Smart little girl

[Sid Barrett]

Western Euro's are hands-down the laziest species on the planet... 32 hour work weeks, 3 months paid vacation every year, retirement age of around 50, "free medical", fully paid pensions. There is no incentive to excel in any way. The problem with "security from cradle to the grave" is that somebody has to pay for it. Oh yeah.... The evil rich!

[GIMNEPIWO]

The problem with a welfare state is what happens when the state can no longer afford the welfare.

We are already borrowing heavily to finance the social programs we can't afford.

For the answer look at the rioting in Greece, and you will see the future of America if we continue down this road.

Er uh ... and where did all the money in Greece go ? ... Corrupt politicians ... The Uber rich ... Guess they forgot to trickle the money down to the masses ...

Typical glib lib response lacking a fundamental grasp of economics.

So tax the rich, feed the poor, til there are no rich no more. What then, Robin Hood?

You're right ... no corruption in Greece ... no corruption anywhere for that matter ... All politicians are honest and all companies should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as it makes money for the stock holders ... You should act in unethical ways because it benefits you in the short term no matter who or what it tramps on ... All the problems are caused by people making minimum wage when they rear end your beemer ...
I own a small business, been a farmer, a retailer, a wholesaler and have been self employed since 1978 ... Yeah , I lack a fundamental grasp in economics I guess ...

[GIMNEPIWO]

The problem with a welfare state is what happens when the state can no longer afford the welfare.

We are already borrowing heavily to finance the social programs we can't afford.

For the answer look at the rioting in Greece, and you will see the future of America if we continue down this road.

Er uh ... and where did all the money in Greece go ? ... Corrupt politicians ... The Uber rich ... Guess they forgot to trickle the money down to the masses ...

G-man, you dont think over extended unfunded pensions, incredibly early retirement ages, paid for everything, could have anything to do with their problem?

Of course those are a result and part of the problem ... Many pieces to the puzzle ... Greece has a history of corruption going way back .... It's been a snowball rolling down hill for years ...

[GIMNEPIWO]

Western Euro's are hands-down the laziest species on the planet... 32 hour work weeks, 3 months paid vacation every year, retirement age of around 50, "free medical", fully paid pensions. There is no incentive to excel in any way. The problem with "security from cradle to the grave" is that somebody has to pay for it. Oh yeah.... The evil rich!

With out going Google crazy ... I believe you are incorrect & what you have quoted are minimums and maximums ... In my memory, I think that Europeans average 6 weeks vacation and just under 40 hour work weeks ... I could be mistaken, but since you made the statement, you find the supporting documents ... And who in the US wouldn't want a shorter work week, more vacation and better benefits ? ... I know if I got another week of this year I would lose all interest in working ... NOT! Sour grapes ...

[DonnieS]

Of course those are a result and part of the problem ... Many pieces to the puzzle ... Greece has a history of corruption going way back .... It's been a snowball rolling down hill for years ...

I agree - many pieces to the puzzle - and I dont know any answers.

[Sid Barrett]

With the exception of Germany, Western European economies, generally speaking, are stagnant, in part because of their collective lack of work ethic. There is no incentive to work hard or innovate because the very nature of their socialism does not reward such traits.

By comparison, Americans, by nature work harder and longer because we know the fruits of our labor will result in increased financial rewards. It is no surprise that EVERY major invention or innovation of the 20th century came at the hands and minds of Americans. We invent $hit and make $hit easier and more convenient for others because we like the fact that we get paid big bucks for doing so. An added result of that is that other people are some times needed to help us when we indulge in such endeavors, i.e. JOBS! In the immortal words of Gordon Gecko, "Greed is good!

[Trophy Hunter]

The problem with a welfare state is what happens when the state can no longer afford the welfare.

We are already borrowing heavily to finance the social programs we can't afford.

For the answer look at the rioting in Greece, and you will see the future of America if we continue down this road.

Er uh ... and where did all the money in Greece go ? ... Corrupt politicians ... The Uber rich ... Guess they forgot to trickle the money down to the masses ...

Typical glib lib response lacking a fundamental grasp of economics.

So tax the rich, feed the poor, til there are no rich no more. What then, Robin Hood?

You're right ... no corruption in Greece ... no corruption anywhere for that matter ... All politicians are honest and all companies should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as it makes money for the stock holders ... You should act in unethical ways because it benefits you in the short term no matter who or what it tramps on ... All the problems are caused by people making minimum wage when they rear end your beemer ...
I own a small business, been a farmer, a retailer, a wholesaler and have been self employed since 1978 ... Yeah , I lack a fundamental grasp in economics I guess ...

Owning a small business might give you some understanding of microeconomics, or how to survive running a small business, which in itself has little to do with the macroeconomics of the situation in Greece and other countries.

The remainder of your response is more histrionics and doesn't address the questions... what happens when no one will lend you money? When you have taxed your rich out of existence? When the "entitled" welfare recipients start burning your cities because the cupboard is bare?

