Why America Is Becoming More Divided

But Public education is a requirement now, and has been all your life. Obviously- it has it's limits, because we still have our problems. In many cases public education undermines sound parenting and turns kids to drugs and gangs. Education isn't just a school- it's the total experience of your life. It starts even before your birth, but from birth on, things immediately begin embedding in children as fundamental principles of behavior- they see parents using anger, jealousy, brutality or kindness, accepting responsibility or blaming others- and they are acquiring the tools that they will use to. I've see a little girl less than three manipulate her mother in to a concession with substantial expertise- just like her father could do. Have you ever looking into home-schooled kids- and how they compare with public schooled? I have a three next door, and I can tell you that they are nto only better educated, they have great manners, solid values and character. The education that makes the difference come from home, from the people closest to you in the most formative years of your life, and that starts at day 1. Now the problem comes in that you cannot change that with legislation- because the "teachers" in that environment can't give what they don't have or refuse to learn. So- they pass on their weakness and flaws along with whatever strengths they have. Some kids follow the strengths- most have the weaknesses. But- ALL of them have the choice, to be like those who raised them, or set a new course. While it would be nice if we could erase bad environmental programming and replace it with good- that is simply not possible. As a society, if we could turn to the values most people say they respect, and actually live by them, set a social standard of respect for respectable behavior and rejection for poor- we would have a tool to turn the tide. Most people will say they support some of these things, even though they refuse to practice them. Their argument is that they will if everyone else does first. So- are we all waiting on somebody else to change the world for us? YES, most are. And not just waiting, but demanding that somebody make it easier for them. Pave their way- guarantee they won't have to struggle. Guarantee.... that they will never know the strength and spirit and confidence that comes from making your own path, regardless of what the road is like. That sir, is the difference between men and boys.

Lowering the bar so everybody passes seems to summarize the politics being endorsed by the democrats, liberals and progressives. Indeed we have lowered it over and over- and as we do, things get worse and worse. That too is a lesson, an education that sadly most of us ignore- and as a result, the strength of our nation continues to weaken because it's people are being weakened, Look at the position of our students in world standings against other countries, in fundamental skill areas.

One of the biggest cross-national tests is the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which every three years measures reading ability, math and science literacy and other key skills among 15-year-olds in dozens of developed and developing countries. The most recent PISA results, from 2015, placed the U.S. an unimpressive 38th out of 71 countries in math and 24th in science. Among the 35 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which sponsors the PISA initiative, the U.S. ranked 30th in math and 19th in science.
In order to pass great qualities to your children- you have to have great qualities to give. You give them by the way you live your life, and schools or government cannot change what you were imprinted with as a child. The individual is the only person who can do that. Nobody can make you proud of yourself, make you strong and give you confidence by lowering the bar. The result is just the opposite- dependence, weakness.

This IS NOT an easy problem to solve. But every effort, every insistence that we give people an "Easy" button in life obstructs the motivation to rise to the challenge. Those who will not do for themselves wait for those promises to come true, and of course they never do. Note that I said "will not", which is not same as "cannot", though many fail to see the difference.

The great depression created an alternate jobs program that worked pretty well. It consisted of two government programs- the WPA or Works Progress Administration, and the CCC, or Civilian Conservation Core.
The catch between what today's left wants and those successful programs is that they produced value for the nation. They primarily built infrastructure- roads, dams and such. I spent part of my teen years living next to a dam and lake built by the CCC. The workers built and lived in barracks on site, and part of them were still standing. This was in some ways a social program, but was no give-away, it was honest work that produced value in return for wages, and wages honestly earned- meaning self-respect and a sense of accomplishment for the workmen. It was not a charity, not a welfare program in any way- and men that wouldn't work were discharged, but there were few. I was a close friend of a very old man who had been there since the beginning.

That IS NOT what the democrats want now. They seek to shift the burden to private business- to make private companies become Social Service agencies, serving a perceived public benefit instead of the fundamental obligations to stockholders, owners and lenders. This is not surprising, as it is the usual pattern of shifting the cost of things they advocate on the public, while they sit back and make the rules and administrate- but have no skin in the game.

