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| There are now more poor people in the United States & Europe than there are in China (Page 1/5) |
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avengador1
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OCT 20, 09:36 PM
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Formula88
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OCT 20, 09:48 PM
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That's because the norm in the US is to live constantly in debt.
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Csjag
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OCT 21, 08:40 AM
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Consumerism is a double edged sword, it props up our economy with consumer spending but also adds huge amounts of personal debt. What's worse is that the middle class is actually earning less now in terms of purchasing power so to keep the same standard of living many people borrow money to purchase things whereas in the past they were able to pay cash. IMO this is largely because most of our large manufacturing companies have relocated offshore along with the higher paying jobs that they used to have here. Even the higher paying jobs that still exist here like programmers are in many cases being filled by "guest workers" from other countries whom are paid half of what the local worker was making. Last year Disney World fired most of their IT staff and replaced them with workers from overseas provided by a staffing company specializing in bringing workers in from other countries. Some of the fired staffers were willing to take a cut in pay to keep their job but were denied the opportunity. We constantly hear the politicians talk about small businesses being so important to help our economy but the truth of the matter is that most all small businesses do not pay their employees a wage high enough to support a family because they can't do so and stay in business. What used to support a middle class here were large corporations employing thousands of people and paying them a high wage. A lot of those companies are gone now or are a shadow of their former self.
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jaskispyder
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OCT 21, 08:44 AM
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Yeah.... ok.... I would rather be poor in the US or Europe, than "non-poor" (I doubt they are middle class) in China.... [This message has been edited by jaskispyder (edited 10-21-2015).]
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Stubby79
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OCT 21, 11:02 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by jaskispyder:
Yeah.... ok.... I would rather be poor in the US or Europe, than "non-poor" (I doubt they are middle class) in China....
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I'd rather ship all the poor people to China. At least they'll be forced to given work there.
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jaskispyder
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OCT 21, 11:10 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Stubby79:
I'd rather ship all the poor people to China. At least they'll be forced to given work there. |
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Not all "poor" people are unemployed. Many work hard, but don't make much (and live within their means). They are not even on welfare... just saying.
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2.5
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OCT 21, 11:57 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Formula88:
That's because the norm in the US is to live constantly in debt. |
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True.
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Rickady88GT
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OCT 21, 12:01 PM
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What else would you expect from a food stamp free phone President?
It was his goal to bring down America to transform it.
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jaskispyder
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OCT 21, 12:07 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
What else would you expect from a food stamp free phone President?
It was his goal to bring down America to transform it. |
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Bush? Oh... or are you continuing that myth of the "Obama Phones"? 
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2.5
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OCT 21, 12:20 PM
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"He asked me what we could do to help poor people. I said I donated money, food, medical care, and services and he said, "No," he meant, what could society do to solve the problem of poor people. Again, I was stumped.
He said the government had to do it, which I interpreted as another way of saying he didn't know, but he thought that made me look mean ... even though I do care and do try to help.
President Obama sure looks and acts way smarter than me, but no one is 2 to the 300 millionth power times smarter than me. No one is even 2 to the 300 millionth times smarter than a squirrel. I sure don't know what to do about an AA+ rating and if we should live beyond our means and about compromise and sacrifice. I have no idea. I'm scared to death of being in debt. I was a street juggler and carny trash -- I couldn't get my debt limit raised, I couldn't even get a debt limit -- my only choice was to live within my means. That's all I understand from my experience, and that's not much.
It's amazing to me how many people think that voting to have the government give poor people money is compassion. Helping poor and suffering people is compassion. Voting for our government to use guns to give money to help poor and suffering people is immoral self-righteous bullying laziness.
People need to be fed, medicated, educated, clothed, and sheltered, and if we're compassionate we'll help them, but you get no moral credit for forcing other people to do what you think is right. There is great joy in helping people, but no joy in doing it at gunpoint.
People try to argue that government isn't really force. You believe that? Try not paying your taxes. (This is only a thought experiment -- suggesting on CNN.com that someone not pay his or her taxes is probably a federal offense, and I'm a nut, but I'm not crazy.). When they come to get you for not paying your taxes, try not going to court. Guns will be drawn. Government is force -- literally, not figuratively.
I don't believe the majority always knows what's best for everyone. The fact that the majority thinks they have a way to get something good does not give them the right to use force on the minority that don't want to pay for it. If you have to use a gun, I don't believe you really know jack. Democracy without respect for individual rights sucks. It's just ganging up against the weird kid, and I'm always the weird kid."
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Penn Jillette.
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