Chimera Kennels

From :The Detroit Free Press (MI.'s largest circulated newspaper) + my opines.

  We like to think that America(still) resembles the plot of many rags-to-riches storylines,where people can better themselves thru hard work.(like ,poor old....IMHO..."paid PROP" "joe the plumber!"...The reality is that CONCENTRATED WEALTH has allowed the rich to rig the system to work to their benefit & to the detriment of everyone else.(like::fmr pres. Bush changing bankruptcy laws & student loan interest rates & time penalties (sticking it to innocent kids/people!!!!) etc... a few yrs ago,in anticipation of this current climate).

The rest of us will likely fall further behind no matter how HARD WE WORK!....proof of this comes from(insert ur example) and a paper by U.C.BerkleyEcon. Proff. Emmanuel Saez That shows income inequality in America is at an all time HIGH>

While the middle class have been working longer hrs. for wages that are DEVOURED by inflation,Saez reveals that the top 0.01% of wage earners have DOUBLED their % of total wages paid in this country since 2000. This tiny segment of the population now POCKETS 6% OF ALL WAGES PAID! (folks upset over the $$$ a pro ball player makes,should realize,all the multi millionares on the NY yanks...all get THEIR checks signed by one man!!!!!).

The study,published earlier this month,also shows that during "the economic expansion of 2002-07,the top 1% of wage earners captured 2/3 of income growth"....( READ::honchoes CLOSING down shop here,going overseas to produce the same product for "pennies a day"-then RESELL to the American  public and cities they took their jobs from.).

These stats aren't a reflection of how hard  or not so hard anyone is working..They're further evidence that an extremely wealthy minority is pulling the strings of OUR political system & our economy.

HARD TIMES?...not for all===the income gap between the top 0.01% of earners,who made over 11.5 mill. in 2007,and the rest of us has never been bigger-like 1.080 times bigger.

oh say it aint so Joe???..please dont cry for them,IMHO(he sold out, and would have any way)

I agree there is a lot of corruption in our political system, and for a very long time now our system hasn't been interested in protecting the American people and way of life, but rather in protecting its own power and money. I don't trust any professional politician, because that's not the way it's supposed to be, running for office after office. There are very few public servants left, with most of our politicians and all of the high ranking politicians being more interested in their own power and their kickbacks than in doing a good job for the sake of the people.  It's their job to serve. However, economic inequality is a part of the American system, it's a side effect of free enterprise. The most hardworking, smartest, luckiest, and most creative among us making more is the main effect of free enterprise, along with America having a strong economy.  However, government regulations are crippling free enterprise to the point it doesn't function, that's what's hurting us all today. For example, I might have an idea that would revolutionize the insurance industry. It would make insurance cheap, easy, and reliable for the customer and 10 time more profitable for the company. In a free enterprise system I should be able to show my good idea to some investors, and put together a new company that would out compete all the other companies in which case I'd be rich and everyone would be happy because they are getting a better product for less and that's why I'd be successful too. Then other companies would adopt my business model and I'd have the competition to make me always keep improving what I can offer. That's good for everyone. Except that's against the law.  There is a government board that decides what insurance companies can operate in what states.  That means they control who competes and who doesn't, so that great idea could never get started and if it did it would only help a few states. If however the government would lay off the controls and let the system work, competition would solve most of the insurance problems we have. Plus if this "bill" passes it will be illegal to buy or sell insurance anyway because the government is doing its own illegal attempt at a hostile takeover of the entire industry.  That way they get all the money and the average Joe has no chance of ever making anything any better for himself or others using that industry. The banking industry, the auto industry and soon the oil industry will be the same way soon. And buying a car or making a bank withdrawal will be as easy and efficient as the going to the dmv or having jury duty. If we keep moving to a more and more socialist system, you wont be able to just run to walmart, because there will be as much red tape around the government distribution centers as there is around the court system today.  That's not America. A government monopoly has no reason to offer good customer service and no incentive to improve their products. Look at Russia - talk about a wage gap, a very few select "party" members control and own everything, and everyone else is too busy trying to survive starvation to change anything. If the government decides, it can come in and tell everyone how much they can make so it can give the rest to everyone else, then welcome to communist America. Don't misunderstand me I'm as far from rich as I can be, they would be giving me money, but I don't want my future and my potential capped off by a board of officials. It's funny you never see Americans making rafts out of doors and risking the open sea to reach the prosperous and wonderful land of Cuba.