Mexico is in a state where the lack of moral strength both in people and government has created the opportunity for crime to thrive, particularly drug cartels- allowing them to control of most of the country. The link between violence and money is somewhat universal; it is why people rob and steal everywhere, and Mexico demonstrate how bad that can get if the population is too weak to reject it. Certainly, America is a contributor here because the money involved is mostly ours- and coming from the progressive weakening of our own morals and character. Yet, we are not wise enough to put a stop to this, because we know- despite a 50-year drug war gaining nothing- that somewhere there is an "easy button" and it will get fixed without doing something positive. We allow the chaos in Mexico to overflow here. The dems won't build a wall to allow better control of that flow. While it would be possible to cut the drug cartels off at the knees overnight, we won't do that either. We just wait for someone else to fix things....

Hmmm. That sounds strongly related to the first paragraph, relating to making people genuinely strong instead of lowering the bar, doesn't it? That's because IT IS related.

Yet the premise of virtually all dem programs is a sort of financial engineering, where a miraculous somebody else will pay the bills- and the legacy of debt to our great-great grandchildren will be more than any of us can even grasp. The real resource IS PEOPLE. Not their money- but what they can produce of value. Gold is not valuable in the ground; it's just like any other mineral. It's value only comes when it is mined and utilized in some fashion. People make natural resources come to life with value- even an apple has to be picked. That's not financial engineering. It's free enterprise. Is that not obvious to you? [/QUOTE]

Despite all the manipulative analysis of economics systems, there is underlying truth that remains consistent. The more we wrap ourselves in perceptions that complicate it, the more confused we get. And- that is what you are doing here.

Fundamentals:
Money is not finite- but it is related to value. Printing money arbitrarily simply dilutes the value of the money. The pressures on government lead to the reversal of the standard by which every American dollar was backed by gold or silver, and thus is now- a sort of IOU. Today we have dems wanting to use the MMT theories to vastly increase the debt of the American people for goofball ideas like the "New Green Deal".
Money- is only a mechanism to make things easier. Bartering, or the trading of goods, has gone on forever. In bartering, the goods ARE the money, and directly represent value- potatoes, metals, eggs, timber- and the trade in them was greatly enhanced by creating a document representing units of value... Money. IF you separate the value from the document, the document is worthless except or the illusion of people using it. When society runs into difficulties (usually thanks to idiots in government) such as Venezuela has currently- money is of no value at all. Literally a pound of toilet paper cost more there now than a pound of currency will pay for. Money only exists as a representation of value- and that is goods or services produced. The more you divert from the fundamentals of what money is and how it works, the greater the risk to all involved. Creative accounting and theory does not change that, it only hides it from the people who will suffer from the failure to keep it straight.

Warren Buffet hates the MMT concept. AOC loves it. Who do you suppose understands money better?
I wouldn't invest a dime with AOC inc. Buffet on the other hand is trusted with a substantial investment, and is a highly reliable steward of it.

People have always hated those who exceeded them, mostly is wealth, but also in looks, popularity, everything. It's easier to blame those who excel than it is to get up and find your own excellence. Nothing new about that, it is human nature. When you find a way to change such things in people- you will have found a way to raise society to a new level. But no matter how clear that road to excellence becomes, even no matter how easy it becomes, there will still be people who remain behind and tell us that it is just too hard, and somebody should help them..... and you know that is true.

 

Senate Republicans are all over the place when it comes to Trump's conspiracy theories. Kennedy from Louisiana has reversed himself twice. First, he says Ukraine interfered in our election. Then he said they didn't, and the Russians did it. Then, on Sunday, he said Ukraine did it.

Now Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, has said, "I don’t know if it’s true or not. But let somebody look, but when it comes to hacking into the DNC, that was all Russia. The Ukraine had nothing to do with it. So as to the Ukraine, they had zero to do with the hacking of the DNC and the stealing of the emails."

