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View Full Version : Ten truths the occupy wall street wouldn't let me post


Guest
12-29-2011, 06:46 AM
1) The government is supposed to supply all my needs. A job, health benefits,disaster relief, etc. Reality: The governments main job is to provide an environment where people can be left to their own devices to succeed or fail. The more the government is involved with anything the greater the likelihood of failure. Our government should provide a limited safety net of last resort..not a hammock.
2) The government should pay my student loans. Reality: Choosing an expensive college is a personal decision. If you choose to take on the debt it's your burden not societies. if you decide to back to school at 40 years old *god bless! but I'm not paying for it. *It took me ten years to pay off my loans. *By the way I went to school at nights for 6 years. If a college is overpriced don't attend -watch how quickly they find a way *to lower tuition.
3) We represent the 99%. Reality: More like less than 1%. Many of us believe we need to make some changes but we will do that with our votes.
4) Redistribution of wealth is the answer. Reality: redistribution is already happening. Our jobs and oil money are headed overseas and the tax man takes it away from the wealthy when they die.*
5) The American dream is dead. *Reality: Creativity, hard work, a passion and acuity in delivering a needed good or service will be rewarded. Take a look at Steve Jobs life. Why do you think so many people want to come here?
6) Banks are responsible for the economic crisis. Reality: people over extended themselves, falsified mortgage applications omitting debt and inflating salaries The Regulators turned a blind eye. *The rating agencies failed miserably. Many people had skin in the credit crisis -Greed absolutely! *but was Everywhere!
7) The rich are keeping the masses down. *Reality: The *rich aren't hoarding a finite supply of food in their basements. Their money is on the stock market, their businesses and the economy. *They employ. It's easy to envy their successes, how can you hate a *Bill Gates? he created, became rich and now gives it away. Those earning over 250k should be taxed at a higher rate, not to punish or pay for some new worthless jobs bill. But to pay our incredible debt and guess what? That will not be nearly enough! entitlements must be reduced. 30 cents of every tax dollar goes to service the countries debt! Can you say Greece?
8) Capitalism/profits *are dirty words. *Reality: Capitalism although imperfect, brought us the iPad, 40 mpg cars and a million things we all take for granted. The other forms of government were tried and failed miserably. Capitalism does not and never meant equality *of outcome, just equality of opportunity. The countries founding fathers were part of the 1% they sought liberty from government and equality before the law.
9) They are responsible for my situation. *Reality: Count how often OWS speakers use the word they. *While some people clearly have had challenges (health, etc.) *Many of us are do our best to be masters of our own destiny. *Have you lived a simple life or have you been chasing the ever bigger toy? Have you truly taken advantage of every opportunity available to you? *It's often about taking responsibility for you choices.
10) In our new paradigm there will be jobs for everyone, *healthcare and it will be better. Reality: Look at Greece and the former Soviet Union. *The result will be either misery and/or unsustainable. * let's skip the experiment we know it won't work. *Some may be happy with a made up job but not me, it kills the spirit.

Whats worth changing
1) Like it or not we live in a global economy, we compete against countries that do not provide the environmental and economic safety net as the USA does. *As such we operate at a cost disadvantage -So if GE wants to offshore their software development to Mumbai. Tax Them, put the money into a fund for the education and training*of engineering students. *We need to start manufacturing in the USA again.
2) Tax any import from countries that effectively block the sale of *American goods.
3) Eliminate all foreign aide..we are borrowing only to give it away. *Does that sound right?
4) Raise taxes on the wealthy, reduce spending, reduce debt.
5) require a sunset provision on all spending.
6) Continue to support energy conservation. *Make the USA the leader in solar and wind energy production. *Tax gas guzzlers heavily.
7) Require all high school students to take a personal finance course that stresses an understanding of mortgages, credit cards and all forms of debt.
8) Revise government*pension systems to be more in line with the public sector.
9) Investigate where all the stimulus money went ..Throw the thieves that paid themselves a bonus right before the solar company went bankrupt in jail.

