The End Of The American Empire Is Here

Pepper said:
Did you take a poll? The government programs that help me HELP ME! and I'd be up schitt's creek without them. The problem is the bs one must go through for acceptance. I had a judge apologize to me for what I was put through, & stalled (his words) as I was so obviously in need.
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Yeah, some government programs actually do work, some do indeed die, and many don't go far enough to help long-term. Those are the ones that need reform.
 

oldman said:
Every dollar we send to Ukraine is borrowed.
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I would like all taxpayers to try to look at this like their OWN life ..... a friend or neighbor needs some help ...
would you if possible take out another mortgage on YOUR house to give them .....?
the answer would be clear ....no .... i could help in small ways but not digging myself in a hole except for my family ...

Pepper said:
Did you take a poll? The government programs that help me HELP ME! and I'd be up schitt's creek without them. The problem is the bs one must go through for acceptance. I had a judge apologize to me for what I was put through, & stalled (his words) as I was so obviously in need.
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of course Some folks like yourself have had difficult time for some program...... and some recipients ARE in need of and helped by programs
There is npo ONE SIZE fits ALL .....

the problem lies in the assumptions either way..............
one way of looking at it is most are deserving so close your eyes to the fraud or the abuse
i am speaking of the years of experience with people who WORK the system to their advantage and seemingly no one is watching ............

I can not tell you who is going to have hearings and hoops to jump through ........while others............ i have ACTUALLY seen happen ......... walk out with not one program ............but hooked to several programs......... and more then they even asked for when signing up .....
 
Timewise 60+ said:
Jackie....I am glad someone else get's it! I am a lot weary of all the anti American crapola! I blame our educators on much of this as they have fed our kids for generations, lots of lies, misrepresentations and exaggerations about our history and country!
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Yeah well, I'd be in trouble with Matrix if I told you who I blame for the most misinformation circulating our country day in and day out.
I see this thread has trickled down to all the "big bad socialist
giveaway programs" It's so hard to know just what will do our empire in.:rolleyes:
 

Murrmurr said:
Yeah, some government programs actually do work, some do indeed die, and many don't go far enough to help long-term. Those are the ones that need reform.
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Sorting out the ones that don't work will take an effort outside government. Then deciding what to do with the government employees that would lose their job another tough decision.

I should qualify my post about job loss. I don't know if getting a government job is one that is for life if a person is satisfied with what they applied for, or loss of employment due to change is possible.
 
Knight said:
Sorting out the ones that don't work will take an effort outside government. Then deciding what to do with the government employees that would lose their job another tough decision.

I should qualify my post about job loss. I don't know if getting a government job is one that is for life if a person is satisfied with what they applied for, or loss of employment due to change is possible.
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Changes do result in job loss except for employees who can be transferred to another department.

"Sorting out the ones that don't work will take an effort outside government" -- and gov't isn't at all keen on outside efforts even when they're logical and cost-effective. I don't think they even take suggestions.
 
Healthcare is one area where the private sector has failed miserably in the U.S. We pay more than any other developed nation, yet we often get substandard care. Private insurance companies operate with up to a 20% overhead, which means that one out of every five dollars you pay for private healthcare insurance goes to the insurance companies rather to your actual care. It used to be even worse before the ACA limited insurance company overhead.

Medicare, on the other hand, operates with a 4% overhead. That The biggest problems with Medicare and Medicaid are private companies screwing them over with fraudulent claims and charges.

So the problem isn't "socialism;" it's corrupted capitalism. Capitalism fails miserably when it is relied on for services that are essential to all of our lives because it exists — not to provide for the common good but to generate profits and to enrich stockholders.

You wouldn't want the government to design and manufacture the cars we drive because they would wind up looking like something out of the Soviet Union. On the other hand, you don't want private companies deciding what surgical procedures you can have when denying you coverage whenever possible is integral to their business model.
 
SeniorBen said:
Healthcare is one area where the private sector has failed miserably in the U.S. We pay more than any other developed nation, yet we often get substandard care. Private insurance companies operate with up to a 20% overhead, which means that one out of every five dollars you pay for private healthcare insurance goes to the insurance companies rather to your actual care. It used to be even worse before the ACA limited insurance company overhead.

Medicare, on the other hand, operates with a 4% overhead. That The biggest problems with Medicare and Medicaid are private companies screwing them over with fraudulent claims and charges.

