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Moral Decay and the demise of the American economy


Bic_cherry
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Moral Decay and the demise of the American economy

Source Thread: 'Rise and Fall of Superpower'

The current era that we are living are presenting very challenging environment not only to the individuals but also to the very societies due to the global resource constraint and technology bottle neck.

In the past, there were enough technologies breakthrough and innovations that allowed the the country with the most advanced scientific power to become superpower in terms of economy and influence. Example is America and Japan, where their innovations allowed them to develop leading technology and products that dominated the world economy. When technology innovations are at that plenty, the direction of the future development is clear and obvious for the world leaders. USA and Japan would always manufacture the most leading products, while the less developed cheaper countries would manufacture more mainstream products at a cheap lower cost.

What happened later is that there is a slow down of technology innovations. there is less and less new leading products coming to the market, USA and Japan start running out of leading products to manufacture and find themselves hard to compete against less developed countries to manufacture more mainstream products. Slowly USA and Japan find themselves losing manufacturing power to less developed countries, at first to South American and Asia. So USA have no choice but slowly turned its attention to service sector and domestic demand, such as finance, multimedia such as films, books and others.

Initially the South America and Asia are booming, but India and China suddenly become the big players as they start opening their market and opening themselves to the world. Due to their huge population size and low wage cost, they become the biggest mainstream products manufacturing with the potential to become some of the largest domestic market globally. Suddenly, India becomes the world largest IT outsourcing venue and China becomes the largest mainstream product manufacturing venue.

Therefore, as the economies of USA and Japan become stagnant, India and China are growing at a staggering pace. As USA continues to focus on its domestic market, India and China is supplying their cheap services and products to USA and the rest of the world. Soon USA finds that it needs to borrow money to sustain the current lifestyle of living. Just like a fisherman borrowing money from the moneylender. The fisherman keeps on borrowing money from the moneylender and the moneylender dare not refuse as it depended on the fisherman for enough fishes for his diet. If one day the moneylender able to catch enough fish on his own, he will refuse to lend money to the fisherman and fisherman will become broke.

[bold font and spelling edits added]

Not to sure if the fisherman scenario is that apt an example bc the US in reality, now doesn't borrow, it simply PRINT$$$$; anyhow, I think that recent US Presidents in recent times have breed an increasingly STUPID population based upon their 'job printing' policies to that lull lay electorate from genuine concern.

 

From what I do hear, many American citizens are still stuck in their pre-Lehman (2007-8) profligacy, (then and still) funded by the USA housing boom funded perpetuated by deception, aka "fraudulent underwriting practices".

 

Currently, their chieftain, Mr Ben Bernanke, Chairman of US FED, seems to be of the opinion that if by hook or crook, the share markets can be propped up by quantitative easing (aka printing $$$), then the economy can glow again, but all this silliness is no contest for the stable Asian concept of 'love' whereby individuals are taught to place others' (family/ country) first.

 

My current view is that rather than sticking to the purity of its own religion (Christianity (mainly protestant AFAIK))- as exemplified by mutual caring and love between men as the alter of God bestows, American citizens have instead increasingly believed in the deceptive statistics spewed by economist, in conspiracy with 2 querulous political parties- democrats and republicans, purporting on each side- skewed, half baked economic theories.

 

Whilst money printing aka "quantitative easing (QE)" in the short term might indeed boost the economy (raise GDP), this effect is temporary (think drug doping in cycling sport/ Lance Armstrong), unfortunately, the cost of such myopic endeavor is oft devastating. For the profit of aggrandizing Obama's joblessness/ GDP statistics/ Presidency short term, here's what QE will do to human (American) society:

- Widen rich poor divide because only equity (bonds, stocks etc) holders and home owners profit from the FED's US$1trillion p.a. QE plan (US$85billion/ month = US$1020 Billion p.a.). The $ sloshing around the economy will immediately raise stock prices and housing prices through cheap mortgage rates but the consequences of such are manifold:

 

- More money around makes people more stressed and the economy more complicated- essential public services are strained and eventually will costs more to run (healthcare, police, fire service)- eventually dragging down the economy if mismanaged.

- People become more unreasonable and demanding because there is excessive dependence upon government powers to provide jobs/ sustain the economy since inflation is often a delayed side effect of loose monetary policy: this disquiet will be politically challenging to control down the road for politicians of today's standards (e.g. Bush, Obama).

