It's the (Tanking) Economy, Stupid

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

i've got faith in you, erekose. you're a smart guy and you'll get a permanent job making big bucks. and you and your wife will be able to get a house.

Well its house before kids at the moment. As it should be I guess.

I agree. Definitely house before kids. Get that downpayment out of the way, transition your finances and lifestyle so the monthly mortgage payment is seamless and more or less painless ... and then...... add on a brand new expense, a baby! haha.

I need to get my writing stuff going too - otherwise that will likely fall by the wayside when that happens.

[GaryC 7]

I don't see a bad economy, I see a great economy. I make more than I ever did before. I have job security and job satisfaction.

[mmmbop1976 1]

We're not talking about keeping up with the Jones' - we're talking about Americans who can't afford the basics - a home, healthcare, food on their table, and the trend is for a dismal future.

home ownership is at record levels. anybody can buy health insurance from a myriad of companies. oh yeah, you want it affordable, God forbid you can't afford health care premiums and the payment on that $40k chevy suv. can't put food on their tables? we have an obesity epidemic in this country, we're eating ok.

your forbes post is from over 4 years ago, and it's bunk. not even worth addressing here

[mawilson 2,133]

We're not talking about keeping up with the Jones' - we're talking about Americans who can't afford the basics - a home, healthcare, food on their table, and the trend is for a dismal future.

Yep. Where are these millions of homeless Americans without food on their table?

I hear you on Manhattan - went by a realtors office at lunch and saw a studio going for $700k.

It's insane. I make over $200k a year (between my full-time job and part-time consulting),

and I still can't afford it.

[dalegg 143]

We're not talking about keeping up with the Jones' - we're talking about Americans who can't afford the basics - a home, healthcare, food on their table, and the trend is for a dismal future.

Yep. Where are these millions of homeless Americans without food on their table?

One of them is in her room, grounded for the rest of the week for lying.

[ChristinaM 0]

I know that I harp on about this, but if you think the economy's doing great, come to Maine. Come see all the primary and secondary industry vanishing, come pay the tax burden and justify the cost of housing whilst your salary barely hits a living wage.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We're not talking about keeping up with the Jones' - we're talking about Americans who can't afford the basics - a home, healthcare, food on their table, and the trend is for a dismal future.

home ownership is at record levels. anybody can buy health insurance from a myriad of companies. oh yeah, you want it affordable, God forbid you can't afford health care premiums and the payment on that $40k chevy suv. can't put food on their tables? we have an obesity epidemic in this country, we're eating ok.

your forbes post is from over 4 years ago, and it's bunk. not even worth addressing here

45 million Americans are uninsured.

45 million uninsured Americans is more than...

• All Americans age 65 and older (35.9 million)2

• All African Americans (37.1 million)3

• All Hispanic or Latino Americans (39.9 million)4

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• 4 million more than the number of small business employees (41.0 million in 2001)5

• 20 million more than the number of military veterans (25 million)6

• Nearly 12 times more than the number of millionaires (3.8 million) -- although the growth in millionaires outstripped that of the uninsured (14 percent versus 3 percent)7

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• More than four times the population of Greece, site of the Summer Olympics (10.6 million)

• 12 million more than the population of Canada (32.2 million)

• Nearly 5 million more than the population of Spain (40.2 million)

• 20 million more than the population of Iraq (24.7 million)

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• Nearly five times more than the number of Americans living with cancer (9.2 million in 2001)9

• 2.5 times higher than the number of Americans with diabetes (18.2 million in 2002)10

• 7 million more people than those living with HIV throughout the world (38 million)11

There are...

• Nearly 150 uninsured Americans for each physician in America 12

• Nearly 7,500 uninsured Americans for each hospital in America13

• Over 84,000 uninsured Americans for each Member of Congress

45 million uninsured Americans is about the same number of Americans living in...

• West coast states (45.2 million in California, Oregon and Washington)

• Middle America (44.7 million in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming)

• Northeastern states (42.0 million in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.as...VF&b=173900

Edited September 13, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[GaryC 7]

We're not talking about keeping up with the Jones' - we're talking about Americans who can't afford the basics - a home, healthcare, food on their table, and the trend is for a dismal future.

home ownership is at record levels. anybody can buy health insurance from a myriad of companies. oh yeah, you want it affordable, God forbid you can't afford health care premiums and the payment on that $40k chevy suv. can't put food on their tables? we have an obesity epidemic in this country, we're eating ok.

your forbes post is from over 4 years ago, and it's bunk. not even worth addressing here

45 million Americans are uninsured.

45 million uninsured Americans is more than...

• All Americans age 65 and older (35.9 million)2

• All African Americans (37.1 million)3

• All Hispanic or Latino Americans (39.9 million)4

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• 4 million more than the number of small business employees (41.0 million in 2001)5

• 20 million more than the number of military veterans (25 million)6

• Nearly 12 times more than the number of millionaires (3.8 million) -- although the growth in millionaires outstripped that of the uninsured (14 percent versus 3 percent)7

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• More than four times the population of Greece, site of the Summer Olympics (10.6 million)

• 12 million more than the population of Canada (32.2 million)

• Nearly 5 million more than the population of Spain (40.2 million)

• 20 million more than the population of Iraq (24.7 million)

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• Nearly five times more than the number of Americans living with cancer (9.2 million in 2001)9

• 2.5 times higher than the number of Americans with diabetes (18.2 million in 2002)10

• 7 million more people than those living with HIV throughout the world (38 million)11

There are...

• Nearly 150 uninsured Americans for each physician in America 12

• Nearly 7,500 uninsured Americans for each hospital in America13

• Over 84,000 uninsured Americans for each Member of Congress

45 million uninsured Americans is about the same number of Americans living in...

