Are American businesspeople losing faith in their country?
Story from the economist American idiocracy - The civil war in Washington, DC, is damaging American business
American companies are sitting on a gigantic pile of cash; Apple alone has $76 billion in the bank. Why won’t corporate America invest in America? It does not help that domestic demand is feeble, and that the global economy is in turmoil. But American politicians deserve some of the blame. Their unpredictability erodes confidence. The gulf between American business and the Obama White House is growing ever wider, as business-friendly insiders (such as Larry Summers, an economic adviser) leave the administration. Even more dangerously, the gulf between business and the rest of the country is widening: opinion polls show that American businesspeople are losing faith in their country even as ordinary Americans are losing faith in business. Calvin Coolidge’s statement was once denounced as the height of bourgeois complacency. Today it sounds like a reminder of an America that is in danger of disappearing.
thoughts monkeys?
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Democracy requires a sizable
Democracy requires a sizable body of educated, informed, and responsible voters. My impression is that the average US voter is regressing towards a level of ignorance that makes him unfit to support a functioning democratic government.
The same is true for the partisan politicians in Washington that are not in a position to make the compromises that are necessary to further the common interest. What to do without the US guarding the safety of the world's trade system? Will it become chaos till the next empire takes over? Poor world...
The problem with America
The problem with America today is that internet has made a truer form of democracy possible.
Internet now allows for the opinions of the vast, uneducated masses to be heard. This is indeed the voice of real America, the America that Washington has tried to avoid for centuries. This America is racist, ultra religious, completely uneducated, very easy to manipulate and it stubbornly feels it is always right by the grace of God.
So… the problem in Washington is that rural America, or the anti-America if you want to call it like that (the one not known outside our borders) has unfortunately awaken and the Republican Party is catering to its madness for political support.
^^ comments XD
blastoise, i think that's
blastoise, i think that's taking it a bit far.
however i do agree that the political problem(s) lie in our system of democracy. since 50% of the voting population doesn't pay taxes (social security recipients, welfare recipients, etc.) but receives massive benefits they will never vote for someone who is in favor of reducing these benefits in order to solve our debt problems.
before 1776 there was taxation without representation. now there's representation without taxation. it's preposterous. voting is a privelege and only those who pay taxes should be allowed to elect the politicians who will spend them.
lone star state
blastoise, i think that's taking it a bit far.
however i do agree that the political problem(s) lie in our system of democracy. since 50% of the voting population doesn't pay taxes (social security recipients, welfare recipients, etc.) but receives massive benefits they will never vote for someone who is in favor of reducing these benefits in order to solve our debt problems.
before 1776 there was taxation without representation. now there's representation without taxation. it's preposterous. voting is a privelege and only those who pay taxes should be allowed to elect the politicians who will spend them.
The Economist is a right wing publication, yet the vast majority of the comments are blaming the Republicans. I think you guys need to wake up to the fact that the Republicans have shifted so extraordinarily far to the right over the past decade that it has resulted in the political process in the US becoming nearly unworkable. You are alienating the young demographic in this country (myself included).
The Democrats have conceded enormously to the Republicans on many issues, yet the Republicans remain ideologically intransigent. You do not belong in government if you categorically refuse to compromise, and your party should take a long deep look in the mirror when a Christian Fundamentalist (Bachmann) who has a history of skewering and ignoring the truth is one your frontrunners for the Presidency.
I wouldn't go so far and say
I wouldn't go so far and say that The Economist is a right wing publication. Sure, they favor a smaller government vs. a larger one, but the positions that The Economist take are more in line with "Classical Liberalism" than any in other political philosophy.
I think the biggest indicator of the madness that currently is the Republican Party, is that they continue to brand Obama as a socialist, when he's more right-wing than Nixon.
Chillguy wrote: I wouldn't go
I wouldn't go so far and say that The Economist is a right wing publication. Sure, they favor a smaller government vs. a larger one, but the positions that The Economist take are more in line with "Classical Liberalism" than any in other political philosophy.
I think the biggest indicator of the madness that currently is the Republican Party, is that they continue to brand Obama as a socialist, when he's more right-wing than Nixon.
That is the crux of the issue, by the historical standards of liberalism vs conservatism the Republican party has gone so far to the right that they would not be taken seriously as a mainstream party in any other developed country. Of course they don't care, and they will criticism me for saying such, but they need to get a bit of perspective.
