers of folks futures. How many companies don't even give "cost of living" raises any more? Many. Reviews? Hell no. That'd mean reviewing their pay. No more of that. How many now are getting away with actually REDUCING current pay? MANY. That's AFTER eliminating positions, reducing or eliminating benefits, or some other way of effectively cutting off another head. So I'm supposed to be grateful?? For that??
Be "grateful" it isn't me YET? Well, I choose NOT to live my life that way. Instead, I look at my employment as a straight "dollars for labor" EXCHANGE. Done deal. I know Mr. Corporation is going to continue to rape and pilfer me and whoever else they deem they need to. Step up and spin the wheel to see if your number's next.
Having said all that., I see nothing inherintly wrong with the "idea" of profit from generating a business, taking risk, etc.,etc. It's a great concept. Unfortunately, it's turned into an out of control greed and bookkeeping fraud farm with no end in sight, that is of course until the whole thing collapses in a big steaming pile of the dung that it is. Until then, most of us are stuck with bending over being "grateful" that Nero's Rome is still here. I realize that's the way it is but please don't suggest that I need to be "grateful" for it.

 

If you are happy with your chosen employer then be grateful and stop bellyaching otherwise go somewhere else and work. No one owes you anything.

 

Ok fine. Great points! So we kicked those lousy, miserable republicans out of office and cleaned house across the board. The democrat party has taken over to play the roll of savior of America again. How is that working out for us??? One of the greatest problems facing the country is the greed of big banks. With Goldman Sachs leading the way. Did we get their people cleared out with Bush? F--- NO! No way! Obama packed the place with former Goldman employees (again) so they can take care of their company (read: rob the tax payers) for another 4 years. The place is packed with lobbyists again after Obama said there would be no lobbyists in his Whitehouse. He either wasn't able to achieve what he wanted or he lied.

We didn't get a damn thing changed but yet there's probably people here that think we did. LOL! At least I've got a clear conscience. I voted for America. I wrote in for Ron Paul. I refuse to let the media pick two candidates for me to choose from. At least we could have had a chance with Paul. People aren't smart enough to figure it out. They just want to pick the most popular puppet so they fit in with their friends. No different than voting for American Idol to most.

So, you get what we have. No change. There will not be enough regulatory changes. Now don't get me wrong, there may be many, but they won't be what is needed because people are making too much money to let it go now.

One excellent step in the right direction would be for the banks to be taken over by the government and operated at no profit. Run them RESPONSIBLY! Charge enough to get business done and nothing more. Interest on loans needs to be eradicated. It serves no purpose but to make the banks richer and richer FOR DOING NOTHING, and hurts our economy. Besides the fact that there is not enough money in the overall system to pay back interest without new loans being created anyway!
In a sound system of money, there should be NO inflation. And there should be no need for interest to make up for it on loans. To admit that they need interest for the sake of profits and making up for inflation proves that we do not have a sound financial system for the long term and it will collapse.

Next, let them take over insurance companies. Fine! Do it. Eliminate all profit and let them take in just enough to sustain business so everybody pays a fair share to make it work and nothing more. Have a vote on what adequate salaries and raises should be for all positions. That may mean somebody at the top only makes a million dollars a year instead of 100 million. I don't think they'll go hungry.

I'm realizing we can't rely on individuals running corporations to police themselves when it comes to profits. Because it's never enough. Everything becomes more and more obscenely expensive because we have to pay for more profits.
Maybe more things do need to be handled by government. If done right, it COULD possibly work. The chance that the government would screw it up in a different direction though, would be very likely though.

Conclusion: There is no answer. It's all the same B.S. A big money grab. Thats what these people are taught and what they live for. Trying to out do their buddies. If the corporations don't take it and waste it, the government will if they get a chance. Or, they will screw everything up out of incompetence and lose the money another way.

A big key to it that nobody wants to admit.....There is no moral conscience guiding the majority. What do I mean by that? I mean a CEO can't say a million or 2 million dollars take home is enough for him. Not anymore. Not when their buddies are bringing home 50 million or more. They have to keep up even if it means pissing on their employees. Thus, there is no answer.

