Greed.....

[mhall]

You know we all go a few rounds on here and state our points and the like but here it is in a nutshell.

America and it's people are now reaping the harvest from a long stint of Greed and Decadence! Really people it is just that Dang simple. I don't want to get all religious and Zen on ya or nothing but I think alot of this was a long time coming and it's bringing folks to their knees.....Litterally. Just my humble 2 cents.

[DJD]

Brother I don't care what party you like this new way of thinking suucks! We give too much to the world and not enough to ourselves.

I also have a major problem with people in my bidness and everyday it seems someone wants more of me. Higher rates on fuel, food, taxes, services and anything else they can bump up, all this when the country is struggling to stay on it's feet.

[Tectonic]

It's laziness, too. The People have become complacent and apathetic to the situation around them. Skilled craftsman are a dying breed, pride in your heritage is frowned upon, the identity of people has been stripped away. What are they left with? Nothing. Nothing but to be good little sheeple in a draconian-esque governed country.

Greed has a lot to do with it, but only so far as the elite bankers and financiers. It's globalism that is the real threat. The only people that benefit from free trade when all is said and done with, are those with self-serving political and economic agendas.

I'm a fierce protectionism when it comes to economics. It was America that allowed Japan and China to "take over," we gave them the ability to do it. Japan's subversion of America during the television wars reads like a James Bond novel, only it's true.

It has been a long time coming, but the ability to change it was there. The ability to stop the tumble down hill is also there, but it's going to get worse because we're just going to sit and do nothing.

[know1]

You know we all go a few rounds on here and state our points and the like but here it is in a nutshell.

America and it's people are now reaping the harvest from a long stint of Greed and Decadence! Really people it is just that Dang simple. I don't want to get all religious and Zen on ya or nothing but I think alot of this was a long time coming and it's bringing folks to their knees.....Litterally. Just my humble 2 cents.

I really agree with this.

Just look around. Heck, in my neighborhood it's rare to see a house where people can actually park their cars in their garages. Either they have more cars than garage, or more likely they have a garage full of junk.

People can say the economy is bad, but then you look at weekend movie ticket sales and you have to wonder.

[know1]

Greed has a lot to do with it, but only so far as the elite bankers and financiers. It's globalism that is the real threat. The only people that benefit from free trade when all is said and done with, are those with self-serving political and economic agendas.

I'm a fierce protectionism when it comes to economics. It was America that allowed Japan and China to "take over," we gave them the ability to do it. Japan's subversion of America during the television wars reads like a James Bond novel, only it's true.

The global economy isn't going away and I think protectionism just ensures your own demise much like unions do the same thing to their employees.

What we need to do is innovate and adapt to the changing conditions, not throw up walls and barricade ourselves into our soon-to-be bankrupt country.

Look at the music industry and record sales. When technology developed enough to make it easy to share music files, they started throwing up walls and backing legislation. As a result, the industry is going into the toilet fast. Then you have companies like Amazon who embraced it and innovated and they're doing well. So much that they've caused iTunes to remove DRM in response.

[GeoFisher]

You know we all go a few rounds on here and state our points and the like but here it is in a nutshell.

America and it's people are now reaping the harvest from a long stint of Greed and Decadence! Really people it is just that Dang simple. I don't want to get all religious and Zen on ya or nothing but I think alot of this was a long time coming and it's bringing folks to their knees.....Litterally. Just my humble 2 cents.

I don't think it is greed as much as excess success.

I know I have more than I ever dreamed I would as a kid.........BUT I've worked my ASS off for what I have. Am I greedy..........HELL NO..

BUT I am glad I have what I have........

Now, I do agree that a VERY FEW people caused our bank issues, and a VERY FEW caused our market issues........

BUT I cannot blame GREED for the failure of GM and Chrysler.....I think FOOLISH decisions and being HANDCUFFED by the unions lead to their demise.

Oil Companies............hm............tough one.........I don't think greed either, I would say GREED drives them if they made more profit that say Wal-Mart, or Kroger, or Target, or ANY other company that makes a profit.

FINALLY.........be CAREFUL about what you say with regards to GREED........one tenet of Socialism........and Communism, is that everyone is on an equal playing field, and NO ONE from the "worker" class can outpace anyone else with worldly possessions........I PERSONALLY want to work HARD, and GET REWARDS for that work.......