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/impeachment-inquiry-12-03-2019/index.html

 

I will consider the rest of your post later today, but since you have some knowledge of finance, I will make these few observations now about money - and its "value" (the lack of understanding of which is indeed an underlying reason for the political divide, on both sides).

We live in an "invisible hand", competitive, profit seeking, free market system, in which money is created when private banks write loans for credit worthy customers:

https://positivemoney.org/how-money- works/how-banks- create-money/

Now, profit-seeking may find expression in any manner whatsoever, regardless of its inherent 'value'/harm to society.

Therefore, intelligent (aware) public sector policy may be required to complement purely profit driven private sector activity, and hence the manner of money creation, in the economy.

That is, public sector policy to influence how resources will be utilised is necessary, to advance the interests of the nation in a sustainable manner. That's where MMT comes in.

[Note: while the US were busy creating and spending money in a 'free' market - ie expending real resources (labour and materials) - on activity including production and advertising of junk consumer goods and services, the USSR launched the first satellite, and first man into space, despite the fact that the Soviet economy was never more than half the size of the US economy. Contrasting the "vision" of a planned economy with the junk production of an "invisible hand" economy. In fact, history tells us both 'invisible hand' AND planning are desirable].

So - I reckon AOC is 'on the money', ie, aware of the factors involved in creating the nation's true 'wealth', whereas Buffett is only involving himself in half the wealth creation picture, ie, the wealth of individuals measured in purely money terms regardless of how real resources were utilised (and hence money created) in that half of the picture.

BTW, I stress this matter, because undoubtedly the political divide is driven by the famous remark:

"It's the economy, stupid".

 

Oooooooh. You sure got me scared there bucko. Keep it up.

 

No it is not. And, not it has not been.

Suggesting that Buffet understands what we need to do to ensure low income Americans succeed is just plain HILARIOUS!

And, today we're spending a trillion dollars a year MORE than our revenue, while putting more large, successful corporations on the NO TAXES list.

And, where is it that we've increased spending? OUR MILITARY!!!

 

So... you know more about economics than Buffet, who has made thousands of ordinary people into millionaires. Let him know that, so he can hire you as an advisor.
As far as the "no taxes" list- that only shows you know nothing that the libs haven't told you. The statutory corporate income tax rate in the United States, including an average of state corporate income taxes, is 25.7 percent. That's not the income tax of the owners or executives, which is additional- that it the tax level applied to the corporation's profit. That is the same as the highest percentile of the personal tax rates.
If you make less than $39,475, your rate is 12%. Make over $84,000, and it's 24%, which means that person is paying twice the rate on twice the money. People making over $510K pay- 37%. If a small corporation, such as the bulk of them are, makes $200K, the tax is about $41K. That's not personal- that's against the corporation. Corporate owners then are taxed again for whatever their earnings are.

Somebody else's money seem to be the only thing the left sees- and covets like the golden goose.

I agree we shouldn't be spending beyond our income. IF we shut off all the social welfare benefits, we could achieve that.....

Or we could stop supporting our military, and become Russians or something....

 

In the future, if you find yourself making stuff up to sugget that I said, please redirect your efforts..

I don't find your argument about tax to be even slightly interesting.

You suggested that Buffet knows more than AOC. But, AOC is fully engaged in figuring out the issues related to those who are struggling. And today, our government is making changes in order to help the fabulously wealthy while ignoring the features we need to allow our lower paid American citizens to be more successful.

 

Not interested in entertaining you. Just keeping facts in front of your blindfold.
Anyone who thinks AOC is more than a obnoxious fart in a hurricane..... has a perception deficit going.
Ask yourself how the fabulously wealthy became fabulously wealthy- and why you think achieving such success means they don't know anything about becoming successful.
You think they were all born rich and wise enough to do that???
Or do you suppose that they looked at what wealthy people were doing and learned, rather than curse them for being more productive?

The obvious eludes you, with ease.

 

Yes. And, now comes the ad hom. No surprise.

