I don't know about the rest of you guys and where you come from, and I'm sure I'm gonna step on a few toes here, but whatever; being politically correct is overrated.

I'm fed up with people complaining about their financial situation. This "Occupy Wall Street" movement is just the latest in a string of efforts designed by these individuals to get handouts. I grew up in a town where people lived off welfare and could have easily gotten a job and provided for their families, but they would rather bitch, complain, and smoke crack all day. Whether it's people complaining about their social security handouts or medicare getting cut, I'm fed up with it. I'm never going to see a cent of either! It's ridiculous that I have to pay so you can have health care because you didn't plan far enough ahead so you could afford private coverage.

Finally, I would just like to say that it's these type of people that are ruining our country. It's men like my dad; men who grew up on a farm and earned their way through college and like my dad; dental school, so that they could become productive members of society. We need more people like that, and fewer of these delinquent protesters that could be out doing something useful instead.

 

Not far from you as I work in Ardmore during the week. Do you have those protestors running around there or are they all down at TX-OU weekend? Lets ride sometime.

 

Uh, yeah. . .

And you're okay with the people who brought down the financial structure of this great country with the mortgage mess, created on Wall Street, going home at the end of the year with multi-million dollar bonuses. Paid for with your tax money!

Every metaphorical sword has two edges.

 

Hate to break it to you, but the mortgage mess was a political creation fostered by the Clinton administration and his demands for looser lending practices so people who couldn't really afford homes could attain credit to buy them. The holders of the loans packaged the mortgages up with some AAA bonds to increase their rating so they could get a return on their investement. Wouldn't you? What should be looked at is how bonds are rated. Perhaps there was some collusion going on? The market is not government controlled, not profit guaranteed and sometimes people do lose their ***. It happens.

Like everything else in this world it is "buyer beware" even in the investment banking business. People must practice due dilligence when researching investment options, many didn't, many lost their investments, at least until the government bailed them out. Personally, I would have let the banks sink if they are stupid enough to be duped into making bad or questionable loans. If that is their business practice then let them reap the rewards of poor business.

What should garner more attention are companies such as Solyndra (pure theft IMO), Enron and others who cook their books.

 

+++
And why does our federal government still OWN the means of production?????

Why don't I ever see protesters with signs
"US out of GM & Chrysler"

it's a nice morning perhaps I should head down to the center of town with my own sign... Naw too nice - going for a ride instead...

 

I find find it funny..... The blame game.... It was a democratic that did it... no it was a republican... back and forth..... They are both politicians... they will work for each other before they will work for you.... The wall street protests in general are protesting that the government is selling out to corporations.
They do not care about making this country better... only finding loopholes for in which to gain further control of the masses and take away your rights...
This once great nation is being slowly chipped away....
I honestly think its great that they are protesting and more need to do it (while you still have the right to do it)
Or you can tune yourself out... follow the propoganda of fox news and follow the herd of ignorance and blame.....

 

Did you know that a lot of the protesters are getting paid to protest?

So they're protesting capitalism, but they're being capitalists themselves by accepting money to protest.

 

This sums up a good portion of whats going on in government right now. The biggest problem we have right now id politicians doing whats going to get them re-elected by their party, rather than what it's going to take to fix the problem. The second biggest problem is companies are basically hoarding trillions of dollars in money right now and not hiring because they are afraid of what the government is going to do when they finally get a amn permanent budget together. I wish I could post more, but I gotta take my son to soccer.

 

Crooked politicians can only survive if they are fed by lobbyists. Cut off the source and publicly fund senate, house and the pres. Then, just maybe, something might get done that actually makes things better. Not just for those that bought themselves a senator and a few congressman, but maybe better roads, etc. for us! Money from the left and the right distort reality for public officials and they already have a tough time keeping their focus on tasks at hand.

 

I agree totally, let's go protest!

but to be serious.. the best way to change things is: next election cycle throw the bums out! Don't vote for a single Democrat or Republican. Both parties are equally evil. I am not saying any of the 3rd parties are any better, nor am I telling you who to vote for. But if we could get a congress filled with Libertarians, and Socialists, Anarchists, and Green Party with not a single Republican or Democrat then MAYBE we'd make a difference. Maybe the career politicians can become a thing of the past. (heck I think wanting to run for office should disqualify you from holding office.. It should be like jury duty)

I know, not going to happen.. But if you keep voting for crooks, don't be surprised when they rob you blind.

 

As a side note, I like this thought.

 

Actually YOU sum up the problem. You sort of have the first part and you have no clue about the second part (assuming there is 2 parts). Unfortunately much of America seems to agree with you.
Government is broken due to it's size. Virtually every problem flows from that. Much as huge companies decay because of inertia - lack of new ideas, new products, high risk aversion, etc... Hugh government is equally ineffective and inefficient.
Small government works. Things get done, democracy thrives, voices are heard - Not everyone is happy, we do afterall have differnt opinions, but government doesn't promise that, it promises democracy.
Is YOUR voice heard in Washington??? Could it ever be??? You are 1 in 330 million. Your representative is 1 in 435, your senators 2 in 100.
As an individual with such limited impact, WHY would you EVER want to turn over the power to them to substantually impact your life???