Later,

Geo

[mhall]

I think you fellas might be getting off my target of this post. Yes, I was referring to individuals to,....but I was more gearing it towards Corp America.

Such as Ceo's making millions while the company goes bankrupt. Could he or her survive on half what they make and the company prosper?? Answer as you say Geo.. HELL YES!

Do the Unions and their work force have to make salaries and benefit packages that equal an average of 78 dollars an hour across the board?? Answer as you say Geo HELL NO!

Should a car or truck ever cost 40 to 50 thousand dollars even if it did your laundry, cooked your meals and cleaned itself?? Answer as you say Geo HELL NO!

Guys look at what things cost and look at those same companies and ask yourself this one simple question. Did mismanagement from overspending and exsuberant salaries and decadent spending cause some of their demise and ultimately cause their bankrupcy? Answer......HELL YES!

Everybody wants to be compensated well George including me, but at what cost.
If your boss came to you tomorrow and said concessions had to be made in order for the company to survive what stance what you take?

Would it be .....I want my money and I don't care if this place goes belly up.
Or would it be I need a job and want to help make this company have the best oppurtunity to get back on it's feet.
I don't know what camp you would be in only you would know that but if you picked the first one you are part of the problem not the solution to the plights America is facing today.

[roadrunner]

mhall something else to ponder where is the loyalty and patriotism. Everyone wants products as cheap as they can get them; we live in a small community and people will drive thirty miles to save a buck and the poor business man on Main Street can not compete with the big box stores. Then we have to raise taxes because our town does not have big enough sales tax revenue no loyalty for the guy who is sponsoring little league and every other good program. Why don’t we buy American products? Because we can save money buying offshore. Then we blame companies for exporting jobs. DAH.

Why don’t union members making 78 bucks an hour but union made products---because offshore products are cheaper. And then we have the litigious society we want to sue everyone and the liberal courts give a lady who spilled coffee in her lap millions of dollars because McDonalds was a big company and they could afford it. Guess who pays that bill. We have greedy corporations because many years ago we had corporate raiders and the entire system turned from looking at the long range health to the very short term profits which made the most money for their investors and now we have to pay for our greed, our lack of morals and stupidity.

[DJD]

What we need to do is innovate and adapt to the changing conditions, not throw up walls and barricade ourselves into our soon-to-be bankrupt country.

I thought by letting our guard down and not protecting outselves is what helped us get in this mess.

Unfair trade, unsecure borders and spineless corrupt politicians who would trade their family members for power.

How much more money do we need to give out to foreign countries before we qualify as not throwing up walls? How many more countries do we need to rebuild?

I'm sorry but I think we need to quit pussyfooting around everyones feelings in the world and take care of business at home. The Welfare line on the International level is HUGE for us. Stop being the International police....Heck with them all!! Bomb Iran, terminate terrorists when we find them and grow some backbone!!

Maybe I'm a "Redneck" in my views if so I'm proud of it!

[BASSKING]

[Would it be .....I want my money and I don't care if this place goes belly up.]


Mark this is what people really say when you ask them about concession or a pay cut.

My in laws work at ford along with a few other people i know and they dont care if the company goes out as long as there getting what the union has told they "should get".

it doesnt matter how much they beleive in the union when theese companies go under the union isnt with you when your standing in the unemployment line.

[mhall]

Alot of goood points on this thread and I can't say I really disagree with any of them. Obviously this is a complex issue with alot of variable's. Roadrunner point well taken and I try my best to live my life that way. I hate Walmart with all my heart and soul and all their China crap. I will go out of my way to buy American and pay more to and I frequent the Mom's and Pop's in my community whenever need be. We do alot of grocery shopping at Kroger I must confess one of the small local stores here in the county sells Water Oxen for beef, lol. I do my best to keep the Mrs. out of Chinamart to but it's hard. We own all Chevrolet vehicles to. I work for a small busines and I totally here where you are coming from.
I also agree with Don, to HELL with everybody else let's take care of our own. Billary wants to rebuild for the Palestian's, who gives a rat's ass about them!

[roadrunner]

You are a good man mhall and I know what you mean about the grocery store. We use to buy steaks at an IGA and they had great meat counter and the first thing they did when they found out a super Wal-Mart was going in was to cheapen their meat now I do not buy meat there you can not out cheap Wal-Mart. The only thing my wife and I buy at Wal-mart is what we can not buy any where else in town and they do bring a variety to small communities.