Did the internet save this nation

[Avatar4321]

In another thread TM stated:

Talking about the issues of the country does make it better, the internet is what saved this country this time arround.

multiple people asked her what she meant. How has this nation been saved? How did the internet save it?

Since she wasnt responding there I figured Id create a new thread to see if having a thread specifically on the subject would provoke her into answering.

 

[Amanda]

Economically maybe?

 

[DavidS]

Economically maybe?

Don't hurt yourself thinking over there.

 

[Amanda]

Economically maybe?

Don't hurt yourself thinking over there.

No one likes a hater, Dave.

 

[Article 15]

Got a link to the thread?

 

[garyd]

Frankly considering as how we are all still in deep crap I doubt anything has been saved just yet.

 

[Chris]

Frankly considering as how we are all still in deep crap I doubt anything has been saved just yet.

I am going to have my best year ever.

The real estate market here has exploded in the last two weeks.

Thank you, Congress for the stimulus.

 

[garyd]

Why? They raise the welfare payments in your neck of the woods?

 

[Chris]

Why? They raise the welfare payments in your neck of the woods?

First time home buyers tax credit.

Anybody who rents right now is an idiot.

 

[KittenKoder]

Why? They raise the welfare payments in your neck of the woods?

First time home buyers tax credit.

Anybody who rents right now is an idiot.

That's what they said when Clinton made his idiotic policy ...

 

[Article 15]

Why? They raise the welfare payments in your neck of the woods?

First time home buyers tax credit.

Anybody who rents right now is an idiot.

Or they can't afford a home yet.

 

[strollingbones]

more to affording a house than just the down payment

 

[editec]

Do you guys remember what researching was like BEFORE the internet?

I don't know about "saving" this nation, but certainly the Inet is one of the most marvelous educational and communication developments since moveable type.

Consider that I, a man who is basically living on poverty's door, have still managed to give away nearly million dollars worth of e-books (with tens of millions to follow, hopefully) , and helped create over 800 translations of books which 40,000 people from all over the world can and do access for free.

The return on investment that the internet provides education is absolutely staggering, folks. I could not have done in paper and ink books what I do now in ebooks for $20,000,000.

Plus the potential for collaboration of like minded people the world over is probably going to do more to change our collective POV that anything else we have EVER seen in human history.

It's a tool, folks.

It cannot save us, we have to save ourselves.

But it can be an extraordinary tool to help us do that, if we choose to use it wisely.

 

[del]

Why? They raise the welfare payments in your neck of the woods?

First time home buyers tax credit.

Anybody who rents right now is an idiot.

how much is your rent, kirky?

 

[midcan5]

That is an interesting supposition. But it assumes there are lots of people influenced by the Internet and I personally doubt that. But allow me the exaggerated freedom to agree with that picture. Starting with FDR the nation turned towards compassionate liberalism. The ideas that we all were in this together worked through Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon and even Carter. But during this same time there was a great deal of money invested in think tanks whose only goal was to bring back the days of Hoover. Rove loved those days as did other wingnuts. Businesses and greedy executives didn't like this new tag they considered socialism, so they worked to change the idea that we were in it together, but rather that we were being soaked by entitlements and equality. Two items hierarchy does not like. The ideas of markets and freedom and libertarian thought entered the minds of many and Carter's presidency and the rhetoric of Reagan placed the ideas of market and militancy up in lights and many bought into it. They believed and corporations now could remove equality and entitlements. End of regulation, end of good paying American jobs, end of unions, end of pensions, enter the walmart world of the wealthy and the rest. Enter the Internet and lo and behold another reality surfaced - but I'll let others finish this story.

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-ed...ince-1980-a-right-turn-leading-to-a-dead-end/
The Conservative Nanny State

http://www.usmessageboard.com/writing/50779-end-of-democracy.html

 

[Zoom-boing]

In another thread TM stated:

Talking about the issues of the country does make it better, the internet is what saved this country this time arround.

multiple people asked her what she meant. How has this nation been saved? How did the internet save it?

Since she wasnt responding there I figured Id create a new thread to see if having a thread specifically on the subject would provoke her into answering.

What's been saved?

 

[auditor0007]

Interesting concept. How about this one? The Internet played a big part in this countries economic downfall?

Actually, it wasn't just the Internet; it was computers and cell phones in general. During the 90's, the economy boomed. Why? Because we had all these new toys to purchase, and everyone wanted one. In the span of one decade, we developed two products that almost everyone wanted, and as time passed, almost everyone needed.

So why would this be a bad thing? These two items created a demand and an entire new sector in the economy. The profits were so good, who needed to worry about the everyday stuff? Jobs were plentiful, so we could forego the basics. In the process, business found that not only did everyone want these products, but they wanted them as cheap as possible. So we moved the manufacturing of many of these products overseas, along with just about anything else we had ever manufactured. And since just servicing and selling these products was enough to keep our economy extremely strong (just look at all the millionaires this created), we also abandoned the manufacturing of our most basic needs, all so everyone could have a piece of the pie at a cheap price.

On top of this, one of our most important industries, auto manufacturing, became much more efficient, and despite the complaints of poor quality, cars being built during the 90's and beyond were much more reliable and held up much longer than cars of the past. Remember when getting 100,000 miles on a vehicle was what one hoped for? Now, vehicles routinely get 200,000 miles; it's expected.

In the long term, people needed to buy new cars less frequently. And when it came to computers and cell phones, we peaked out. Everyone that wants one now has one. Yes, many people like upgrading, and they do need to be replaced every now and then, but there is no spike of new buyers for these products anymore. All of a sudden, the bottom has fallen out.

Because of this, we no longer manufacture anything of our own. It is the reason our GDP relies on 70%consumer spending. During the early 2000's, we were able to continue that spending spree based on overextending ourselves by overborrowing. Well, that had to come to an end also. So, there is a good argument that computers and the Internet, along with a few other items, led us to our downfall.

Assuming this is an accurate assessment, then how do we get back to a strong economy again? There are really only two options. One is that we develop some new product that everyone has to have. This would create millions upon millions of new jobs as the demand for this product would again drive our economy. Is that likely to happen? I have no idea. I'm not an inventor, lol. Option number two is the one that makes the most sense. We must get back to manufacturing our own goods once again. From clothing to electronics. We need to get away from the mentality that cheapest is best, because it is not. Without a solid manufacturing base, our core middle class will continue to shrink, which will lead to the overall decrease of wealth in this country. Everyone will feel the impact, including the wealthy. In the end, we need to get back to the basics of what made this country so strong to begin with.

 

[Avatar4321]

What's been saved?

That's exactly my point!

Someone asked for a link to the thread:

http://www.usmessageboard.com/general-discussion/71871-bye-all-of-you.html

 

[garyd]

Worked thru Carter??? Midcan are you retarded or just ignorant history. From virtually the day LBJ and the Democratic congress legislated into existence the Great Society the nation was in an ever increasing economic Quagmire which did not fully end until Reagan.

 

[Immanuel]

Do you guys remember what researching was like BEFORE the internet?

Yeah, but you can trust almost nothing you research on the internet and absolutely nothing you read on a political website.

Immie