The Downfall of America: How and What Factors Contributed to the Fall
It has been a very long time since Women on the verge of thinking has weighed in, pontificated, if you will about the current state of our country. Specifically, the economy, the leadership, current and potential, the presence and/or absence of natural resources, the loss of jobs, and housing for most Americans today.
When this blog began, the predominant fact that was paramount to its creation was what I perceived to be a lack of good leadership in this country. Disillusioned with Bush and that administration from the onset, I felt a need to have a sounding board for what I found to be a wonderful country headed down a slippery slope. Sadly, today, that slide has occurred, and we are in much worse shape than one could have ever imagined when this blog began in 2005. Would could have foreseen, at that time that gas would be more than $4.50 a gallon (at its high), that millions of Americans homes would be in foreclosure, that the unemployment rate would be almost 10 percent, that plenty of common items, which proudly bore the label, Made in America would be outsourced to other countries. Who would have believed that many of us would be without health insurance, and for those of us who could afford it, it may cost more than $15,000 a year for a family, money, which, if we had a better system to take care of our medical needs, could go towards our future, or retirement one day. And of course there is the war, which has cost this great nation trillions and trillions of dollars. Just yesterday, our Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed a bill into effect that would cut the salaries of many state workers to minimum wage for the exclusive purpose of getting the budget to balance. Who could have predicted.
On a personal note, it seems as if I have become bitter lately. Not my usual chipper, positive, dynamic self, seeing the glass half full and having a great zest for life, it seems as if getting through a day is the current state of affairs for me. Now that I am writing, the thought surfaces, that some of this crotchetiness may in fact be directly related to what is going on in America today. Although still solvent, having a good job, and being able to pay bills, it is painful to watch those around me sink into a dark hole where only slivers of light shine through.
But I truly grateful for the wonderful friends I have today. They are a true blessing. And it is true, that a friend is there for you no matter what happens in your life, through thick, thin, and invisible, unconditionally really. Relatives are your blood, but not necessarily family, individuals who too are there during the good, the bad and the ugly.
A long needed vacation is just over the horizon, 9 days in Punta, Cana, the Dominican Republic. It is not Israel, of course, but truly, nothing is....
If anyone has been able to relate to this post, identify with it in any way, take something from it, I will say,
Thank you for your minds.
When this blog began, the predominant fact that was paramount to its creation was what I perceived to be a lack of good leadership in this country. Disillusioned with Bush and that administration from the onset, I felt a need to have a sounding board for what I found to be a wonderful country headed down a slippery slope. Sadly, today, that slide has occurred, and we are in much worse shape than one could have ever imagined when this blog began in 2005. Would could have foreseen, at that time that gas would be more than $4.50 a gallon (at its high), that millions of Americans homes would be in foreclosure, that the unemployment rate would be almost 10 percent, that plenty of common items, which proudly bore the label, Made in America would be outsourced to other countries. Who would have believed that many of us would be without health insurance, and for those of us who could afford it, it may cost more than $15,000 a year for a family, money, which, if we had a better system to take care of our medical needs, could go towards our future, or retirement one day. And of course there is the war, which has cost this great nation trillions and trillions of dollars. Just yesterday, our Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed a bill into effect that would cut the salaries of many state workers to minimum wage for the exclusive purpose of getting the budget to balance. Who could have predicted.
On a personal note, it seems as if I have become bitter lately. Not my usual chipper, positive, dynamic self, seeing the glass half full and having a great zest for life, it seems as if getting through a day is the current state of affairs for me. Now that I am writing, the thought surfaces, that some of this crotchetiness may in fact be directly related to what is going on in America today. Although still solvent, having a good job, and being able to pay bills, it is painful to watch those around me sink into a dark hole where only slivers of light shine through.
But I truly grateful for the wonderful friends I have today. They are a true blessing. And it is true, that a friend is there for you no matter what happens in your life, through thick, thin, and invisible, unconditionally really. Relatives are your blood, but not necessarily family, individuals who too are there during the good, the bad and the ugly.
A long needed vacation is just over the horizon, 9 days in Punta, Cana, the Dominican Republic. It is not Israel, of course, but truly, nothing is....
If anyone has been able to relate to this post, identify with it in any way, take something from it, I will say,
Thank you for your minds.
10 Comments:
Good to see you again, Barbara. Please don't get me started.....
1) The Democrats have not allowed refinerys to be build in 30 years...Solar, wind and hybrid energy could never take the place of all oil use. I think we could clean up our act with oil and clean burning coal.
