tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512317041431941753.post5084918068312111580..comments2024-03-09T03:16:10.626-05:00Comments on America Revealed: The Mad As Hell Generationsforresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12778318395686111784noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512317041431941753.post-24168584138228485012011-10-06T21:35:04.830-04:002011-10-06T21:35:04.830-04:00Well said, Vic...Thank youWell said, Vic...Thank yousforresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778318395686111784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3512317041431941753.post-19186609669833900902011-10-05T17:40:57.046-04:002011-10-05T17:40:57.046-04:00I think the main issue is that Americans are curio...I think the main issue is that Americans are curiously ignorant in general, but in particular about economics.<br /><br />Most people do not understand that the value of something is imaginary; something is only worth as much as someone else is willing to pay. Furthermore, they do not consider that the US dollar itself is something that has imaginary value, that the value of the currency they pull out of ATMs or is magically transferred via plastic cards might itself be something that can evaporate practically overnight.<br /><br />The solution I have in mind very likely will not work--political and economic education. Do people understand that Clinton worked to balance the budget? Do people understand that Bush junior basically spent American money recklessly? The country voted for that idiot, and we are still paying the price. But this was only one small part of the whole equation. Our own greed (lack of ability to spend within our means) has doomed us. People bought houses with money they didn't have, signed up for loans whose rates could vary at any moment on them. What did they think was going to happen?<br /><br />So people need to get smarter about money. I'm not advocating a halt on spending. I'm saying people should think twice about taking out loans for things they don't need. I'm saying that we need to vote for politicians that will make it so that businesses can come back to the US--right now, taxes and regulations make it so that it's much cheaper for multinational firms to do all of their manufacturing offshore.<br /><br />Young people? Stop buying into a false dream, and start learning about fiscal responsibility. Stop watching "reality" TV shows and starting taking charge of your own life. Don't worry about standard of living--soon you'll be worrying about survival. You have a vote, so use it. Elect local and state officials that are intelligent and actually have a real plan that you understand and can get behind. Don't be disgusted by the mere mention of politics. Take charge and ask the right questions. DON'T VOTE FOR LOWER TAXES BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT SOUNDS GOOD. If you don't have a job, taxes won't matter to you anyway. Vote for responsible people who promise to use tax dollars to balance the budget. Bring our troops home and cut the defense budget. Vote to have checks and balances placed on the Federal Reserve, or dismantled entirely. Bring fiscal responsibility back to state and federal governments by refusing to back politicians that don't have a workable plan. DON'T JUST VOTE FOR A GUY THAT SAYS HE WILL CREATE MORE AMERICAN JOBS. Ask him or her how he or she plans to go about it, and have the knowledge to understand the answer.<br /><br />Like I said, this is not a very workable solution. We only know how to go back home, live with our parents, and remain depressed. Political activism is not a dirty word; it's our responsibility as Americans and one that we need to exercise--even if it's too late to save our old way of life, we might at least prepare ourselves for the inevitable and go into it with the strength to come out the other side of crisis more or less intact.Vicnoreply@blogger.com