I'm with Grant. Survive? Sure. But what will it look like? Probably 50% of everything we (as a society) produce gets siphoned off in various taxes and spent by various governments. If it were limited to constitutionally-authorized purposes, that would be one thing. Even if it were used for needed public works (like maintaining roads and bridges) that's not too bad. But the emphasis now seems to be on rewarding failure and punishing success and that is the recipe for disaster.
IMO, the ONLY way to prosper is continuous innovation: specifically constant development of new, valuable goods and services that the world will demand. Otherwise the American middle class better get used to earning the same wages and benefits as workers in India, China, Malaysia, and all the other countries that can produce the same stuff we can. Current policies (from taxes, liability laws, and bureaucratic paperwork to environmental rules) seem designed to defeat the very innovation the USA needs to prosper. Consider the barriers that the Wright brothers, or Henry Ford, or David Packard would face if they had to operate in today's environment. Scott -----Original Message----- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of G Mann Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 10:57 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Way OT, will the USA survive? I respectfully suggest that our true focus is not that we survive, but thrive. America became rich and the most desired country to live in because it's citizens thrived, not "just survived". Present course of leadership [post 1928] has reduced the public focus to "survival"... and frankly I believe until the public reaches the attitude of "I'm mad as hell and I ain't gonna take it anymore''... it will continue to reach new lows of "survival". Through history when reforms fail to correct the course of government gone bad, revolt follows. Wise leaders would understand and reform. We lack wise leaders. The "ministry of truth" lacks the integrity to report just how bad they are. Grant... On Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 7:39 PM, Mountain Man <maontin....@gmail.com> wrote: > Hans wrote: > > Ppolitical and religious opinions aside, will we, known as the 'Western > > Civilization', survive? > > I seriously doubt we will survive. > Numerous reasons, but money is the huge issue to my thinking. Debt. > I suppose if we had 2 billion fewer people tasked cleaning up and > inventing new ways of life after 2 billion are eliminated might be a > good start on a 'recovery' like they speak in the ministry of truth > broadcasts. What is 'recovery'? > I do not have a positive mental attitude. > mao > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com