As far as the millionaires in the entertainment industry, the corruption in government, our failing education system, and our failing economy; they are all symptoms of the same thing and it's a cultural problem. Our culture is based around complacency, apathy, ignorance, and shortsightedness. We believe that we should just trust everything will work out all by itself,  that the educated are "stuck up", that the passionate are "crazy", that it's cool to hate everything, that you don't have the power to change anything for the better, and we can't wait to get home to catch our shows. American isn't built on those ideas. America needs more educated, passionate people who care enough to get up off the couch, turn off the tv and go do what they love and fight for the right to keep America free, where you can do what you love. Take for example pitbulls.  We all know BSL is BS, but who's fought it? Who's written their congressman who's started a petition?  Who's fought against America becoming like the UK where pitbull or pitbull type dogs are outlawed? When there is a government board who gets to decide what kind of dog and how many you can have, everyone here will be feeling the effects.  Who will be paying for more police to be out hunting bulldogs, the taxpayers?  Us. If they don't hire new cops, they will only be stretching our already over stretched police officers even thinner. I for one don't want my guns and dogs taken away, then have the police too busy killing someone else's dog to come stop my murderer, something I could have done myself with a good gun and a good dog.

This is supposed to be a government of the people by the people and for the people. Not a government over the people and for itself.

Couldn't agree more, excellent post David.

Ditto! Why do you think the "health reform" doesn't currently require politicians to use it? Nope...politicians are exempt.

What does that mean...well, it means it isn't really for the PEOPLE's benefit. If it was, then they would use it too.

My point...there is indeed a double standard...one for the politician and another for everyone else. I hope America recovers from this socialistic brain washing soon...and I hope people become educated enough to require us to go back to reasonable laws that are both common sense in meaning and in word.

By the people, for the people.

Like David said...we, the people, need to get off the couch more.

Good thoughts, great sentitments, patriotic, selfless and noble.  Lots of writing going on.

Reminds me of an old saying that seems appropriate "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing"

In Texas we have another way of saying it ,"Talks cheap"  Oh well, you get the idea, So?  What have you Done lately?

I'll probably just post my own perspectives from this one off-topic post...& leave all the rest K9.

David Ishee===the first few sentences of your "reply" to my post,were just that,........soon after though,you chose to just slip into just posting alarmist rhetoric...you didn't respond to my post.you could have started yor own thread for your posted "reply"

.......,Lee,quite frankly,you did not either,you just hijacked my thread to state your own......point?....you already have a thread on health care, u could've added to that.

My point is,Lee,the President has stated "he knows that him and ALL govt.officials have some of THE BEST health COVERAGE AVAILABLE"..they DONT NEED IT .that was his POINT!!!

"there is indeed a double standard...one for the politician and another for everyone else"?....huh?...theres no standard...thats plain and simple a "perk"of the job,(like a sate Governer with a supplied mansion,or a city who supplies its council members with a vehicle for their term of office....or even living in the White House when an ELECTED U.S.citizen is allowed the high priveledge of this HONOR...this aint a wage gap or class warfare,Again,this is no where in the ball park of what i was conveying in my post.I feel that enough folks are educated enuff to see that ,for the moot point it is.

I also believe people are/were/willbe educated enuff to see through too much misplaced "alarmist" rhetoric & internet mythers...and 1/2 truths!.throwing the word socialistic society & other code words and analogies ( like rafts in the ocean)  are such 1/2 truths

now,let me say, i dint just "find" this board.LOL,so,i'm aware that stating my OWN personal opinions,(& support of the current ELECTED US President.)could, quite possibly,lol,take me out of the running for Mr.Popularity in these parts.

David Ishee,like I said i dont feel you responded to my post,you made sure to mention some of my "words" in your post,but..........

I can respond to quite afew of your replys though

first:the(VERY TRUE) raft story..ok...but there are also million and millions of people in there OWN land/country who love it,and there way of life,and would not leave it !(& wish WE would take our Mccdonalds and starbucks back home too!).

The insurance:.(now and forever more).Once your (unregulated) peers saw your future potential...you.would have been taken over or sued for infringement,and sued again if you won,just to drain your resources.. OR EVEN (luckily?) bought out by a corp. like AIG or AETNA...thats if they considered you "competition".

by even mentioning russia and socialist society..without balance...again another scare tactic designed to conjure mental images of snow covered starvation.You and Lee and others want to make and CONFUSE others (IMO) by aligning socialist country with and in direct conflict with Americas (CARING)...even to other countries ...social PROGRAMS.

Public libraries are a social program in a democracy,like public schools,police/fire depts,medicare,battered wives shelters,workmans disability benefits,from OTJ injuries......

Butch Cappel at 09:43AM on Aug 26, 2009

Good thoughts, great sentitments, patriotic, selfless and noble.  Lots of writing going on.

Reminds me of an old saying that seems appropriate "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing"

In Texas we have another way of saying it ,"Talks cheap"  Oh well, you get the idea, So?  What have you Done lately?

whats up BC!

Well from my lone perspective,along with others,(unless I myself count as 1 big electoral vote)...I actually have "done"....I'm happy with the current administration...to me,folks who are upset that it(elections) didn't turn out how they hoped...now its time to start the whole country  all over again ,reverse laws,not bother to wait for another election,secede......sheesh man.....its just one election...there is a four year term limit....there have been unpopular presidents before!..we got thru it.

