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Prosperity in the United States was last maximized in the 1950s when Capitalism was highly regulated and the top tax rates were 90%. Eisennhower's policies of promoting business growth, education and unions is what built the middle class that Reagan began destroying as soon as he took office.
Actually, we're currently living in a time of peak prosperity. The number of millionaires in the world has increased by 155%. The number of ultra high net worth individuals (defined in the Credit Suisse Global Wealth report, the source of this info, as people with a net worth above US $50 million) increased by 216%. Of that latter group, 51% reside in North America and 49% live somewhere else in the world, demonstrating that the US continues to dominate in terms of the ultra wealthy. According to the forecast in that report, the US is expected to have the highest growth of millionaires (in both standard and high net worth) in the world over the next five years.
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BTW - If you have the delusion that you will ever be a 1%er, you need to lose it unless you are the scion of an already established family or you get unbelievably lucky. You will never be able to work hard or liong enough to make it.
False. My spouse and I did it, both having come from humble beginnings, and we know many others who have, as well.
Only those who *think* they can't are doomed to never do so. IOW... a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I also love Capitalism... but I also Love social programs that helps everybody in my society.
Most 1st world countries are like that..
Republicans are trying to fool people into believing healthcare, military, roads, schools, financial regulations, food safety, environmental protection, subsidizing science, air traffic control, police, fire department, library, worker protection, right to unionize, maternity leave, 5 weeks of paid vacation time, minimum pension when old etc etc... is Communism and very bad for you.
I for one, would not want to live without these social programs! It makes mine and everybody else lives much easier, simpler, better and safer. Even if I have to pay 10-15% more in taxes.
We should teach our kids what capitalism taught us.
1. Taking advantage of people when they are sick, disabled or old is a great profit center. Really. This is actually taught on Wall Street and in the Medical Community (it is called by different names)....
2. Direct to Consumer drug and procedure advertising, not allowed elsewhere in the world, is good for trillions....and, wow, we can get the money too advertise it from the customer who buy the stuff. Then we can get most of the money from the government (debt and deficit) to fund it all. Who cares that it is unsustainable?
3. Scaring people is REALLY profitable. In most every way. Whether about war, terror, health, crime, etc.....they will flock to buy guns, security systems, bigger cars or whatever if we can scare them enough.
4. LOVE? It's a Subaru.
5. The most important thing on planet earth is for old men to get boners. There is a lot of money in those blood vessels.
6. Sexualize or sell everything.....pay off "influencers" and fake review to sell more junk....it doesn't matter at all whether the stuff is good.
7. Dumping trash into the air, water or on the land...means more profit. So do it more. The Trump admin is helping any way they can. Future generations can go pound sand and if more kids develop respiratory disease - well, more money for the medical thing! See where this is going.
8. War is the biggest racket ever - to quote a famous and experienced General.
9. Keep people separated. If they experience real community they may see it's the source of a lot of happiness, but if they are kept isolated they generally buy more stuff. Good.
10. Ship jobs and manufacturing to places that they can pollute even more.....this makes more profit.
11. Anytime you can get away with skimming, stealing, fraud, etc....hey, do it. Stiff your creditors, go bankrupt, etc - it's all legal in the commercial field.
12. When all else fails, borrow more money - don't worry, the Government knows things are failing so they will lower interest rates to make it better for you.
13. When asked "what you can do for your country?" the government will offer "Go Shopping".
14. If you are big business always keep in mind the Government and taxpayers will prop you up. This is due to your intense lobbying efforts and the fact that the Government needs you. Take full advantage.
15. Sell your country and businesses to the highest bidders...even if they are fundies who chop off hands and heads. Allow them to buy unlimited amounts of our land too! Hey, money is money..and money talks, BS Walks.
Then we have the biggest No-No, which is quite short.
1. Never, even consider future generations or the consequences of what is done for money. Sustainability is a joke - not possible, so don't even try. Plastics, my son, Plastics.
I wonder if we will see this on the Blackboard in school?
I know someone who won the lottery twice for 1/2 million each time. Really.
So it's a falsehood that it cannot be done. Therefore, we should all believe in the Lottery.
False analogy. Making wise life, career, and financial decisions and thereby becoming first-generation wealthy is not analogous to playing the lottery.
An individual can start a business and succeed. Tens of millions can not.
This is where the argument fails.
Millions of people become first-generation wealthy by making wise life, career, and financial decisions. Starting a business and succeeding at it is a good way to do it, but is not a prerequisite to accumulating a net worth of millions of dollars.
Atlas Shrugged should be required reading in high school.
Wait. According to many on CD, if education doesn't teach skills that directly lead to a job/making money, it's a waste if time. Therefore, English/Literature/Writing instruction -- even at the high school level -- is pointless.
In any case, considering that many/most "good" schools assign little to no required reading (let alone poor school districts), your prescription is a bold one. Most teens today can't get through a short read like Of Mice and Men, so hoping they'll read Atlas Shrugged is a pipedream. This really shouldn't be surprising, though, since many/most adults barely pick up a book.
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