The Stock Market is going up because investors (like myself) have now gone to overseas money and futures markets to get income. That's bad for the US 'economy' because investing in domestic markets is a lost cause. High taxes, union wages and demands, environmntal regulations, cost of materials, broke buyers, high energy costs, unfunded pensions, high housing costs, decaying infrastructure, high health care and no loyalty to US products (as easily demonstrated right here on TBN) are the principle reasons. Oh, I know you are all loyal citizens and Buy Amertican if the Price and Quality is up (or down) to your standards and expectations, but it only takes 20% awol to absolutely kill an economy. Now you will all have to wait until the foreign World markets catch the same diseases. (I'll bet 15 - 20 years. Much longer if there's war with China and we have to rent our weapons from them. See y'all then.).
Economy Getting Better?
- Thread starter McGeesEquip
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BeeferMan
Gold Member
When I started my first shop I was told by an old-timer that the definition of an entrepreneur was someone who worked 80 hours a week for themselves so they didn't have to work 40 for someone else. I found out quickly how right they were...
carpenter383
Platinum Member
Lots of good points from everyone, being self employed I know what a pita it is.
I agree with Eddie Walker, too much government intervention #1.
Very unpopular view, IMO people need to work harder at their jobs in USA. #2
People in general, the government all need to live within their means. #3
The government needs to stop printing more money. #4
Prosecute the thiefs, it would be good for the general moral. #5
Peoples' expectations in the USA of living so well while doing so little work will have to change, this isn't sustainable. If you are not working but are able to do so you really need to take a hard look at yourself.
That hits the nail on the head!
I agree 100% especially #2:thumbsup: Too much lasyness in general, too many people expect something for nothing. There aren't enough hard working people to pull the weight of everyone, so we ALL (especially gov't and union jobs) need to put out an honest effort if we expect to come out of this mess.
wedge40
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When I started my first shop I was told by an old-timer that the definition of an entrepreneur was someone who worked 80 hours a week for themselves so they didn't have to work 40 for someone else. I found out quickly how right they were...
Yeap, when you work for yourself, you also spend many more hours thinking that you don't get paid for.
ultrarunner
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Don't know if that's an option... speaking Spanish when looking for a job in California certainly is...
newbury
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A little late to this discussion, but as a COF (certified old f@&t) I feel a need to stand up for Federal government employees. Many of us work long hours and are totally underpaid.
I grew up with
As a scientist I volunteered and am a Viet Nam era vet, I've worked at a military lab since '75. Although it is a small lab I'd dare one to find a more dedicated group of employees up until recently.
Virtually ALL of the professional employees could make more $$$ as contractors. Yet most of us think nothing of working weekends for the job and the Army. Saturday I flew home from Alexandria, LA to Alexandria, Virginia, today (Sunday) I drove up to Ft. Drum, NY. On my time. We don't get paid overtime and comp time is rare.
A few things have dramatically damaged this country. One thing especially was the concept of "no child left behind" and implemented as "no child fails to get out of high school, whether they learned anything or not". Thankfully my children graduated before that hit.
Another is the sense of entitlement, and this is an Ayn Rand thing. How many stories have we heard of the janitor, the grocery clerk, the poor student who were being evicted from their house because they couldn't afford what was 4 times their salary? And just recently on the news we are starting to see stories of people defaulting on home loans, and then stretching out the process for a year without paying the mortgage before walking away. And saying "so what".
Just because your able to breathe and breed doesn't entitle you to living like I do.
When I grew up I worked for a local farmer when I was 13 and 14. He only worked about 40 hours a week, in the morning. But then he probably put in another 50 hours in the afternoon.
I grew up with
ringing in my ears.
As a scientist I volunteered and am a Viet Nam era vet, I've worked at a military lab since '75. Although it is a small lab I'd dare one to find a more dedicated group of employees up until recently.
Virtually ALL of the professional employees could make more $$$ as contractors. Yet most of us think nothing of working weekends for the job and the Army. Saturday I flew home from Alexandria, LA to Alexandria, Virginia, today (Sunday) I drove up to Ft. Drum, NY. On my time. We don't get paid overtime and comp time is rare.
A few things have dramatically damaged this country. One thing especially was the concept of "no child left behind" and implemented as "no child fails to get out of high school, whether they learned anything or not". Thankfully my children graduated before that hit.
Another is the sense of entitlement, and this is an Ayn Rand thing. How many stories have we heard of the janitor, the grocery clerk, the poor student who were being evicted from their house because they couldn't afford what was 4 times their salary? And just recently on the news we are starting to see stories of people defaulting on home loans, and then stretching out the process for a year without paying the mortgage before walking away. And saying "so what".
Just because your able to breathe and breed doesn't entitle you to living like I do.
When I grew up I worked for a local farmer when I was 13 and 14. He only worked about 40 hours a week, in the morning. But then he probably put in another 50 hours in the afternoon.
ultrarunner
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Interesting Points spoken from experience...
I really don't know many Federal Employees... I do know a lot of city, State and County workers...
I'm old enough to remember when police officers would often moonlight as security or have second jobs as a night time cashier to make ends meet... that hasn't been the case for a long time in my city... a city that is bankrupt and laid off 20% of it's officers... the reason cited is the unfunded retirement benefits that came into being with public servant collective bargaining... then add things like pension spiking and 90% at 30 years of service and it is easy to see why the public is being told they are not paying enough and local public employee's retire at 50 with 180k pension for life and medical from a police department in a bankrupt city.... it is like no one has been minding the store and kicking the can down the road for the last 30 years...
I fully expect to see means testing when it comes to collecting Social Security... sad but true...
dcyrilc
Super Member
As a city employee, I am also frustrated by the lack of get it done attitude by many of the others around me. I spent 26 years in construction before coming to the city to work. The one thing I will give the city that I work for is that our retirements have zero impact on future city revenues (sp?). We don't pay SS, but instead pay into a privately managed fund (401K?) with the city matching funds up to the percentage required for SS. Our retirement is funded entirely by what we put into and make from this fund.
IMHO more government agencies should take this type of approach in regards to retirement.
IMHO more government agencies should take this type of approach in regards to retirement.
ultrarunner
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Another reason why I like WA over CA ;-)