Correct.

I didn't want to go into the entire history of the fall of the Roman Empire (which in reality, was the fall of the Western Empire... hence the term "The Western World" for those that didn't know ).

Simply pointing out the parallels.

 

Great thread!

I'm glad to see that we are finally talking about this, if a bit late.

Now, as North Americans, what do we DO about it?

 

Nuke em

 

What any red blooded American would do, figure out how to turn disaster into profit!

 

Camino
it has been mentioned many times before. Many times. But so many really dont care. Or they beleive globalization on this playing feild is a good thing.
Being fed this crap for so many years you get used to it. Heck I did not know half of it till about 7 years ago. That opened my eyes.

The problem is, IS there any red blooded Americans left? It seams like we dont put up much of a fight anymore if it takes to long. We as a country are lazy and dont care. Sure will will protest for a while but then go home and watch the latest American Idol. While foreign car companies make more inroads to building factories on our shores for thier brands. Is it really a good thing? Deep down is it? The straight answer is NO it is not. No slicing it or dicing it to fit someones point of view. Its not good. It is making us weaker.
While foreign countries buy up our interests like mentioned what China is doing. They could not do it with a military might so they are doing it with paper. I have always said Military and buisness are two sides to the same sword. Either were turning a blind eye to it or they they are doing it by design. Either way were not doing a damn thing about it. Heck were helping them do it. And we gotten to a point where it is almost impossible not to help them out in some way every day. Now hows that make you feel?

 

Americans these days will drive their Toyota to their job at a Ford or GM manufacturing facility.

They will buy goods from Wal-Mart that are 5% cheaper than an equivalent American offering at a local hardware store.

They will clothe themselves in garments made in 3rd world countires by child labor.

They will advocate refining chemicals and manufacturing in another nation where dumping waste is acceptable and environmental conservation is smugly ignored - because we don't see it or smell it and it's cheaper to boot.

So to sum it all up - I could see a proud American waking up in the morning to shower with soap and shampoo from China, put on clothes made by child labor in Thailand, Drive their Kia to a GM or Ford plant that is closing so they can protest and picket for higher wages and fair treatment instead of working a full day, then stop by Wal-Mart on the way home that night to load-up on cheap Chinese-made shoes and kitchen utensils. Oh yeah, they need to stop at the local gas station to buy $4/gal gas that was refined in Venezuela, and buy one of those "Support Our Troops" magnets that was actually mass-produced in China too. (I LOVE seeing those on the back of a Kia or Hyundai. ) They could then prepare their Mexican strawberries and South American beef for dinner, and watch an imported DVD on their Chinese-made DVD player and TV before retiring to their bed (also made in China from US wood shipped there for processing).

Yup - good ol' American way of life these days - what more could a new American want?!?!

I know I know... I'm just fed up with it all... and it's Monday.

 

I know for fact that its cheaper to send furnature parts to China, built it, repack it, and send it back than it is to build it here in the "low-income level Belt"

Some would say Americans can save a couple dollars by going overseas (this is bragged about in company memos), but I say we are costing ourselves EVERY DOLLAR that leaves here. Sounds elementary...... but I guess it isnt.

 

This is an interesting video that relates to the dollar falling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4kxT...elated&search=

 

Ron Paul is quite the character

 

Nails it.

 

I'm just afraid the US will take a page out of German history to solve its debt problem.

 

As long as we don't go around invading countries we'll be ok...

wait...

 

Nice little adition to the thread..

And guess what I agree I do not blame them at all. Its our shooting ourselves in the foot.

China to U.S.: Don't blame us

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...337/1148/rss25

Basically it should read "hey dont blame us for you guys being stupid." Cus that is what we are..

 

That's how I read the article..... and for the most part, that sentiment's right.

While we are here ridiculously debating as "conservatives" and "libreals", eagerly reading about who won "Teen Idol", and, perhaps the most stupid thing of all: Acting as if everything costs nothing by advocating tax cuts during record deficits and treating ALL taxes as pure unadultered evil, we simply are using other nations money to finance spending that's going to happen regardless, oil prices are exploding (in part to the falling dollar) and we give more money to oil companies than some countries give to oil companies and taxes.... combined.

It's been said in a previous post that China, like Japan of the 80s & early 90s, is sitting on a bubble that like Japan is going to burst. Problem is, there's one major difference. Japan is a small country with a finite amount of resources, and a yen that got incredibly strong. China is the opposite. It's money is being held low.. some say artificially low. It's the largest country on the planet. It holds just under 1/3 of the world's population. It also has all the resources it needs for independence save for the possibility of oil. The same oil they will be bidding against us to get.

Meanwhile, people care more about Britney's breakdown, why Brad and Angelina broke up, and the latest 30 second soundbite, regardless as to if it's based in reality or not.

 

guionM,

What the problem is, well not really a problem is this board is a small fraction of people. .0000001% of any measure.
And the way you put it is exactly what I tell many people also. I kinda chuckled when I read what you posted. Sure many out there and it shows the majority think people that say this are cry wolf andblowhards who dont know what your talking about. But is it that really? Like in that article. Like what Proud Pony has mentioned. The problem lies here in the U.S.. Our goverment can bellywho about this and that but the fact is we do not care. The good we buy shows we do not care. The people that ship thier production overseas dont care and the competition that tries to stay here has to do something or fold so they are forced to outsource.
Its very hard to buy now anything that really American made. It is almost impossible. One reason and one reason why they are winning this "war" PRIDE! We lost our pride in many aspects in our country.
I can go buy a Toyota, it does not matter. Yes it does.

I can go work for Toyota, it does not matter. Yes it does.

I think its great they are building factories here in the U.S. its helping our economy and not hurting it. Yes it does!

Sure a global economy is a great thing and would be nice if the feild was level. And as that article points. No, its not anyone else's fault but our own. Our blind leading the blind. We can sit here like I am sure many in other great empires of the past and protest the damage of our actions. It must of happened in the Roman Empire, British Empire, Egyptian and so on. They must have had people that were in the background saying hey something is terribly wrong. And the "paid off" people that live the good life did not care. And it happens today. Heck if you want to work for the #1 Automaker in the world help them become even bigger. Buy thier cars and proudly display then as your acheivement (with a support our troops magnet on the back how messed up is that) Work for them placing now dealers and or factories in the U.S. so they can devalue more of what it was to be an American. Sure go ahead. Just don't look at us when this great global economy ramps up and we are not even a major player like China is and Japan is and the other asian/Indian countries. That is the reality and we don't care and the few that read this most will agree on the words I and the others say some will not and again that is a drop in a bucket of how we should really feel.


Curtains falling people..but you already knew that.