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[ToxicAdam]

I can't wait for America's homelessness rate to skyrocket next generation after Social Security is stripped bare and every company has stopped offering pensions and matching 401k contributions

You and me both, brother! I'm totally going to jack off to that news when it happens. It will be as glorious as when I would monitor the monthly death counts during the Iraq War and exalt in them.

Even though my friends and family will be suffering, I will finally get to go on the internet and tell everyone "HAH! I was right!".

 

[badcrumble]

I can't wait for America's homelessness rate to skyrocket next generation after Social Security is stripped bare and every company has stopped offering pensions and matching 401k contributions

but heaven forbid we ask for more scraps off the table or the companies will leave

 

[dave is ok]

but heaven forbid we ask for more scraps off the table or the companies will leave

I'll get rich making the tallest, most secure steel fences for the ruling classes' mansions

 

[Nerevar]

You and me both, brother! I'm totally going to jack off to that news when it happens. It will be as glorious as when I would monitor the monthly death counts during the Iraq War and exalt in them.

Even though my friends and family will be suffering, I will finally get to go on the internet and tell everyone "HAH! I was right!".

WHOOOOO! Can't wait to use this gif!

 

[adamsappel]

Control-F "somedude"; phrase not found. Huh.

 

[Shanadeus]

but heaven forbid we ask for more scraps off the table or the companies will leave

Where to?

To china where the government can take control of their asset at any time?
To Europe which it is as social as you can be?

To India?

 

[ronito]

Where to?

To china where the government can take control of their asset at any time?
To Europe which is as social as you can be?

To India?

Madagascar.
So long as they don't have any epidemics.

 

[speculawyer]

And it took a disaster to get us there.

Edit - Actually, several disasters.

But the disasters may just be other symptoms, not a cause.


The financial/real-estate meltdown may have only happened because we were trying to use housing to prop up an otherwise failing system. It worked for a few years as we built homes and home prices continued to rise due to blind faith. But it fell apart because the stagnant wages could not support such real estate values. Wages did not become stagnant because of falling real estate values.

 

[speculawyer]

Sure, if energy prices shoot sky high and corporations are forced to become regional entities again

.
Stole my answer. Relocalization on a huge scale would be one hell of a fascinating process to watch. There's going to be lots of pain associated with the process.

Well energy prices are clearly going to rise. However, I don't think things will be as bad as the permaculture doomers think. (Kunslter, Savinar, etc.)

The markets will adjust . . . basically, the USA will become more like Europe in that we will get better public transport, we will drive small eco-cars, exurbs & McMansions wil stop, etc.

Big heavy items will become relocalized (Steel, heavy machinry, etc.). But small high value items (like computer chips, ipods, etc.) will continue to be imported.

 

[KevinCow]

I may be getting fucked over now, but I'm not against the right for executives to fuck over their employees because one of these days, I'm going to be one of those executives and I want to be able to do everything in my power to make more money! Now I just need to work harder and more hours so I can get to that point...

 

[speculawyer]

is the real america or some sort of bizarro america where people love their bosses

because I sure as fuck don't see that

That is because they are too stupid to realize they are loving their bosses. They give their bosses tax cuts and allow the their boss to cut off their healthcare benefits.

 

[Spire]

Most Americans are far too complacent to do anything, and those that aren't are trying to give corporations more power. Homelessness will continue to rise, the gulf between the upper and lower class will get bigger, and what's left of the middle class will keep sliding down into the lower end of the spectrum. I don't know what it'll take for people start getting mad, but whatever it is I hope it happens sooner rather than later.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

I may be getting fucked over now, but I'm not against the right for executives to fuck over their employees because one of these days, I'm going to be one of those executives and I want to be able to do everything in my power to make more money! Now I just need to work harder and more hours so I can get to that point...

.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

I may be getting fucked over now, but I'm not against the right for executives to fuck over their employees because one of these days, I'm going to be one of those executives and I want to be able to do everything in my power to make more money! Now I just need to work harder and more hours so I can get to that point...

.

This whole society if fucking confused. Men are becoming less and less useful in society. People really still don't give a fuck about the environment (wtf does going green mean when you still drive a car that takes huge amounts of resources to make?), people are becoming more and more supicious of one another even though we have the interwebs and phones (Walking around school it's like the majority of people have forgotten how to concentrate), schools... I'll stop there the list goes on... We're all in a big crazy train ride that's going too fast and is coming off the rails. See you after the crash!

 

[Macmanus]

I don't know what it'll take for people start getting mad, but whatever it is I hope it happens sooner rather than later.

People are already quite upset. The angst is being masterfully redirected, which is the one of the problems.

 

[otake]

I'm as worried about the future as the next guy.

 

[Kccitystar]

Honestly, I don't even know how we're going to progress as a country, unless something seriously fucked up happens where we'd have to "band together". Unfortunately, like I'll mention below, nobody that has enough pull in their state or whatever has hardly any idea as to how to move forward because the people in charge only want to regroup and continue doing shit that got us to that point where we needed to take action in the first place because they want to pursue their own interests. It's like when a child chases a balloon. They'll ignore all of obstacles, all of the caution signs, scrape their knees, break their arms, just as long as they have the motivation and confidence that they can catch that balloon.

