We're in trouble
By Arkie69
@Arkie69 (2156)
United States
February 14, 2009 10:39am CST
I am sick and tired listing to a bunch of idiots talk about something they don’t know anything about. This is exactly what we are getting off the National News Media. There is so much junk coming out of Washington no one can make heads or tails of it.
Our economy runs on supply and demand. As we stand now there is no demand for the simple reason people just don’t have the money to spend. They are talking about increasing production when there is no demand for what they would produce.
You are not going to make jobs in the production sector of our economy until you first put a lot of people to work outside the production sector so they will have money to spend to create demand. You must create demand first then work on the production.
We need to create about 2 million jobs that have nothing to do with production. I say we need to put a couple hundred thousand at least along the US/Mexican border armed to the teeth t keep the Mexicans in Mexico.
The government owns hundreds of thousands of buildings across this nation that can always use a new coat of paint inside. Just think of all the US Post Office buildings that could use a little touching up. If the government is going to spend money like it is water then put it where it will do some good. I know Obama is talking about doing some road work and other things like that but it isn’t nearly enough.
If this type program is put into effect it must be phased out and not just shut off. People will move from the government sponsored job to the better paying public jobs. This would allow the government to slowly phase their program out . We saw in 1945 what happens if the government just cuts off the jobs they are paying for.
If someone doesn’t stand up and start thinking and acting we are in big trouble. This stimulus thing is not going to work and everyone but Obama knows it. This was proven in the 1930’s and 40’s. It never has and never will work.
Art
2 people like this
9 responses
@stacyv81 (5903)
• United States
14 Feb 09
it is ridiculous how people think Obama is just going to come in and save us. Is it even possible in 4 years? Or 8?
People are more focused on what dog their getting or whose comiing over to watch movies with their daughters or what Michelle Obama is wearing!! Or the color of his skin! Rather than the actual issues.
I think that it is great that we have a new face in office, however, that isnt going to save America. I think that we do need to focus on the issues and work on those.
His answer to the McDonald's worker's question was pretty vague if you ask me, oh we'll help you get benefits later on, basically. But we need to boost the economy by giving jobs, rather than handing out money that people are just going to spend on things. People are more pron to spend money given to them than money they earned.
2 people like this
@joyoustreasures (185)
• United States
14 Feb 09
No kidding! I have absolutely no problem with a non-white in office, that's not the issue! What he does and believes is.
And you are so right about people spending money given to them...they need to earn their money, not have someone give it to them! It seems to me that money will become worthless if people just have money given to them all the time.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I've heard various economists and I believe it was someone from the Army Corps of Engineers say we actually need to spend more than the $800 or so billion. I know that seems preposterous but according to them, and I tend to agree although I admit I'm not an economist, we need to put most of the funds into our crumbling infrastructure. Our infrastructure got an overall mark of "D" by the Army Corps of Engineers. Our roads, bridges, subway and rail systems, sewer systems, power grids and what am I forgetting are falling apart and in many cases are downright dangerous. We also need more teachers, policemen and firefighters.
We shouldn't have left things get this bad but it's too late to point fingers of blame now, it's been neglected for decades.
Annie
1 person likes this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Hi Annie,
You're exactly right. It will take trillions of dollars to get our economy on the mend. I'm not an economist either but I have a good calculator and their figures just don't add up. The kind of jobs you list are the only way to go at this thing. You can't help the companies that produce consumer good just yet. Demand is way down for their products and will not come back until a lot of people are working outside the production lines. Once a few million jobs are going repairing our infrastructure then and only thin will demand for consumer goods pick back up. Then the Government can help a few of the companies in ways that will allow them to start hiring more workers. The companies won't need all that much help because they already have everything they need to increase production other than more workers . Jobs is the answer to the problems. To heck with these banks. If they want to set on their money then let them. It's them that is loosing business. QWe don't need their money because it will be a while before any of the business in this country will be wanting to borrow money to expand. They first have to get production and consumption back up where it was.
Art
2 people like this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I'm with you all the way on that one. After all these people are employed and paid by the American people. This is why I say the people need the power to vote these jerks out of office on very short notice. I don't mean at the end of their term after they have already ripped us off. I mean in say 30 days time. No trial no nothing but post the facts about what they are doing and then let the voters do their thing. These people in Washington must fear and respect the people that pay them. That's the only way they will ever do anything that will benefit the people. There has got to be a better way and we need to find it.
