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The problem of America today is reflected in the 80:20 rule.
We once had a 90:10 economy (and society) which is what set us apart from most.
Even at 80:20 (which we also have had) we can hold our own.
Today though we are closer to a 70:30 ratio.
If (when?) we return to the 90:10 economy we'll again be in high clover.
That should be the long term goal of course but in the mean time we still need to find
some other way to compensate for the 20-30% who aren't able/willing to do for themselves.
This country isn't lost till its lost. Sure we have our problems, but there's many, many other countries that don't have their countries and many, many other countries that already in ruins. This country isn't perfect but I love this country and I'm happy to be here regardless of the all the craziness that goes on. Heck, we live in peace compared to the people who have to deal with Cartel killings in Mexico, the people who slave for the the minerals we ALL use for our electronic devices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I could keep going, I'm sure you get the point. We're not all that lost. Yet.
Yes, its lost. You got democratized. Democracy and freedom don't sit well together.
Ha ha and Capitalism cancels both democracy and freedom out. You're democratic enough to shop around and free enough to watch our government get lobbied to death and our presidents earn millions so they can save us from ourselves by paying back those favors.
Ha ha ha, democratic, that's a spin isn't it. I'm laughing so hard I'm crying.
Capitalism and Democracy mix as well as water and oil. IMO, of course.
But lost, no Chango my buddy, we just aren't UNITED anymore. 1/2 of us want to go back and half of us want to move forward. It's going to be awhile until we figure out a direction. Right now we are just stuck, sitting here and waiting out the divide.
The world is full of 'lost' people, a lot of whom live in America. But, then you didn't define your terms.
America is in 'really deep yogurt' politically and economically because our system encourages 'leaders' (politicians) to worry more about playing their own 're-election game', than what is best for America. (Does anyone really doubt this?).
This is how it works:
If a member of Congress or the Senate wants to get re-elected, they must 'bring home the local bacon' to their own constituents'--- who are the only ones who can vote for/against them. To accomplish that, they must add 'pork' to whatever bills pass through their hands ... or introduce their own 'pork bills.' Then, in order to get their 'bills/pork' passed, they must trade votes with other politicians who are doing the same thing. By this means, politicians whom Gallup Polls (and others) say only have a 10-13% overall approval rating ... keep getting re-elected over and over. --(and also keep voting themselves things like lifetime pensions and healthcare, based on single-term service.)
The only way to 'fix the system' is to get the people who are benefiting from it to vote against their own self-interest. (Case in point: Does anyone really believe that if we raise taxes, yet don't strongly limit or cut spending, ... that our politicians will do anything BUT, spend the added tax revenue ... to further their own re-election interests?)
The problem of America today is reflected in the 80:20 rule.
We once had a 90:10 economy (and society) which is what set us apart from most.
Even at 80:20 (which we also have had) we can hold our own.
Today though we are closer to a 70:30 ratio.
If (when?) we return to the 90:10 economy we'll again be in high clover.
That should be the long term goal of course but in the mean time we still need to find
some other way to compensate for the 20-30% who aren't able/willing to do for themselves.
Not going to happen. Your 20-30% are going to grow to 30-40% as boomers age, retire, and linger forever thanks to modern medicine. Meanwhile the birth rate bottoms out thanks to the double-whammy of needing nearly 30 years of education to (barely) compete with the Asians and the downward spiral of the economy top-heavy with elderly retirees. There won't be another population boom, immigrants will be scapegoated instead of welcomed for the economic stimulus they could provide, and the growth model economy will die a lingering death as people refuse to change their thinking and way of life.
On the "bright side" the same thing will be happening in Europe, and then China, and then India, so at least misery will have company.
Bye-bye 'merica it was nice knowin ya.
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