What's your opinion on United States Of America?

[TTHH]

I would not consider the dishwasher being materialistic, more like practical gift.
There are better ways to bring a smile to your wifes face,,,and a better attitude.
But americans are the most materialistic country..... greed, selfishness, and me me me,,,rule.

 

[ironsides]

What is wrong with a me, me me world. There are people who have and people who wish they had. That is what creates initiative to do something, so you to can have.

 

[JLM]

What is wrong with a me, me me world. There are people who have and people who wish they had. That is what creates initiative to do something, so you to can have.

The important thing is to realize the value or lack of value of what it is we are striving to have.

 

[Avro]

What is wrong with a me, me me world. There are people who have and people who wish they had. That is what creates initiative to do something, so you to can have.

Yep, everyone thinks they will be a billionaire one day so they support policies that see them lose little to nothing in taxation to pay for things the rest of us do.


......and the middle class keeps shrinking.

 

[ironsides]

The important thing is to realize the value or lack of value of what it is we are striving to have.

Of course the value or lack of value is very important, but that is a personal decision we all must make.

Yep, everyone thinks they will be a billionaire one day so they support policies that see them lose little to nothing in taxation to pay for things the rest of us do.


......and the middle class keeps shrinking.

Taxing the rich more will not make anyone below them richer. I see very little reason for anyone to pay a tax to "pay for things the rest of us do" to quote you. The rest of us as you put it should be working at least enough to be able to support themselves. Those who cannot work will be taken care of, those who can work will be put back in the work force no matter what their previous job may have been within 6 weeks or dropped from government support. Be surprised at how fast one can return to the work force when pushed. Yes, I will admit that this problem was started while Bush was President and the Democrats ruled congress. So it is not a left or right cause, but greedy politicians.

 

[JLM]

Of course the value or lack of value is very important, but that is a personal decision we all must make.

So why is it people are spending $billions just for gadgets that enable us to talk more and pay attention less?

 

[ironsides]

So why is it people are spending $billions just for gadgets that enable us to talk more and pay attention less?

Called evolution I guess. Would be nice to be able to program us just by connecting us to a computer. (could also cause havoc) We have forgotten how to pay attention.

 

[Avro]

Taxing the rich more will not make anyone below them richer. I see very little reason for anyone to pay a tax to "pay for things the rest of us do" to quote you. The rest of us as you put it should be working at least enough to be able to support themselves. Those who cannot work will be taken care of, those who can work will be put back in the work force no matter what their previous job may have been within 6 weeks or dropped from government support. Be surprised at how fast one can return to the work force when pushed. Yes, I will admit that this problem was started while Bush was President and the Democrats ruled congress. So it is not a left or right cause, but greedy politicians.

Who said anything about making people richer? I was talking about paying for things like police, roads, fire fighters, parks, military, medicade, social security, schools, etc etc etc.

Plus their is a correlation between equality and quality of life....look into it.

You'd be surprised.

Richard Wilkinson on The Age of Unequals

 

[ironsides]

Would you like to compare how many paved roads we have as compared to you, we have more police, roads, fire fighters, parks, military, medicade, social security, schools, etc etc etc. percentage wide than you could imagine. Cutting federal taxes will not effect those much isnce most are funded locally. (police, roads, fire fighters, parks schools)
I never said no taxes, I would like to see 20% taxes across the board, no deductions.

 

[EagleSmack]

The US will crash because they spent more money than they had, and then borrowed to pay the interest until the inevitable collapse. I won't be cheering as the US drive their economy off a cliff. Canadians will be screaming in the passenger seat...

Don't fear... the Chinese will still prop us up. If we go over the cliff they will be in the backseat screaming as well. Nobody gorges on cheap goods (and food) like us Yanks. If there is no money to buy even the cheapest of goods the Chinese economy grinds to a halt.

How much you earn isn't nearly as important as how much you spend and how you spend it.

Exactly. Many people in this country who are in debt are in debt because they over spent. They bought on credit instead of cash. They took out mortgages that they couldn't afford. They wanted a "F*ING HUGE" house instead of what was practical. They wanted the 96" Flat Screen LED with surround sound. They wanted to go on trips and charged it all. They wanted it all... but couldn't really afford it all.

They felt entitled to luxury and materialistic stuff.

 

[JLM]

Now we are reading some good sense! :smile:

 

[Trotz]

Actually, we've been weening ourselves off the United States for sometime. We have lost more than $120 billion in exports to the United States since 2000 and our trade with other nations has increased in the meantime.


The more immediate problem is making up the shortfall if imports from the United States would evaporate, we would have to develop internal industry and then there are simply products and resources which we do not have in Canada and would have to be imported at a greater expense.