20 yrs ago in high school,they passed a BSL on pit bulls in detroit,my father was upset cause my two bros dogs had to get tattoed,or could not be seen by a vet.

At least 5 yrs ago or whenever the poor people got mauled by those Presas in SF.....they have passed a banned list on which "aggressive" breeds could not be in apartments.....I know we needed an apt. then, and had just got a Corso pup...who was banned, they just didnt have the "name" on the list yet.they are now.

i say years ....because the current Admin's been in,what,7 Months!....so some stuff isnt that new to me........ besides a COUNTRY WIDE BAN on  crop/dock ...(which i truly truly dont see happening here).

Also i can state facts on how the stimulus package has and will continue to renew and recharge and put people back ON THE JOB here in MICHIGAN,...............jobs,that is what (THE LAST ELECTION) was ALL ABOUT.......PERIOD.

I voted too. I support the Constitution and any president that supports the Constitution. It is the ULTIMATE LAW OF THIS COUNTRY (only beneith God's law). Presidents and our elected congressmen however have a DUTY to support the US Constitution as well...and to work within the limits of the constitution. The constitution actually warns congress that we the people AND the states have a DUTY to require our elected officials to stay WITHIN the parameters defined by the US Constitution. Now, I myself haven't spoken of seccession here...and I don't want to see it happen as I would like to see America remain united...but I can understand why SOME people/states have brought it up given the current state of our country. Our current government is certainly heading beyond the boundaries defined by the US Constitution.

When we are born, all we are "owed" is "milk" from our mother, our freedom to believe what we want, and our right to preserve our right to life. Everything else we get is either earned OR charity...an opportunity or a gift...and should not be expected or taken for granite. No one "owes" us anything other than this.

David's point was our PRIORITIES have gotten screwed up. We, the people, now want to sit on our butts and get instant gratification...and think it is more important for an athlete to make hundreds of millions of dollars than it is for the "common man" to be able to have a few luxuries. That is OUR fault...we the people. We let it happen. It began when the family structure began falling apart about 40 years ago...back then a $1,000,000 sport contract was unheard of...and yet today athletes are turning down $100,000,000 contracts? http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360164&page=3 Of course, a capitalistic society allows such...which is fine...but when someone turns such an offer down today, I can't help but think...what's this man's priority?  Is he that gready...or is he just ready to do something else? AND...who's paying for it. Where is the common man's priority...as it is the common man that ends up paying for it in the end...as we make up the fans and supply the demand.

Where is the demand for true public services such as education, police and military? What do we really value? Why do we not focus on our kids more?...after all, nothing means as much as our children...and yet we let the tv babysit them in one room while we watch the game in another room. I don't, but I am using "we" as in "we the people." We have forgotten the cost of freedom and the opportunity of capitalism...as we have gotten too comfortable and lazy...and haven't had to really bleed the tree of liberty in some time...which I am glad we haven't had to bleed, but I do hate that we have forgotten the price so many paid to get us here.

When it comes to government programs, I beileve the government should ALLOW all men the opportunity to succeed or fail...but what we do with our opportunities is entirely up to us. What is done within a private family (such as a family business though should not be restricted by the government as long as it not criminal.

If Obama's health care plan is good enough for us, then it should also be good enough for him. A representative for us is supposed to SERVE us. His health care should be no better or worse than those he serves. By the people, FOR the people.

He puts his pants on the same way I do...one leg at a time.

As far as bankrupcy laws go...well, it is my belief that you shouldn't borrow or use credit for things you can not afford. Frankly, I don't think anyone should be able to say..."Oh well, I already got what I wanted...and used it all up, but since time is tough (as I lacked self control) I'm not giong to pay for it." I don't care if it is the "big guy" or the "little man"...either way, It's a cop out. It's stealing.

We all should pay for what we buy or spend. You can't blame Bush for changing bankrupcy laws. PEOPLE's IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING is to blame for that. People need to be responsible...and if they are not, well...then it is up to others to hold them responsible. People are not in debt BECAUSE credit cards raised rates.  Credit cards only raise rates when people DON'T PAY. Sure, there should be caps on how high the rates can be raised...but again...the PEOPLE made the choice to purchase irresponsibly...not Bush.

You can't open a can of worms and then not blame the ones responsible. Who is responsible...well, we the people are...as we allowed the double standards. I don't believe in government sponsored double standards....be it in the form of affirmative action or be it in the form of health care that the "politicians" don't have to use...or be it for the rich or the poor. Equal opportunity means...EARN what you want. It means, I seek work when I see opportunity. It means I seek a CHANCE...not a hand out. This way, when I get a chance, I earn my keep...and do my part in society.

