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Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years[W: 395]

Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

No, money hoarding is a real behavior, it's like the hoarders you see on the reality shows, it's a mental switch that gets flipped and their life spins out of control as they continue to focus almost exclusively on adding to their savings.

Isn't that what effectively happens when we see cuts in worker wages and spending and increases personal and company investment? They are doing it to keep that money for themselves and prevent others from receiving it. It removes the money from the economy, at least temporarily.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Describe your "perfect" world in which nothing has to be paid for.

What the hell are you talking about? Why can't people respond to what is written instead of the weird **** that spawns from their imaginations?
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

In this country there are 23 million unemployed/under employed/discouraged workers and that is the new normal here.

But according to you... people are unemployed because they're lazy and it's their own fault...

Hey, invest your own money, buy a business and you can hire all the two year unemployed deadbeats you want. Why aren't you doing that since you are such an expert on private business?


If you came to me as an able body and told me you couldn't find a job in 2 years I wouldn't hire you because obviously you had no problem taking a taxpayer check vs. doing any job. I prefer hard working people than someone who can work but chooses to collect an unemployment check

As for unemployment, if it takes you two years or even a year to get another job you aren't worth much at all.

So which one is it?

Is it Obamas fault?

Or their own fault?
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Not that results matter to the Obama cult but further signs that we are on the wrong path and that Obama doesn't have any interest in growing a private sector economy. The new normal today is high unemployment, high debt, massive dependence on the govt, and low economic growth. Congratulations to those of you who believe it is the role of the govt. to provide cradle to grave coverage funded by the rich.

US economy shrinks 0.1 percent, 1st time in 3 1/2 years | Fox News

Spot on, but I'd change one word in that... Instead of "rich", I'd say "productive"... because the majority of those pulling the wagon filled with Occupy Wall Street maggots, socialists and the ignorant... aren't rich.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

What the hell are you talking about? Why can't people respond to what is written instead of the weird **** that spawns from their imaginations?

I did. You asserted that because things cost money that somehow gives "the rich" some "unfair" advantage. If no advantage was gained by attaining more wealth then why would anyone seek it?

Currently the system is designed to reward greater production/skill and encourage self improvement; if that is somehow "unfair" then what must be done to change that?

If a McJob becomes a "carreer" (supplemented with tax money to become a "living wage") that provides "opportunity" and "access" to whatever is "needed" then why bother to work your way up to any other level?
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

And what about the other half?
That is the portion that is more inline with individual merit. We are not China or Peru…yet.
There are lots of examples of folks that became a success from nothing ... yes, even these days. Many times despite rumble strips.
Anecdotal evidence, AKA cherry picking.
And are you assuming the half you’re talking about haven't the skillsets of the loins they popped out of? And they aren’t employing them?
Your mom comes in to your job and does your work for you?
Sounds pretty defeatist.
Why? In what way? Objective examination and statement of the evidence is “defeatist”?
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

You asserted that because things cost money that somehow gives "the rich" some "unfair" advantage.

Where the hell did I say that it was unfair? Who gives a **** about fair? I don't. It doesn't matter to me if it's fair or not, it's the reality of the situation. For ****'s sake.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Where the hell did I say that it was unfair? Who gives a **** about fair? I don't. It doesn't matter to me if it's fair or not, it's the reality of the situation. For ****'s sake.

Don't get your panties in a wad. Of course it is reality, that is what a capitalist meritocracy is all about. You seemed to imply that was a bad thing that needed changing. If I was wrong about that, then EXCUSE me. ;)
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Of course it is reality, that is what a capitalist meritocracy is all about.

That's contradictory. In a meritocracy, one person would never need to work harder than another to achieve the same things. They'd receive things base don merit, not increased opportunity. Aristocracy is what causes the extreme opportunity divide.

I would certainly support implementing a meritocracy, but it's just unrealistic.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Of course it is reality, that is what a capitalist meritocracy is all about.
The problem is that an intergenerational class system runs in opposition to meritocracy.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

The problem is that an intergenerational class system runs in opposition to meritocracy.

Not really, since a fool and their money are soon parted. What allows that system to persist are laws that allow hiring profesionals (lawyers, money manangers and accountants) to maintain a personal fortune, despite the inability of any given rich moron to do anything productive at all. ;)
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Not really, since a fool and their money are soon parted.
Yes really, because an intergenerational class system works to keep the fool and their [parent’s] money together.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Yes really, because an intergenerational class system works to keep the fool and their [parent’s] money together.

Which is exactly what the rest of my post, that you clipped, said. ;)
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Not really, since a fool and their money are soon parted.

It's not just about money, but opportunity. In a meritocracy, someone else's accomplishments or failures would not have any effect on your opportunity to succeed. That's not the case here, though. The accomplishments or failures of a person's parents have a tremendous effect on a child's opportunities. Far more of an effect than one's personal merits does. We are definitely not in a meritocracy because of that.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Which is exactly what the rest of my post, that you clipped, said. ;)
Then you should have left the positively inane sentence out of the post.