- Politicians who depend upon loose monetary policies (borrowing against future generations) rather than "leading by example" set the example for dishonesty amongst the citizens of the country. 'Like father like son', bad leaders beget bad followers, the Americans of tomorrow will not be more virtuous then their leaders today who rather borrow money against the credit of their unborn children than lead society by moral example.

 

- needless to say, I do indeed believe that the US economy is heading in the wrong direction as it seems a growing economy devoid of moral foundation. Obama's theory seems to be that by increasing the food pile upon the table of the rich, more food will fall off the table as scraps for the poor- an extremely inefficient method of alleviating poverty in the world today.

 

Still, little does Obama realize that over eating by the rich will result in indigestion, and over a longer term, a fatal coronary. The scraps the poor get from the floor are also stale and the indignity of receiving half eaten food isn't significantly uplifting. Worse, all the food wasted in this process only serves to pollute the environment, making it less hospitable for all (read global warming, Fukushima nuclear disaster*, environmental pollution). Ultimately, an economy suffused with 'creative accounting' and other moral hazards and dragged by an ever increasing class divide cannot be described as a resilient society and where push comes to shove, civil war might again take hold. One full circle, the rise and the fall of the Unites States of America.

 

In short, the American economy, originally built more like a house upon a rock, is now built like one upon shaky soil.

 

The moral compass of America is broken.

 

1 John 4:8; New International Version (NIV)

God

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Agree to a large extent. ThE moral dEcay will signal the start of the decline of this superpower.

One of the craziest thing happening is the political deadlock which prevents sitting presidEnts from truly passing policies to benefit the country. If u cannot move domestic policies, don't even think of solving world problems.

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can our country replicate US?

i mean our country use to be manufacturing country right?

 

another similar example

top head earn big but when going gets tough they are not at fault

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Everyone knows the problems...can someone pls come out with the solutions and the recommend the ppl with balls to implement the solutions?

 

Anyone?

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Supercharged

I think this article is not very true.

 

Obama did not support the rich. he's for the poor and middle income ppl. He's trying to implement high tax rates for the rich so that economy will benefit. It's those bloody rich Republicans who are making things difficult for him.

 

Get the facts right.

 

As for the printing money, Obama did not start it. US had been printing money since god knows when......

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(edited)

Moral Decay and the demise of the American economy

...

Latest version of Starting post, for future versions, pls see: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/current-...ml#post73658228

Moral Decay and the end of American political economy

Not to sure if the fisherman scenario is that apt an example bc the US in reality, now doesn't borrow, it simply PRINT$$$$; anyhow, I think that recent US Presidents in recent times have breed an increasingly STUPID population based upon their 'job printing' policies to that lull lay electorate from genuine concern.

 

From what I do hear, many American citizens are still stuck in their pre-Lehman (2007-8) profligacy, (then and still) funded by the USA housing boom funded perpetuated by deception, aka "fraudulent underwriting practices".

 

Currently, their chieftain, Mr Ben Bernanke, Chairman of US FED, seems to be of the opinion that if by hook or crook, the share markets can be propped up by quantitative easing (aka printing $$$), then the economy can glow again, but all this silliness is no contest for the stable Asian concept of 'love' whereby individuals are taught to place others' (family/ country) first.

 

My current view is that rather than sticking to the purity of its own religion (Christianity (mainly protestant AFAIK))- as exemplified by mutual caring and love between men as the alter of God bestows, American citizens have instead increasingly believed in the deceptive statistics spewed by economist, in conspiracy with 2 querulous political parties- democrats and republicans, purporting on each side- skewed, half baked economic theories.

 

Whilst money printing aka "quantitative easing (QE)" in the short term might indeed boost the economy (raise GDP), this effect is temporary (think drug doping in cycling sport/ Lance Armstrong), unfortunately, the cost of such myopic endeavor is oft devastating. For the profit of aggrandizing Obama's joblessness/ GDP statistics/ Presidency short term, here's what QE will do to human (American) society:

- Widen rich poor divide because only equity (bonds, stocks etc) holders and home owners profit from the FED's US$1trillion p.a. QE plan (US$85billion/ month = US$1020 Billion p.a.). The $ sloshing around the economy will immediately raise stock prices and housing prices through cheap mortgage rates but the consequences of such are manifold:

 

- More money around makes people more stressed and the economy more complicated- essential public services are strained and eventually will costs more to run (healthcare, police, fire service)- eventually dragging down the economy if mismanaged.

