[thegmanifesto]

(09-04-2011 02:43 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

Here's my list:

http://www.rooshv.com/things-i-love-about-america

Quote:

Most of the things I missed were based on our consumer culture: choice, convenience, and selection.

I do sometimes miss 7-11's on every corner when I am abroad.

It is nice to be able to buy a pack of smokes 24 hours a day.

However, you can overcome it with a little bit of planning.

Regarding low prices:

The low prices that Americans want to pay are actually killing our country.

[Tuthmosis]

(09-04-2011 02:59 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Regarding low prices:

The low prices that Americans want to pay are actually killing our country.

Agreed. Low price comes with a hidden cost.

[ElJefe]

(09-04-2011 02:59 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

The low prices that Americans want to pay are actually killing our country.

Disagree.

Low prices are to everyone's long-term advantage. Even to the unionized workers who need 35 USD/HR wages to build cars of worse quality than abroad.

What's killing the country, then?

Well, define killing.

If you're talking about a massive trade-imbalance, it's bad spending habits and Chinese currency manipulation. Mostly the former.

the old-time values of thrift (capital accumulation) are values of the East now. Of course, Americans have by and large discovered their folly (which is why consumer spending remains weak) and will continue to reduce their househould debt until they feel they have a responsible government to lead them and the future looks bright enough that real incomes will rise.

[Tuthmosis]

(09-04-2011 03:11 PM)ElJefe Wrote:  

(09-04-2011 02:59 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

The low prices that Americans want to pay are actually killing our country.

Disagree.

Low prices are to everyone's long-term advantage. Even to the unionized workers who need 35 USD/HR wages to build cars of worse quality than abroad.

This is a short-sighted, and regrettably common, view that multi-national corporations are very glad that you have.

When Wal-Mart sells you a t-shirt for $2.00, it seems like that's all you're paying, but in reality the trade policies that allow them to manufacture that shirt cheaply enough to still turn a profit are eroding American labor and serve on a downward pressure on American wages for everyone--not just blue-collar workers. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart externalizes a lot of its domestic expenses by, for instance, encouraging underpaid workers to get on the dole (welfare). That $2.00 shirt may benefit you in the short run, but it's costing a lot more in hidden social costs and long-term shifts in capital.

This is a complicated matter, but in brief: cheap shit is cheap for a reason. It's no coincidence that, now, where you can get so many inexpensive things in America, the quality of life is lower than its maybe ever been and we're in decline by nearly every measure.

[ElJefe]

(09-04-2011 03:27 PM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  

(09-04-2011 03:11 PM)ElJefe Wrote:  

(09-04-2011 02:59 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

The low prices that Americans want to pay are actually killing our country.

Disagree.

Low prices are to everyone's long-term advantage. Even to the unionized workers who need 35 USD/HR wages to build cars of worse quality than abroad.

This is a short-sighted, and regrettably common, view that multi-national corporations are very glad that you have.

When Wal-Mart sells you a t-shirt for $2.00, it seems like that's all you're paying, but in reality the trade policies that allow them to manufacture that shirt cheaply enough to still turn a profit are eroding American labor and serve on a downward pressure on American wages for everyone--not just blue-collar workers. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart externalizes a lot of its domestic expenses by, for instance, encouraging underpaid workers to get on the dole (welfare). That $2.00 shirt may benefit you in the short run, but it's costing a lot more in hidden social costs and long-term shifts in capital.

This is a complicated matter, but in brief: cheap shit is cheap for a reason. It's no coincidence that, now, where you can get so many inexpensive things in America, the quality of life is lower than its maybe ever been and we're in decline by nearly every measure.

I just realized this has little to do with the OP post. I'm not going to argue back

[alb3]

(09-04-2011 12:35 PM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 10:36 PM)blurb Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 09:58 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  

You sound like a naive child or a red neck who has never traveled.

Why don't you address my each of my points instead of resorting to silly childish name-calling. If anything, you're the one that sounds like a child.

+1.

A lot of my fondness for America comes from what it has been, historically, rather than where it is today. A lot of the things I consider great about the U.S. are in crisis or in serious decline. So believe me, I'm one of the first, and loudest, critics of: crass American consumerism; vapid, overweight American women; unintelligent, unworldly American populace willing to vote for people like Michele Bachmann.