The proper regulation will not happen for the good of the people. I would say it's very likely that this country as we know it doesn't have another 100 years left. May seem shocking to some of you but things are escalating out of control at a much faster pace than ever before. Guess what. Gold at $1,169 US DOLLARS an ounce isn't 'cool'. As a baramoter, it should be scary to people.

I just hope we're left with some sort of civility when it's all said and done, for our kids' sake.

 

You really never say anything. Ok not all companys are in for HUGE profits. Some just like doing what there doing and Huge profits dont really matter. Now you did say All companys are after HUGE profits, right? But you are wrong. I know two small coffee houses that are happy being that way. There fear is Starbucks will start up next door; chase them them out, then close the Starbucks. Thats big business. Its just the way it is. So not all want more more more.

 

Nor do I owe them anything. Working somewhere else would be no different. We're all serving our elite's needs. Now I think you should go kiss your boss's rear. Tell them how grateful you are. Ask if you can work a couple weeks for free, you're so grateful. I'm sure they'll oblige. Six months from now, if you're still there, they won't give a crap what you did for them..trust me. You're just a number on a P & L sheet, ..a number that they're lookin' at right now, trying to figure out how to extract more, and then a little more.and then maybe eliminate it if your wage gets too high, then boot you, and hire some other desperate soul. Exploit they will....bellyache I will.

 

Way to go bro. Hey I think this man should run for President.

 

Now a lot of what Vess says there makes very good sence but if I had sugested any of that I would have been branded a commi LOL Very well said sir.

 

100 years? Not very likely it will be anywhere close to that. The system is too corrupt and entrenched and the people too soft and easily led to sustain anywhere near that long.

People want to rail against 'corporations' but the 2 biggest, most controlling, greediest and most corrupt corporations out there are the Democratic and Republican National Parties.

 

What the f#@k is wrong with you guys? I thought I was cynical. Are you guys storing up k rations and canned water? Its bad, but it was worse. when the real elite and wealthy were running the show in the early 1900s, no one got a hand. No factory regulations, no child labor laws, no minimum wage. Then it got better. Then things go south, then they rise again. Meet the new boss. The same as the old boss. I know you guys know what it means to be American. And it doesnt include huge profits.

 

I just fail to see how we can keep spending and spending more and more than we will ever be able to pay off. It just doesn't seem sustainable. Like we have seen with individuals in the last year or so, you can live over your head for quite a while but, eventually, the piper must be paid - and that is a painful event.

I know the debt is often related as a percentage of GDP but I think the more interesting number is debt per person. If you look at that over time, it is quite telling.

It was $28 per person in 1901. 1929 it was $131. 1961 it was $1612. 1981 - $4483. In 2001 it was $20k. Today it is over 35K. By the end of 2010 it is estimated to be $47.5K per person. By the end of 2014 - $60k per person.

Not to mention that by 2011, it is estimated that the debt will exceed 100% of GDP for those that like that stat.

Not to mention, most every state and local government is having the same problem.

Not to mention we really don't produce as much any more and a huge part of our economy is based upon us spending more than we make. And that has been shown not to work out so well already.

Not to mention we still conduct our foreign affairs like we are some kind of ascending super power and world protector. 2 ongoing wars. Bases in every region under the sun. Troops here. Money there.

This last year has really made me take a hard look at things and I see more and more a house of cards. I hope I am wrong and we really can go on and on and on like this. I really would like someone to convince me of that.

As far as k rats and canned water. No need. If things go in the crapper, it won't help any more than having a stock pile of gold and silver will. And if things aren't as bad as they seem from the numbers, there is no need. Either way, put on the rose colored glasses and enjoy one's life. No matter what happens, life will go on. It could be a lot different down the line, though.

 

...yet when asked, BO said the key to our recovery is to have businesses investing again & creating jobs! Oh, those evil businesses.

 

In the early 1900s, the U.S. had it's glory years ahead of it yet. Despite the wars, there was still potential to be tapped into. Many new innovations to come. Many new places to be built. We still at least produced what we used in order to provide those unsafe jobs. Not to mention a much smaller population to accommodate. Many ended up with companies that took care of them so they could retire when the time came. Later on, of course.