So the problem isn't "socialism;" it's corrupted capitalism. Capitalism fails miserably when it is relied on for services that are essential to all of our lives because it exists — not to provide for the common good but to generate profits and to enrich stockholders.

You wouldn't want the government to design and manufacture the cars we drive because they would wind up looking like something out of the Soviet Union. On the other hand, you don't want private companies deciding what surgical procedures you can have when denying you coverage whenever possible is integral to their business model.
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yes i agree fully. capitalism hasnt done much for the people while its generating vast amounts of dinero for a few.

the amounts big corps have sucked in the last two years is astounding meanwhile the people are running out
of nearly everything. food water housing gas etc etc. let alone med costs.

this Is the goal of capitalizm: more for the rich. ive never liked it.
the greater good is not something capitalizm deals with.
 
CrowFlies said:
yes i agree fully. capitalism hasnt done much for the people while its generating vast amounts of dinero for a few.

the amounts big corps have sucked in the last two years is astounding meanwhile the people are running out
of nearly everything. food water housing gas etc etc. let alone med costs.

this Is the goal of capitalizm: more for the rich. ive never liked it.
the greater good is not something capitalizm deals with.
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Capitalism is great when it's well regulated. The free market destroys society.
 
Pepper said:
Did you take a poll? The government programs that help me HELP ME! and I'd be up schitt's creek without them. The problem is the bs one must go through for acceptance. I had a judge apologize to me for what I was put through, & stalled (his words) as I was so obviously in need.
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Now that kind of says it all...
 
chic said:
That's it. It's no longer properly regulated so there is no competition and few control everything which is not capitalism.
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Chic...you are close! We are OVERREGULATED now! These reg's limit competition, which is destructive to free market capitalism...
 
CrowFlies said:
yes i agree fully. capitalism hasnt done much for the people while its generating vast amounts of dinero for a few.

the amounts big corps have sucked in the last two years is astounding meanwhile the people are running out
of nearly everything. food water housing gas etc etc. let alone med costs.

this Is the goal of capitalizm: more for the rich. ive never liked it.
the greater good is not something capitalizm deals with.
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Those who have studied capitalism know that is was not meant to be a perfect system. No such thing as an economic system that is perfect. It was meant to be a better system than Socialism or Communism giving economic power to the individual, instead of having it controlled by a cental power. Capitalism has proven over the years to work! Is it perfect, no!

Look at what Americans have compared to the rest of the world, go back as far as you want and do some comparisons. Sweden used to be thought of as an exception where Socialism seemed to work well...but in recent years they seem to be in trouble with massive inflation and shortages of many products.

If you REALLY believe Russia, China, France, etc. have better economies for the people who live their, do some real research. Talk to some people who have lived in these countries. I have seen these places and worked with people from these countries. They all want to come and live in America. I have not yet met one, that prefers where they live to America. Part of this experience was working for a Swedish company that had international operations, including China and Russia. Even the Swedish people, really preferred America. Their main complaint was they could not afford to buy anything in Sweden, things were so expensive. Medical care was free, but you had to get in line, sometimes to a dangerous point.

All most all European's live in apartments or condo type homes. They can only dream about someday having a home with their own property. Wake up folks...you are being brain washed by our media and educators...in this world the USA is the best place to live!
 
Timewise 60+ said:
Chic...you are close! We are OVERREGULATED now! These reg's limit competition, which is destructive to free market capitalism...
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Depends on how you define PROPERLY regulated. Safe to assume, at least for most, that by properly regulated, Chic meant fairly regulated; an even playing field; the original free-enterprise capitalism that allowed America's progress and growth to surpass other nations so rapidly.

Tragically, the free-enterprise capitalist system became corrupted by greed. There's no free-enterprise in our capitalist system now. There's only capital. And that's due to improper regulations, created by wealthy politicians and legislators, that favor the wealthy.
 
IMO capitalism is alive and well in America just ask folks like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, etc...

I do believe that free-market capitalism could use some work.

I agree with Chic that it may be time to take a hard look at some of the too-big-to-fail companies that control the production of many goods and services.

An example might be the recent baby formula debacle, maybe being dependent on one company for 40% of the country's needs is too much if not properly regulated.

I hate to see America going hat in hand to other countries for basic things like baby formula and oil.
 
