The American way of life is dead…

reply to post by whaaa


That is because you foolishly ascribe to the Homer Simpson view of the U.S. working class. The reality is that the U.S. working class is the skilled trades class of the U.S.. Not only do they know how to repair their own cars and computers, they know how to build them as well, and many do so in their garages, while the upper middle class the the Upper class can do neiher, while at the same time are even incapable of upkeeping their own homes.

The working class, as you describe them, the lower middle class, is the most important class. While Europeans are more comfortable in their more socialistic societies, their comfort makes them more vulnerable. It is not about how comfy your life is, it is about what you are capable of doing on your own. Just as the U.S. working class was under rated before WW II, they are even more under rated today. Your standard of living assessment fails to take far too many other important factors into consideration. The fact that women in the U.S. work makes them stronger, not weaker. The devil is in the details.

On the plus side if we here in the USA fall.......So do all of you. Dont know why that makes me so happy. Look, if we go down the rest of the world will suffer on levels that are biblical. So go ahead and hope...You may get what you wish for...And deserve IMHO. But here is a side note, my store got a 140K loan today no problem. Got a new BOFA card last week too. 20K credit line. So tell me, is this all over the world or just the large cities and areas where you are packed in like rats.

Originally posted by Interestinggg
The American way of life is dead?
On a Russian website?

Nothing new here.....

Pravda isnt what it used to be

Well it seems the Soviet Super-Power "Way of Life" ended 20 Years ago when their Sickles and Hammers rusted over, so right back at you. Having them criticize America in that manner, is like a Beached Whale calling an Eagle inefficient.

The agent, they are not critical of America they are just pointing out what is patently true. And you may want to believe that if the US suffers so will evveryone else but they wont. Not on the scale of what is happening in the US. What will happen is the banks and others that the US owes big money to will call in those debts, and if they cannot pay in cash then they will have to hand over their securities which means foreign banks etc. will own pieces of your country and will in turn sell those assets to the highest bidder.


Thats how the system works, so very soon you will be selling of your country to pay for these debts just as a home owner has to give up his home to the mortgage lender. Most Americans are not aware of just how bad things really are and it will come as a great shock when it does finally hit home.

But on the bright side I can see America comming out of this free of all the crap and bought off politicians, it will take a while but it will happen even if it means being part of the NAU.

America has just been dead weight that the world economy has carried around for the last few decades. The rest of the world provides products for the Americans to consume, and lend money to them to buy the products that they consume. But that is coming to an end.

I think America will look more like Belarus or Romania in the coming years. Don't worry, they have TV's, cars, computers, internet, food and all that stuff.

While Europe and Asia will experience better economic conditions, because of Jevon's Paradox.

If I were an American, I'd switch my money to another currency not linked to the dollar (as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett did years ago), while exchange rates are still good. Hyperinflation will probably set in relatively soon, like maybe in a (half) year or two. Nobody really knows for sure though.

[edit on 11-10-2008 by beefsupreme]

reply to post by magicmushroom

"The simple fact of the matter is that we sold our soul's to the devil and now we are reaping the whirlwind."

Hosea8:7 For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up.

My grandparents had far worse struggles than I do today. It is an insult to their memory for me to cry about how difficult my life is right now. It does not compare.

The "American way of life" is not dead. America has seen trouble, and has fought back from dark times, and it will continue to do so. I am not a blind patriot, but a person who has faith in my country men and women.

reply to post by magicmushroom


ROTFLMAO If the world calls for the U.S. to pay their debts in cash, all we have to do is print the money and turn it over. Here ya go, here are some worthless reserve notes. Excuse us, but we are going to start a new currency. Spend those while you can. Good Luck.

When a mortgage lender takes over a home, they loose money big time, and now they have to pay property taxes on all those homes they have taken over. This is extremely difficult to do for a bankrupt mortgage company. Unless they put those homes up for sale on what the current market rates them at, then those mortgage brokers will simply be pouring good money after bad. Sure, foriegnors can buy houses here, and pay taxes on those houses, but if they can't get VISAs to come live here, all they are doing is giving away their money. We will treat them like they treat Americans when we buy property in their countries, we will allow squattors to take over the property, and refuse to remove the squatters.

The reality is that the planets markets are collapsing faster than the U.S. markets, and their banks are failing as fast as our banks. Guess what, banks all over the world have been playing this same game.

reply to post by beefsupreme


Wake up and smell the coffee, the truth is just the opposite, the U.S. has been carrying the world's economy since WW II ended. Japan and China, and the entire eastern rim of Asia, including Indonesia, has been fixing their currency to the U.S. dollar in order to maintain a trade advantage, because they refuse to pay their people enough money to buy the products that they make. This is the biggest problem in the world economy. If the countries of Asia would make an effort to raise wages and create some domestic demand and put a balance to the world's economy, we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

Europe is tied to the U.S. at the hip. As things go in the U.S., things go in Europe. Have you bothered to pay attention to world markets over the last week, and the situation with world banks? Russia is even more dependent, as their only real domestic product is oil. They do not make cars or tractors or electronics, are anything else that I can think of that the rest of the world wants.

The third world depends on Western Europe, the U.S., and Japan and S. Korea for their economic survival, providing very little to the worlds economy. If the 1st world economies tank, the grossly overpopulted third will suffer far more. This is a very sad fact of the situation.