Now, we can sit back and whine about how the "rich man" held us down, or we can be proactive and seek the many opportunities that are out there...and find one that we are willing to fill. We are free to succeed or to fail...and no one owes me anything...nor you...or anyone else...AND, you don't owe anyone anything either UNLESS you have kids (which you owe them a proper raising) OR if you BORROWED from someone...in which you OWE them what you borrowed back under the terms you agreed to. You can't borrow, and then say, "I want the right to file backrupcy." That's stealing.

So, don't blame Bush because he tried to make people responsible for their actions and choices. You might be able to blame some things on Bush perhaps, but there is nothing wrong with holding people accountable...not in my opinion. Capitalism works great for someone who is willing to work. Socialism however never works.

an example of why socialism fails

A college economics professor made a statement that he had

never failed a single student before but had once failed an entire

class.

That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one

would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this

class on socialism". All grades would be averaged and everyone

would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would

receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.

The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had

studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that

socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great,

the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that

David Ishee that was a great post, I can tell you are very well informed and at a minimum self-educated on some political science ideas. Personally to those who know what I am referring to it is time for Atlas to Shrug, wait til society destroys itself then come in and pick up the pieces.

Before we go any further let me say I AM NOT A BUSH SUPPORTER! However, a man like Obama is about as anti-american as a U.S. politician could ever be. America is a Republic based on free enterprise (Capitalism) like it or not. Goverment regulation = Fascism and Government handouts = socialism.

Capitalism cannot work with government intervention and regulations. Regulations squash free enterprise. Consider capitalism evolution for the economy. Only strong healthy businesses stay alive. Those who are richer hence the original topic "America's Shameful wage gap" are richer for a reason = Either they or their parents worked harder longer or smarter to get where they are. OR they made it a point in life to get connected to the right people that would help them succeed. It really is that simple.= evolutionary theory apllied to the economy.

Johnny, I really like that class room example. Thanks for posting it. It is certainly how society would work. If everyone had a million dollars given to them, how many people would still honestly be willing to go to work. A small few.

That said, I don't think the good minds should go on strike and sit back and watch..and wait for a recovery...because I don't know I or my children will have that much time, so I prefer the "I won't go siliently into the good night" approach and believe what Butch stated about society being in trouble when good men do nothing.

Little T...had to jump in and give some support, your not alone.  On The wage gap its rediculous and in Bush's defense which is very rare coming from me, he was just the icing on the cake baked by Reagan. Were in this current situation due to failed Reagenomics and less Gov. regulations. Since Reagan the average families debt to income ratio has gone from around 60% to 130% and the average CEO's income exploded from 25:1 to over 400:1 compared to the average employees wages. Capitalism has killed the middle class, so if you want to talk about failed programs start with Reaganomics.

 A Social program like health care doesnt mean Socailism on a whole. France has socialized health care and isn't close in comparison to the USSR. And don't mean to bust any bubbles but Frances system is ranked #1 in world unlike ours which is closer to 40th, pretty bad for the richest nation, but when profits preceed people in a capitalistic system this is the results. If freemarket competition is great then why be afraid of a government option, theres only one reason loss of profits. The reality is its only good when the system can be manipulated and the illusion of freemarket is inplace and a company like Walmart can become a monopoly. They are about the biggets co. in the world with no competition, while everyone else was loosing money their profits went up 20-30% yet they still cut employees wages and benefits. They built their co. on "Made in the US" yet all their stuff comes from China and not only that they own and opperate the labor compounds in China producing everything, yet were complaining about the bad products from China. When this is the accepted model of capitalism, sorry...but in its current form it is a total failure, may look good on paper but in reality FAILED. Capitalists want all their freedoms and no regulations yet the biggest Co.'s were first in line for the bailouts.

 Contrary to Republican retorical beliefs, programs work when funded properly, but when all your resources are drained from unjustified wars and supporting a millitary industrial program that uses most of your tax dollars, and when put into perspective like the fact that we spend trillions on defence and on Bush's watch he couldn't defend the Pentagon from an attack makes you wonder where all your money is and what its going for if not just to line the pockets of a few no bid government contractors. The most comical aspect of the whole health care debate is that there is a debate at all, there should be no issue in regards to the richest nation on the planet and it being able to care for its sick. The issue of politicains and there health plans is also a non issue, anyone at there level has no financial problems and can easily afford out of pocket most of their health care needs. Another  funny issue is all the people ranting and raving at the mock townhall meetings, all have health care, so what is their issue other than they feel some sort of privilage loss because someone less fortunate shouldn't have healthcare also without paying for it. And the loadest talkers are either in the industry, or paid off by the industry, so it  boils down to loosing profits or losing some self proclaimed status. Other than this why is health care even an issue when where the richest country in the world. There is plenty of money in the government, the biggest problem is with who's been running it for the last 28 years, the republicans had the ball 20 out of 28 and only the richest of the rich have benefited. Bush had 8 years to prove failure and Obama deserves at least 4 before any jury comes back. Many may not realize it but for a president involved in a war Bush spent more time on vacation than any other president in history. And also didn't attend  his own parties presidential convention where his name wasn't even mentioned once during the entire 3 day event. I believe that was a first, IMO that means his own party called him a failure.