Whether someone became wealthy is NOT an excuse for suggesting that low income people should have done that.

That idea is PURE ignorance.

 

That's like saying that the person winning the race should not be an example suggesting that others who want to win could actually try running....

That certainly makes political sense to the left these days.
Do you even look over what you write down before you post it?

 

Exactly. Pointing to some runner is NOT going to cause others to run faster.

What you are missing is that those who are successful athletes are almost always coached. Anyone who DIDN'T have a coach would be called out as a remarkable deviation from what EVERYONE expects to be a requirement.

And, I don't see ANYTHING remotely suggestive of coaching coming from you toward addressing the problem of low income people not entering the middle class.

This isn't a right v left thing - it's an every person in the world not accepting what you are saying thing.

 

Coaching- I've spent a great deal of time working at just that, trying to show people in serious need how to make the changes and handle it. Most of that I did free for three years- so that others might become stronger better people, in the belief that helping others would be improving the world I lived in too. Of course the internet and the libraries are loaded with all kinds of information on how to manage your finances, how to change your way of thinking, and on and on covering every aspect of it. Warren Buffet has done a lot of writing on that, and directed many people in the right direction. BUT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN. Regardless of how good the information, the coach or teacher is- if the student isn't ready to learn, not a damn thing is going to be achieved. There is no shortage of instruction, of information, or coaching. There is a severe shortage of the will to learn- but no shortage of those ready to tell the teacher they don't know what they are talking about. If you insist on taking the advice of people who know even less than you so your ego won't have to feel humbled, you deserve what you get- which will be you get to take that class over and over until you figure it out.

When a person has the wrong fundamental mindset, they use it to measure the ideas of those trying to help. They expect to be able to learn how to make things work without disturbing anything they already believe- which is invariably the reason they can't make things work. They want the answer to be something really easy, some kind of oversight that won't require accepting they are wrong or are the cause of their own situation. The result of that is that they CANNOT learn until that changes; it is the limit they impose on themselves. Many will go to their graves refusing to change- still insulting and belittling the people who tried to help them.

You have to prioritize your success over your ego- and when you already have very little to support you ego, it's harder to admit to yourself that you are the reason you are poor.

It's not like a competitive race, everybody could be a winner- but you have to perform, have to make the right moves to get there. IF the majority understood this- the majority would be wealthy. Can you grasp that? The people that know how it's done ARE the people who have done it. The rest are wishing, telling us how it ought to be in their opinion. But- they can't actually do it, or they wouldn't be where they are. Worse than armchair quarterbacks.

I've known many millionaires,even a billionaire- and at every chance, asked them respectfully to tell me how they did it. With rare exception, they are happy to- provided you don't come in with a chip on your shoulder and an attitude that tells them you can't learn.

You seem to think it's a problem external to the person- and you are dead wrong.

 

Ok, whatever.

But, the issue is US policy.

 

(deleted post)

 

Well then all you have to do is pass a law that all people must think wisely and practice sound economics, as a matter of - Policy.

Or, as the progressives would have it- everybody who has made something of themselves should give what they have made to those who haven't, and tell themselves how smart they are.
Obviously the second option is the right "policy".

 

The hearing of the House Judiciary Committee today was illuminating. When it came to questioning by committee members the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans was startling.

The Democrats concentrated on the evidence and the impeachment charges while engaging the witnesses, four experts on our Constitution.

The Republicans largely provided their own testimony, and, while some dealt with the actual evidence and used the witnesses, roughly 90% of their questioning involved their own testimony. Some went back in history and alleged abuse of power by FDR, Johnson, JFK, Obama, and others. Others criticized and misrepresented the proceedings.

Those that dealt with the evidence, denied it existed or mischaracterized it. Some tried to legitimize the debunked story that Ukraine interfered in our election in 2016. Some argued Trump's obstruction was not really obstruction. Some denied Congressional oversight of the executive branch. Some argued that Trump's request of foreign interference in our Presidential election was okay, and that there was no bribery because Trump didn't say he was bribing Zelensky.

