Newsweek Article

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

You don't think people are boiling over? I keep hearing about another Revolution. I normally ignore people who say such things; however, you can't ignore the radio, tv, and internet these days. Something is boiling beneath the surface. You can feel it.

Hype to sell papers and rhetoric from douchebags with anarchist Hot Topic t-shirts, no one cares, Law & Order is on!

[jrrtoken]

You don't think people are boiling over?

Don't you think you're being a bit over-dramatic and acutely paranoid?

I keep hearing about another Revolution.

If it's from a man named Beelzebub, then I think you should see a priest. If it's from God, the I think you should see a psychiatrist.

I normally ignore people who say such things; however, you can't ignore the radio, tv, and internet these days.

You can also ignore the bum on the street who says that Jesus is coming, which is most advisable.

Something is boiling beneath the surface. You can feel it.

I'm feeling particularly dull at the moment, but that's probably because I'm reading this thread.

[mur'phon]

Okay. I can see where you're coming from on an individual level...but on a larger level...I still have doubts. You mean to tell me other wealthy nations (namely those in europe) would be unable to stand on their own sufficiently if something happened to the US?

 

Yes, and to give you the basics in a simplified way, it works like this. Spesialization means things are produced where they are cheapest, drivven by demand from whoever is consuming. This means that for instance insane amounts of businesses depend on demand in other countries, and since the US is the biggest consumer....

 

I know the financial situations are volatile--but I have a hard time believing it would become financially so dire if things went to hell in USA. You really mean to tell me if the financial sector broke here, that places like yours would experience a crisis like a depression?

 

Finance is global, where the money commes from matters little, and since the US is such a big part of the financial sector in the world, the crisis is far from local.

 

As for whatever is boiling under the surface, it smells more like standard bad times uncertanty than a revolution.

[Darth Avlectus]

Yes' date=' and to give you the basics in a simplified way, it works like this. Spesialization means things are produced where they are cheapest, drivven by demand from whoever is consuming. This means that for instance insane amounts of businesses [b']depend[/b] on demand in other countries, and since the US is the biggest consumer....

 

Unfortunately, I don't really see how consumption can continue as is. I mean, how much can we American people really consume? Sure we always need food and tools and clothes and similar.

 

So far as goods beyond the practical...those relying on us to buy those are in for one hell ride. Sorry. We're in a trend of buying practical stuff for gifts for the time being.

 

Also, though this may get flack from everyone here--if America doesn't start producing at least *some* of its own goods again (independently and privately as well as public and otherwise), and a natural disaster were to isolate us from the world so that imports and exports can't come and go, we are *screwed*. This isn't paranoia or propaganda talking here. Common sense: we can't stop seismic activity, or erupting volcanoes, or oceanic disasters or a host of other things. I'm not saying go isolationist, just a good idea to be prepared is all. And it's not a bad thing to have some localization in production.

 

Glad to see you understand some economics though.

 

Finance is global, where the money commes from matters little, and since the US is such a big part of the financial sector in the world, the crisis is far from local.

There is nobody else to consume your goods?

You provide for yourselves do you not?

 

As for whatever is boiling under the surface, it smells more like standard bad times uncertanty than a revolution.

 

That wasn't me that said that. Direct it to who did. I'm not all that sure about it actually happening or not. Nor am I completely sure of the backlash.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

you sir have convinced me that a revolution in the country that has the highest gdp of any single country would not matter to people in other countries all that much

[Q]

As much as I might want it to happen, a revolution has about a snowball's chance in Hell of occuring here in the land of universal apathy.

 

Things would have to get way, way worse than they are now.

[Arcesious]

Indeed. To quote Kreia:

 

Apathy is death

 

Well maybe not death, but I agree, apathy isn't a very good thing for a representative democratic country trying to manage 300+ million people.

 

Things are going to give way, they're be talk of armageddon, revolution, etc, etc, things will get better every now and then, but it'll stay the same for a long, long time. I'll be centuries dead before Star trek becmes reality.

 

But I'm not being cynical here. I think that progress will be made, slowly, as the world's stability deteriorates. By the time we've got statrek level technology, we'll have to take some time to fix things up on our planet before we start traveling the galaxy.

 

But, even as bad as things are now, I do beleive that our Ancestors will travel the galaxy.

[Web Rider]

I disagree with your premise Yar and most of the points you've made along the way, generally those things have existed in the US for years, and recessions have happened as well, and we've only had one revolution so far, and the conditions required for that to happen aren't existing now. I guess you could count the Civil War, but that's different reasons entirely, as the nation isn't that divided.

 

So no, no revolution, not now, not in the near future.

[Q]

But, even as bad as things are now, I do beleive that our Ancestors will travel the galaxy.

I guess, if they somehow discovered time travel, maybe.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Time isn't a fixed concept don't be so closed minded.

[Web Rider]

Time isn't a fixed concept don't be so closed minded.

 

It's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly...timey wimey stuff.

[EnderWiggin]

You and I don't have anything to say to each other on this topic. Another American Revolution doesn't directly affect you; thus, there is no longer any need for you and I to debate on the subject.

 

I will wait until an American Citizen chimes in.

 

Wow, well that's absurd. J7 is one of the smartest people I know and he knows more about American politics &etc than many Americans, perhaps including you.

 

Has the United States really become an empire? Do other people think this way? How can a Revolutionary War in the US be globally effective? I didn't think we had a global impact in such a scale.

 

Yes, we really do.

 

(By the way, PA is in America if you were wondering.)

 

_EW_

[The Doctor]

It's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly...timey wimey stuff.