The problem isn't capitalism, but government's regulation on what we now call a "free market"...something that back in Reagan's day was truly much more of a free market has now become a government regulated "free market" that restricts real competition. The biggest problem I have with what Reagan did was open trade for Walmart and China...shipping too many jobs overseas...Don't be surprised to see China owning those bank mortgages to pay off those huge debts America owes China...taking over companies.  You can't blame the Chinese for accepting an opportunity. They were just willing to fill a cheap labor force. Instead, I too blame Reagon for that one, taking jobs away from America's increased working force (as now both men and women were working). All that said, as I understand it, he was really led into that idea lead by Sam Walton's children (not the founder/original owner of Sam's and Walmart...but his kids once Sam was very old) who were looking to make a buck at America's expense.

This opening to cheap overseas labor hurt American jobs as manufacturers of goods in America was decreased despite our increased work force. That drove salaries and wages down. Less demand for domestic labor while having an increased supply...due to GOVERNMENT policies on foreign trade with foreign nations that do not make efforts to have to have safe working environments...not for their employees or for the environment or unioned labor. In other words, our government required American union workers in American restricted and regulated factories to compete against non-union workers in non-restricted and non-regulated factories where people would work for practically nothing. 

It was good that people wanted American workers to have safe work places, but it was stupid to put this requirement into our places of production and THEN open market trade to countries that didn't also have similar quality (clean and safe) factories. If they did truly want free market AND a clean-safe work place, they would only do business with countries that also honored clean-safe work places. Government needs to stop allowing a "double standard" for a free market to work. We have a government restrict competition domestically, then opens free competition internationally...and then interferes more and more. Too much red tape...and things move too slow.

People are too brain washed into just believing what they are told to believe...especially when it feeds their emotions. Instead, we need to understand what happened to plan out a recovery.

Competition is what brings quality up and prices down...but we also need to consider supporting American goods in order to maintain American jobs as much as REASONABLY possible. All this can be fixed if we get someone in there that understands business, capitalism, true fair trade (where we only do business with countries that have safe work places and that also meet our "EPA" or other environmental standards), AND that also supports the US Constitution.

MikeV==thx for the kind mention......ahh yes fmr.Pres.Reagan...the original airline union buster!..Mind you i was a kid,but i was 100% with this guy on keeping us safe, and for his love of country & helping usher us into a 'puter age (then) leading to the digital age(now).

I'll do my best to only discuss politicos on this one thread..this way i feel we should be able to talk dogs on any other k9 board or k9 thread.

First,I know The U.S. Constitution was writen as a living- thriving- growing document,to evolve & adapt like the country, to whatever time  frame itfinds itself,in order to preserve the very COUNTRY .If you dont agree,go tear off the admendments off that you dont agree with......like i said,start the country over ......all of a sudden.

also,pretty much,  a ny constitution,is generally considered to be a technical and complex document, beyond the

derstanding and interest of the average citizen.

"(Capitalism) like it or not. Goverment regulation" =Without the SEC.. bernie madoff took advantage of (his right) to capitilism....surely not ALL the people/families involved were," stupid"?....

...and Martha stewarts bail out of a failed venture.....this had nothing to do with hard work or school...just "inside info"...which leads to a smaller smaller "outside"..its only so much money to go around..........

it really is ALL coming to a point of being  "that simple"..and the TRUE end times can come when man sells out all friends and brothers just to .."make it to a point in life to get CONNECTED to the RIGHT PEOPLE".

BTW...We frame these differences in terms of conservative,democrat,libertarian,green party...but these are tired old markers in 200_ its not liberal v. conservative ,(like radio hosts spout,for their families slice,no matter the division or consequences)

..IT IS...yesterday v. tomorrow,the stress of deep,widespread (EARTHLY) cultural and demographic changes that will leave NO AMERICAN or human being in 200_ the same things we are "used" to,and change always comes too fast,always brings a sense of dislocation and harsh reactories.

..(LINK; The Holy Bible-...the chosen people, when faced with the change and hard adaptations of life in the desert,wanted to "secede" and return to egypt,the only comfortable life and times  they were familiar with and used to.........all those over the age of twenty,did not make it out of the desert for sheer disloyalty and simple fear of "the unknown"....

.......aka THE FUTURE.....again a presidential term is only 4 yrs(8) (and they CAN be impeached if deemed any sort of detriment to this country  you know)

4 years is the term- and always a split congress as a failsafe for a dictatorship/monarchy.

