loweyecue, you have some good points. This economy has been built around debt. Unfortunately. Some institutions it seems have made it a way of making money on this kind of economy.

Because there are establishments like this, and if it is true that our economy now runs on debt, then we are in serious troulbe truely. This is caused by a lack of commom education, because most people don't understand money as it is. They like it when they have it, and they spend it, and they want more and will do almost anything to get it. but they never think about what their really doing with money.

The Banks seen this trend some time ago and decided to open all doors, thus handing out all kinds of credit cards. If any of you remember, there where just certain credit cards that where given out and you had to had a good credit rating to get one. They where strict about this stuff before. But the flood gates opened and now several years later 'everyone' is in debt. Consolidation companies are making a killing on debt. Debt collectors have also made a regular business out of collecting. Handing out huge amounts of money and collecting, instead of barrowing to fiscally responsible people and being able to pay back the loans is an industry.

This is a huge industry today. It's legalized robbery in a way. Except you can blame the consumer for not taking personal financial responsibility. Something that we are all not very good at and they don't teach that in school either. The proof is, we now see that some banks have been in serious troble, because they have made a business out of loaning people huge amounts of money, only to be exposed by the credit crunch situation and the foreclosure of homes across America.

I agree, all loans should be banned. Should've been banned long ago. They purposely open the flood gates, because they knew they could make a big profits from the ill advised people they opened them to. Now some would argue 'but that's how they make their money'! Well, that's all well said and done, but was it worth it to make it into an industry, to help people **** themselves over for years to come, just to make a few extra bucks? Of course not!

This is a good perspective as to why more and more people are spending less and less in this country. I also agree 'we don't make much anymore'.

So what do we do as American's? Well, if you are well versed in business, you probably heard the term 'where this is a problem, there is money to be made'!

Well then what are the problems, the potential areas of making a new economy for ourselves?
There is plenty of 'people power' for one.
There is a huge concern about the environment and all kinds of potential.
But don't think huge business establishments and Gov't will let you just go and invent anything and walk freely, not without being dispeleed of your ideas, let alone be financed to take them to another level. And especially, not' unless they' can get a piece of the action.
But it's not impossible, not unless you can create a big business, that would employ hundreds, maybe thousands of people. Invest your ideas and money into businesses that could serve that greater need, which for one is the environment.

And please, don't no one say that the environment is BS. If America can pay a man to hit a ball, shoot a basketbal, throw a football for millions and millions of dollars, then why can't the environment be made into a stable economy? There is a huge movement around the entire world pushing it, so you better except it and except the fact that eventually it is all going to be our new way of life. I remember when they told us that everything was going to be computerized one day and now we can't live without the computer, so I know it's coming. Be ready for it.


The problem now is you have these old stogies that own oil companies, gas guzzling car companies for starters. And then you have some of the riches people in the world who are so afraid that they are gonna lose everything, that they will lose all of their billions, millions of dollars that they think they have to do everything, anything to make more, so they don't get knocked off the top of the mountain.

I am well experienced about barrowing and having to pay back. What a ****'n miserable existance that was. My motto to the environment and financial responsibility is 'if I don't have the money to spend, then I don't get anything'. If I want something bad enough, then I have to work for it. I don't make anything easy for myself. It's worked out very well for me and I know, it does not (in some cases cannot) apply to everyone, but it's how I view material now.

But you know, when you look around and see that only so many people have fallen through the cracks in our society, for the most part, basically the majority of American's have a job (or some kind of income) and have a roof over their heads. So in a sense, the system is working to a point and it is left to the average American to take advantage of the system and use it to the best of your advantage to make it work for you, whether it be going to college or creating someting for yourself. The goal is to make it work better for everyone. And what about disabled folks, or elderly folks? Or children who have no homes for that matter. Who's gonna defend them? Especially the elderly and children?

I bet you one thing. If people where at least covered on all health issues, a great deal of stress and bitching would go away. It is the fear of being seriously ill that can put enormous stress on a person that can eventually make them ill. There are people (rich and poor) who buy into systems that believe there should be no' free rides. I never believed that. That's what a government is for. To help it's people live better lives and offer opportunity for self growth. Maybe America forgot where it came from.

Sorry to blabber on, but I think all that I have talked about applies to the economy and especially what is going to be in our economy. It's just time to start changing our views on how things should be run. If it doesn't take care of it's own, then it's not working.

loweyecue you could not be any more wrong about the American Dream. Your whole statement is a joke. Those who work hard enough make it, I know that for a fact from personal experience and experiences of countless other immigrants to this great country.

America is not a place where things are handed to people on a silver platter, a land of entitlement it is not, and should not be. Only spoiled Americans themselves can be blind to what is right within their grasp.

And on top of it all, credit used properly, is one of the greatest tools mankind has thought up. Those who abuse it don't deserve any sympathy.

I'm sorry, but I'm in complete disagreement with you guys there.

The US doesn't need to manufacture more goods. What you guys have to realize is that our comparative advantage right now is in the service industry. In the scope of international trade, we are doing well because we have a big trade surplus in the service industry. There is no need for us to go away from our advantage just to manufacture goods.

And, I further submit, regardless of what happens in the upcoming primaries, that the person who should be selected out of the democratic primaries, is Obama, because he doesn't need Hillary. He is going to be free to select whomever he wants. And, that, despite why we might be at that point, is a good thing.