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They believed in an America where hard work paid off, and responsibility was rewarded, and anyone could make it if they tried -- no matter who you were, no matter where you came from, no matter how you started out.
And these values gave rise to the largest middle class and the strongest economy that the world has ever known. It was here in America that the most productive workers, the most innovative companies turned out the best products on Earth. And you know what? Every American shared in that pride and in that success -- from those in the executive suites to those in middle management to those on the factory floor.
In this he has, unknowing to himself, spelled out what makes the middle class - hard work and productivity. The more products are made and sold to others, the more employees make.
If you look at this country now, what's the focus in government? Funding unemployment, funding Health Care programs, funding a college education, and placing restrictions on productive behavior through a multitude of regulations. All of this supports non-productive behavior since the citizen produces nothing for their needs to be met.
What's the focus on our youth? Athletics, music, movies, YouTube videos, and video games is their focus. All of this is non-productive behavior.
More and more companies move opportunities overseas for tax purposes and other reasons. That decreases productivity.
All of the energy projects that the Obama administration has scrubbed hurts productivity, and by extension increases unemployment.
We are all worried about employment, but we should be worried about what and how much we produce - because that's what drives employment.
All of the Occupiers are non-productive - and the president lifts them up - while last week alienating a large segment of the white working population.
If you want the economy to do better, if you want more employment - we need to produce - and we need to put a government in place that facilitates productive behavior. Right now, it seems like our government is doing what it can to depress productivity. High corporate taxes and a multitude of heavy handed regulations are stifling productivity.
Further down in the speech, we see the bait and switch.
The above post noted Obama stating hard work and productivity gave rise to the middle class in the past - but now...
Quote:
I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, when everyone plays by the same rules. (Applause.) These aren’t Democratic values or Republican values. These aren’t 1 percent values or 99 percent values. They’re American values. And we have to reclaim them.
Is that how the middle class became great? No. It's not fairness in itself. I don't remember fairness as an American virtue. Freedom - yes. Fairness - no.
Fairness does not produce anything. Fairness does not meet anyone's need. Fairness is a part of the process, but it is not THE main component.
Obama is attempting to change the thinking in this country - about what makes us successful. A focus on fairness is a focus rooted in social outcomes rather than a building up of the economy.
The whole middle class in America was created with wealth redistribution and government programs. There would be no middle class today if it wasnt for the government. All this talk about hard work, etc.. is a load of bull
The United States and Great Britain's focus is on China and its emerging middle class in which the west has created. The UK has been at this before and is what led to the opium wars. The theory is once the Chinese middle class moves upward so will their buying power and influence in government. This, if it ever happens, will put Americans back to work in droves. But how long will this take and at what cost?
The whole middle class in America was created with wealth redistribution and government programs. There would be no middle class today if it wasnt for the government. All this talk about hard work, etc.. is a load of bull
The United States and Great Britain's focus is on China and its emerging middle class in which the west has created. The UK has been at this before and is what led to the opium wars. The theory is once the Chinese middle class moves upward so will their buying power and influence in government. This, if it ever happens, will put Americans back to work in droves. But how long will this take and at what cost?
China's middle class will only grow so far. The government will not allow it to grow beyond the point where the majority of people do not need government help IMHO.
Look I'm sure its popular for politicians and their speech writers to pay lip service to the American public and tell them they got to where they were because of hard work and determination. But the middle class barely existed pre 1930s until there were massive government interventions and expansion of government programs and 90% tax rates. There would not be as many Americans today with a college degree if it were not for government intervention and funding with pell grants or low interest student loans. Seniors would not be as well of today if it wasnt for SS or Medicare or reverse mortgages. And the middle class would not exist today if it wasnt for progressive taxation, public services, labor laws, and benefits such as workers comp or employer health insurance mandated by the government. The middle class didnt just appear out of thin air, they are the creation of redistribution, class warfare, government regulations, and government benefits.
He is a contradiction unlike any other. I, personally believe he does so often, intentionally. It's called "mind games" that Psychopoliticians play. Now, he's as much of a bumbler as Bush was so I am not convinced that he's anywhere near-sharp enough to be doing the mindgames himself, but his writers may have unofficial Phds in "Psychopolitics."
I believe this because he described exactly what he hates about Capitalism. He once said he was about to do something to "help small business" while he is so very in bed with UNIONS and Big Business that I laughed aloud at the news as I heard it broadcast, and probably grinned at the "mind game" of it.
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