You people might want to be a little more careful as you rejoice at the fall of the U.S. economy.

The American way of life was a myth propragated to give people something to aim for, to aspire to and give hope for a better tomorrow. You don't need a Russian website to tell you that.

Aw, shaddup an' gimme my IPod and "reality" TV shows. Leave me alone! How dare any stuffy Euro-intellectual on the Nobel committee accuse me of being ignorant and insular?! Sheesh! It's getting so tough for a self-righteous chauvinist to catch a break any more! Damn, the fridge is out of beer again...

reply to post by magicmushroom


I really appreciate your article. Terms like "The American way of life" are of course subject to interpretation, but in as much as the term is used to define wasteful abuse of natural resources and selfish disregard for the poor and disenfranchised, and the ideal of success as material gain, the death of such way of life would be not only a good thing, but an inevitable necessity as natural resources (i.e. energy) not only dwindle, but reside in other countries than ours.

-rrr

reply to post by rickyrrr


BUT "wasteful abuse of natural resources and selfish disregard for the poor and disenfranchised, and the ideal of success as material gain" does not describe the American way of life any more than it describes the way that all people live. When it comes to all of these things, the Russians are hardly the people to be claiming that they are setting the standards for decency.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Originally posted by poet1b
reply to post by whaaa

 

That is because you foolishly ascribe to the Homer Simpson view of the U.S. working class. The reality is that the U.S. working class is the skilled trades class of the U.S.. Not only do they know how to repair their own cars and computers, they know how to build them as well, and many do so in their garages, while the upper middle class the the Upper class can do neiher, while at the same time are even incapable of upkeeping their own homes.

Perhaps, but it is obvious that you foolishly ascribe to some 1950s idealized society that never actually existed. And you underestimate the abilities of the upper middle class, upper class. I consider myself upper class not because of trust funds and breeding but because I worked my Goddamn ass off to put myself in a position to be able to hire the middle class folks to repair my hard earned toys and possessions. I have the ability to fix my own stuff but my time is the most valuable thing I have.
I paid my dues as a dirt poor farmer, student and middle class working stiff. I've been poor and I've been rich. Rich is better!!!

I don't denigrate anyone that works with their hands. I have done it most of my life. I feel blessed that my labors have paid off and I don't have to work with my hands, unless I choose to. I wish everyone the blessings I have received thru the entrepreneurial spirit of this great land. But I'm also a realist and realize that not all people have the ambition to truly want to succeed. They are happy just to feed and breed. God bless em!


[edit on 11-10-2008 by whaaa]

[edit on 11-10-2008 by whaaa]

reply to post by whaaa


Sorry, going back and looking at the post I was replying to, I think I misunderstood you. I thought you were slamming the working class, but a second review after your reply, and I think I misinterpreted what you were saying.

As a hands on guy, I enjoy what I do. When the sheeit hits the fan, I am the man they have to turn to if they want to get things running again, and those are the moments I look forward to. I consider myself lower middle class, yet material wise I am spoiled. By world standards, I am rich, and the truth is usually I don't do much at all at work, except wait for when they need me. I got all the toys I have time to play with, and take exotic vacations. The next step would be a bigger house and fancier vehicle, but not worth the effort for me.

The whole America is dead nonsense is written by people without a clue. If you want to get ahead in this country, you can, all you have to do is put in the effort, and that isn't going to change. IMHO, when this whole thing finishes shaking out, there will be even more opportunity for those willing to put out the effort. IC's have cut their own throats.

America is just fine. I am free to live the way I choose.

I am an American.

A free man.

Free to worship,

and free to speak my part.

I am free to walk outside in the night air. I can travel to any state in the US without telling anyone, and should I so desire, live there.

America has good people. Good people who know what good is, and while we don't always do whats best, we still are out there trying.

Difficult choices, from the war, to the economy face each and every one of us. We are working through the most powerful economy, the world has EVER seen. And we are not without growing pains. Like life, there are always readjustments in our course.

America is a great country, and there is no doubt in all of our hearts, that we can do better. Its that knowing we can do better, and then doing something about it, that makes us great, rather then a system that practices business as usual.

Dont tell me how the way of American life is dead when there are brave men and women who every day go out and put their pants on, one leg at a time. Who truly go to work, and do the very best job they can do seeking to make that 1% change that makes this world a better place. The Moms, the Dads, the Soldier and the Farmer. All of us are family.

Dead Americans who are living talk about America being dead, but its real Americans that have a tenacious heart and a will to do what is right, who can change the course of what otherwise looks like disaster. If America had taught me anything, it is that anything can happen.....The good, the bad and the ugly, but through it all, its still a beautiful world.

It is my hope, that this great nation of ours prevail in doing that which is right, even in the face of great odds...may we act as one.

America is not dead, it is the ways of excess which are coming to light and wrongs which good men are attempting to right. We can do it...together.

God Willing.

May peace reign

[edit on 12-10-2008 by HIFIGUY]

reply to post by poet1b

ROTFLMAO If the world calls for the U.S. to pay their debts in cash, all we have to do is print the money and turn it over. Here ya go, here are some worthless reserve notes.

crappy arguement as this will lead to hyperinflation in the US economy firstly ,

secondly , other nations can ask for payment by other means , i.e. gold reserves and yes they can purchase off debtor industries,

thirdly , other nations on such methods will lose confidence in the US economy

reply to post by Ian McLean


confluence.org... ??