If you became the leader of your nation...

[marharth]

We are giving out the biggest tax cuts in American history to the rich, and our economy is going great! Right guys?

[Deleted1744345User]

Since we are all descendants of immigrants in this country this is ludicrous, our diversity is what has made us great.

 

The U.S. really isn't diverse enough for you? :facepalm: We seriously don't need more people coming in when we have high unemployment and others who are homeless and hungry. We need to take care of them first.

 

Attempting to turn back the tide of globalization is futile and stands as much chance of success as the lad with his finger in the dike.

 

Doesn't mean that it is good for this country. We are becoming less and less competitive and I don't see us turning around until maybe after we have fully recovered from the recession. Labor unions are what made much of our industry leave in the first place.

 

Lol...evidently you missed the boom of the nineties or were too young to appreciate the recession of the late 70's-80's.

 

Too young. But that doesn't mean I won't still tax the rich. I'd love to bring them down on the same level as everybody else.

[Aurielius]

@OriginOfPain

 

It's too bad you are not old enough to remember the 80's. You could have gone to a country that redistributed wealth, had a strict immigration policy, believed in government control of business and repressed politicians..the former Soviet Union...but no worries I hear there are openings in North Korea where your views will be in synchrony with the mainstream.

[Deleted1744345User]

@OriginOfPain

 

It's too bad you are not old enough to remember the 80's. You could have gone to a country that redistributed wealth, had a strict immigration policy, believed in government control of business and repressed politicians..the former Soviet Union...but no worries I hear there are openings in North Korea where your views will be in synchrony with the mainstream.

 

What does telling me that accomplish?

 

Nothing.

[Aurielius]

@OriginOfPain

 

It's too bad you are not old enough to remember the 80's. You could have gone to a country that redistributed wealth, had a strict immigration policy, believed in government control of business and repressed politicians..the former Soviet Union...but no worries I hear there are openings in North Korea where your views will be in synchrony with the mainstream.

What does telling me that accomplish?

Nothing.

Consider it a lesson in irony...this still being the land of the free am going to celebrate New Years :whistling:

Edited January 1, 2012 by Aurielius

[brokenergy]

*snip*

 

Foreign aid is a soft power tool used by regional and global powers to push their agenda into smaller countries in exchange for aid. Not all foreign aid goes straight to the governments, in fact many foreign aid goes straight to the UN or IRCC, which is then distributed to the people who need it most. So yes, foreign aid does has it uses besides giving it to those who need it most. It's the reason why America is going big in the Pacific and Africa, to compete for influence against nations such as China and Russia. It's a win-win for both sides.

[Aurielius]

*snip*

 

Foreign aid is a soft power tool used by regional and global powers to push their agenda into smaller countries in exchange for aid. Not all foreign aid goes straight to the governments, in fact many foreign aid goes straight to the UN or IRCC, which is then distributed to the people who need it most. So yes, foreign aid does has it uses besides giving it to those who need it most. It's the reason why America is going big in the Pacific and Africa, to compete for influence against nations such as China and Russia. It's a win-win for both sides.

You want the ability to deride American Aid and ask for it's continence...your thesis might carry some weight if there was some inkling of gratitude but I detect little of that. It has to have reciprocity for Foreign Aid to have any value for us (the people who actually pay for it). As long as it's other peoples money, thats fine with you. The endless money well is drying up, so better get used to it. Foreign Aid is on the deficit cutting block along with many other things, if I had to pick ( and we will have to very soon) between taking care of our people in need or aiding ungrateful sods which to me is a no contest choice.

Edited January 1, 2012 by Aurielius

[brokenergy]

You want the ability to deride American Aid and ask for it's continence...your thesis might carry some weight if there was some inkling of gratitude but I detect little of that. It has to have reciprocity for Foreign Aid to have any value for us (the people who actually pay for it). As long as it's other peoples money, thats fine with you. The endless money well is drying up, so better get used to it. Foreign Aid is on the deficit cutting block along with many other things, if I had to pick ( and we will have to very soon) between taking care of our people in need or aiding ungrateful sods which to me is a no contest choice.

 

You do know that the US foreign aid budget accounts to about 1.6 % of GDP as of 2010, which isn't much when comparing the US' total GDP. Cutting the aid budget isn't going to stop the America's crippling dept crisis, it's like paying the banks one dollar at the due date for a million dollar loan. If anything, it would limit the US's ability to use it's soft power, unless you are suggesting that the US should use it's military force for now on to pressure friendly nations to protect the US interests, especally when there are nations that are very dangerous for the region (eg. North Korea).

 

If anything, major cuts in defence, a major overhall of several sector in the US, coupled with increase taxes to the rich and major corperate (yes, you heard me right) and insentives to kick start jobs have the ability to increase productivity and limited the debt. Cutting spending doesn't neccesary mean that it will allow for the economy to recover and for the government to reduce it's debts. But I don't have to worry about debts, I just have to worry about finding a damn job.

[Aurielius]

You want the ability to deride American Aid and ask for it's continence...your thesis might carry some weight if there was some inkling of gratitude but I detect little of that. It has to have reciprocity for Foreign Aid to have any value for us (the people who actually pay for it). As long as it's other peoples money, thats fine with you. The endless money well is drying up, so better get used to it. Foreign Aid is on the deficit cutting block along with many other things, if I had to pick ( and we will have to very soon) between taking care of our people in need or aiding ungrateful sods which to me is a no contest choice.

 

You do know that the US foreign aid budget accounts to about 1.6 % of GDP as of 2010, which isn't much when comparing the US' total GDP. Cutting the aid budget isn't going to stop the America's crippling dept crisis, it's like paying the banks one dollar at the due date for a million dollar loan. If anything, it would limit the US's ability to use it's soft power, unless you are suggesting that the US should use it's military force for now on to pressure friendly nations to protect the US interests, especally when there are nations that are very dangerous for the region (eg. North Korea).

 

If anything, major cuts in defence, a major overhall of several sector in the US, coupled with increase taxes to the rich and major corperate (yes, you heard me right) and insentives to kick start jobs have the ability to increase productivity and limited the debt. Cutting spending doesn't neccesary mean that it will allow for the economy to recover and for the government to reduce it's debts. But I don't have to worry about debts, I just have to worry about finding a damn job.

 

You are making a lot of assumptions considering I have never suggested using our military as an extension of our Foreign Policy either within this thread or elsewhere. It is simple to progress from the from the conference table to the battlefield but not so simple the return once the use of the sword is implemented. Having been the tip of the spear I know that better than most. With the exception of the UK, Canada and South Korea most of our allies have yet to carry their weight in defense spending and have overly relied upon us to pick up the slack, that we are tired of that inequity is an understatement.

 

What I HAVE said is that not all our Foreign Aid is of value to us and that spending money in unprofitable sectors is not to our advantage when we have better uses for it. It is easy to ask others to spend money when the due bill is not coming to you. We (the American Taxpayers ) are the ultimate arbiters of what we think is of value, you of course are entitled to your opinion but have no actual say in the matter.

[ginnyfizz]

This is not the case for the USA, being the richest of all, but I think my own country should stop giving foreign aid to countries that are in the rich list of nations and especially the one that is now officially richer than we are - Brazil, you know who you are....