Your definition of "right
Your definition of "right wing" is so wrong it's laughable. Republicans are far LESS religious today than before, but the media contorts it to such a degree that you think differently. Look at the issue of gay marriage. A lot of the candidates are for equal-treatment civil unions. But since it's not "marriage" they are homophobic. Personally I'm still waiting for my common law canonization, but that another story. Look in the 80s...no candidate Democrat or Republican...hell even in the 1990s would say that they support gay marriage or even similar stuff. Saying that "God is on our side" or that "He will deliver us from these problems" aren't spurring pople to inaction, but rather the opposite. Economic policy wise, this BS Keynesianism stuff has been going oon for less than 100 years. 100 years of waning economic power. Tons of people said that once we lost a clear cut enemy (the USSR) Americas power would decine because the economic base was weak and without the military-based fear/propaganda against the Commies we would fall apart. I don't understand how anyone could look at Europe right now and say that's where we need to head. Every policy Obama outlined in his campaign (thank God he has fulfilled like one) has come straight from Europe. The freest countries economically are like Switzerland and Hong Kong (I know it's not a country) and ... I never would have guessed but they have more right skewed policies. The only reason that universal healthcare works in Switzerland is because most of the money (or at least a very sizable portion) they receive comes from out of the country (hence it doesn't benefit those foreign nationals). No country has a thriving economy and universal healthcare. The more welfare a country has, generally the lower the per capita GDP is. If you want to say "I'd rather everyone make 25k a year than someone make 1m and some not work" then you are a socialist and there is no reason arguing with the reasonless.
The reason that the Democrats are compromising is because the American people are not on their side. Like at all. Every single poll taken is heavily against the Democrats on almost all issues. Universal healthcare. The budget. The debt ceiling. Taxes. Government spending. The list goes on and on. The Republicans refuse to let their constituents down in favor of scoring points with the media and the social elite. The problem with your thinking blastoise is that, like most liberals do (not saying you are one) you think that the mass knows better than the individual. The government better than the citizen. The problem today is that the different populations of the USA are so intrinsically different that it is becoming what occurred to the Austrian Empire years ago. If you don't know- the empire was broken apart by the different ethnic groups clashing because they had massively divergeant needs. Imagine Turkey, Greece and Austria as one state today. that would suck. I'm not saying that the USA should break up, but I did write a paper last year explaining the similarities between the histories of the two states. And believe you me, they are striking.
Fuck it. I wanna live in Texas.
Reality hits you hard, bro...
awm55 wrote: Chillguy
I wouldn't go so far and say that The Economist is a right wing publication. Sure, they favor a smaller government vs. a larger one, but the positions that The Economist take are more in line with "Classical Liberalism" than any in other political philosophy.
I think the biggest indicator of the madness that currently is the Republican Party, is that they continue to brand Obama as a socialist, when he's more right-wing than Nixon.
That is the crux of the issue, by the historical standards of liberalism vs conservatism the Republican party has gone so far to the right that they would not be taken seriously as a mainstream party in any other developed country. Of course they don't care, and they will criticism me for saying such, but they need to get a bit of perspective.
So we should lower our standards to the other countries? If you are #1 you shouldn't care about what #2-350 is doing wrong. Just what they are doing right And they are failing right and left. Even the great China is having problems with their ghost towns and inflation.
Reality hits you hard, bro...
Chillguy wrote: I wouldn't go
I wouldn't go so far and say that The Economist is a right wing publication. Sure, they favor a smaller government vs. a larger one, but the positions that The Economist take are more in line with "Classical Liberalism" than any in other political philosophy.
I think the biggest indicator of the madness that currently is the Republican Party, is that they continue to brand Obama as a socialist, when he's more right-wing than Nixon.
Yes. Richard "We're all Keynesians now" Nixon. The bastion of American politics. You know you've lost when you put a pariah in the forefront.
Reality hits you hard, bro...
MMBinNC wrote: Your
Your definition of "right wing" is so wrong it's laughable. Republicans are far LESS religious today than before, but the media contorts it to such a degree that you think differently. Look at the issue of gay marriage. A lot of the candidates are for equal-treatment civil unions. But since it's not "marriage" they are homophobic. Personally I'm still waiting for my common law canonization, but that another story. Look in the 80s...no candidate Democrat or Republican...hell even in the 1990s would say that they support gay marriage or even similar stuff. Saying that "God is on our side" or that "He will deliver us from these problems" aren't spurring pople to inaction, but rather the opposite. Economic policy wise, this BS Keynesianism stuff has been going oon for less than 100 years. 100 years of waning economic power. Tons of people said that once we lost a clear cut enemy (the USSR) Americas power would decine because the economic base was weak and without the military-based fear/propaganda against the Commies we would fall apart. I don't understand how anyone could look at Europe right now and say that's where we need to head. Every policy Obama outlined in his campaign (thank God he has fulfilled like one) has come straight from Europe. The freest countries economically are like Switzerland and Hong Kong (I know it's not a country) and ... I never would have guessed but they have more right skewed policies. The only reason that universal healthcare works in Switzerland is because most of the money (or at least a very sizable portion) they receive comes from out of the country (hence it doesn't benefit those foreign nationals). No country has a thriving economy and universal healthcare. The more welfare a country has, generally the lower the per capita GDP is. If you want to say "I'd rather everyone make 25k a year than someone make 1m and some not work" then you are a socialist and there is no reason arguing with the reasonless.
