America today

[Flaptail]

Bassturbeb, I love you. But, when American companies Like say, Levi's Jeans for example, give thier CEO's a 22 million dollar bonus for shutting down and moving them to China/Singapore/Mexico and VietNam, don't you find that disturbing.

BTW, I have several credit cards and no balance on any one of them. I pay cash for big ticket items like cars, which on the whole are a really poor investment wouldn't you agree? Especially expensive American ones?

You see things from the invetor/business side but I see things from the introspective side, what you say is true but my point is we need to fix the way most americans do business in thier daily lives so they stop the reckless behavior when it comes to personal finance. Most people, if not the majority of our population are fiscally inept and generally uneducated in the art of money. Typical example would be the fool who waits for his big refund check each year from Uncle Sam. Nothing like giving the Goverment a free loan that makes them interest and you nothing. But Ahh that check!

Teaching personal responsibility is what is needed. If not most will never naturally be able to acquire it. We need to fix a lot of things in this country. Believing that it will fix itself and doing nothing but casting the critical eye will only makes you more blind to the reality.

The government of this country and the administration there of has veered way off the course of it's original intent. More a kingdom than a free democracy each day.

[Backbeach Jake]

It wouldn't hurt this Country to take a long, honest look in the mirror anymore than it would hurt an individual to. And not in the typical narcissic way that's become derigor these days. Personal assessment and personal responsibility for the individual and the nation would be a great step in the right direction. That and stop electing crooks and cheats.

[justplugit]

You nailed it Rav, and it always comes down to individual choices, responsibility, and character,
wehther it be how we treat others, or what is best for our country.


We can choose to hold the door open, or show some kindness to another, or just walk on by.


A politican can choose wether to become a true statesman, make the hard decesions for the good of the country,
or do whatever he needs to do to get re-elected and line his own pockets.


Our pool of people with integrity and character is dwindling,
and along with it the chances of finding the kind of people needed to make this country great again.

[striperman36]

We should just take a public sector job and be done with it.
For life, the DPS jobs unless you are in a sales role, are leaving town.

[stripersnipr]

Originally Posted by justplugit

You nailed it Rav, and it always comes down to individual choices, responsibility, and character,
wehther it be how we treat others, or what is best for our country.

Yep, Maybe we should quit blaming other entities like "America" and "Politicians" and put the responsibility where it truly belongs which is on our own shoulders. The mere fact that we can't wait to blame someone or something for our shortcomings tells the true story. We've grown up in a time where we witnessed the rewards prior generations achieved through hard work, courageous fighting, personal responsibility and integrity.
We've now produced a couple of generations who feel entitled to the same rewards those prior generations won but don't possess (or choose not to use) those same qualities that can make it a reality. Instead they choose handouts and / or easy credit to reward themselves with their perceived entitlements and then whine that they were forced to go into debt.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

entitled

That is the key word right there. me and my wife have been discussing this lately. Everyone seems to think they are "Entitled" to everything. The rules were made for other people.....not them.

[chris L]

What do you want from life
Someone to love
and somebody that you can trust
What do you want from life
To try and be happy
while you do the nasty things you must

Well, you can't have that, but if you're an American citizen you are entitled to:
a heated kidney shaped pool,
a microwave oven--don't watch the food cook,
a Dyna-Gym--I'll personally demonstrate it in the privacy of your own home,
a king-size Titanic unsinkable Molly Brown waterbed with polybendum,
a foolproof plan and an airtight alibi,
real simulated Indian jewelry,
a Gucci shoetree,
a year's supply of antibiotics,
a personally autographed picture of Randy Mantooth
and Bob Dylan's new unlisted phone number,
a beautifully restored 3rd Reich swizzle stick,
Rosemary's baby,
a dream date in kneepads with Paul Williams,
a new Matador, a new mastodon,
a Maverick, a Mustang, a Montego,
a Merc Montclair, a Mark IV, a meteor,
a Mercedes, an MG, or a Malibu,
a Mort Moriarty, a Maserati, a Mac truck,
a Mazda, a new Monza, or a moped,
a Winnebago--Hell, a herd of Winnebago's we're giving 'em away,
or how about a McCulloch chainsaw,
a Las Vegas wedding,
a Mexican divorce,
a solid gold Kama Sutra coffee pot,
or a baby's arm holding an apple?


but you are entitled to nothing else .