But, some people are taking this Anti-America shit a little too far. We can't get to the point where if someone says something positive about America, some other cat actually feels emboldened to call that person child-like and ignorant.

@MikeCF: I've fucking "traveled" and can tell you this: half of the shit I see around the world has an American cultural stamp on it. The United States may be drowning in its own excess now, but it's left a massive cultural and political legacy all over the globe.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I have major beef with my country on many issues but so much of the good which we see around the world has it's roots here in the USA.

[alb3]

(09-03-2011 09:05 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 08:15 PM)Moma Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 07:13 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

"5) English. You speak the world's most popular language. This greatly increases your capacity for networking and business opportunities as opposed to a language in which only a few million people speak."

More people speak Mandarin and Spanish than English.

What about Spanish? Are you saying that there are more Spanish speakers in the world than English?

According to this: http://www.vistawide.com/languages/top_30_languages.htm

It goes:

1. Mandarin Chinese
2. Hindi
3. Spanish
4. English

Even using your source here. If you look at the TOTAL speaker, English comes in second behind Mandarin.

I've seen numbers where to TOTAL number of Spanish speakers in the world is between 500 million and 600 million where the TOTAL number of English speakers in the world is 1.5 billion plus.

[speakeasy]

This guy really, really, REALLY loves America:

[thegmanifesto]

(09-04-2011 04:40 PM)alb3 Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 09:05 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 08:15 PM)Moma Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 07:13 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

"5) English. You speak the world's most popular language. This greatly increases your capacity for networking and business opportunities as opposed to a language in which only a few million people speak."

More people speak Mandarin and Spanish than English.

What about Spanish? Are you saying that there are more Spanish speakers in the world than English?

According to this: http://www.vistawide.com/languages/top_30_languages.htm

It goes:

1. Mandarin Chinese
2. Hindi
3. Spanish
4. English

Even using your source here. If you look at the TOTAL speaker, English comes in second behind Mandarin.

I've seen numbers where to TOTAL number of Spanish speakers in the world is between 500 million and 600 million where the TOTAL number of English speakers in the world is 1.5 billion plus.

Let's go by "native speakers", since we all know that "the TOTAL number of English speakers in the world is 1.5 billion plus." know words like "hello", "goodbye", "f*ck" and maybe a few others.

[thegmanifesto]

"Low prices are to everyone's long-term advantage."

Tell that to the American garment industry workers.

Or the guys that built televisions.

Or the guys that built refrigerators.

Or...

I always find it funny that the guys that talk about how great America is pull up in a foreign car and have a closet full of third world sweatshop made clothes.

And I am considered "Anti-American" yet I always drove Cadillacs and get my suits Custom Made in America now.

Go figure.

[alb3]

(09-04-2011 07:44 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(09-04-2011 04:40 PM)alb3 Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 09:05 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 08:15 PM)Moma Wrote:  

(09-03-2011 07:13 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

"5) English. You speak the world's most popular language. This greatly increases your capacity for networking and business opportunities as opposed to a language in which only a few million people speak."

More people speak Mandarin and Spanish than English.

What about Spanish? Are you saying that there are more Spanish speakers in the world than English?

According to this: http://www.vistawide.com/languages/top_30_languages.htm

It goes:

1. Mandarin Chinese
2. Hindi
3. Spanish
4. English

Even using your source here. If you look at the TOTAL speaker, English comes in second behind Mandarin.

I've seen numbers where to TOTAL number of Spanish speakers in the world is between 500 million and 600 million where the TOTAL number of English speakers in the world is 1.5 billion plus.

Let's go by "native speakers", since we all know that "the TOTAL number of English speakers in the world is 1.5 billion plus." know words like "hello", "goodbye", "f*ck" and maybe a few others.

OK, we'll use native speakers. But just knowing a few words does not constitute speaking a language.

[Ami5]

Alright guys, here is something to everyone!