2) People bought houses they could not afford on ARM's that they didn't understand or just didn't care about. The cost of houses was just out of control and the bubble burst. Many people were caught with their pants down and now they are crying because they can't afford to refinance.
3) The outsourcing is just stupid. Why couldn't they just keep the jobs in this country?
4) Global warming: not sure I agree with it but we do need to take better care of our planet.
5) Choices for President? I hate to have to choose the lesser of two evils.....No way Obama, he will turn our country into a third world country. He wants to give 852 BILLION dollars to the UN. Our courtry already give ample world air. He's trying to bankrupt this country.....
I guess we are both a little cynical about the state of affairs right now....I sure have cut back on my driving. My husband's profession (mobile locksmith) depends on his driving....
I still pray that our country will pull out of the mess that it is in.....
Once again, glad to hear from you my friend.
I'm not at all happy with the way we're going right now. We're at a critical juncture in our nation's history. The next president has to forge bipartisan solutions to the problems we face.
It's interesting to note that Obama just modified his stance on drilling. He now supports the compromise fashioned by 10 Senators. It shows me he's able to read public opinion and compromise when necessary. Would he be that way as president, or would he be a Democratic ideologue?
I think we need to ensure that the U.S. provides targets for renewable energy. Something like 20% in 2020, 40% in 2030, etc. Drilling is a very small part but necessary part of the equation...money being spent in Iraq could be used for tax breaks for homeowners to convert to solar and for car manufacturers to mass produce electric cars.
I'm a capitalist through and through, but the outsourcing has me absolutely livid. Even worse are those companies that use an offshore haven to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.
If we could plug all the loopholes, collect all that is due and overdue, and cut spending, it would go a long way towards cutting the deficit. I hate the fact that hostile foreign governments hold so much of our debt.
One interesting piece of the puzzle are the Senate and House races. It will make it all very interesting.
Fasten your seat belts.
I relate to much of what you are saying, yet I have had my head buried in cat blogging for a while now.
I do pay attention to the politics and to the economy. But it's all a muddle now. It's almost as if we the people are projecting our disillusionment onto the candidates. Very Freudian.
The economy is cyclical. As long as government doesn't interfere too much, it will recover. Like Fred, I'm a capitalist, but not one that despises ALL government regulation. But the recovery is painful, and it's especially painful to watch friends slide down that into that bottomless pit. I work with a local soup kitchen, and it tears my heart out to see who is coming in for a free meal now.
While I don't blame Bernanke, he is reactive, whereas Greenspan was proactive. I suspect Greenspan would have raised the alarm over the housing bubble and mortgage mess long ago, and warned the primary players involved to clean up their act or else. Bernanke is a technician, Greenspan an artist.
As far as outsourcing....aaarrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhh!!!
I just spent HOURS today with "tech support" for Earthlink (based in India) unable to resolve a problem with my mother's computer. (eventually I came up with my own unique solution) I'm sure the people in India trying to help were nice, but the whole system was ineffectual. Maybe someday a cost/benefit analysis will be examined.
We will recover as a nation. I truly believe that.
Luv,
WW
&
Skittles, The Huntress
Not much has changed in our finances by way our home payments or insurance. We can afford both. (But then, we were very careful with our mortgage in the first place, before homes here became overinflated.)
Gas isn't too much of an issue for us though we've had to cut our 240 mile round trip to the big city (I'm 120 miles from many services) to once every other month. Otherwise we have owned our one car for three years and only have put 21,000 miles on it.
We need a larger home but that doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon. With this foreclosure business people are either selling for way too much to recoup their losses or holding on to their properties with a death grip. What's in our budget is only a lateral move or less and one bedroom bigger is a 100k jump. We'd build but that 120 miles is working against us. Builders and shipping the supplies...expensive.
My costume business is suffering. People have less discretionary income. I never made much with it. It was too big to keep it a hobby. This year that will probably hurt my taxes. I'm awful glad that we don't rely on it as a real source of income.
The only thing that would kill us at this point would be an emergency. Though we don't make a whole lot of money we're better off than a lot of folks.
Great to see so many old faces here. I am impressed by the knowledge and information set forth in the responses.
Lucy, good to hear from you. We can agree to disagee. I agree that some individuals took out bad home loans, with very high interest rates. This is a complex issue, and sadly, many are suffering as a result of poor choices. That being said, yesterday, it was announced that Iraq has an $80 billion surplus from oil. Someone is benefiting here.
Fred, alternative energy is indeed a huge issue for us Americans today.
Skittles, I hear everything you are saying. Every time I call any credit card service, technical support, anywhere these days, more oftent than not I am greeted by someone whose English is barely understandable, and who is unable to resolve the problems that are set before them. The times they are a changing.
