The modern American is notorious for acting in favor of instant gratification. The problem with instant gratification is that it regularly yields long-term ruination.
By accepting mortgages from banks, and security from insurance companies, we quick-fixed the challenges of buying a home and receiving quality healthcare.
But, because of our short-sightedness, Americans have pigeon-holed themselves into disastrous situations, namely the mortgage, and unaffordable healthcare.
Think about this for a sec:
If mortgages did not exist, or rather, if we the People refused them, then no seller could expect to collect $300,000 from you for his/her house. Most people do not have that amount of money to spend on a house. Therefore, the seller would have to accept something reasonable, like oh, $50,000 for a house. See how the price just fell?
Now let's do the same for insurance. If a doctor understood that we the People can spend only $1000 for a surgery, then that's what the doctor would charge. But, because insurance companies pay them, doctors can charge and receive however much they want. The insurance companies are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money on our behalf.
Well, with friends like banks and insurance companies, who needs enemies?!
You see, they are not our friends. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. (THAT'S how it's done, Mr. Bush)
Ultimately, the problem lies in the immoral decision-making of the American People. We have ourselves to thank for these problems. We only reap what we sow, and we've sown some terrible seeds for our children to harvest.
So, now what?
Well, let's sleep on it.
Until tomorrow.
Photo by RT44man
By accepting mortgages from banks, and security from insurance companies, we quick-fixed the challenges of buying a home and receiving quality healthcare.
But, because of our short-sightedness, Americans have pigeon-holed themselves into disastrous situations, namely the mortgage, and unaffordable healthcare.
Think about this for a sec:
If mortgages did not exist, or rather, if we the People refused them, then no seller could expect to collect $300,000 from you for his/her house. Most people do not have that amount of money to spend on a house. Therefore, the seller would have to accept something reasonable, like oh, $50,000 for a house. See how the price just fell?
Now let's do the same for insurance. If a doctor understood that we the People can spend only $1000 for a surgery, then that's what the doctor would charge. But, because insurance companies pay them, doctors can charge and receive however much they want. The insurance companies are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money on our behalf.
Well, with friends like banks and insurance companies, who needs enemies?!
You see, they are not our friends. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. (THAT'S how it's done, Mr. Bush)
Ultimately, the problem lies in the immoral decision-making of the American People. We have ourselves to thank for these problems. We only reap what we sow, and we've sown some terrible seeds for our children to harvest.
So, now what?
Well, let's sleep on it.
Until tomorrow.
Photo by RT44man
the true theme here is that it is we the people that are responsible. I dont feel ANY blame shoud be assigned to the "wolves in sheep clothing". We are free to choose to 'opt in' or 'opt out' of either of the programs/contracts. I dont wish for that to change either, just as no human would give up free will to rid the world of evil, we should not give up the free market to rid ourselves of the predatory companies that feed on the foolish and uninformed. WE make the rules. WE can ultimately decide whether these companies stay in business or not.
Libertarians sound more and more like a strange mix of Marxists and anti-American socialists. Actually, the people to blame are the bureaucrats in Washington and in state capitals across the land who keep regulating and regulating and regulating, to the point where insurance companies and the like have no choice but to rev up premiums just to make a minor profit. The rest goes to the politicians, you know, people like Nancy Pelosi who only understands inherited wealth. But since Americans are electing these tyrants into office, maybe we are to blame after all??
P.S. "Mr. Bush" is no longer president. You might want to bring up your issues with "Mr. Obama" now that he's the supreme leader. It seems the Left Wing types are more unwilling to acknowledge Obama as being president than the right wing white separatists. What's with that?
Libertarians are the champions of personal responsibility. There's no need for personal responsibility in a Marxist world.
The Godfather of libertarianism, Thomas Jefferson, said, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." You are correct when you say that the ultimate blame must be placed on the People - for when you are respons-ible - you are able to respond, thus the People hold all the power.
Obama and W are the same, IMO. I was referring to W because of the famous quote he slaughtered during that one press conference.
And, although government regulation is the boot on the throat of capitalism, the decision to outsource and oversea (new verb by Liz Lux) things is still a choice - and a short-sighted one at that.
Liz you've just described the infinity scheme. When you have a multi-variable mathematic equation, substituting infinity for one of the variables will always result in the answer being infinity, i.e., no answer at all. A billion here, a trillion there, is a quadrillion next? - but why stop there when we can have a quintillion of dollars comprising our monetary system and ultimately our economy?
People don't allow yourselves to be wooed by grandiose numbers and tongue wizardry pitched as eloquent speech by those who wish to defraud you.
Yes, FranG. We have gotten ourselves into a fine mess.
The real problem is that that the capitalists in and effort to make short term gains have jumped on the anti-capitalists band wagaon---global warming, multiculturalism, etc. Where I work, a large firm, we get weekly "diversity" newsletters celebrating how diverse our workforce is. It's condescending to everyone to say the least--"our favorite latino attorney..." Disgusting. And now, we are being encouraged (although no sign of being forced yet) to attend monthly "green" seminars. An "environmental" firm is charging our corporate law firm $5,000/year to conduct these seminars. You know where the real money is these days--just ask Al Gore and Michael Moore!
The corporations could have fought back the anti-capitalist socialists, but with the media beating them over the head and with their vision so short sighted, they caved. Now they even believe they are doing it out of "good will" and not pure greed.
Ironic that the anti-capitalists have made use of capitalism more than capitalists have to promote their ideals. Ironic and very sad. Most the world has already been duped by such scams. But now to see a larger percentage of Americans buy into it is sad. I suppose the current economy is dragging them over to the Dark Side in larger numbers.....