PS,BTW...as far as  "Facism & Government handouts"...I'll have to refer you to the Homestead Acts of the 1800's...considering all that acreage a lot of folks have available for multiple dogs etc...now not hating on what the next man got,i can own up to 4 dogs at my residence,more than enuff for me,nor am i playing a "victim" role to some mythical "rich man".

As far stockpiling oil, & natural reserves for a certain region.....uhh you realize,"US NORTHERNERS" have about 13% of the EARTHS fresh water????,with recent re-enforced near autonomy?...

.....MICHIGAN knows a " little something" about self-and HOme defense AND protection K9s as well as the best of 'em ...believe anybody me.......but that reeks of country division...which i want no parts of,so i denounce the nature of it!.

AN FYI.....do people here know that in Saudi Arabia,they are constructing entir cities running of off pure solar power!!!:ohmy: as we post?using todays oil profits.they are preparing their citizens...while we want to incite breaking apart.

chimerakennels at 11:31PM on Aug 26, 2009

The problem isn't capitalism, but government's regulation on what we now call a "free market"...something that back in Reagan's day was truly much more of a free market has now become a government regulated "free market" that restricts real competition. The biggest problem I have with what Reagan did was open trade for Walmart and China...shipping too many jobs overseas...Don't be surprised to see China owning those bank mortgages to pay off those huge debts America owes China...taking over companies.  You can't blame the Chinese for accepting an opportunity. They were just willing to fill a cheap labor force. Instead, I too blame Reagon for that one, taking jobs away from America's increased working force (as now both men and women were working). All that said, as I understand it, he was really led into that idea lead by Sam Walton's children (not the founder/original owner of Sam's and Walmart...but his kids once Sam was very old) who were looking to make a buck at America's expense.

 

This opening to cheap overseas labor hurt American jobs as manufacturers of goods in America was decreased despite our increased work force. That drove salaries and wages down. Less demand for domestic labor while having an increased supply...due to GOVERNMENT policies on foreign trade with foreign nations that do not make efforts to have to have safe working environments...not for their employees or for the environment or unioned labor. In other words, our government required American union workers in American restricted and regulated factories to compete against non-union workers in non-restricted and non-regulated factories where people would work for practically nothing. 

 

It was good that people wanted American workers to have safe work places, but it was stupid to put this requirement into our places of production and THEN open market trade to countries that didn't also have similar quality (clean and safe) factories. If they did truly want free market AND a clean-safe work place, they would only do business with countries that also honored clean-safe work places. Government needs to stop allowing a "double standard" for a free market to work. We have a government restrict competition domestically, then opens free competition internationally...and then interferes more and more. Too much red tape...and things move too slow.

 

People are too brain washed into just believing what they are told to believe...especially when it feeds their emotions. Instead, we need to understand what happened to plan out a recovery.

 

Competition is what brings quality up and prices down...but we also need to consider supporting American goods in order to maintain American jobs as much as REASONABLY possible. All this can be fixed if we get someone in there that understands business, capitalism, true fair trade (where we only do business with countries that have safe work places and that also meet our "EPA" or other environmental standards), AND that also supports the US Constitution.

"All this can be fixed if we get someone inthere that understands business, capitalism, true fair trade (where weonly do business with countries that have safe work places and thatalso meet our "EPA" or other environmental standards), AND that alsosupports the US Constitution."

just read this....in my life since 1971---ford>>>carter>>>reagan reagan>>>bush>>>clinton clinton>>>bush bush>>>obama....7 months!

none meet / met the criteria for ...."fixing all this"?

JohnnyC at 06:39PM on Aug 26, 2009

an example of why socialism fails

 

A college economics professor made a statement that he had

never failed a single student before but had once failed an entire

class.

That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one

would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this

class on socialism". All grades would be averaged and everyone

would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would

receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.

The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had

studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that

socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great,

the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that

an example of a socialist program:mad:....Succeding:cool:

THE G.I. BILL 1944;

The Greatest Generation not only saved the world frommurderous monsters but the 1944 G.I. Bill produced the greatest numberof doctors, lawyers, engineers, chemists, etc. etc. etc. which trulystoked the educated engine which produced the greatest economic boomthe world has ever seen. After World War One, the veterans were promisedpensions for their service and sacrifice. The Congress was so penurious(read cheap) that it almost caused a revolution in the U.S. and waspartially responsible for the market crash of 1929 and the followingdisastrous Depression.

Wise persons in the 1944 Congress, (there were few ofthem) some veterans of WWI, remembered the stupidly and duplicity ofthe 1919 Congress and decided for positive action.

There were 16 million people in the service duringWWII. About 80 percent were only high school graduates. There wereliterally no or very few jobs available for those veterans.

The 1944 G.I. Bill was a Godsend and about 8 milliontook advantage of the educational opportunities. This 8 million reallyproved to be the Greatest Generation. Before this, college was theprovince of children of the rich. Now these would become the middleclass powerhouse and they did.