[Backbeach Jake]

Entitlement. Sure we witnessed our Parents working hard and steadily getting somewhere. Having a nice house and car on one income and when the time came they could count on their Social Security check and a pension check as well. Do we, their children have that deal? No. Two incomes, working hard to maintain the status quo, Social Security is about to go the way of the Do-Do, and what the hell is a pension? I don't feel entitled, I feel robbed of the American dream. The only jobs staying in this Country are service jobs, and if you're in IT Services, your job may still fly away to India. The only reason my job is still here is the fact that sending your car overseas to be repaired is too expensive, but I'm sure someone is working on it.
The kids aren't displaying Entitlement, they're displaying the white flag, they surrender because they know how hopeless it will be for them when they are 50, so eff it ...

[stripersnipr]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

Entitlement. Sure we witnessed our Parents working hard and steadily getting somewhere. Having a nice house and car on one income and when the time came they could count on their Social Security check and a pension check as well. Do we, their children have that deal? No. Two incomes, working hard to maintain the status quo, Social Security is about to go the way of the Do-Do, and what the hell is a pension? I don't feel entitled, I feel robbed of the American dream. The only jobs staying in this Country are service jobs, and if you're in IT Services, your job may still fly away to India. The only reason my job is still here is the fact that sending your car overseas to be repaired is too expensive, but I'm sure someone is working on it.
The kids aren't displaying Entitlement, they're displaying the white flag, they surrender because they know how hopeless it will be for them when they are 50, so eff it ...

I see people everywhere, everyday realizing the "American Dream". Those are the people who understand that they are not entitled to it and instead have plotted a course in their lives that allows them to earn it.
Waving a white flag isn't part of their plan.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by Flapgums

...when American companies Like say, Levi's Jeans for example, give thier CEO's a 22 million dollar bonus for shutting down and moving them to China/Singapore/Mexico and VietNam, don't you find that disturbing.

That's capitalism. CEO's have no duty to society at large. CEO's are beholden to the company's shareholders and the duty of the CEO is to maximize profits.

Originally Posted by Flapgums

BTW, I have several credit cards and no balance on any one of them. I pay cash for big ticket items like cars, which on the whole are a really poor investment wouldn't you agree? Especially expensive American ones?

Most cars are not "investments." They are rapidly depreciating assets and cash flow liabilities. At some point, it makes more sense to lease them than own them (maybe less the case nowadays with overall quality and reliability improving). To me, cars are nothing more than tools to get you and your stuff from point A to point B. But then, I am not a "car" guy.

Originally Posted by Flapgums

...we need to fix the way most americans do business in thier daily lives so they stop the reckless behavior when it comes to personal finance. Most people, if not the majority of our population are fiscally inept and generally uneducated in the art of money.

We teach all this useless crap in high school and college. Financial literacy is something that really needs to be mainstreamed into our educational system.

Originally Posted by Flapgums

The government of this country and the administration there of has veered way off the course of it's original intent. More a kingdom than a free democracy each day.

Well, I don't think I disagree with you in substance on this point. Every new law that gets passed by the fed.gov means that there will be more criminals created at the drop of the hat.

I am not happy with the burgeoning size of the fed.gov, whose growth just feeds on its own existence. I don't like that we are fighting wars or funding social programs that will be paid for out of our children's pockets. I don't like one bit that our civil liberties are being steadily eroded. But to blame it ALL on President Bush (Patriot Act excepted) is neither accurate nor fair.

We get the government we deserve.