- People become more unreasonable and demanding because there is excessive dependence upon government powers to provide jobs/ sustain the economy since inflation is often a delayed side effect of loose monetary policy: this disquiet will be politically challenging to control down the road for politicians of today's standards (e.g. Bush, Obama).

- Politicians who depend upon loose monetary policies (borrowing against future generations) rather than "leading by example" set the example for dishonesty amongst the citizens of the country. 'Like father like son', bad leaders beget bad followers, the Americans of tomorrow will not be more virtuous then their leaders today who rather borrow money against the credit of their unborn children than lead society by moral example.

 

- needless to say, I do indeed believe that the US economy is heading in the wrong direction as it seems a growing economy devoid of moral foundation. Obama's theory seems to be that by increasing the food pile upon the table of the rich, more food will fall off the table as scraps for the poor- an extremely inefficient method of alleviating poverty in the world today.

 

Still, little does Obama realize that over eating by the rich will result in indigestion, and over a longer term, a fatal coronary. The scraps the poor get from the floor are also stale and the indignity of receiving half eaten food isn't significantly uplifting. Worse, all the food wasted in this process only serves to pollute the environment, making it less hospitable for all (read global warming, Fukushima nuclear disaster*, environmental pollution). Ultimately, an economy that encourages 'creative accounting' and other moral hazards and plagued by an ever increasing class divide cannot be described as a resilient society and where push comes to shove, civil discord/ war will again take hold and reduce all liberties to that of a police state. One full circle, the rise and the fall of the Unites States of America.

 

In short, the American economy, originally built more like a house upon a rock, is now built like one upon shaky soil; the moral compass of America is broken.

 

Where love and liberty fail, corruption and authoritarianism take hold.

A political system not driven by moral interest (love) but by the unilateral and irresponsible desire for personal wealth(at all costs)- is doomed to fail.

 

Pre-Lehman was a mirage, post Lehman is truth.

 

Sans moral purpose and direction, the citizens of this world have little, if any, to look forward to.

Edited by Bic_cherry
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Supercharged

Everyone knows the problems...can someone pls come out with the solutions and the recommend the ppl with balls to implement the solutions?

 

Anyone?

 

Obama actually has the solutions, but some greedy senators and Wall street jerks are making things difficult for him to implement. That's the root of the problem

 

Almost the same situation as Greece. The rich just doesn't want to pay taxes!!

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(edited)

I think this article is not very true.

Obama did not support the rich. he's for the poor and middle income ppl. He's trying to implement high tax rates for the rich so that economy will benefit. It's those bloody rich Republicans who are making things difficult for him.

Get the facts right.

As for the printing money, Obama did not start it. US had been printing money since god knows when......

Okay, agree w you that Obama inherited a messed up economy and that the essay might have been better had I been more detailed in assigning blame (FD Roosevelt, Nixon, Regan etc etc).

 

And yes, I agree that taxes have to be increased for the upper classes in America if any, just to balance the budget.

 

However, I disagree with the big pharma controlled medical economy whereby there's a "

". Healthcare spending will have to be curtailed or only provided in its most basic form (if the government cannot afford it). Between congenital illnesses and illnesses from bad lifestyles (smoking, obesity), the former should be first. There is also an urgent need to reduce govt healthcare spending on lifestyle diseases in favor of spending towards heath education that is much more affordable to a financially ailing government. The govt should also focus more on improving literacy and education, the provision of better internet access to educational sites and the improvement of public libraries, the advancement in religious and political thought, if not at least harmony.

 

Both democrats and republicans have valid arguments on taxes and spending but I do think that BOTH SIDES HAVE TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS so that the outcomes can be the best of both worlds rather than stalemates on all sides.

 

AFAIK, the high debt problem in the USA is caused by BOTH SIDES as at all time that they have been un able to agree, the default option seems that of borrowing. And where nobody wants to lend no more, good ol Ben Bernanke will offer to print money to but all the crap debt (treasuries, mortgaged backed crap) just to pump up the economy with cash (based on inflation numbers today)- just like a gambler who continues to gamble just because people still agree to lend him the $$$$- inflation, like bankruptcy is always a late stage declaration when the accounts are eventually tallied and the numbers are seen.

 

I guess that Obama is to blame insofar that as President of USA, "Bernanke was confirmed for a second term as chairman on January 28, 2010, after being re-nominated by President Barack Obama." [Wiki: B Bernanke].