Nobody is willing to do anything meaningful like protest/strike or boycott like people did back then because well, through the power of television, it's easy for government and corporations to silence those who want change by influencing those who are on the fence through fear-mongering and propaganda.

Along with that, we've had our hands grabbing ankles from having corporate entities screw us in the ass constantly for so long, I don't think people realize they have a spine anymore to take action. I mean, like Taibbi said in an earlier quote, Americans love their bosses.

I say the chances of "taking back our country" economically are slim to none.

 

[Yaweee]

Wow at how many people are so fundamentally unhappy with society that they desire any kind of revolution. The economic and financial difficulties the US is facing are not unique, with some pretty similar problems facing most of the industrialized world, regardless. The biggest problem is the healthcare system, but that is complete mess for a whole bunch of reasons, not just because the divide between the upper and lower class.

I think people are reading too much in to talk radio's wankery. Most of it is just Republicans and "conservatives" being vocal after getting brutally beaten in a string of elections. Let's see how much they bitch and moan and about what once they're in power again.

That said, there's still a hell of a lot of things that need to be fixed with the American tax system and how government money is spent. However, all of that is far more likely to come from gradual changes and tweaks that it is from any big "revolution".

 

[JGS]

People are already quite upset. The angst is being masterfully redirected, which is the one of the problems.

There's nothing people can do about it anyway.

Even if they could, people rely on their employer far too much, they rely on government a lot, don't save enough for themselves to take a chance, & rely on the greedy corporations to give them everything they need.

From a consumer standpoint, I'm not about to give up Mott's apple juice for a worker's right to make 19/hr, I will only accept the best returns on my investment, & prefer to shop for products from the big guys at a lower costs than the little guy at the higher costs.

Economic revolutions nowadays are only defined by the recessions that mandate adjusments in the economy.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Taibbi put it well

Holy shit Taibbi owned Trump.

 

[Yaweee]

Holy shit Taibbi owned Trump.

It is a BS anecdote. Other countries have equivalent job-based reality shows with douchebag bosses.

 

[dave is ok]

It is a BS anecdote. Other countries have equivalent job-based reality shows with douchebag bosses.

Doesn't mean what he says isn't true. Try to take something away from any French citizen and the entire country stays home from work the next day.

In America, people take it - and misplace their anger about it onto healthcare reform, or letting tax cuts for millionaires expire. A good chunk of our population love supporting whatever cause the ruling class tells them to support, regardless of whether it helps or hurts them personally

 

[Yaweee]

Doesn't mean what he says isn't true. Try to take something away from any French citizen and the entire country stays home from work the next day.

In America, people take it - and misplace their anger about it onto healthcare reform, or letting tax cuts for millionaires expire. A good chunk of our population love supporting whatever cause the ruling class tells them to support, regardless of whether it helps or hurts them personally

I really don't believe that is the case. There's always some vocal opposition to anything the government does, but generally people are for individual components of healthcare reform, against cutting social security, and against cutting existing government programs. It is just certain hot-button issues that "the ruling class" encourages people to be vocally oppose. It waylays progress for a while, but not forever.

 

[ClosingADoor]

I'd rather see a technological revolution to fix the shitstorm of problems humanity will face in the next hundred years.

 

[TomServo]

Nobody is willing to do anything meaningful like protest/strike or boycott like people did back then because well, through the power of television, it's easy for government and corporations to silence those who want change by influencing those who are on the fence through fear-mongering and propaganda.

... and even if they do, and even if it does resonate with the public's discontent, it'll end up being co-opted by one of the major parties and bastardized.

You guys wouldn't have seen it if you weren't involved in local politics, but the tea parties were a real grassroots thing at their inception. Once they gained any kind of traction the establishment swooped in and took it over, and now you've got the Sarah Palin / Glenn Beck Tea Party.

 

[Kccitystar]

I'd rather see a technological revolution to fix the shitstorm of problems humanity will face in the next hundred years.

Fucking THIS.

 

[Monroeski]

Many of the ones with enough gumption to actually revolt are the ones that use the system to get rich.

 

[HylianTom]

Well energy prices are clearly going to rise. However, I don't think things will be as bad as the permaculture doomers think. (Kunslter, Savinar, etc.)

The markets will adjust . . . basically, the USA will become more like Europe in that we will get better public transport, we will drive small eco-cars, exurbs & McMansions wil stop, etc.

Big heavy items will become relocalized (Steel, heavy machinry, etc.). But small high value items (like computer chips, ipods, etc.) will continue to be imported.

I don't think we'll see Mad Max either. Otherwise, I'd be out of the city in the boonies. Still, I think it'll be smart to make one's house as efficient as possible, maybe throw on a few solar panels, etc.

And if I were a betting man, communities that are walkable, communities along major mass transit & rail lines are going to be more expensive, pushing poorer folks out into suburbia. We're going to see more price stratification in real estate based on commuting.