The reason that the Democrats are compromising is because the American people are not on their side. Like at all. Every single poll taken is heavily against the Democrats on almost all issues. Universal healthcare. The budget. The debt ceiling. Taxes. Government spending. The list goes on and on. The Republicans refuse to let their constituents down in favor of scoring points with the media and the social elite. The problem with your thinking blastoise is that, like most liberals do (not saying you are one) you think that the mass knows better than the individual. The government better than the citizen. The problem today is that the different populations of the USA are so intrinsically different that it is becoming what occurred to the Austrian Empire years ago. If you don't know- the empire was broken apart by the different ethnic groups clashing because they had massively divergeant needs. Imagine Turkey, Greece and Austria as one state today. that would suck. I'm not saying that the USA should break up, but I did write a paper last year explaining the similarities between the histories of the two states. And believe you me, they are striking.
Fuck it. I wanna live in Texas.
"No country has a thriving economy and universal healthcare."
I'm sorry, this is one of the most idiotic things I have ever read on this forum, ever. We are the ONLY developed country that doesn't have universal healthcare. And never ever has a major Republican party Presidential Nominee been this far right, ever. By your parties standards now Reagan would have been a liberal because he raised taxes.
When all of the Republican
When all of the Republican parties presidential nominees refuse to concede on a deal that was 10 to 1 cut vs revenue rise that is insane. The fucking national review call them all crazy. You are living in a fantasy.
What it comes down to is the
What it comes down to is the role of government. Republicans of all degrees are in agreement that our current government has overstepped its bounds, is taking on more actions and responsibilities than it should or than it is legally allowed, and that funding such activities with an annual deficit is suicidal. Seeing the dire situation that European countries are in with even larger governments, our presidential candidates are understandably unwilling to back down. Democrats are coming around to this way of thinking, however, which is why they've been forced to admit defeat and concede so much in recent negotiations. Sorry for being right (in all senses of the word).
MMBinNC, come on down, the weather is great. And if things keep going the same way in DC, the type of split you're talking about is inevitable.
Thank God we are the only
Thank God we are the only country without universal healthcare. Europe is arthritic and pulling apart at the seams. Why should we emulate them in any way, shape or form?
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awm55 wrote: When all of the
When all of the Republican parties presidential nominees refuse to concede on a deal that was 10 to 1 cut vs revenue rise that is insane. The fucking national review call them all crazy. You are living in a fantasy.
That was a trick question. If you can't see that you are living in a fantasy.
txjustin wrote: awm55
When all of the Republican parties presidential nominees refuse to concede on a deal that was 10 to 1 cut vs revenue rise that is insane. The fucking national review call them all crazy. You are living in a fantasy.
That was a trick question. If you can't see that you are living in a fantasy.
Yeah, because Brett Baier on Fox News loves calling out Republicans.
"You are alienating the young
First off, I'm not a Democrat
The entire line of reasoning
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
awm55 wrote: txjustin
ragnar danneskjöld
I personally believe that the
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blastoise wrote: The problem
^^^lol
I want a lady on the street, but a freak in the bed,
Go Bucks!!
A massive amount of this
I notice that the older I am the more I sound like Illini Programer
- accountingbyday
UFOinsider wrote: A massive
UFOinsider wrote: A massive
Yes, "crazy". We're "crazy"
awm55 wrote: ragnar
ragnar danneskjöld
ANT wrote: I personally
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
awm55 wrote: Dude, what
ragnar danneskjöld
awm55 wrote: Am I missing
I notice that the older I am the more I sound like Illini Programer
- accountingbyday
We should have two-term
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blastoise wrote: The problem
Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards. - Tacitus
Dr. Nick Riviera: Hey, don't worry. You don't have to make up stories here. Save that for court!
blastoise wrote: The problem
awm55 wrote: blastoise
I notice that the older I am the more I sound like Illini Programer
- accountingbyday
UFO - the problem is the
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UFOinsider wrote: awm55
ANT wrote: UFO - the problem
AWM - Italian politicians are
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awm55 wrote: ANT wrote: UFO
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Being a drain doesn't mean
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Rural America = Anti-America,
ANT wrote: awm55 wrote: ANT
And neither will win the
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ANT wrote: And neither will
awm55 wrote: ANT wrote: And
I notice that the older I am the more I sound like Illini Programer
- accountingbyday
Not raising the debt ceiling
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UFOinsider wrote: awm55