For What It's Worth.... My Naive View of the Economy

[forHISglory]

When it comes right down to it, most Americans want the same thing - A good life for ourselves, strong health country, and a positive future for the next generation.

The really great thing is that we have the freedom to have discussions about how to get there. It's good to disagree and to listen to each other. But I think that we have wandered into political discussion territory which isn't the purpose of this board, and I did contribute to that.

Yes, I really didn't mean for the thread to become political or divisive. Sometimes it's a fine line because so much of my frugalness hinges somewhat on government and politics. I can watch my food budget carefully, but when high gas prices force shipping prices for food to increase and farmer's fuel costs increase, then I see my budget blown away. That's when I would like to see our government fund more research in synthetic fuels. So my frugal nature leads to politics.... sigh.... Strange bedfellows, eh?

[Daisygirl]

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi

I'm a firm believer in the above quote. I agree with so many of the things said on this thread. However, we are all thinking of the government doing these things for the good of the people. Most of the government only things of the good of the people in the government.

To cause change, we have to each say to ourselves, "I'm not going to support this anymore."

~ Cut back on your consumer goods.
~ Purchase your food and goods as locally as possible, putting money into the pockets of the local business people and farmers.
~ Say "bite me" to the oil companies by walking, purchasing an ultra-economical vehicle if you can afford it, and boycotting their products as much as you can, while still functioning.
~ Barter, don't sell, whenever you can.
~ Limit your spending on non-essentials, especially those made far away. This cuts out foreign manufacturing, avoids lining the pockets of the oil companies who profit from the shipping, and rejuvenates the economy of your local area.
~ Be prepared to spend more for local items - the vendor's expenses are going up just as much as yours are. Keep in mind, when you buy less, you can afford to pay a little more.

Our "global" economy has caused the certain death of our national economy.

[MRAHoffman]

BALANCE. I don't feel that the poor and middle class should EXCLUSIVELY pay for the wars that were not funded, but also that we have to do what we can to make doing business in this country easier. Each side needs to give a little. Cokie Roberts said it best today, our government is not a parliamentary style government like in Europe so whoever is in the majority can not exclusively get their way and the way our political system is set up is so no ONE party can tilt the balance of power (hence the 3 branches of government) so essentially they ALL have to work together as well as what kind of example are we setting for our children about working together. Nice topic.

[nuisance26]

I don't feel that the poor and middle class should EXCLUSIVELY pay for the wars that were not funded, but also that we have to do what we can to make doing business in this country easier.

~That isn't true.
The bottom 50% of wage earners pay no income tax. Who pays ? and who doesn’t pay ? income taxes | Jay Bookman
The richest 10% pay almost 70% of the taxes collected. Guess Who Really Pays the Taxes — The American Magazine ~

[pat in east texas]

What if the politicians were limited to only one term in office? Do you think that maybe they could do what we elected them to do instead of using most of their time campaigning towards re-election?

[Russ]

What if the politicians were limited to only one term in office? Do you think that maybe they could do what we elected them to do instead of using most of their time campaigning towards re-election?

They are limited. People just need to make that limit, when they go to the polls.

[ladykemma2]

Been thinking.... I'm no financial guru. I've not been trained in politics. Only know enough about the law to keep me out of trouble. Don't have a degree in economics.

But I'm out of debt, own my home, am able to contribute to charities, eat well, pay my taxes, and in general have my financial house in order. In this respect, I'm like many other Americans. I'm not an exception; I'm in a majority. Most Americans are working toward these goals and hold them as a standard.

And we are all wondering why: why can't America get out of debt, help those in need, make sure we all have enough food, pay what you owe, and keep the house in order???? We've done it in the past; it can be done again.

Mr. President and Mr. and Mrs. Congress-Person, here's one idea to get us started: get the price of gas lowered. Drill in our own fields. Develop alternative fuel. Do what has to be done to get the price per gallon DOWN. Then watch America bounce back. Then we'll have the extra dollars for more consumer goods. Then food prices will be lower. Then the unemployment figures will drop. Then there will be more money for the mortgages. Like it or not, this country runs on oil and it affects every facet of our living.

I've always thought of myself as being a responsible citizen. I take responsibility in my marriage and family to do what has to be done. We lived lean and frugal for many years in order to meet bills and put away savings. Responsibility sometimes means sacrifice.

I try to be a responsible neighbor, keeping our place tidy and clean, and within neighborhood standards.

I try to live ressponsibly under God, being faithful to worship and give and serve.

I'm responsible to the community and state, obeying laws, paying taxes. Again, I'm like so many many others who think it right to live life this way. I'm not the exception; I really think I am in a majority.

Yet we have leadership who takes Amerca down very irresponsible paths. I'm asking all who consider themselves to be responsible folks, upright citizens, good people who do their best day after day to let your Congress-Person know that you expect responsibility in government.

For what it's worth..... that's my take.

i wanted to add: bring the manufacturing jobs back to america. charge a tariff on imported goods. eliminate the free trdae agreements.

[The Muse]

I appreciated your input about Europe, but I see a difference in population areas. Mass transit is ideal for more heavily populated areas; we found it safe and effecient when we were abroad. But many areas of the US have no metro area large enough to support mass transit and have huge areas with very sparse population. I would love to see it used more in our larger areas, however.

I live in Europe, in a small city about 30 km from the countryside town I work in. Gas here is about $8/gallon. In addition, people pay 180% of the cars value in tax in order to register it. Income tax is 40% - 50% and sales tax is 25% on everything.

Still, we don't have half the financial issues here that the US has. Your problems are much bigger than the cost of fuel. The US shipped most of its manufacturing jobs overseas and started importing oil because Americans feel entitled to cheap everything.

We don't have cheap everything here. In fact we have very little cheap anything. We pay more, but the quality is better. We have less, but we don't need more.

I do not live in a heavily populated populated area. During peak times, the bus to/from work/home runs once an hour, it costs be about $6 each way. I ride my bike over 1 km to the bus stop in wind, rain, and snow. Then I walk 2 km to my office.

If I want to take a 1.5 hour train trip to Copenhagen, It's about $100 round trip.

I do my grocery shopping on a bike. Last week, I hauled home 30 lbs of cat liter and 5 liters of paint on my bike because it was raining and I didn't want to ride across town twice.

Americans have a very romantic view of European public transit. Outside of major capital cities, it isn't much better or worse than in the US. Americans are spoiled and even if we tripled the amount of public transit in the US, most Americans would not give up their warm, dry cars to ride a bike in the rain to a bus that costs $12 round trip, or to haul groceries home on a bike.

Living here is not the same as vacationing here in Rome, Paris, London, etc. Americans are spoiled and have a strong sense of entitlement.

Moving to Europe has really given me a different perspective on things.

[227melissa]

The government and the problems we have reflect the greedy, self entitled, no taking responsibility for ourselves, it's all about me society that we have today. FDR could be in the white house right now and would have the same out come that President Obama had. For example if you bought a house when we were in a housing bubble and prices were through the roof, did not read the fine print or understand your mortgage then it's your fault and you must suffer through the consequences. Everyone whines and blames everyone else, no you are an adult and it's your fault, you know that if you make 30,000 a year you can not afford a 300,000 dollar house that's just being greedy. A house that was worth 70,000 in 2005 was not worth 250,000 in 2006.

I'm middle of the road politically so no left or right wing opinions just common sense.

[forHISglory]

I agree, 227Melissa. We absolutely must take responsibility for how we live. Government is needed in places such as protection, currency, interstate commerce, etc., but we have shifted so much of our responsibility onto the government. By the way, I am for small government.