Art
1 person likes this
@ClassyCat (1214)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Perhaps all of us should start searching and trying to find who writes which bills that are bad for us, and let everyone know.
I'm really getting tired of the whole of the political group!
I think that there are a bunch of them in both parties that ae "stiffing" us, and we need to let them know that we're checking on them, and by God if they do stuff in secret - - scream to high heaven and flood their offices with calls and emails - - or better yet: throw the bums out!!!
2 people like this
@xbrendax (2662)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I never liked the man and have told my friends that he will get us in a lot of trouble and I guess I was right! I don't understand his reasoning at all. And I see all of America slowly getting deeper and deeper in debt and a depression far worse then the (great depression)! As far as I can see, the only good thing about Obama is that other countries just love him and maybe that fact will help in keeping the terrorists at bay!
1 person likes this
@ClassyCat (1214)
• United States
15 Feb 09
I too am against this stupid stimulus package!
And I disagree with some of you who think that Mr. "O" will get a second term - unless those who see the U.S. government as their permanent "sugar daddy," and do all they can to get him re-elected, whether leagle or not.
I hate to say it, but I think we're going to see it get a lot worse, before, and indeed IF, it gets better.
Have a great week.
C. C.
1 person likes this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Hi Sid & gwoman, I'm a little older than most on here and I have seen a lot in my lifetime. All it is is good ole common sense. People have added and added so much worthless junk to all this stuff no one understands all of it. Over the years I have done a lot of reading and talking to the old ones that went through the last depression. This stimulus crap was tried 70 years ago and it did not work. Let someone get a new bill up for about $3T and then put every cent of it into rebuilding this country. No pet projects and no bailing out the banks that had a big hand in causing this problem. Anything that will create jobs, a lot of jobs.
Art
1 person likes this
@extromadball (70)
• United States
2 Mar 09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXWzSwZ_wPs
george carlin had it right. your right arkie, the stim plan won't work and its been said since last year and its funny that its a unreal thought that we are not thinking reality at this point. like i have been saying its an illusion to keep us on thinking it will work so we can focus on something else and let the real rulers of this country make that silent and almost invisible transition to something more miserable until we wake up.
they want obedient workers" george carlin.
they want it back so they can give it their criminal friends on wall street" george carlin.
1 person likes this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
2 Mar 09
George Carlin isn't the only one that has it right. I have been listening very closely to different people talk and a lot of people are seeing through this thing. The people are proving to not be nearly as dumb as this bunch of jerks in Washington think we are. I do not understand why it is taking so many people so long to wake up. We have had our heads in the sane so long it has become a way of life. If you would have told me 10 years ago we would have sit and took all this crap this long I would have called you a liar. I thought we had more backbone than that. Here in Arkansas we do have. A lot of the local people here are ready to march on Washington. It wouldn't take much to start them in that direction either. I would go in a heart beat. With my big mouth I would probably stay there a while in jail. There is no way I would pass up a chance to tell some of them what I think of them face to face. This includes Obama if I got the chance.
Art
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I am beginning to believe that with all the educated people in congress, and yes the President himself, they couldn't figure out how to change a light bulb. Well, they might not be that bad but I guarantee at least most of them would have to look up instructions on the internet.
Your point is valid. No one will benefit from the stimulus package, because as you said there needs to be jobs that will get the American people to be put in a situation to spend money.
Obviously the government either didn't read their history and learn it or they don't care what happens to America because they have their jobs. They better wake up, their jobs will be overthrown by angry mobs who have lost everthing.
1 person likes this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I'm beginning to believe you are just about right. I still believe a lot of this bail out money is finding it's way back into the pockets of politicians. You know when you are dealing with Billions it isn't hard at all for a few million to go missing.
One of our big problems at this point is the fact our economy was being supported by a bunch of junk we can all live just fine without. When the price of food, housing and gasoline went so high people had to cut back on the amount of junk they were buying. The demand for it dropped putting a lot of people out of work. From there on we have seen what is happening. I don't think we are nearly done yet. We still have a lot of mistakes in the building of our economy that must be corrected. I think Mother Nature has every intention of correcting them to. I just hope we are a little smarter when we do get a chance to start rebuilding.