To read now that G.W. Bush refused to sign for the2008 GI Bill reminds one of what Texas Governor Ann Richardson said about him. "He was born with a silver foot in his mouth." I beg a correction. It must have stuck in his head. What other excuse for his numerous blunders and lies?

He says the new bill will cost too much. (5 billion dollars over 10 years) The war in Iraq costs 5 billion every two weeks.

College trained veterans will repay these costs in a few years in taxes.

I am not going to compare the "Bush" with President Roosevelt but this is what hesaid. "They (veterans) have been compelled to make greater economic andevery other kind of sacrifice (400 thousands dead and 1 millionwounded) and are entitled to definite action to take care of theirspecial problems".

How would "Bush" know? He was really NEVER in the service and NEVER heard a shot fired in anger.

Many ammendements were WRITTEN at the same time as the Constitution (the Bill of Rights for example) and by the same men. Yes, Ammendments can be added. Also, some things may need changing...as all men should be given equal opportunities.

HOWEVER, some rights should never change...such as the Bill of Rights.

Okay, Mike as far as walmart becoming a monopoly. Walmart is so successful for several reasons, Sam Walton was a great manager, he made good decisions for his company he started out with one store did well enough to get another and another. He expanded his company by keeping a low profit margin and focusing on supplying his customers with everything they could need in one place for cheap. Plus he had a better warehouse to store system.I go to walmart because I don't want to have to go to the grocery store then the hardware store then stop by napa when I can get everything for less at walmart. So it's not like they used some sneaky market manipulation to become a success (at least not at first). Notice littleT they weren't sued for infringement or taken over by the competition. They had a stronger business model so they survived. How many American jobs has walmart created? I'm sure they are trying to keep their competition down but it's only a matter of time before someone comes up with an even better way and out competes them, like johnny said survival of the fittest.

The G.I. bill isn't socialist because you still have to earn it's benefits. It's a reward designed to help the vets and the country.It's not a handout for everyone and anyone who'd rather not work to grab because it's there. I agree the G.I. bill should be continued as well as other benefits to our military. How may of those on the chopping block with this administration?

Just so we're clear I don't think secession is any kind of answer.We would just expose ourselves to further attacks by our international enemies. In fact a big part of the problem is we are so divided culturally, we have no sense of American culture, we have several cultures with some major differences all living under the same law. That's a big part of the problem if state laws were higher than federal laws, what the California culture thought about my way of life wouldn't matter, but they have a lot of votes and a big impact on how I can live my life. I would rather the federal government give back the "temporary" powers it borrowed from the states to fight WWII, then decided to never give them back.If each state were it's own power working with other powers only when there was a threat to mutual defense. Like it was designed to be.Then the president wouldn't matter so much, because most of the laws you'd be subject to would be state laws. Your vote would be that much louder. But these United States need each other.

The only reason a person would have to sell out all their friends and families to get connected to the "right people" is if you assume the "right people" are bad guys. Like for example say you want to become president you don't have to sell out to the Chicago mob, that's a personal choice that reflects your inner nature. There are plenty of good wealthy people, and even that is assuming the "right people" are rich. The right people may well just be well known and well connected themselves. I consider getting to know Lee to be a valuable connection in the dog world. Not only do I like his program, but through Lee I've also met other good dog people.

As far as people taking advantage of the system, of course they do. There are always bad guys looking to take advantage of others for their own good, Martha included. However you have a major misunderstanding that might explain why you feel the way you do about the economy. You said there is only so much money to go around. Thats a major misconception, and I see why you might feel like the rich are hogging it all. Money or rather the value of money isn't based on how many dollar bills are in circulation.

Look at manufacturing, someone mines raw materials, say iron then the ore is smelted into iron. So far someone has pulled ore out of the ground, been paid for it, and still made profit. Then the ore was smelted into iron someone paid to do that and still made profit, then it gets processed into steel and still someone makes profit. Then that steel is shipped to a plant that makes bikes. They take raw materials add work and value then sell the bike to a retailer for profit, who sells it to the consumer for profit and still at a fair price. and a much higher price than they would pay for an equal amount of iron ore. The ore plus the work is what they are paying for. Work is a renewable resource and has value. Most of the value of every product is the work that's gone into it. Adding work adds value.Or take dogs for example anyone can have puppies, we've all seen that, but producing good dogs takes work and adds value to your product. Consider the value difference in a 2 year old bandog who is healthy but has lived in a kennel his whole life and knows nothing, versus the value of the same dog, had he been socialized, trained in OB, PP, and had competed to prove his greatness. The difference is the work is what your buying, every person who creates something is adding money to our economy they are literally "making money".That's why socialism won't work there is no motivation to work that means nothing gets added to the economy, besides the government doesn't make money, it collects money, it depends on us to make money. You can't get money from the government that didn't come from your countrymen. As far as a Government option for health insurance that's one thing this bill isn't an option this bill is a, no option shove down our throats. There are also private jobs that don't add value to anything for example gambling, and money trading. They don't actually produce anything, they just move money around and make ridiculous income for producing nothing.

