Getting to the heart of the country's problems

[MaggieMae]

WE'RE NO. 1(1)!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/opinion/12friedman.html?ref=thomaslfriedman

Ask yourself: What made our Greatest Generation great? First, the problems they faced were huge, merciless and inescapable: the Depression, Nazism and Soviet Communism. Second, the Greatest Generation’s leaders were never afraid to ask Americans to sacrifice. Third, that generation was ready to sacrifice, and pull together, for the good of the country. And fourth, because they were ready to do hard things, they earned global leadership the only way you can, by saying: “Follow me.”

Contrast that with the Baby Boomer Generation. Our big problems are unfolding incrementally — the decline in U.S. education, competitiveness and infrastructure, as well as oil addiction and climate change. Our generation’s leaders never dare utter the word “sacrifice.” All solutions must be painless. Which drug would you like? A stimulus from Democrats or a tax cut from Republicans? A national energy policy? Too hard. For a decade we sent our best minds not to make computer chips in Silicon Valley but to make poker chips on Wall Street, while telling ourselves we could have the American dream — a home — without saving and investing, for nothing down and nothing to pay for two years. Our leadership message to the world (except for our brave soldiers): “After you.”

 

[Jeremy]

So much in this country is going in a downward spiral;
Our democratic process has gone from bringing out the best in America to bringing out the worst in Americans,
the ever growing segments of our population that either lack personal responsibility or lack the ability to care for others,
going from "I understand what you are saying but disagree with what you said" to "I don't care what you are saying, you are a fucking idiot."

Frankly, I'm surprised we are doing as good as we are.

 

[Mr. H.]

"Oil addiction"? LOL what do you think won WWII - hybrid vehicles?

 

[psikeyhackr]

The so called Greatest Generation didn't grow up watching television having their heads filled with bullshit by marketing idiots.

Psychology is the study of not thinking and trying to manipulate people into not thinking.

psik

 

[MaggieMae]

The so called Greatest Generation didn't grow up watching television having their heads filled with bullshit by marketing idiots.

Psychology is the study of not thinking and trying to manipulate people into not thinking.

psik

That's very true, although I don't think the intent is to create non-thinkers. People just need to have the ability to sort out fact from fiction because there's nothing that can be done about the long reach of the media and the Internet. It's gonna be with us forever.

 

[Mr. H.]

As I recall, Obama frequently used the term "sacrifice" during his campaign and as now in office. I don't agree with his politics or policies, but it's the public who's unwilling to step up to the plate. Maybe not so much as a nation, but as individuals. On a personal level in everyday life. The little things add up.

 

[psikeyhackr]

That's very true, although I don't think the intent is to create non-thinkers. People just need to have the ability to sort out fact from fiction because there's nothing that can be done about the long reach of the media and the Internet. It's gonna be with us forever.

That is a very interesting part of the problem. It isn't just sorting fact from fiction it is finding the IMPORTANT FACTS that have a tendency to completely disappear. That is why I emphasize the non-thinking. When no one supplies the most important facts how do you think? The competing propagandists just try to get people to believe the distorted perspectives.

psik

 

[MaggieMae]

That's very true, although I don't think the intent is to create non-thinkers. People just need to have the ability to sort out fact from fiction because there's nothing that can be done about the long reach of the media and the Internet. It's gonna be with us forever.

That is a very interesting part of the problem. It isn't just sorting fact from fiction it is finding the IMPORTANT FACTS that have a tendency to completely disappear. That is why I emphasize the non-thinking. When no one supplies the most important facts how do you think? The competing propagandists just try to get people to believe the distorted perspectives.

psik

With each political talk show lasting around one hour, the problem has become getting in on the game of the juiciest story du jour and staying on point for that entire hour. Thus ignoring, as you say, the most important facts of other issues of much more importance.

Case in point, Afghanistan is always very much an important newsworthy subject, and right now the situation there could well come to a head at any moment. What if the Karzai government and the Taliban actually DO come to some kind of truce, or better, a peaceful arrangement. Could that mean that American and NATO troops could start withdrawing even sooner? Is anyone seriously discussing this? Only CNN that I can tell from my morning channel surfing ritual.

 

[Liberty]

the greatest generation were taught by their aprents and schools about American exceptionalism, devine providence, and fucking common decency, respect, and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Something Wilson and FDR began destroying for other generations.

They were great because they were as a whole, the last generation to fully embody the American spirit.

 

[Trajan]

it starts at the beginning....the self esteem mantra.....you or the individual is so important, your feelings take precedence, there's no room for consideration for others because you come first, you hurt is always the worst hurt and your satisfaction is always paramount.....its downhill form there.

 

[Liberty]

it starts at the beginning....the self esteem mantra.....you or the individual is so important, your feelings take precedence, there's no room for consideration for others because you come first, you hurt is always the worst hurt and your satisfaction is always paramount.....its downhill form there.

you act as if charity never exists in a free society.

