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Post by Cambist on May 22, 2008 9:59:20 GMT -5
With Oil trading over $130. War on two fronts. Food and gas prices skyrocketing. Unemployment numbers rising. Crime in cities like Philly OUT OF CONTROL! America's image and reputation abroad is mud.
What do we do? How do we fix it? What are your thoughts and solutions?
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Post by Bunny Hop on May 22, 2008 10:05:35 GMT -5
1. whip children
2. blow up the BET
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Post by Cambist on May 22, 2008 10:22:16 GMT -5
OIL
One thing we shouldn't do is fall into the trap of blaming OPEC for our Oil lust. OPEC is not looking to gouge the US.
This is policy set and made up using economic principles and political diplomacy.
We need to realize that Oil is a non-renewable resource and continued dependence on it (from any source, foreign or domestic) is unsustainable.
Foreign Policy
We also need to demand that our leaders operate in the world arena as we would on the golf game. Diplomacy is a gentlemans (or ladies) game. Sometimes finess is coupled with strongarming but bulldoggin only creates negative sentiment and breeds new enemies.
Domestic Policy
Realize that a strong consumer makes for a strong economy. We need jobs. Good jobs. We can start by investing in infrastructure. We can also look into light rail mass transit as an alternative to airlines who burn massive amounts of fuel. This would create millions of jobs in laying the foundation for these systems, maintainence, operation etc..
Health Care. Every American should have basic health care. Period. If people have jobs, they will pay taxes. These taxes should be spent on making the country stronger from the bottom up. A healthy youth means lower overall health care costs later in life.
Education
I'm not one who believes that everyone SHOULD go to college. It just doesn't make sense. If we bring our secondary education system up to par with the rest of the world, then through the increase in infrastructure building, we can create a market for skilled labor. These are the jobs that fueled the automotive industury and factories for decades. Many people lived middle class lifestyles because of these jobs.
For those who wish to and qualify to attend college, it should be affordable.
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Post by Champs Elysees on May 22, 2008 10:23:27 GMT -5
1. whip children 2. blow up the BET  |
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Post by Champs Elysees on May 22, 2008 10:32:42 GMT -5
Part of the problem of the economy is that we are a consumer-based economy. We make nothing anymore. Our factory jobs have been shipped overseas and we spend billions on products that are not made here. That's not good.
We need to look back at what made us great generations ago: A strong manufacturing sector.
We also need to say fcuk the oil companies and make our vehicles more fuel efficient (this has been possible since the creation of motorized vehicles). We also need to look to other sources for energy. Brazil was where we are 30 years ago and they looked to other sources (sugar cane ethanol) for fuel and they are now foreign oil independent.
I'm moving to Brazil.
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Post by QUIET As Kept on May 22, 2008 11:15:03 GMT -5
1. whip children 2. blow up the BET and 3. Get the Reagan/Bush dynasty out of the white house! |
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Post by No Screen Name on May 22, 2008 11:21:24 GMT -5
I agree with you 110%, LadyL. We are consumers, NOT producers. I don't know WHO thought this was a good idea.  I think overturning NAFTA would be a good idea--but the only person I heard suggest that is Dennis Kucinich. Also, we need to wean ourselves off of oil, create more public transportation and find alternative fuel sources. Also, the government should require car manufacturers to meet a certain fuel efficiency standards for the cars they produce. Having said all this--a lot of those other scenarios begin AT HOME, and I don't know how we can get some of these sorry parents to start doing right. |
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Post by QUIET As Kept on May 22, 2008 11:26:29 GMT -5
The thing is, we will never do this as long as those in power either make their money from oil or are in bed with the oil companies. Did you see how smug those oil execs where testifying before Congress?? I just find it funny that so many people are so surprised at the fuel prices these days...I mean, what do you expect when you elect a man whose family money comes from oil?!?!? I guess they were all too caught up in the gay marriage and abortion distractions to actually think about the real issues. We also need to say fcuk the oil companies and make our vehicles more fuel efficient (this has been possible since the creation of motorized vehicles). We also need to look to other sources for energy. Brazil was where we are 30 years ago and they looked to other sources (sugar cane ethanol) for fuel and they are now foreign oil independent.
I'm moving to Brazil. |
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Post by Robelite on May 22, 2008 11:42:38 GMT -5
LOL @ bunnyhop!!
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Post by Champs Elysees on May 22, 2008 12:08:45 GMT -5
The thing is, we will never do this as long as those in power either make their money from oil or are in bed with the oil companies. Did you see how smug those oil execs where testifying before Congress?? I just find it funny that so many people are so surprised at the fuel prices these days...I mean, what do you expect when you elect a man whose family money comes from oil?!?!? I guess they were all too caught up in the gay marriage and abortion distractions to actually think about the real issues.We also need to say fcuk the oil companies and make our vehicles more fuel efficient (this has been possible since the creation of motorized vehicles). We also need to look to other sources for energy. Brazil was where we are 30 years ago and they looked to other sources (sugar cane ethanol) for fuel and they are now foreign oil independent.
I'm moving to Brazil.  |
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Post by Bunny Hop on May 22, 2008 12:12:38 GMT -5
4. come up with a was to mass brainwash people into believing it's stupid to spend money YOU DON'T HAVE om rims, leather furniture, tvs, SUVs, etc
5. teach people to spend their foodstamps on water, fruits, veges and meats instead of HiC, fruit snacks, boxed pizza and more unhealthy BS.
6. force kids to go outside for at least 2.5 hours a day....doesn't matter if they walk, run, or sit on the porch they just need to not be in front of the tv or game system
7. keep whipping children
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Post by QUIET As Kept on May 22, 2008 12:15:48 GMT -5
lol @ keep whipping children
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Post by Cambist on May 22, 2008 12:18:23 GMT -5
Z....
will you marry me?
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Post by No Screen Name on May 22, 2008 14:26:09 GMT -5
Cam--Yup!  I know, right?  It was PATHETIC.  SO many people got fooled, that it was nearly PAINFUL to watch. A lot of friends voted for Bush, and now they're mad, but I'm kind of like, "How did you not see this coming? ) |
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Post by Champs Elysees on May 22, 2008 14:34:08 GMT -5
People really voted against their best interests that time, and as we saw in OH, PA and WV, they are going to do it again in 2008!
Gay people getting married and women having abortions had no more bearing in most people's lives than the man in the moon, but most people aren't that LOGICAL.
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Post by coldfront06 on May 22, 2008 14:39:46 GMT -5
Its not logical at all. This time around, they'll be more concerned with keeping a Black man out of office, than they are about health care, the state of the economy, etc.
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Post by Cambist on May 22, 2008 15:16:14 GMT -5
<<== loves women with conversation AND sexiness....
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It was PATHETIC. 
SO many people got fooled, that it was nearly PAINFUL to watch. A lot of friends voted for Bush, and now they're mad, but I'm kind of like, "How did you not see this coming?