[GIMNEPIWO]

The problem with a welfare state is what happens when the state can no longer afford the welfare.

We are already borrowing heavily to finance the social programs we can't afford.

For the answer look at the rioting in Greece, and you will see the future of America if we continue down this road.

Er uh ... and where did all the money in Greece go ? ... Corrupt politicians ... The Uber rich ... Guess they forgot to trickle the money down to the masses ...

Typical glib lib response lacking a fundamental grasp of economics.

So tax the rich, feed the poor, til there are no rich no more. What then, Robin Hood?

You're right ... no corruption in Greece ... no corruption anywhere for that matter ... All politicians are honest and all companies should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as it makes money for the stock holders ... You should act in unethical ways because it benefits you in the short term no matter who or what it tramps on ... All the problems are caused by people making minimum wage when they rear end your beemer ...
I own a small business, been a farmer, a retailer, a wholesaler and have been self employed since 1978 ... Yeah , I lack a fundamental grasp in economics I guess ...

Owning a small business might give you some understanding of microeconomics, or how to survive running a small business, which in itself has little to do with the macroeconomics of the situation in Greece and other countries.

The remainder of your response is more histrionics and doesn't address the questions... what happens when no one will lend you money? When you have taxed your rich out of existence? When the "entitled" welfare recipients start burning your cities because the cupboard is bare?

If you are addressing this corner of the planet;
No one is lending money on Main Street, USA ...
Taxing the rich out of existence ? ... That's a good one ... How are these 'rich' you speak of doing during this depression while we are 'taxing them out of existence' ? How have they done through all of these down turns in the economy ? ... Sh*t rolls down hill and lands on the small businessman, the poor and middle class ... The rich seem to do just fine ... The corporations and the Execs in big corps having record profits and pay days while their laying people off ... That's a good idea ? ... Even Henry Ford realized that his employees needed to make a fair wage and have days off, otherwise there wouldn't be anyone to buy his cars ... Having lower to middle class people employed is vital to an economy .... A system that encourages corporations to hide money or build and invest overseas instead of reinvesting in the country where they made that profit is flawed ...
Welfare ? Bad idea ... flawed system ... no arguments ...

But, I was talking about Greece, not the US ... Greece has been plagued by corruption for years ... The Uber rich have gotten away without paying taxes ... You disagree ?

[Sid Barrett]

I categorically disagree! About 50% of the citizens our our great land pay NO income taxes. NONE. ZERO. ZILCH. If you don't believe, me look it up. Meanwhile Exxon-Mobile, while making record profits, also paid a record number of taxes. Look that one up too.

This 99% vs. 1% is nothing more than a liberal line of CRAP! The only people not paying their fair share are the poor and lower middle class who pay nothing...yet use the majority of social services (paid for by my tax dollars). We all can't be Uber rich like Bill Gates, nor do we all deserve to be. He invented and created far beyond what my small mind is capable of. But that is how are system Should work. If one works hard, one will be rewarded for it, Unless BHO has his way, than we can all be like Sweden or Belgium.

[GIMNEPIWO]

I categorically disagree! About 50% of the citizens our our great land pay NO income taxes. NONE. ZERO. ZILCH. If you don't believe, me look it up. Meanwhile Exxon-Mobile, while making record profits, also paid a record number of taxes. Look that one up too.

This 99% vs. 1% is nothing more than a liberal line of CRAP! The only people not paying their fair share are the poor and lower middle class who pay nothing...yet use the majority of social services (paid for by my tax dollars). We all can't be Uber rich like Bill Gates, nor do we all deserve to be. He invented and created far beyond what my small mind is capable of. But that is how are system Should work. If one works hard, one will be rewarded for it, Unless BHO has his way, than we can all be like Sweden or Belgium.

With what ? What are you disagreeing with ? Are you saying we have taxed the rich 'out of existence ' ? Are you saying that when the economy gets bad the small businessman, poor and middle class don't feel it the most ? Are you saying it is not important to keep the poor and middle class employeed, there-by creating less need for your tax dollars to be paying for the social services ? Where did I ever indicate that people should not be rewarded for working hard ? Where did I ever indicate that people should not pay their fair share of taxes ? ... Are you saying that large corporations are not keeping money overseas and starting business' out of this country with profits that were made in this country ? And the system that is in place does not make it more profitable to do so? Are you saying that is not a flawed system ? Are you saying that 'Welfare' is not a flawed system ? Did you read what I wrote or did you just disagree with it ?


BTW ... This is pretty much agreed upon no matter what article you read about Exxon Mobil :
"More striking still is the discrepancy between Exxon Mobil's rates and those of most American breadwinners. The company’s effective rate of 17.6 percent is nearly 16 percent below the average individual federal tax rate, which according to the Congressional Budget Office was 20.4 percent as of 2007."