The problem is not economic shortfall but having to deal with a country; although resource rich, doesn't have enough resources to sustain 300 million people at their current lifestyle and all it would take is 20 million American illegal immigrants to ruin this country.

Exactly. Many people in this country who are in debt are in debt because they over spent. They bought on credit instead of cash. They took out mortgages that they couldn't afford. They wanted a "F*ING HUGE" house instead of what was practical. They wanted the 96" Flat Screen LED with surround sound. They wanted to go on trips and charged it all. They wanted it all... but couldn't really afford it all.

They felt entitled to luxury and materialistic stuff.

But people in the 1960s (before credit financing) *could* have it all; to some extent, a starter home could be purchased within a couple of years - providing you were frugal.
Credit financing did ruin us as a society as it meant those who couldn't practice financial responsibility could otherwise not buy toys and crap and which led to inflationary tendencies on the CPI and an overall decrease in living standards (nonwithstanding that some indeed did go into massive debt).

 

[EagleSmack]

But people in the 1960s (before credit financing) *could* have it all; to some extent, a starter home could be purchased within a couple of years - providing you were frugal.
Credit financing did ruin us as a society as it meant those who couldn't practice financial responsibility could otherwise not buy toys and crap and which led to inflationary tendencies on the CPI and an overall decrease in living standards (nonwithstanding that some indeed did go into massive debt).

Yes, the young adults of the 60's were young children of the Depression. They had an idea of what it was like to be poor. At least my parents did. They were VERY frugal. They lived within their means and saved all they could. The home they bought in 1963 is the same home they live in today.

 

[Trotz]

Yes, the young adults of the 60's were young children of the Depression. They had an idea of what it was like to be poor. At least my parents did. They were VERY frugal. They lived within their means and saved all they could. The home they bought in 1963 is the same home they live in today.

My mother had children late but she remembered when The Bay came out with its' store card (similiar to a credit card) and she saw teenagers; born in the 1960s, who went out and were purchasing things they never needed. Then she also remembered the people who lived pay cheque to pay cheque; i.e. the neighbourhood drunks, and they were doing the same.

Things haven't changed, Starbucks could increase the coffee to $10 and they'll be a lineup of homeless people, stay at home moms and hipsters slapping the expense on credit and adding it to their six figure debt pool.

 

[EagleSmack]

My mother had children late but she remembered when The Bay came out with its' store card (similiar to a credit card) and she saw teenagers; born in the 1960s, who went out and were purchasing things they never needed. Then she also remembered the people who lived pay cheque to pay cheque; i.e. the neighbourhood drunks, and they were doing the same.

Things haven't changed, Starbucks could increase the coffee to $10 and they'll be a lineup of homeless people, stay at home moms and hipsters slapping the expense on credit and adding it to their six figure debt pool.

I have one cedit card. An American Express. I use it only to make a large purchase that my debit card won't cover because of a purchase amount limit. It MUST be paid at the end of the month. But I have friends who are in huge debt. Tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt alone. That does not include mortgages, utility bills, etc.

I cannot imagine having a credit card that accumulates interest.

 

[darkbeaver]

I have one cedit card. An American Express. I use it only to make a large purchase that my debit card won't cover because of a purchase amount limit. It MUST be paid at the end of the month. But I have friends who are in huge debt. Tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt alone. That does not include mortgages, utility bills, etc.

I cannot imagine having a credit card that accumulates interest.

You are credit wise EagleSmack. I cut up my last Visa back in the late eighties. I think that was the best budgeting I ever did.

 

[TenPenny]

I have one cedit card. An American Express. I use it only to make a large purchase that my debit card won't cover because of a purchase amount limit. It MUST be paid at the end of the month. But I have friends who are in huge debt. Tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt alone. That does not include mortgages, utility bills, etc.

I cannot imagine having a credit card that accumulates interest.

I think I have 5 credit cards - 2x Amex, 1 x Visa, 2xMCard.

I pay the bills off in full each month.

All you have to do is not spend more than you can afford to.

For those who have no credit cards, how do you travel, stay in hotels, rent cars, etc?

 

[darkbeaver]

We don't.

 

[gerryh]

For those who have no credit cards, how do you travel, stay in hotels, rent cars, etc?

Pay cash....duhhhhh...... we didn't rent vehicles, paid cash for airfare when we flew, paid cash for gas when we drove, and told the hotels that wanted a credit card to stick their rooms and found one that accepted cash. Even if they required a $200 deposit. Was it a pain sometimes? Yup. For online transactions there is always the prepaid credit cards.

 

[EagleSmack]

The USA is always more popular throughout the world when a Democrat is in the White House.

Oh yeah... they adore us all over the world now that Obama is the President.

Good grief.