Thank you all for your posts. I will look forward to reading the blogs upon my return.
Posted a comment earlier this morning, and it vanished!
Let me try again, please.
Lucy, the housing market and how people financed their loans is indeed a complex subject. Today, I read that Iraq has earned an excess of $80 billion in income from oil. I am curious where that money is going these days.
Fred, renewable energy is something that we must definitely look into these days, and it seems that there are many solutions rather than problems inside of this resource.
Skittles, I hear you about outsourcing. Every time I make a call to inquire about something, especially regarding credit cards, more often than not, I am speaking to someone from another country whose English is not the best. Furthermore, I become worried that that someone outside of my country has my personal information at his/her fingertips.
Becky, good to see you. Sorry to hear that the costume making is taking a hit. I think everyone is in some area of his/her life or another.
Thank you all for continuing to come to this blog, to read, to post, and to think!
Enjoy the day.
two things...
One, there is no grabbing the bull anymore. It grabbed its last bull (?) and my new 'address' is http://artistberryconnell.blogspot.com/
Two....of late I've come to think that we've supported a president and party that has protected bin laden. Can't think of it any other way when considering that we found saddam in a deep hole in the middle of a major city in the desert. bin laden couldn't be that hard to find, if they really wanted to.
and that's a pretty sad affair if you ask me.
of course I read the comments after I wrote mine...
Dang.
#1 the Dumbocrats haven't had any say in who builds what refineries where other than they want to protect environments.
the Republicants want to rip into the earth anywhere they can and suck every last drop of resource out of it for this generation's use.
Corn will not do the trick folks want it to, first off because we can't grow that much, second off because in 2003 some 25000 people starved to death every day. Do we really need to drive that much that we would continue to use a food product to do so?
I sure don't want nuclear plants up, either, but, I reckon that would be the reason that so many are being bought (and some for several hundreds of millions of dollars) and I can only imagine that somewhere, somebody thinks that business must go on as it has to survive, and that would be just plain wrong.
(gee, sorry to mention this at a time you're about to go on a trip...) One of the reasons for the shortage is people going on 'vacations' around the world.
It may seem a small thing to each individual, but, dang! I've seen the crowds being herded around the airports...I know it's a major money mover, but, it's just plain wrong.
Another factor is that so many people still drive their gas hogs (alone, as in no passengers) and gee, what choice is there in a country that just plain won't get public transportation up and rumnning? Or a lane in the middle of those stupid super highways for bicycles, horses, sailing wheels, etc., etc.
No, a major change in all our lives is called for, and, oddly enough, the change is coming up on us fast whether we want it or not.
As for the housing market (if I may continue my rant) I was an insulator for near a quarter century.
Houses today are being built no differently than in the 1700's, except for putting in things like indoor plumbing (this'll sound gross, but, did you know that the half a cup to a cup of urine that you flush with three gallons of water is a waste?) and air conditioning (total waste of energy there. AC should only be used during the most extreme of heat situations)
Outsourcing? You'll never be able to talk the Republicant elite to give up what they consider to be sound business advice. Hire cheap labor, milk it for whatever you can, throw the people away.
Y'know, this business about global warming is pretty interesting in itself.
Whether or not ione believes in its existence is not even the point. STOP FILLING THE LAND WITH GARBAGE! and poisons. (nuclear waste stays nuclear waste for about ten thousand years....another reason to not start those reactors up would be great ideas to work with)
As for choices for president...
Gosh, folks really are up in arms about paying what we OWE the UN.
It has been an ongoing debt for, let me see....Nixon got the ball rolling by not putting in (he felt our presence in Viet Nam was ample payment. Cartewr would have paid into the debt except he didn't get a second term. Reagan/Bush regime continued to insist that our presence in various places was payment enough. Well, that and arming, training, and supporting bin laden [no, I won't capitalize his name any more than I would capitalize hitler's name] and saying it was a world mission because it ended the Soviet Union's budget causing it to collapse) and while Clinton kept trying to pay it, he was being stopped by a Republicant legislature...which, by the way, allowed us to get into the 'black' as far as Federal budget was concerned.
And, I've already mentioned that there's no way I'm going to support a party that has protected bin laden for the last seven years, and now has armed and supplied F-16s to the onl;y radical Islamic nation on earth already nuclear capable.
c'mon...stop ranting, eh?
Personally, I would rather we guard our freedom than give it away to folks who think it's necessary to corral us up and keep us tied down.
OBAMARAMA! A vote for freedom!
Enjoy the rest of your summer, Barbara...
i'll be right back....
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