Warrigal said:
Ya reckon, Timewise? Cast your eyes south of the Equator to Australia and New Zealand.
Hard to find anyone down here who thinks USA is the best place to live.
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And yet ...... whether it is tennis players, golfers, rock&roll groups, movie actors, racecar drivers , big finance, Et al ...... They all come here ...... to make it big. And in the case of catastrophy , invasion, etc .... who does the world expect to ride-in on their white horse and save the day ?? The U.S.A.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I support the money being spent to help Ukraine and appreciate how fortunate we are that the fight for democracy and freedom has historically been waged outside of the United States, but at some point, we need to pay for that luxury.

I suppose I'm part of the problem drawing more each month from the government than I contribute.

I'm willing to double down and pay my fair share if the rest of America is willing to do the same, but I'm afraid it has become a dog-eat-dog every man for himself world in recent years.

"Don’t Tax You. Don’t Tax Me. Tax That Fellow Behind the Tree." - Russell B. Long
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While I agree with your view, I contributed lots of money to the government during the 40+ years I was employed and don't mind having them contribute back to me in my Golden Years. It is only a small pittance of what I point in, so we are not part of the problem.

And we can still contribute, even if those around us are not willing to do so. I've contributed to Chef Jose Andres Ukraine initiative. Every time I go to the grocery store, I contribute to families in need and various other charities. I consider myself extremely fortunate and I think the least I can do is give to others who aren't.
 
Warrigal said:
Ya reckon, Timewise? Cast your eyes south of the Equator to Australia and New Zealand.
Hard to find anyone down here who thinks USA is the best place to live.
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I made it clear in my comments that I was speaking about Europe. I have not worked with anyone from Australia or New Zealand. Nor have I visited either location... Therefore, I take your word for what you say.
 
Pepper said:
Did you take a poll? The government programs that help me HELP ME! and I'd be up schitt's creek without them.
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Good point, I tend to be a skeptic about government programs but some have been helpful to me. Of late I am appreciating Medicare, spent more on medical costs in the past 2 or 3 years than in my whole life before. It would have been hard for me to pay these without.

And of course all of the government services and the like, from police to roads...
 
CrowFlies said:
empires around the planet will go down. ours will, we have way too many humans, we cant manage this.
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The US fertility rate (births per woman) is well below replacement rate, as is the case in the rest of the developed world. If our population is growing it is for two reasons, a wave of women born when our fertility rate was above replacement, and immigration. Without immigration, our population will decline as it is in Italy, Japan, and the rest of the developed world. It is inevitable! Immigration is a product of an undeveloped world that is growing faster than its land mass and economies can support. Doubt me? Use a search engine to look up world fertility rates. You will be shocked at what you find.
 
ElCastor said:
The US fertility rate (births per woman) is well below replacement rate, as is the case in the rest of the developed world. If our population is growing it is for two reasons, a wave of women born when our fertility rate was above replacement, and immigration. Without immigration, our population will decline as it is in Italy, Japan, and the rest of the developed world. It is inevitable! Immigration is a product of an undeveloped world that is growing faster than its land mass and economies can support. Doubt me? Use a search engine to look up world fertility rates. You will be shocked at what you find.
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While married couples with children were the majority decades ago, now nearly 57 percent of U.S. households are childless.
Check out Reuters findings. I'm shocked, truly.
 
Timewise 60+ said:
Those who have studied capitalism know that is was not meant to be a perfect system. No such thing as an economic system that is perfect. It was meant to be a better system than Socialism or Communism giving economic power to the individual, instead of having it controlled by a cental power. Capitalism has proven over the years to work! Is it perfect, no!

Look at what Americans have compared to the rest of the world, go back as far as you want and do some comparisons. Sweden used to be thought of as an exception where Socialism seemed to work well...but in recent years they seem to be in trouble with massive inflation and shortages of many products.

If you REALLY believe Russia, China, France, etc. have better economies for the people who live their, do some real research. Talk to some people who have lived in these countries. I have seen these places and worked with people from these countries. They all want to come and live in America. I have not yet met one, that prefers where they live to America. Part of this experience was working for a Swedish company that had international operations, including China and Russia. Even the Swedish people, really preferred America. Their main complaint was they could not afford to buy anything in Sweden, things were so expensive. Medical care was free, but you had to get in line, sometimes to a dangerous point.

All most all European's live in apartments or condo type homes. They can only dream about someday having a home with their own property. Wake up folks...you are being brain washed by our media and educators...in this world the USA is the best place to live!
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Not according to Canucks. We like our American neighbours, but we love living in Canada. 🇨🇦
 

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