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What absolute power of faith? What on earth are you talking about?
I was wondering the same thing. As I understand faith, it is a largely unconscious function of the mind, shaped almost entirely on experiences that transpired during the early years of our lives. Although our faith in this, that, and the other thing plays a part in keeping our current experiences uncannily similar to the experiences of our formative years, I cannot see faith having any absolute power....whatever that means.
What absolute power of faith? What on earth are you talking about?
I was wondering the same thing. As I understand faith, it is a largely unconscious function of the mind, shaped almost entirely on experiences that transpired during the early years of our lives. Although our faith in this, that, and the other thing plays a part in keeping our current experiences uncannily similar to the experiences of our formative years, I cannot see faith having any absolute power....whatever that means.
"believing in the absolute power of faith" --meaning believing that "faith is everything, faith will get you what you want, wish for, hope for, pray for." Many people believe that "faith" grants their wishes, as the poster I was responding to implied. Ebrehm, with his/her examples, seemed to be using the word "faith" as a meaning for "instinct" (as in: instinct that all will go well in a certain cirucumstance).
Your diatribe suggests that all of this happened in a vacuum and that the current administration spent the money on malt liquor and newports. I am not one to defend any politician, but the hypocrisy in this post is overwhelming.
Whether we had stimulus spending, tax cuts or a combination of the two, the problems with our economy were going to contribute to our national debt no matter which party was in office. Much of what is going on right now is straight from the Republican playbook, including the extension of the unfunded Bush tax cuts. And the Fed's actions. Pretty ironic that tax cuts for wealthy citizens and corporations, which are the mainstay of Republican economic policy are now being attributed to Obama as hurting the middle class and the poor. Particularly, when attempting to give the "poor" health care options is being referred to a "Obama's socialist agenda".
Which is it? He is a "socialist" attempting to shift the wealth to the poor or he is harming the less fortunate with his big business agenda?
The unemployment situation was completely out of control before BO took office and the factors leading to our current high rate of unemployment were already baked into the system when the housing/credit crisis was in it's early stages.
One thing for certain, the Fed, under Ben Bernanke (Republican) would be doing the exact same thing regardless of who was sitting in the Oval Office! And the financial problems the states are facing go back far before Obama, starting with when the federal government started pulling funding from the states and the states failed to contain their spending. I guess people do not want to fire half the teachers, police and firemen - go figure!
I could care less about who takes control of the house or congress next, but I certainly am not counting on the Republicans to save the day.
there was no diatribe, just statements of fact regarding spending and unsustainability. i see that instead of addressing the actual issue you go back into the past as a diversionary measure. if you want, we can go all the way back to nixon and FDR (and perhaps further) to see the seeds of future economic damage being planted.
the truth is that the unemployment rate was nowhere near what it is now, and what the heck happened to the 3 trillion dollars that americans were supposedly investing in their infrastructure and job creation in the last year? what happened to the shovel ready jobs?
we may not get change when we vote, but we certainly have to try. i am not telling people to vote republican or democrat, but to analyze what their own candidates are DOING, not saying, and vote accordingly.
we need to start thinking outside of the box for solutions to some of these problems and the insane money printing has got to stop. it is going to bring a tidal wave of inflation to this country-which our citizens CANNOT absorb and even pretend that there is a recovery.
1) stop devaluing our currency in a race to the bottom
2) stop illegal immigration and the rent seeking freebies now
3) no social security money sent outside of the united states
4) stop all foreign aid until our own economic situation improves
5) consolidate government departments and eliminate some of them
6) privatize education
7) repeal obamacare and the ugly mandatory health insurance
8) labels on all goods identifying whether they are american or foreign goods
9) an advertising campaign reminding americans to buy american goods
10) shut down businesses which hire illegal immigrants and allow american businesses to spring up to fill the void
11) it's not too late to claw back those illegal bonuses.
12) no government rebate ever again for purchase of foreign goods-why should americans subsidize the purchase of foreign goods
13) let puerto rico have its independence
14) reinstate glass steagall
15) no more giant bills-every bill must stand alone and every representative must read it before they vote on it-maybe even limit bills to 3 pages or something like that and you can weed out a lot of the sneaky BS that goes in them and post them online so every american can read them and comment to their representatives before the vote.
16) start arresting the looters
17) absolutely no double dipping on public pensions
18) temporarily abolish the government fuel tax on diesel so goods can move more cheaply through the country during this period of increasing inflation
Interest rates are supposed to be reflective of savings; that is the supposed to be the backbone of any productive economy. The financial regulation of being able to set arbitrary interest rates that are not a function of savings is what creates the disconnect between the economy and the financial system, and the accompanying plunder by the financiers. (this paragraph credit to deergoose)
i am sure that others would take away some of these or add some of these, but some things have to be implemented to get back on track because we literally cannot keep going in the direction that we are going. i am sure that others out there have even better suggestions for repair of the economy.
Last edited by floridasandy; 02-04-2011 at 05:37 AM..
How do you plan to stop social security from being sent outside the United States? I can have it deposited in my local bank in Arizona and use ATMs from anywhere in the world. I also find it absurd that if I work as hard as you do and put as much money as you do into the system I can't draw it out if I decide to retire overseas.
3) no social security money sent outside of the united states
I like many of the solutions you propose, but not this one. IF social security is still around when I qualify for full benefits in 3 and a half years I may well be living in the likes of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, etc because I simply cannot afford to live in the USA. I paid many $$$ into the SS system so I have no qualms about collectiing every penny that I can.....regardless of WHERE I choose to live. I would like to hear more of your rationale on suggesting this.
IF social security is still around when I qualify for full benefits in 3 and a half years I may well be living in the likes of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, etc because I simply cannot afford to live in the USA.
How can yo not afford to live in the US? There are numerous low cost areas across the country.
I don't see how someone is going to move to some 3rd world country and make it on their social security. Sure, you'll have a place to live,etc but what about medical care, etc.
Anyhow, restricting where social security money goes doesn't make any sense. You aren't getting paid in pesos, etc you're getting paid in dollars. The only way retirees from the US will be able to spend their dollars in Mexico, etc is if there are people in Mexico, etc using the dollars.
I don't see how someone is going to move to some 3rd world country and make it on their social security. Sure, you'll have a place to live,etc but what about medical care, etc.
More affordable, top notch medical care is one of several reasons that I am considering to live in the countries I mentioned earlier. I will only speak for myself with regard to making it on SS...for me, SS is a supplement to my modest 401K and my sideline business which produces a modest income.
I'll post a link to the internationl living website for anyone wanting further information on living overseas. Escape Artist is another website with similar inofrmation. Take it all with a grain of salt.
More affordable, top notch medical care is one of several reasons that I am considering to live in the countries I mentioned earlier.
How is it more affordable? Once you are 65 you are covered by medicare, a system you've been paying into your whole life.
3rd world countries don't have "top notch affordable medical care" either, you have to pick one of the two. That is, pick affordable but poor care or expensive but good care. I'm not sure why someone would believe that all the "top notch" doctors would decide to live in 3rd world countries making peanuts.
3rd world countries don't have "top notch affordable medical care"
On this one you are living in the past and high on the fumes of propaganda.
Where is this "third world" nowadays anyway?
Smacks of racism. Sorry.
Good Luck!
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