U.S. quality of life in jeopardy; arguments over SC cities laughable (Columbia: student loans)

[Charlestondata]

First this morning I read a depressing article about the bleak future of the bulk of America's retiring baby boomers due to their poor retirement planning. Then I read an equally depressing article saying American businesses are creating most of their new jobs overseas because the U.S. has fallen so far behind emerging nations in educating its children (and still falling). Everything from toy makers to chemical researchers to mathematicians are finding jobs in India and China while more and more bright young Americans are saving for a plane ticket and a quick start in their overseas careers. Without a fast, comprehensive turnaround with effective, efficient leadership, there won't be a city in this country that's not second- or third-rate compared to its peer cities overseas, so why argue among ourselves, especially in a small state like South Carolina?

Here's the second article.

Where are the jobs? For many companies, overseas - Business - Nation - TheState.com (http://www.thestate.com/2010/12/28/1622277/where-are-the-jobs-for-many-companies.html - broken link)

[PawleysDude]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

First this morning I read a depressing article about the bleak future of the bulk of America's retiring baby boomers due to their poor retirement planning...

I read the same article, and it scared the **** outta me. 10,000 additional Americans reaching Medicare age every day for the next 19 years! We haven't yet seen what a real healthcare crisis looks like.

Still, I'm supposed to feel sorry for a 61 year old, laid off from a $6-figure executive position and living in a rented apt, because he managed to save only $5000 over his working career? I don't think so. When the US decline comes, and it inevitably will, it won't be due to Republicans, Democrats, the Chinese, global warming, NAFTA, or anything else we find to blame it on. It will come down because of our ever-growing national culture of "I want it all, and I want it NOW!" Any student who studied a wee bit of Roman history knows the story...

[NewYorkBorn]

It is sad for the US and the economy....the US's dominance is in jeopardy.....cannot be on top forever. Let's face it...this invention called the United States of America gained its status around the world through theft, rape, murder and the subjugation of other countries around the world. But the only problem is that if America decided to steal in order to get to the top they should have never given other countries their power. They have allowed countries like China and India to manfacture everything just to save money at the expense of American stability. Unfortunately America has this arrogant, I am the smartest country in the world chip on its shoulders.....while it was busy patting itself on the back these countries that it underestimated have now become very strong with the business that American business's so stupidly handed to them. We complain but how many of us are driving Toyotas, Hondas, BMWs and Mercedes instead of Fords and Chryslers? Do we read labels when we go into stores and when it says made in China refuse to buy it? So the power is in our hands and in our wallets!

When you are a tyrant you must always watch your back, otherwise someone else will put a knife in it....money is power! Now let's see if America is smart enough to turn its mistakes around.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by PawleysDude

...10,000 additional Americans reaching Medicare age every day for the next 19 years! We haven't yet seen what a real healthcare crisis looks like.

Still, I'm supposed to feel sorry for a 61 year old, laid off from a $6-figure executive position and living in a rented apt, because he managed to save only $5000 over his working career? I don't think so. When the US decline comes, and it inevitably will, it won't be due to Republicans, Democrats, the Chinese, global warming, NAFTA, or anything else we find to blame it on. It will come down because of our ever-growing national culture of "I want it all, and I want it NOW!" Any student who studied a wee bit of Roman history knows the story...

I agree, and would like to add that we currently hard-working citizens should not be expected to bail them out through higher tax rates and inefficient social services, but rather to show mercy by voluntarily giving them our time, skills, and/or available resources with sincere love for their souls and concern for their health and wellness.

[Charlestondata]

Someone sent me a message asking where I had read the article about the dire straits baby boomer Americans face in retirement. Here it is.

Montgomeryadvertiser - Baby Boomers near 65 with retirements in jeopardy

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

Someone sent me a message asking where I had read the article about the dire straits baby boomer Americans face in retirement. Here it is.

Montgomeryadvertiser - Baby Boomers near 65 with retirements in jeopardy

Thanks ColumbiaData!

Interesting article.

[Butterfly4u]

Personally, I think it's the Americans own fault.
This is nothing new, this has been happening for decades.
I always knew I would never collect Social Security and that I could
never retire. Ten years ago I figured that one out.
If you are not in a job that can't be outscourced, you better get one now.
(did I spell that right?)
I told all my kids who are in college(working their way through without student loans),
train for jobs that people need you in person to fix something so you have a job
after more jobs are gone.
This is just the beginning. Tens of thousands of more jobs are going to go overseas.
You think there are alot of forclosures now? Just wait and see in the next couple of years
how many more there will be because these jobs are not coming back.
Our politicans are doing this to us, and it started in the early 70's.
Anybody remember the song "Allentown" by Billy Joel?
I hope noone reading this collects Social Security or Medicare, because that is
going. Guarantee that will be cut big time.
Then there will be no middle class left, just really rich and really poor.
Like a third world country.
And we did nothing, we voted those liars in.

[canudigit]

The biggest irony I can think if is that the bloated, inefficient, tax-gouging federal government that sent and continues to send hundreds of thousands of jobs overseas with their ignorant policies is the same government that uses our tax dollars to pay for job retraining for people whose jobs went overseas. They sign NAFTA into law, to cite just one example, and then they use your and my hard-earned money to train the people whose jobs were lost because of their short-sighted stupidity. Makes perfect sense, right?

[pburgess68]

Originally Posted by NewYorkBorn

Do we read labels when we go into stores and when it says made in China refuse to buy it? So the power is in our hands and in our wallets!

TOTALLY agree with this!! I drive my family nuts because I was reading all of the labels of comforters, blankets, towels, etc when we were outfitting the house. I REFUSED to buy anything made in China.

Do you know how hard it is to find American made towels? Look it up on the net! Companies we THOUGHT were American, no longer are. Try finding a nice comforter that isn't made in some other country, and one that doesn't need to be dry cleaned "only".

We are sacrificing quality for saving some money, and risking our worker's jobs over it.