• West coast states (45.2 million in California, Oregon and Washington)

• Middle America (44.7 million in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming)

• Northeastern states (42.0 million in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.as...VF&b=173900

I don't get it. Where does it say that it is the responsability of the government to insure people? If you want insurance buy it! If you can't afford it then work hard and get a job that offers it. Why in the world should my tax dollars pay for someone elses insurance??? I haven't been a day without insurance for the last 20 years!!!

[ChristinaM 0]

It's not the government's job to INSURE people, but don't you think there's some merit (or at least moral value) to keeping people alive and healthy?

[mmmbop1976 1]

We're not talking about keeping up with the Jones' - we're talking about Americans who can't afford the basics - a home, healthcare, food on their table, and the trend is for a dismal future.

home ownership is at record levels. anybody can buy health insurance from a myriad of companies. oh yeah, you want it affordable, God forbid you can't afford health care premiums and the payment on that $40k chevy suv. can't put food on their tables? we have an obesity epidemic in this country, we're eating ok.

your forbes post is from over 4 years ago, and it's bunk. not even worth addressing here

forgot to add, IMO, personal financial planning should be a year long course taught in every high school in this country. because of that 63% dissatisfied w/ the track the economy is on, most of those are struggling because of their own poor financial planning.....and then the democrats exploit them for votes

[GaryC 7]

It's not the government's job to INSURE people, but don't you think there's some merit (or at least moral value) to keeping people alive and healthy?

It comes down to personal responsibility and your own priorities. This government is turning into a nanny state. You get out of life what you put into it. If someone does not want to work hard to better themselves then it isn't my job to take care of them. Now I exclude someone that is disabled or for some reason beyond their control can't work but the idea that I should take care of them just because they are not motivated to work is abhorrent to me!

[Jenn! 918]

It's not the government's job to INSURE people, but don't you think there's some merit (or at least moral value) to keeping people alive and healthy?

It comes down to personal responsibility and your own priorities. This government is turning into a nanny state. You get out of life what you put into it. If someone does not want to work hard to better themselves then it isn't my job to take care of them. Now I exclude someone that is disabled or for some reason beyond their control can't work but the idea that I should take care of them just because they are not motivated to work is abhorrent to me!

So you're saying that the 45 million people in this country without health insurance don't have it because they are not motivated to work hard enough for it?

[GaryC 7]

It's not the government's job to INSURE people, but don't you think there's some merit (or at least moral value) to keeping people alive and healthy?

It comes down to personal responsibility and your own priorities. This government is turning into a nanny state. You get out of life what you put into it. If someone does not want to work hard to better themselves then it isn't my job to take care of them. Now I exclude someone that is disabled or for some reason beyond their control can't work but the idea that I should take care of them just because they are not motivated to work is abhorrent to me!

So you're saying that the 45 million people in this country without health insurance don't have it because they are not motivated to work hard enough for it?

In a word, yes

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We're not talking about keeping up with the Jones' - we're talking about Americans who can't afford the basics - a home, healthcare, food on their table, and the trend is for a dismal future.

home ownership is at record levels. anybody can buy health insurance from a myriad of companies. oh yeah, you want it affordable, God forbid you can't afford health care premiums and the payment on that $40k chevy suv. can't put food on their tables? we have an obesity epidemic in this country, we're eating ok.

your forbes post is from over 4 years ago, and it's bunk. not even worth addressing here

45 million Americans are uninsured.

45 million uninsured Americans is more than...

• All Americans age 65 and older (35.9 million)2

• All African Americans (37.1 million)3

• All Hispanic or Latino Americans (39.9 million)4

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• 4 million more than the number of small business employees (41.0 million in 2001)5

• 20 million more than the number of military veterans (25 million)6

• Nearly 12 times more than the number of millionaires (3.8 million) -- although the growth in millionaires outstripped that of the uninsured (14 percent versus 3 percent)7

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• More than four times the population of Greece, site of the Summer Olympics (10.6 million)

• 12 million more than the population of Canada (32.2 million)

• Nearly 5 million more than the population of Spain (40.2 million)

• 20 million more than the population of Iraq (24.7 million)

45 million uninsured Americans is...

• Nearly five times more than the number of Americans living with cancer (9.2 million in 2001)9

• 2.5 times higher than the number of Americans with diabetes (18.2 million in 2002)10

• 7 million more people than those living with HIV throughout the world (38 million)11

There are...

• Nearly 150 uninsured Americans for each physician in America 12

• Nearly 7,500 uninsured Americans for each hospital in America13

• Over 84,000 uninsured Americans for each Member of Congress

45 million uninsured Americans is about the same number of Americans living in...

• West coast states (45.2 million in California, Oregon and Washington)

• Middle America (44.7 million in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming)

• Northeastern states (42.0 million in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.as...VF&b=173900

I don't get it. Where does it say that it is the responsability of the government to insure people? If you want insurance buy it! If you can't afford it then work hard and get a job that offers it. Why in the world should my tax dollars pay for someone elses insurance??? I haven't been a day without insurance for the last 20 years!!!

It goes back to what I highlighted earlier...

...the share of the GDP that goes to wages and salaries has reached a 59-year low, while the share going to corporate profits is at a 40-year high.

A free market is a misnomer... it assumes that true competition exists, and you're errantly assuming that the job market works that way. It can only work that way when someone is being the referee. Just like you wouldn't expect NFL teams to referee themselves, nor should we expect corporations to regulate themselves.

Having a sustainable economy requires true competition. True competition only exists when all the teams are playing by the same rules.

[Jenn! 918]

So you're saying that the 45 million people in this country without health insurance don't have it because they are not motivated to work hard enough for it?

In a word, yes

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the sort of jobs that pay substantial portions of health insurance premiums tend to require a college degree?