Their is no limit to the amount of money a person can produce in a given day. It depends on their job if my job is to install steering wheels, then I'll add value to every car I work on that day. If I'm a ceo and I make a decision that adds value to every car produced from now on, then I've added a lot of value to the whole economy and should be paid to match what I produced.

LittleT maybe I misunderstood:

As far stockpiling oil, & natural reserves for a certain region.....uhh you realize,"US NORTHERNERS" have about 13%of the EARTHS fresh water????,with recent re-enforced near autonomy?...

.....MICHIGAN knows a " little something" about self-and HOme defense AND protectionK9s as well as the best of 'em...believe anybody me.......but that reeks of country division...which i want no parts of,so i denounce the nature of it!.

It's sounds like your saying US northerners would be a threat to US southerners because of their natural resources. If so that makes my point of us having too may divisions in our culture. Can't we be Americans and leave it at that.

As far as the constitution being beyond the interest and understanding of the average citizen, that's ridiculous, it may well be true but it's still ridiculous that our people are so disinterested in their own live and way of life, that they can tell you whats been happening on desperate housewives, what not what laws they are subject to, what rights they have, and why. That should be of great interest to everyone, and unless they have a learning disorder they should be taught about these things so they can understand. It's sad we are a nation of people who don't know who we are as a nation, look at Poland, Poland has been conquered several times. For 150 years their was no Poland the the grandchildren of the polish fought to remake Poland. If America were conquered do you really thing your grandkids would feel American enough to rise up and fight for a country they have never known, when there are so few people alive today who even know what America really is. I can tell you I don't know what American is I know my part of America the southeast, and I know America's history, but to get an idea what most of America is really you'd have to live in every state in the nation with an open mind about what your seeing. We have several distinct cultures in Mississippi alone I can only represent my culture, which is very different from NY, CA or HI.

two last things, one before you start accusing people of being alarmist and spreading rhetoric maybe you should reread your original post.

Lastly the other dog people I'm talking about includes you guys whether you agree with me on politics or not, I still respect your opinions and I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just stating my opinions, please do the same. I also hope no one is getting angry because I'm not, I enjoy debating politics and I'm having a lot of fun, I hope no one is getting offended and that we're all enjoying this discussion.

David, again...great post. I really like the part about ADDING VALUE to a product via work. I also like the part on secession. I agree...I don't want to see seccession occur. I hope to see America REMAIN united...but I also hope that elected officials go back to honor the intent of the US Constitution.

Finally, this discussion as well as other similar discussions are fine by me AS LONG AS people do not make personal attacks or disrespectful comments. Intelligent peaceful discussion can be enlightening to others. Some of us with strong oppinions may not change our beliefs on such matters...but "fence riders" on these topics may come along and read them...and become informed on something they never thought about. For this reason, I have NO PROBLEM with these topics as long as they are handled in an adult and professional manner...which I understand can be difficult for some people given the "emotional value" of  some political issues.

DavidI,I read your entire post,as i hope you will give me the courtesy of doing.

!st thing:...my post,was an editorial article in THE LARGEST CIRCULATING NEWSPAPER IN MI.

I figured you as well as others,would key in on the TITLE (which the author titled it)... and ASs U me,I am on a trip about what the next man has,MAYBE if I supplied you with the authors name and bio,taking my face out of the equation,you could see the nature of HIS article.He is the ed.page Editor there.

 please go reread your POST of MY POST

"but that reeks of country division...which i want no parts of,so i denounce the nature of it!."

"""It's sounds like your saying US northernerswould be a threat to US southerners because of their natural resources.If so that makes my point of us having too may divisions in ourculture. Can't we be Americans and leave it at that.""

I feel you should adress the person and what was originally POSTED (in many places) That ,I was referring to in my statement.You are truly barking up the wrong tree in this case sir.WE agree if you didn't happen to notice.

".We would just expose ourselves to further attacks by our international enemies."

I will never question your intelligence after that statement man:)!HELLOFA QUOTE FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM!...HOORAH U>S>A>!!!!!

@ The same time......Please don't ? our work ethic or gumption and our ingenuity "UP HERE"...alllright?.

Please check out who your southern senators' and politicians' loyaltie's truly lie....... toyota-honda-suzuki-hyuandai....etc...

"""being more interested in their own power andtheir kickbacks than in doing a good job for the sake of the people. It's their job to serve."

oh well,like u said

"However, economic inequality is a part of theAmerican system, it's a side effect of free enterprise. The mosthardworking, smartest, luckiest, and most creative among us making moreis the main effect of free enterprise"

your next statement

""However, government regulations are cripplingfree enterprise to the point it doesn't function, that's what's hurtingus ALL today."

???