 

[danpac24]

i can't stand the fact that all of these scum bags are getting money for welfare but yet not one of these people try to do anything about getting a job or becoming a responsible person. most of these people are black or they are trashy white people. i'm not racist to any creed or color but i am racist to the group of people who do this it is pathetic and sickening. how can you look at yourself in the mirror and know how much of a csum bag you are

 

[American Horse]

That's very true, although I don't think the intent is to create non-thinkers. People just need to have the ability to sort out fact from fiction because there's nothing that can be done about the long reach of the media and the Internet. It's gonna be with us forever.

That is a very interesting part of the problem. It isn't just sorting fact from fiction it is finding the IMPORTANT FACTS that have a tendency to completely disappear. That is why I emphasize the non-thinking. When no one supplies the most important facts how do you think? The competing propagandists just try to get people to believe the distorted perspectives.

psik

With each political talk show lasting around one hour, the problem has become getting in on the game of the juiciest story du jour and staying on point for that entire hour. Thus ignoring, as you say, the most important facts of other issues of much more importance.

Case in point, Afghanistan is always very much an important newsworthy subject, and right now the situation there could well come to a head at any moment. What if the Karzai government and the Taliban actually DO come to some kind of truce, or better, a peaceful arrangement. Could that mean that American and NATO troops could start withdrawing even sooner? Is anyone seriously discussing this? Only CNN that I can tell from my morning channel surfing ritual.

I have heard much discussion on that subject on Fox News

 

[rdean]

i can't stand the fact that all of these scum bags are getting money for welfare but yet not one of these people try to do anything about getting a job or becoming a responsible person. most of these people are black or they are trashy white people. i'm not racist to any creed or color but i am racist to the group of people who do this it is pathetic and sickening. how can you look at yourself in the mirror and know how much of a csum bag you are

From 2001 to 2008, 2.4 million jobs were moved to China. The minimum wage there is 88 dollars a month to 142 a month. They live in dorms. When spent billions in China teaching rice farmers to build technology. Too bad American corporations want to build up that country and not this one. What a shame. 2001 to 2008. Hmmm, I wonder who was in charge?

Education and building up this country is "socialism". Better to never help other Americans and call them black and trashy white then help Americans less fortunate.

 

[Liberty]

i can't stand the fact that all of these scum bags are getting money for welfare but yet not one of these people try to do anything about getting a job or becoming a responsible person. most of these people are black or they are trashy white people. i'm not racist to any creed or color but i am racist to the group of people who do this it is pathetic and sickening. how can you look at yourself in the mirror and know how much of a csum bag you are

From 2001 to 2008, 2.4 million jobs were moved to China. The minimum wage there is 88 dollars a month to 142 a month. They live in dorms. When spent billions in China teaching rice farmers to build technology. Too bad American corporations want to build up that country and not this one. What a shame. 2001 to 2008. Hmmm, I wonder who was in charge?

Education and building up this country is "socialism". Better to never help other Americans and call them black and trashy white then help Americans less fortunate.

US government's fault, not companies, dumbfuck.

 

[Flopper]

The greatest generation had faith in it's leadership. When the president addressed the nation, or a news story appeared in the paper, people acceptable what they heard and read as the truth. I think most felt that if it's in the paper it had to be true or it wouldn't be printed. There were no internet bloggers to build alternate versions of every news story. No conspiracy theories. Good and evil were pretty clearly defined. People lived their lives expecting good to trump over evil much like you see in an old movie. People really believed in an honesty days work for honest days pay. With television and finally the Internet, these ideas were gone forever.

 

[Urbanguerrilla]

i can't stand the fact that all of these scum bags are getting money for welfare but yet not one of these people try to do anything about getting a job or becoming a responsible person. most of these people are black or they are trashy white people. i'm not racist to any creed or color but i am racist to the group of people who do this it is pathetic and sickening. how can you look at yourself in the mirror and know how much of a csum bag you are

So if you loose your job in the morning does that make you a scumbag? If your daughter looses her job does that make her a scumbag? You may not be a racist but you shouldn't use such language about people most of whom are having a bit of bad luck and would work if there were jobs.

 

[mdn2000]

WE'RE NO. 1(1)!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/opinion/12friedman.html?ref=thomaslfriedman

Ask yourself: What made our Greatest Generation great? First, the problems they faced were huge, merciless and inescapable: the Depression, Nazism and Soviet Communism. Second, the Greatest Generation’s leaders were never afraid to ask Americans to sacrifice. Third, that generation was ready to sacrifice, and pull together, for the good of the country. And fourth, because they were ready to do hard things, they earned global leadership the only way you can, by saying: “Follow me.”