Guest
12-29-2011, 06:58 AM
1) The government is supposed to supply all my needs. A job, health benefits,disaster relief, etc. Reality: The governments main job is to provide an environment where people can be left to their own devices to succeed or fail. The more the government is involved with anything the greater the likelihood of failure. Our government should provide a limited safety net of last resort..not a hammock.
2) The government should pay my student loans. Reality: Choosing an expensive college is a personal decision. If you choose to take on the debt it's your burden not societies. if you decide to back to school at 40 years old *god bless! but I'm not paying for it. *It took me ten years to pay off my loans. *By the way I went to school at nights for 6 years. If a college is overpriced don't attend -watch how quickly they find a way *to lower tuition.
3) We represent the 99%. Reality: More like less than 1%. Many of us believe we need to make some changes but we will do that with our votes.
4) Redistribution of wealth is the answer. Reality: redistribution is already happening. Our jobs and oil money are headed overseas and the tax man takes it away from the wealthy when they die.*
5) The American dream is dead. *Reality: Creativity, hard work, a passion and acuity in delivering a needed good or service will be rewarded. Take a look at Steve Jobs life. Why do you think so many people want to come here?
6) Banks are responsible for the economic crisis. Reality: people over extended themselves, falsified mortgage applications omitting debt and inflating salaries The Regulators turned a blind eye. *The rating agencies failed miserably. Many people had skin in the credit crisis -Greed absolutely! *but was Everywhere!
7) The rich are keeping the masses down. *Reality: The *rich aren't hoarding a finite supply of food in their basements. Their money is on the stock market, their businesses and the economy. *They employ. It's easy to envy their successes, how can you hate a *Bill Gates? he created, became rich and now gives it away. Those earning over 250k should be taxed at a higher rate, not to punish or pay for some new worthless jobs bill. But to pay our incredible debt and guess what? That will not be nearly enough! entitlements must be reduced. 30 cents of every tax dollar goes to service the countries debt! Can you say Greece?
8) Capitalism/profits *are dirty words. *Reality: Capitalism although imperfect, brought us the iPad, 40 mpg cars and a million things we all take for granted. The other forms of government were tried and failed miserably. Capitalism does not and never meant equality *of outcome, just equality of opportunity. The countries founding fathers were part of the 1% they sought liberty from government and equality before the law.
9) They are responsible for my situation. *Reality: Count how often OWS speakers use the word they. *While some people clearly have had challenges (health, etc.) *Many of us are do our best to be masters of our own destiny. *Have you lived a simple life or have you been chasing the ever bigger toy? Have you truly taken advantage of every opportunity available to you? *It's often about taking responsibility for you choices.
10) In our new paradigm there will be jobs for everyone, *healthcare and it will be better. Reality: Look at Greece and the former Soviet Union. *The result will be either misery and/or unsustainable. * let's skip the experiment we know it won't work. *Some may be happy with a made up job but not me, it kills the spirit.

Whats worth changing
1) Like it or not we live in a global economy, we compete against countries that do not provide the environmental and economic safety net as the USA does. *As such we operate at a cost disadvantage -So if GE wants to offshore their software development to Mumbai. Tax Them, put the money into a fund for the education and training*of engineering students. *We need to start manufacturing in the USA again.
2) Tax any import from countries that effectively block the sale of *American goods.
3) Eliminate all foreign aide..we are borrowing only to give it away. *Does that sound right?
4) Raise taxes on the wealthy, reduce spending, reduce debt.
5) require a sunset provision on all spending.
6) Continue to support energy conservation. *Make the USA the leader in solar and wind energy production. *Tax gas guzzlers heavily.
7) Require all high school students to take a personal finance course that stresses an understanding of mortgages, credit cards and all forms of debt.
8) Revise government*pension systems to be more in line with the public sector.
9) Investigate where all the stimulus money went ..Throw the thieves that paid themselves a bonus right before the solar company went bankrupt in jail.

This post will find itself in political. But most things here I agree with.

Guest
12-29-2011, 09:53 PM
One of the improvements mentioned here was "Revise government pension systems to be more in line with the public sector."

I would like to know exactly what the OP meant by that statement.

I am a retired federal government employee. I paid into the Civil Service Retirement System at 7.5% of my salary instead of Social Security. I went the last 2 years with no COLA. I pay for my health insurance. I paid for my health insurance while I was working. I have a Thrift Saving Plan which is a 401(k). I do not get more benefits than someone who worked for a good company and has a pension plan with them and they also get Social Security - which I do not.

I am not complaining by any means but it irritates me when some people think that a government pension is a freebie and government workers are do-nothings. Just like any company, there are some slugs but by and large, government employees are dedicated workers.

Guest
12-30-2011, 08:14 AM
Quite frankly we should revise the PRIVATE sector to be more in line with the PUBLIC sector. We SHOULD be able to have a system that is paid into, that you can take with you from company to company, but that isn't subject to the kinds of abuses that seem to happen in the public sector.

In other words, your retirement should, like FDR said, consist of a platform supported on 3 legs.

1) Savings. Today the vehicle is a 401(k). In most places your employer will match, to a point, what you put in, giving a good incentive to save.

2) Pension. This used to be THE RULE. Now, in our coporate race to the bottom, they're almost unheard of and the M&A market seems to be ensuring it's extinction (pension funds are frequently liquidated in a bankruptcy or buyout).

3) Social Security. The system everyone pays into acting as the last-resort safety net.

If I stay with the Air Force for another 18.5 years, I'll qualify for 20% of my salary as a pension. If my TSP (government version of a 401k) doesn't get raided anymore (no more divorces or disaters) and if Social Security doesn't go TOTALLY broke (latest estimate is that they'll have enough money for 75% of the benefits), I might be ok.