Art
1 person likes this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
2 Mar 09
Mommaj, It isn't the time to be worried. It's time we got mad. It's time we started speaking our minds for all to hear. The ones that understand the situation must do their best to wake as many people as they can up so they can fight this thing. The people can do a lot more to stop this than any government can.
Art
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
14 Feb 09
"The government owns hundreds of thousands of buildings across this nation that can always use a new coat of paint inside. Just think of all the US Post Office buildings that could use a little touching up. If the government is going to spend money like it is water then put it where it will do some good. I know Obama is talking about doing some road work and other things like that but it isn’t nearly enough."
I hope you're not advocating wasting money painting federal buildings. That is wasteful, plain and simple. My home could use a new coat of paint inside. I'm not about to waste money on it though because it's not necessary and certainly not a priority. I'm spending my money where I NEED to and the government should do the same. I actually support the road work since poorly maintained roads are actually dangerous and they NEED to be fixed. We don't need to sod the land around federal buildings or pain post offices.
This money should be put into hiring people we need like teachers. We certainly need teachers. I don't think anyone would argue that. Instead of wasting money buying hybrids for federal employees that money could be spent hiring mechanics to maintain the cars they already have. Everyone needs auto-mechanics.
Simply put, we need to spend the money and needs and not waste it on temporary and unnecessary crap like painting and sodding federal buildings.
I agree with you on the border issues and I agree that the stimulus won't work. If it were done properly, and prioritized the American people though, it could.
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
14 Feb 09
Painting Federal Buildings was just an example. There are thousands of things that could be done. Some of them like painting your house could actually help the people. I doubt if we will see much like that. The people are nearly always the last ones to benefit from something like this. The object is to pay tax dollars to the public so they can afford to buy what they need. Any way you can do this will help create new jobs. This is the only way you will create a demand for consumer goods which will produce more jobs. As for Obama I believe he will fall flat on his face. I honestly believe someone will see to that.
Art
1 person likes this
@ladybug565 (2216)
• United States
1 Apr 09
companies outsourcing is one of our major problems and another one is the government taxing products untill we cant afford them and the company goes out of business, causing more layoffs and less tax revenue in the long run.
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
1 Apr 09
If it was my call I would insist if it is consumed in the US it would be produced in the US and no American company would be allowed to set up shop in any other country. Importing into the US would come to a sudden stop. Our workers need to produce what we consume.
Art
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
14 Feb 09
I fully agree, jobs have to be created for the masses and not in just select industries. However, Obama is already campaigning again. So as much as possible of his campaign promises had to be put into this stimulus package to get a start. Health care reform and centralized electronic storage of everybody's medical files; focus on renewable energy sources to increase energy-independence; increase volunteerism and build a 'citizens army'. That's all in the stimulus package. Create jobs and kick-start the economy again... in there but won't work that well. By the time we'll notice it, the economy will be in recovery phase by itself and he'll take the credit, lol. And yes, to keep donations flowing from the big rollers... fork some money over to them under the disguise of whatever...
Obama is no economist and he doesn't know much about it, but he knows politics and putting on a good show. In two years he'll make us believe that the economy is doing wonderful again and all because he did it. It'll just be enough to get re-elected again at which point we'll get hit with the burden of having to actually pay back the debt we have incurred as a nation;)
1 person likes this
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
14 Feb 09
Very interesting post. I agree but I think a bunch of people are going to be in for some big surprises. I don't believe our economy will be on the mend in two years. I think a lot of people are going to know the real truth about Obama by the time he is to be reelected. I haven't read the stimulus bill but the ones that have say it will create very few new jobs.
Our economy needs to be completely rebuilt from the ground up. In order to do that it has to crash all the way to the bottom. If it is allowed to do that then it will rebuild on it's own and build solid. If not we will be setting ourselves up for another crash later. Inflation is the one thing we cannot live with for any length of time without having these crashes. The only possible way to stop inflation is to freeze prices and that will never happen. However we nay see a lot of things happen we didn't think we would before we are done with this crash. The dominoes are falling and I don't think Obama or anyone else will be able to stop them. From the way it is acting it is going to take a while for us to reach the bottom and there will be no fixing it until we do.
Art
1 person likes this