In other words, if Republicans on the Judiciary Committee could not adequately defend Trump, it is easy to see why his fans can't.

Of course, both have a problem. Trump is guilty as charged. That is why he is offering no defense and is relying on Trump Republicans in the Senate to get him off the hook.

 

After the July 25 phone call with Zelensky, as he usually does, Trump doubled down on the Biden investigation. On Oct. 3, in a news conference on the White House lawn, he called on Ukraine and China to look into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

“If they were honest about it, they would start a major investigation into the Bidens,” Trump said when asked what he wanted Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to do about the former veep and his son.

“They should investigate the Bidens,” Trump said. “Likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens, because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/03/trump-calls-for-ukraine-china-to-investigate-the-bidens.html

Those who argue there is no evidence of Trump's abuse of power -- seeking foreign interference in our Presidential election to his advantage, those who say the evidence is all hearsay are ignoring these statements and the statements he made in the July 25 call.

 

LOL!!! A law requiring people to think "wisely"!!! Hey, we could have the "smart police"!!

I can see the cases now. Daytime tv here we come.

And, that requirement that people make wise economic decisions is a hoot, too!!! The penalty would be debtor's prison, right?

Or, would you just fine people whose income results in too little taxes?

 

Sooner or later you guys are going to have to face the fact that this impeachment WILL NOT end until Trump is removed from office.

We have evidence that this coup was started in 2017, years before the call with Zelensky.

This is what the democrats have been working on for three years. This is the culmination of their subterfuge, their deceptions and their delusions.

There is NO way on Gods green earth that democrats are going to let this one slide. No, this will be the final impeachment in the history of the united states.

Matter of fact, this coup started BEFORE Trump even took office. And this time, the left will not be denied.








I mean we have very own lawyer to the whistle blower admitting to the fact that it is indeed a coup, which in some cases, is a long drawn out process that typically ends in a violent takedown.

 

No such admission made

 

WRONG Did you not read his quotes? we have his twitter post from 2017 indicating that the coup was already in motion at that point. And he predicts impeachment will follow years in advance, another interesting connection. Wonder if we have collusion going on with the democrats? LOL that would be ironic.

Evidence:

 

Obviously, you don't recognize satire either.
Instead of ranting about what's not right, how about you come up with a plan that actually works? Be happy to congratulate you if you can.

 

What you wrote was NOT satire. It is what you believe. You've written similar long rambling versions of what the world SHOULD look like many times in the past.

My point is that you did not express ideas on how to address poverty superior to those of AOC.

 

Everybody has ideas that are superior to those of AOC- except, apparently, you.
AOC isn't smart enough to slice a tomato safely- and her ideas of fixing any problem is a lot like throwing virgins into the volcanoes to make the corn grow. If she was a virgin, I'd volunteer her for that, but from some of her comments, I think she has pulled a few trains and doesn't qualify. Don't think I've ever seen a more ignorant, arrogant person in a public office in my life.

My ideas work- and they were working long before you and I were born. The choice of a person to not use what works and live in poverty is not mine, it is theirs and that is their right. It's not their right to impose their problems on others by force of law, nor anyone else's obligation tgo compensate for their poor choices in life.

AOC's ideas are just an idiots pipe-dream, but they are dangerous if she becomes some kind of pied piper for those who can't think for themselves. I think believing in her is something like an IQ test.

I did not express ideas you like, which has nothing to do with their viability. Not a problem with my ideas- but with the choice you seem to be making. Weak people- as I've said many times, want solutions to fit neatly into what they already believe, which is invariably the thing that keeps them weak. Right answers never support faulty beliefs, and people with that kind of belief simply reject right answers. That has been going on since time began. It is not likely to change anytime soon, and there is not a damn thing anyone can do to help those who cling to such beliefs.

 

Your ideas don't have any method of application.

You keep rambling on and on about what an amazing parent you would make, but you don't get to be the parent of those in need in this nation.

Beyond that, you don't show any interest AT ALL in the issues that they face.