Now we have a much, much larger population with mountains of debt from our past. It's unprecedented in our history. Jobs...no..... 'careers' that were a staple for people in this country a few decades ago, are gone for good. If there was a new innovation today, it most likely wouldn't be produced here. One man would become rich for coming up with the idea and that's about it.
We have globalized so now the corporations can take advantage of labor laws in third world countries to produce our stuff. The more complicated electronics can be handled in Japan or China. Need taxes done? Someone in India can do it. Customer service? People are on the line in India. Need a bridge designed? Call India.
In the mean time, we've got millions of college kids graduating every year with 10s of thousands in school loans that need to be re-paid with interest. And people left with jobs in the current work force that can't retire. Many of them paying for these kids to be in school.

This will only get worse. The kids all end up fighting over limited high paying jobs that aren't really work and don't really produce anything to bring any new money into the economy. Sound outrageous? Try to compile a list. Nearly all of what's considered to be the good jobs now rely on taking large amounts of money from 'someone else' outside of the business. The money has to come from somewhere!

In the mean time, a few will win. Some will lose and struggle with a mediocre job and a student loan the size of a mortgage most of their adult lives because they were told it was the right thing to do. And these are our ambitious people! The best and the brightest.

Now take the size of our unemployed and welfare recipients and the shear size of government today compared to the early 1900s. All of which is a drain on the actual, limited, producers of anything. Which most who want to fill this role don't have a chance anymore.

I won't even bother getting into our future unfunded obligations like SS and medicare. IF there even is a fix, it will be more painful than anything this country has ever went through before. I don't know what the answer is or if it's even survivable. One example: If everything else stays the same and they pulled the plug on social security alone, there would be chaos and martial law in a matter of weeks. Does anyone doubt this? It would be such a mess, I can't even imagine.

Things are much more fragile than most are willing to believe. The only reason we haven't had an all out collapse already is because we are truly relying on created money being pumped in by the federal govt.

The states are in worse shape than they've ever been in. Hell, there's no tax revenue coming in!! Not much to tax. You can't tax the unemployed. It's hard to maintain basic services when they aren't bringing in the revenue they had 5 years ago, over extended periods of time. The magic pill for the states has been and will continue to be injections of federal stimulus. More created money that never existed. More and more, just to get by for another year. Year after year.

This is the new reality man. I know it sounds cynical but where am I wrong? The only way to stay positive is to ignore the problems like they don't exist. Which is what most do. We're in a huge mess. Things may get better temporarily. But the long term outlook just doesn't compute. How long can it sustain? It's anybody's guess. Stu is right though. 100 years is probably too optimistic at the rate we're going. It's simple common sense. What people will do to survive afterward? It's a scary thought. I certainly hope I"m wrong but we could be living the good old days right now.

 

Paid for and serving at the pleasure of the corporations.
The mafia had wet dreams over that kind of control...then again perhaps they are the mafia....version 2.0

 

It cannot be sustained, though I'm sure the elite will try to sustain it for themselves, through more literal slave labor perhaps. Who knows. Like you say, the numbers simply ain't sustainable. Our sales and service economy will be exposed for what really is... outsourced services of India, China's products, sucker Americans left holding the bag and a whole lot of corporate smoke and mirrors. We'll all find out soon that the blood and guts of America was sold out..lock, stock and barrel a good time ago. Bush, Cheney and other super elite will have relocated to another section of the world they've already purchased after they've sucked the US for the last few pennies (probably not long after the holiday season...still a few bucks there to be swept up).

 

Didn't BO just return from a placating jaunt to China? Didn't the Chinese deliver marching orders to BO on how to handle US debt? Didn't BO visit another of his long-lost brothers (a brother who happens to be a multimillionaire EXPORTER of Chinese goods to the US)?
And wasn't it after his return that BO claimed the key to our financial recovery is "businesses investing & businesses creating jobs"?

But that photo that was released of a comtemplative BO staring at the Great Wall is sure to bring a tear to one's eye...as is the image of BO bowing to the Japanese leader!!

 

Speaking of insincerity....remember these? Anyone for some plastic turkey or just a plain one finger gesture from the former criminal in chief?

 

I would rather have a President with the balls to flip someone off rather than one who bends over for other leaders. I would rather have a President who would serve turkey to our military personnel rather than one who despises them.

 

Yes a single finger is much better than a silly bow. Seems to increase war profits as well.