Contrast that with the Baby Boomer Generation. Our big problems are unfolding incrementally — the decline in U.S. education, competitiveness and infrastructure, as well as oil addiction and climate change. Our generation’s leaders never dare utter the word “sacrifice.” All solutions must be painless. Which drug would you like? A stimulus from Democrats or a tax cut from Republicans? A national energy policy? Too hard. For a decade we sent our best minds not to make computer chips in Silicon Valley but to make poker chips on Wall Street, while telling ourselves we could have the American dream — a home — without saving and investing, for nothing down and nothing to pay for two years. Our leadership message to the world (except for our brave soldiers): “After you.”

Oil addiction, no such thing, unless you want to describe your need for air as an "air addiction".

Education is a huge problem and the fact that you took a liberal democratic talking point at its face value is a demonstration of what is wrong with our media and the people who dont think about what they read.

We sent our best minds to make computer chips, wrong again, hard working people went to school, sought jobs, and developed technology. Nobody was sent.

Our problem is climate change, as you saw on TV and read in papers, you never consider that the corporations and politicians use this issue to retain power and make themselves rich while the American dream disappears as fast as they take our tax money and ship our technology overseas.

That generation was ready to sacrifice, like we dont work hard and sacrifice, you make it sound like we are lazy bums, I sacrifice my hard work every day for liberal/marxist politician who steal my money and give it to General Electric.

The problem today is to many people are to stupid to when they are manipulated.

The problem today is too much tax and the power of government to control tax.

The problem today is politicians get rich investing in green energy that is mandated by the laws they pass.

No where in your post do you acknowledge our problems is a government that is getting rich off the working class.

 

[mdn2000]

i can't stand the fact that all of these scum bags are getting money for welfare but yet not one of these people try to do anything about getting a job or becoming a responsible person. most of these people are black or they are trashy white people. i'm not racist to any creed or color but i am racist to the group of people who do this it is pathetic and sickening. how can you look at yourself in the mirror and know how much of a csum bag you are

So if you loose your job in the morning does that make you a scumbag? If your daughter looses her job does that make her a scumbag? You may not be a racist but you shouldn't use such language about people most of whom are having a bit of bad luck and would work if there were jobs.

You are wrong although morally correct, Urbanguerrilla should use the exact language he chooses, you should recognize this may indicate a bigot or a racist. If everyone followed your advice and did not say what they thought, would you know that the world is still full of people that should be watched. Would you rather people not expose themselves and take their peculiar actions out of sight of the public.

That said I am completely for welfare, but not as it is, reduce tax to nothing, one sales tax nationwide, spend a buck, taxed on a buck, rebuild our industry so that those who's ambition is a repetitive job in a factory have those jobs.

Not all people can work a technically challenging career, some people prefer to pump gas, others can be surgeons. Make the USA the cheapest and most stable place to run a company and wages rise making welfare unappealing.

 

[editec]

WE'RE NO. 1(1)!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/opinion/12friedman.html?ref=thomaslfriedman

Ask yourself: What made our Greatest Generation great? First, the problems they faced were huge, merciless and inescapable: the Depression, Nazism and Soviet Communism. Second, the Greatest Generation’s leaders were never afraid to ask Americans to sacrifice. Third, that generation was ready to sacrifice, and pull together, for the good of the country. And fourth, because they were ready to do hard things, they earned global leadership the only way you can, by saying: “Follow me.”

Contrast that with the Baby Boomer Generation. Our big problems are unfolding incrementally — the decline in U.S. education, competitiveness and infrastructure, as well as oil addiction and climate change. Our generation’s leaders never dare utter the word “sacrifice.” All solutions must be painless. Which drug would you like? A stimulus from Democrats or a tax cut from Republicans? A national energy policy? Too hard. For a decade we sent our best minds not to make computer chips in Silicon Valley but to make poker chips on Wall Street, while telling ourselves we could have the American dream — a home — without saving and investing, for nothing down and nothing to pay for two years. Our leadership message to the world (except for our brave soldiers): “After you.”

And yet there are people right here on this very board who would applaude if they read Ayn Rand's book

The VIRTUE of Selfishness.​

And what is the central themes of that book?​

That government (ergo nations) are bad and that everybody is better off if they act entirely in their own interests.​

The American people aren't the problem, the problem comes from the fact that our leadership WORSHIPS that Russian apologist's religion of MAMMON.

Doubt me?


Greenspan said that his world view was changed when he read ATLAS SHRUGGED.

The central theme of that book?

That government is bad and the individual ought NOT sacrifice for the collective good.

We're currently reaping a harvest brought to us by the elite of this society who believe that philosophy.

They maximized their human potential and did so knowing full well that the collective good would suffer as a result.

But they had a philosophy which told them that THAT was okay.

How's that working out for us, folks?








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