Further, it is not just what you talked about. It is baked in much deeper than that. For example the education system, as it is currently constructed. As someone with kids the first thing when I am moving that I look for is the school, not the house. Because schools and school districts are so uneven quality and as someone of means I can afford the houses served by the better run schools.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Then you should have left the positively inane sentence out of the post.

Further, it is not just what you talked about. It is baked in much deeper than that. For example the education system, as it is currently constructed. As someone with kids the first thing when I am moving that I look for is the school, not the house. Because schools and school districts are so uneven quality and as someone of means I can afford the houses served by the better run schools.

Good point. At least some local gov't is still allowed. If the liberals in charge of federal income redistribution had their way, that too would vanish. It seems that the new gov't paradigm is - if it works then tax it, if not then subsidize it.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Heres the real problem. The economy has not really grown since 2007. In 2007, GDP was 13.3 trillion. Today its 13.6 trillion ( in constant 2005 dollars). Which means the economy grew by only 2% in 5 years!
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Tucker Case;1061408065]So if they cut spending, you'd support tax increases?

Spending cuts first then let's see what that does to govt. revenue. Right now only half the country that earns income pays income taxes and that means they have no "investment"in the debt service. We don't have a revenue problem we have a spending problem



That's just not true, though. Wealthy people are granted many opportunities that others have to struggle to even have a chance to receive. A kid who comes from a family with an income of $1,000,000 per year will not have to work as hard as a kid from a family that earns $40,000 annually. That's just reality in a world where things need to be paid for.

I am living proof that is an exaggeration which you seem to offer a lot of. I worked hard, took risk, and benefited. What is your excuse for not being part of the elite that you seem to be jealous of?





I guess if you abuse the English language with blatant disregard like that it's "whining".

How about addressing the issue?



What if it's invested in a Chinese company? Does that help the US economy? What if it is put a Swiss Bank account (the financial equivilant of burying it in your backyard)?

Since we are China's biggest trading partner, yes, it helps people here.





What are you talking about? I ran a construction business for years. Did you make something up in your head and convince yourself it was true?

Apparently just following your lead
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Good point. At least some local gov't is still allowed. If the liberals in charge of federal income redistribution had their way, that too would vanish. It seems that the new gov't paradigm is - if it works then tax it, if not then subsidize it.
“Local government” by itself is not so much the problem as it is local funding. Education funding in this state (Texas) could use some serious reform by way of switching to a fully State funded system. The problem with so much of the school budgets built around local property tax is that not all property is equal, in value or in the number of students living in it that are expected to be supported by it. The ISD level is too granular to even that out. EDIT: State level is enough to even it out pretty well, no need to take the bulk to the Federal level.

That move would also make other reforms easier to expand on such as semi-private schools and such, although we do have some State charter schooling already.

But the likelihood of seeing it happen soon is sadly pretty low because there is so much interest in keeping up the class walls, so much myth of the current state of affairs being a merit based system.
 
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Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

But according to you... people are unemployed because they're lazy and it's their own fault...


So which one is it?

Is it Obamas fault?

Or their own fault?

Your opinion noted but apparently like all other liberals you know what someone else is thinking

Of course it is Obama's fault for someone who has no understanding of the basic free enterprise capitalistic economy, never held a private sector job, never had to meet a payroll and believes in social justice really belongs in some other country, maybe yours?
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Your opinion noted but apparently like all other liberals you know what someone else is thinking

Of course it is Obama's fault for someone who has no understanding of the basic free enterprise capitalistic economy, never held a private sector job, never had to meet a payroll and believes in social justice really belongs in some other country, maybe yours?

Our countries economy is doing better, we're on a path to a balanced budget at the Federal Level and I've only ever held private sector jobs.

And to top it all off we have a welfare system of sorts and universal Healthcare.

You didn't answer my question though.

Is it Obamas fault that people are unemployed or is it their own fault?

you seem to indicate the latter.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

LOL....Conservative you are too much......from your own link:


Economists said the drop in gross domestic product wasn't as bleak as it looked. The weakness was mainly the result of one-time factors. Government spending cuts and slower inventory growth,


You are such a hypocrite. you wanna claim that OBAMA is a huge Government socialist and then post link about how big government spending cuts are primarily responsibile for your "doomsday" claims.

Which way are you going to want it? Because you can't talk out of both sides of your mouth without people noticing.
 
Re: Economy shrinks for first time in 3 1/2 years

Heres the real problem. The economy has not really grown since 2007. In 2007, GDP was 13.3 trillion. Today its 13.6 trillion ( in constant 2005 dollars). Which means the economy grew by only 2% in 5 years!

You do realize that there was a massive crash in 2008-2009 right? Your economy shrank 8.9% in the 4th quarter 2008 and 5.4% in the 1st quarter 2009 alone..
 
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