 

Increasing the debt limit of the USA to pay for healthcare for lifestyle diseases is like stealing from the children to give money to the large pharmaceutical companies (who are trying to be likes banks- too big to fail)- occupations of this kind in society are performed by thieves. Obama is President of the USA, he must stop stealing from the children of tomorrow by educating the people of today to take care of their own health through balanced lifestyles and better nutrition.

 

Rather than remain a puppet of big pharma, international banks and the largest debtor in the world, President Barrack Obama should return to his true purpose of leading the world with sound economic and social policies.

 

If Obama remains no more than a puppet of ultra-capitalist world over, than the future of this world is TOAST.

The President is no president if all that is run/ seen is nothin' but a mere puppet show.

Edited by Bic_cherry
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Supercharged

Okay, agree w you that Obama inherited a messed up economy and that the essay might have been better had I been more detailed in assigning blame (FD Roosevelt, Nixon, Regan etc etc).

 

And yes, I agree that taxes have to be increased for the upper classes in America if any, just to balance the budget.

 

However, I disagree with the big pharma controlled medical economy whereby there's a "

". Healthcare spending will have to be curtailed or only provided in its most basic form (if the government cannot afford it). Between congenital illnesses and illnesses from bad lifestyles (smoking, obesity), the former should be first. There is also an urgent need to reduce govt healthcare spending on lifestyle diseases in favor of spending towards heath education that is much more affordable to a financially ailing government. The govt should also focus more on improving literacy and education, the provision of better internet access to educational sites and the improvement of public libraries, the advancement in religious and political thought, if not at least harmony.

 

Both democrats and republicans have valid arguments on taxes and spending but I do think that BOTH SIDES HAVE TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS so that the outcomes can be the best of both worlds rather than stalemates on all sides.

 

AFAIK, the high debt problem in the USA is caused by BOTH SIDES as at all time that they have been un able to agree, the default option seems that of borrowing. And where nobody wants to lend no more, good ol Ben Bernanke will offer to print money to but all the crap debt (treasuries, mortgaged backed crap) just to pump up the economy with cash (based on inflation numbers today)- just like a gambler who continues to gamble just because people still agree to lend him the $$$$- inflation, like bankruptcy is always a late stage declaration when the accounts are eventually tallied and the numbers are seen.

 

I guess that Obama is to blame insofar that as President of USA, "Bernanke was confirmed for a second term as chairman on January 28, 2010, after being re-nominated by President Barack Obama." [Wiki: B Bernanke].

 

Increasing the debt limit of the USA to pay for healthcare for lifestyle diseases is like stealing from the children to give money to the large pharmaceutical companies (who are trying to be likes banks- too big to fail)- occupations of this kind in society are performed by thieves. Obama is President of the USA, he must stop stealing from the children of tomorrow by educating the people of today to take care of their own health through balanced lifestyles and better nutrition.

 

Rather than remain a puppet of big pharma, international banks and the largest debtor in the world, President Barrack Obama should return to his true purpose of leading the world with sound economic and social policies.

 

If Obama remains no more than a puppet of ultra-capitalist world over, than the future of this world is TOAST.

The President is no president if all that is run/ seen is nothin' but a mere puppet show.

 

It's not simple, my friend.

 

The US government system is not like ours here. Ours is very simple; the ruling party says everything and everyone agrees. Even the Opposition protests, it meant nothing to the ruling party.

 

In the US system, the ruling party does not have the say all the time, and much less the President can decide on policies. Even the ruling party members can vote against the President. Their voting system is very complicated. Not so simple as our Parliament.

 

So don't say that President is a Puppet. Obviously he's alot smarter than a puppet. If Obama is a Puppet, then the last 43 US Presidents are also Puppets?

 

Go read up on American political systems before writing anything stupid.

 

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It's not simple, my friend.

The US government system is not like ours here. Ours is very simple; the ruling party says everything and everyone agrees. Even the Opposition protests, it meant nothing to the ruling party.

In the US system, the ruling party does not have the say all the time, and much less the President can decide on policies. Even the ruling party members can vote against the President. Their voting system is very complicated. Not so simple as our Parliament.

So don't say that President is a Puppet. Obviously he's alot smarter than a puppet. If Obama is a Puppet, then the last 43 US Presidents are also Puppets?

Go read up on American political systems before writing anything stupid.

Thanks for advice mod,

Granted the US President may be 'doing his best' and that I might be no expert on US constitution and laws,

 

AFAIK, banks and big pharma are ALLOWED to spend $$$ lobbying politicians towards their cause according to various documentaries from the USA... isn't this some form of overt if not bribery?... and that begets the question if the people who are neediest (poor) even have the chance to be heard or are the poor just fodder (used as pawns) and just deceived day in and out about the 'good work' of the government?