 

This reference is win.

 

That is all.

[Jae Onasi]

Time isn't a fixed concept don't be so closed minded.

Anything is possible!!

[mur'phon]

Unfortunately, I don't really see how consumption can continue as is. I mean, how much can we American people really consume? Sure we always need food and tools and clothes and similar.

 

Why can't it? Yes, it won't for a while, but the major reason for people not spending is A: their homes have lost much of their value, and B credit becomming very expensive (conected, but I asume you know how), sure, job loss/fear of loosing ones job factors inn, but with Americas flexible economy, it shouldn't have any problems picking up again once credit is available.

 

Also, though this may get flack from everyone here--if America doesn't start producing at least *some* of its own goods again (independently and privately as well as public and otherwise), and a natural disaster were to isolate us from the world so that imports and exports can't come and go, we are *screwed*. This isn't paranoia or propaganda talking here. Common sense: we can't stop seismic activity, or erupting volcanoes, or oceanic disasters or a host of other things. I'm not saying go isolationist, just a good idea to be prepared is all. And it's not a bad thing to have some localization in production.

 

I would like you to take a look at what the US actually produce, it should give you a nice surprise. Also, out of curiosity, could you mention one kind of disaster that would cut you off from the rest of the world?

 

There is nobody else to consume your goods?

You provide for yourselves do you not?

 

I presume this was directed at my earlier point and not the one I quoted? If so, let's asume 80% of what a company produce is sold to the US, what do you think will happen if demand there sinks to 20% of production? It is not as if demand will magically apear somewhere else.

 

@Jae:aparently including you wasting mucho time imitating banned members:P I know, 98 seconds of my life that I can never reclaim. --Jae

[Web Rider]

I would like you to take a look at what the US actually produce, it should give you a nice surprise. Also, out of curiosity, could you mention one kind of disaster that would cut you off from the rest of the world?

Not to mention a great deal of the world would be really sad over not having any more bread, or corn. Honestly, if the US was totally economically isolated, but could still operate normally within it's bounds, we'd just re-purpose a lot of the land we use for farming profitable things like wheat and corn and grow stuff we need here.

 

Sure, we wouldn't have our Xboxes or our fancy Japanese cars, but I'm sure we could go without buying a new car for 5 years while companies here figure out how to build within the limits of the nation.

 

And if the US did ever magically reconnect with the world, you think it's a super-power now? Imagine a nation as powerful as the US that didn't require a single nation outside it's borders to survive. Any large nation that can develop power and sustain itsself without outside assistance is a nation to reckon with. Which is something that would make me obscenely happy, some of our dependencies on other nations are just stupid.

 

This reference is win.

 

That is all.

Heh, I saw that and went "Oh snap, The Doctor will get this!" and posted it.

[Q]

Anything is possible!!

Bwahahahaha! String is the thing!

 

[Yar-El]

*Walks into the thread and reads. Scratches head.*

I don't get Jae's joke? Can someone explain it?

[mur'phon]

Search for posts by Windu-Chi, or if you're too lazy lets just say that he was litterally a colourfull ranter.

[Jae Onasi]

You don't think people are boiling over? I keep hearing about another Revolution. I normally ignore people who say such things; however, you can't ignore the radio, tv, and internet these days. Something is boiling beneath the surface. You can feel it.

What are they boiling over about? I see no major protests like in the '60's. I see no rallies for some social cause. What, precisely, would Americans be revolting against, assuming you could get them up off their sofas and away from the latest episode of the The Simpsons?

[jrrtoken]

What are they boiling over about? I see no major protests like in the '60's. I see no rallies for some social cause. What, precisely, would Americans be revolting against, assuming you could get them up off their sofas and away from the latest episode of the The Simpsons?

Completely concur, as there is no way that any revolution in America shall ever get off the ground. The sad truth is, a good deal of Americans are either too lazy or too ignorant to be politically and socially conscious. If things became more economically desperate, then perhaps there will be more and more dissent, but since there were few real revolutionary movements during the Great Depression, which was essentially rock bottom, I doubt that there will be a real amount of rebellion at the moment.

 

Oh, and watches The Simpsons anymore? That show got sucky several years ago.

[Yar-El]

...and this will not get you mad?

 

Article - Obama says only government can save U.S. economy

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday made a new plea for Congress to pass his economic stimulus plan, saying the federal government was "the only entity left with the resources to jolt the U.S. economy back to life."

 

"It is only government that can break the vicious cycle where lost jobs lead to people spending less money which leads to even more layoffs. And breaking that cycle is exactly what the plan that's moving through Congress is designed to do," Obama said in his first news conference since taking office on Jan. 20.

 

Obama spoke hours after the Senate cleared a procedural hurdle on the Democratic-backed stimulus package, setting up a vote on Tuesday on the $838 billion package of tax cuts and emergency government spending which was likely to pass.

Last night I was going to jump online to see if anyone commented on the statement. I'm a little surprised. Welcome to socialism!

[Jae Onasi]

I don't think this is going to foment revolution, however. People are less likely to revolt against the person/entity that's giving them something.

[Astor]

Why are people in the US so afraid of Socialism? A lot of things Americans take for granted is already Socialist in nature, so why does it induce people to scream 'The End is Nigh'?

[Pho3nix]

Why are people in the US so afraid of Socialism? A lot of things Americans take for granted is already Socialist in nature, so why does it induce people to scream 'The End is Nigh'?

My guess is it's a cultural thing, American 'socialism' is extremely mild so I don't get what all the fuss is about.