 

[avaya]

Basically most countries need to adopt the German model in their approach to free enterprise vs. society. It is by far the most balanced approached in the West and the method that has worked best considering the country has been completely destroyed, has been trying to bring up an undeveloped state (The East) into the 21st Century and has been doing the same across Europe (other European Union member states).

Anglo-Saxon approach to free markets is batshit insane.

 

[voodoojohn]

I don't know what exactly is being complained about in this thread. Technological change is providing vast benefits to mankind and creating a bigger, more competitive marketplace where we can buy increasingly better items for less. Sure, it also means that you have to make yourself more competitive, so... get an education. In something useful.

It's not like all the big corporations are colluding to suppress wages, either. Salary offers are strategic, and those companies that treat valuable employees well will perform better and be more competitive. If you feel you're being reamed by your boss, you should find a better company that knows they need to treat valuable employees well in order to succeed. If you can't find a company that wants to offer you a decent wage, it's your fault for not having any useful skills or knowledge. If your income has stagnated it's because you haven't acquired skills to differentiate yourself from the knowledge workers in the developing world.

Our social services are spotty because we have the third largest population on Earth governed by a lumbering, clamorous democracy. Show me a comparably sized democracy that has a better social delivery system. You can't. We're working on it. So our size and system of government have drawbacks, but it also means we have the rule of law, property rights, free speech, diversity, a huge marketplace where goods and people can move freely, and a relative openness to immigration. Of all the major advanced economies, ours has been the one to grow most consistently and most rapidly. Our problems are nothing compared to Europe's or Japan's. The efficacy of their social delivery systems is far better than ours, but their extravagant spending + anemic growth = massive debt. Yes, we have debt too, but our population is not graying and shrinking. Europe will not be creating enough young engineers and other skilled workers to maintain their centers of industry. Our immigration policies allow us to absorb some of the talent being created elsewhere, and those talented people are attracted to all those things I mentioned above.

Remember everyone, it's a LUV economy: Europe/Japan is the flat-lining L, the US is the slowly rebounding U, and the developing world is the rapidly rebounding V. Get a solid education, live below your means, and reap the benefits of living in the only already rich nation that can count on growth in the decades to come.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

It's fairly obvious there are glaring problems with America's financial situation.

And descending into populist claptrap and wishful thinking like the OP did in order to feels alls betters sure ain't going to help.

Nah, CEOs and shareholders just need to be less greedy and arrogant.

CEOs and major shareholders don't share the same risks they once did. CEOs have golden parachutes and ride into their positions regurgitating Jack Welch's playbook to temporarily boost profits then vamos much more often than they once did, with major stockholders acting as if they have veto power and a God-given right to continuous increasing profits (not PROFITS, INCREASING profits). Toxic shit this, eating away at what is still fueling our country.

Too many unions have become just as corrupt as the higher ups in corporations. So if by 'economic revolution' you mean 'unions for everyone' then I hope to Christ we never see it.

This isn't as well understood as it should be, but much of the union-business relationship dynamic in America's history has been one of "for all the chips", with business in control for the first time in many decades. There really isn't many strong enough, or with a modern enough outlook on labor, citizen prosperity, or fair wages to fight to keep this from happening.

 

[GullyJuice]

I don't know what exactly is being complained about in this thread. Technological change is providing vast benefits to mankind and creating a bigger, more competitive marketplace where we can buy increasingly better items for less. Sure, it also means that you have to make yourself more competitive, so... get an education. In something useful.

It's not like all the big corporations are colluding to suppress wages, either. Salary offers are strategic, and those companies that treat valuable employees well will perform better and be more competitive. If you feel you're being reamed by your boss, you should find a better company that knows they need to treat valuable employees well in order to succeed. If you can't find a company that wants to offer you a decent wage, it's your fault for not having any useful skills or knowledge. If your income has stagnated it's because you haven't acquired skills to differentiate yourself from the knowledge workers in the developing world.

Our social services are spotty because we have the third largest population on Earth governed by a lumbering, clamorous democracy. Show me a comparably sized democracy that has a better social delivery system. You can't. We're working on it. So our size and system of government have drawbacks, but it also means we have the rule of law, property rights, free speech, diversity, a huge marketplace where goods and people can move freely, and a relative openness to immigration. Of all the major advanced economies, ours has been the one to grow most consistently and most rapidly. Our problems are nothing compared to Europe's or Japan's. The efficacy of their social delivery systems is far better than ours, but their extravagant spending + anemic growth = massive debt. Yes, we have debt too, but our population is not graying and shrinking. Europe will not be creating enough young engineers and other skilled workers to maintain their centers of industry. Our immigration policies allow us to absorb some of the talent being created elsewhere, and those talented people are attracted to all those things I mentioned above.

Remember everyone, it's a LUV economy: Europe/Japan is the flat-lining L, the US is the slowly rebounding U, and the developing world is the rapidly rebounding V. Get a solid education, live below your means, and reap the benefits of living in the only already rich nation that can count on growth in the decades to come.

from the looks of it, GAF would have us form unions or better yet take arms against our business overlords rather than get useful skills, let alone absorb the risk of starting a new company