 

Me thinks that as the day goes by, the average US citizen is getting more and more STUPID by the minute... already 60% of the population is overweight if not obese [USA CDC fast stats] so as expected, the health care costs there is expected to be high, with or without govt subvention- the USA healthcare education has got to change.

 

Perhaps its not just Obama BUT the whole USA political system that is a puppet show of the ultra capitalist who by deceiving the fat and stupid citizens of USA that their government can BORROWING money from the rest of the world, solve the local jobless problems within the country.

 

Perhaps it's the product of a wide class divide (which spurred the French revolution, and almost every revolution in history AFAIK), wherein Singapore, the seeds have already been sown (people in Aljunied-Hougang, Punggol East, already don't really give a damn if their MP were promoted to 'Minister'/ be successful in improving the GDP further- all they want is a listening ear)...

 

And then we must ask, how did this wide class divide come about in the first place?

 

The USA class divide is widening- thus the split congressional vote which stymies so many Presidential policies.

So unless rich and poor can come down to the same table and talk.... and agree that stealing the future form children isn't a good thing, I really cannot see how people in the world, under the shadow of an ailing political power, can see tomorrow as a very good thing.

 

The high US debt represents a compromise upon gov expenditure on the needs of future generations: less education, less healthcare (like Greece of today). First President of the USA, George Washington [wiki] fought to emancipate slaves but in recent times, successive US govts seem to have imposed unnecessary burdens upon all future generations.

 

If class divides cannot be reconciled, then perhaps the world should worry,

cos World War III- its here to stay. [:(]

 

talk_politics_free_hand%28source%2C%20jpg%29.JPG

 

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he's wrong la,obama is way below the league of puppets.

the puppets in the house are all paid multi millions paid each year excl bonuses.

obama pay only 200k USD so not qualified to be puppet.

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Supercharged

Thanks for advice mod,

Granted the US President may be 'doing his best' and that I might be no expert on US constitution and laws,

 

AFAIK, banks and big pharma are ALLOWED to spend $$$ lobbying politicians towards their cause according to various documentaries from the USA... isn't this some form of overt if not bribery?... and that begets the question if the people who are neediest (poor) even have the chance to be heard or are the poor just fodder (used as pawns) and just deceived day in and out about the 'good work' of the government?

 

Me thinks that as the day goes by, the average US citizen is getting more and more STUPID by the minute... already 60% of the population is overweight if not obese [USA CDC fast stats] so as expected, the health care costs there is expected to be high, with or without govt subvention- the USA healthcare education has got to change.

 

Perhaps its not just Obama BUT the whole USA political system that is a puppet show of the ultra capitalist who by deceiving the fat and stupid citizens of USA that their government can BORROWING money from the rest of the world, solve the local jobless problems within the country.

 

Perhaps it's the product of a wide class divide (which spurred the French revolution, and almost every revolution in history AFAIK), wherein Singapore, the seeds have already been sown (people in Aljunied-Hougang, Punggol East, already don't really give a damn if their MP were promoted to 'Minister'/ be successful in improving the GDP further- all they want is a listening ear)...

 

And then we must ask, how did this wide class divide come about in the first place?

 

The USA class divide is widening- thus the split congressional vote which stymies so many Presidential policies.

So unless rich and poor can come down to the same table and talk.... and agree that stealing the future form children isn't a good thing, I really cannot see how people in the world, under the shadow of an ailing political power, can see tomorrow as a very good thing.

 

The high US debt represents a compromise upon gov expenditure on the needs of future generations: less education, less healthcare (like Greece of today). First President of the USA, George Washington [wiki] fought to emancipate slaves but in recent times, successive US govts seem to have imposed unnecessary burdens upon all future generations.

 

If class divides cannot be reconciled, then perhaps the world should worry,

cos World War III- its here to stay. [:(]

 

 

Yes, you are right about the big companies lobbying behind some rich senators. That's the root of problem. It is those rich senators who are making things difficult for Obama.

 

And the American people are not stupid. They didn't vote that Romney guy, u know why? Coz everyone knows he's one of those rich senators who like to rub shoulders with the rich big companies. He himself owns a big investment company in Wall Street. So obviously the Americans know that if he becomes President, he will side those Wall St jerks and banks and all that.

 

 

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