Is your voice heard in your town?? It could be. Does your local vote impact your school budget? You bet it does. You can decide who sits on your school board, you can decide what your school district is going to be. Crappy? Average? Good? YOU have a voice when the sample is small.
Keep government small, keep it layered and make sure the different layers stay out of each others responsibilities. As you go up a level REDUCE the areas of responsibility.
If our federal Govenment WORKED it would have very little daily impact on our lives. It would keep us from being invaded (defense & foreign relations) It would be the ultimate arbiter of laws (supreme court & judiciary) It would define inalienable rights that would protect the indiviual from the majority (Bill of rights & Constitution). It would provide infrastructure and maintain currency to support interstate commerce.

So what have you gotten FLAT wrong???
How is it you think that the purpose of a company is to hire people??? Just what are you and the rest of the people smoking that think that?? And by the way, the guy you bought whatever it is your smoking from is not in business to hire people, he is in business to make money. He does it by providing you a good or service that you are willing to exchange for labor via currency.
That's it. That's what companies are. To big to fail????? That is crap. Don't like your town, school district, county, etc? Participate and/or move
Feeling nervous, out of control? Start a business. If you work for someone else, make yourself invaluable.
This is supposed to be the land of the Free and the Brave not the land of cradle to grave

 

No one said you had to agree with me, thats for sure. But, in the industry I work in, which contributes billions of dollars to the economy annually. In 2005, it put $40 billion into the economy. Last year, not so much. When a company falls on hard times because of bad decisions the government made, the first thing to go is always the airplanes. This year, I can think of three companies that made a profit again, and want new airplanes, but wont buy right now because they are afraid of what the government is going to do about budgets. One wants another Global Express(Dole, $45.5 million, plus pilot salaries of $220k for captain and $145k for FO, Dir. of Maint at $135k etc, etc.), another smaller company wants a Challenger 300($13.7m, +, +, +). The other isn't sure what they want, but they do need something that'll go Trans-Atlantic. I was laid off because of uncertainty last October, and placed on a contract only basis, because the airplane is paid for. The company has the money to pay my salary, and wants me to be full time on call because I can't refuse a trip then. But they don't because they are unsure of what is going to happen with the government. There is talk around the hangar of them moving out of state because of what Governor Brown is proposing in new taxes.


So yeah, I have first hand hardships because a company is basically hoarding cash right now, and trying to keep things liquid for what they perceive as a soon to be loose stool hitting a fan. I have many many friends who have also been placed on contract rather than full time for the same reason, and even more friends who are out of work all together and sold airplanes because of all the uncertainty.


Edit to add: I'd love to be my own boss. But, getting a loan to start a business in aviation ($50m+), is very very difficult.

 

If you have an A&P, there is good paying work out there. I know because that's what I do.

 

It's not blame, it's fact.

Until we overhaul our political system to include term limits for everyone and disallow any sort of payments from lobbyists or special interests these people who are supposed to represent us in Washington will continue to line their pockets.

 

Do the protesters realize that among the millionaires are Obama and Pelosi?

And that Congresswoman Maxine Waters' husband was connected to a small bank that got stimulus bailout money?

 

I agree that a large part of the problem is the politicians. They forget that they work for us, and answer to us. Perhaps if we instituted term limits for ALL forms of public office, more politicians would try and accomplish something worth-wile rather than get as much "pork"as they can for their constituents.

On another note, RWhisen, HOW BOUT THEM SOONERS?!!

 

I wish I did. I have come across a few jobs on Climbto350 that I have everything they want, minus the ATP.

 

Wow! You Americans.........

 

I may have jumped on you too quickly - The above is correct, and it illustrates just why large government is the problem. Companies react to what government does. Unfortunately they have to. Your company is not screwing you, your government is.
Instead of staying the hell out of the way, our government interferes. No one, No committee, No five year plan has the ability to perfectly run the economy.
But even if they could, IT IS WRONG.
Governor Brown is hurting you and your employer - But I'm sure he thinks he is helping someone else. What right does he have to do this???
This is not Republican vs Democrat - Republicans want to interfere with you just as much as Democrats.
Everyone has an opinion. We should do this, or that - it will make things better. How about dropping the focus on making things better and getting back to right and wrong.

I hope you pull through this okay, I really do. But I have to say it pisses me off that my taxes were used to save Banking jobs and UAW jobs. Why weren't they used to save your job?

 

No disagreement there. My company is doing what it has to to protect itself, and I can't blame them. And I agree 100% with you on big government.


As for why wasn't my job saved? Thats real simple. Lobbying.

 

It boils down to a few simple truths; in the real world, its survival of the fittest, and that includes those companies that can lobby their way into government contracts. I don't support this by any means, but it's a sad truth of society. Furthermore, these politicians make a career of preying off our fears and values so they can make a killing sitting around most of the year.

The fact of the matter is that government is overrated in this country. Our founding father would be appalled at the amount of government that exists today, and I think they would be just as willing to become a Revolution from the current government as they were from England. Just my opinion here.