1. The thing I like the most about the United States of America is, in fact, its more 'open' society (or, at least it labels itself like that!) than most of the other countries in the world. I am from India, surely my native land is a shithole when it comes to pussy, as it is all locked down! Still, do not compare India with Muslim countries -- as a White you have a LOT of chance to break that lock, so as to speak, since the girls don't have religious but chastity issues usually (declining day by day)

2. About the languages: Surely, I believe that Mandarin and Hindi have much more speakers than English, but it doesn't matters. Repeat: It doesn't matters.
Why? Because these languages are constrained to a certain geographical position. That's it.
Go to India or even China, Russia or Denmark or Africa, you will get much more English speakers there than Spanish or Hindi!
English is the 'lingua franca' of the world. Period.

3. And here is the best! Yes, US of A sucks in many things. You can blame it as much as you can!
But the best thing about it is that you can pull pussy easily just because you are American, and some stupid girls particularly from EE and SE Asia have this 'click' about it!

[ElJefe]

(09-04-2011 07:45 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Tell that to the American garment industry workers.

Or the guys that built televisions.

Or the guys that built refrigerators.

Or...

I always find it funny that the guys that talk about how great America is pull up in a foreign car and have a closet full of third world sweatshop made clothes.

And I am considered "Anti-American" yet I always drove Cadillacs and get my suits Custom Made in America now.

Go figure.

Well, hell - now I have to answer. I disagree, again, with you both. Sure, a sub-category of economists and libertarians are still ranting about free trade - but fact is, I believe most Americans think it necessary to erect protectionist measures. I'm hearing this all the time.

To use Tuth's example: if it takes you $10 worth of inputs to make a shirt, and a Chinese can do it for $2 in the SAME amount of time, our Chinese friend is 5 times as productive as you are as far as shirt making goes. He should make every god-damn shirt there is, because your time and your inputs would be better spent elsewhere. If you used to make garments - well, I'm not going to talk about how smart a choice that was to make when it was obvious already 30 years ago the Chinese were better at tailoring and willing to work much harder for less. This is optimization, and it's about everyone getting the most for their money. Everyone is served by high productivity. People who used to work in manufacturing are going to have to make the costly and time-consuming transition into new industries where the US will have a competitive advantage. This should have been done long-ago, but alas, it takes a bubble and a recession and millions of lost jobs before people start taking responsibility for their own future - that includes making realistic and informed decisions about careers and your own future! That's the only sustainable solution, and sticking our head in the ground and pretending the rest of the world isn't out there is not going to help.

The problem with free trade is the change in relative power it brings about. China is becoming relatively stronger, and this is what irks people. And this is the ONLY compelling argument I can think of AGAINST free trade - maintaining the Pax Americana by keeping the third world the way it is. The Western Roman Empire collapsed when their power relative the Germanic tribes declined, very suddenly, in the early 5th century BC. It took 4 centuries of living next to and trading with the Romans before the Goths figured out they could take over the show by themselves. It happened before, I imagine it'll happen again.

I personally am in favor of a 25% VAT on all Chinese imports - if the Chinese are going to manipulate their currency, we're should punish Chinese imports. They might be members of WTO, but not in spirit. Most of such a tax would be borne by the American consumers, who would have to pay more for the same shit. Chinese businesses would also suffer (as would Walmart), and China would probably retaliate against American imports to China. Problem for them is, they need us more than we need them. Exports are LESS than 12 percent of the US economy (2009). For China, it's 27 percent. They are faaaar more dependent on the West than vice versa.

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.IMP.GNFS.ZS

Free trade has created more wealth and prosperity, and done more to alleviate poverty, than any single phenomenon I can think of.

Go figure.

[oldnemesis]

(09-04-2011 02:59 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Regarding low prices:
The low prices that Americans want to pay are actually killing our country.

This and credit. Consumer credit is killing the people, I see it in Russia too.

[Pilgrim37]

(09-05-2011 02:58 AM)oldnemesis Wrote:  

(09-04-2011 02:59 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Regarding low prices:
The low prices that Americans want to pay are actually killing our country.

This and credit. Consumer credit is killing the people, I see it in Russia too.

This sums it up!

[Luckystar]

America voted coolest nation apparently....

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/world-still-thi...48216.html

[MikeCF]

(09-05-2011 02:16 AM)ElJefe Wrote:  

Free trade has created more wealth and prosperity, and done more to alleviate poverty, than any single phenomenon I can think of.

This may be true worldwide, but is certainly false of the United States. Poverty within the United States is at record highs. Debt is also at record highs.

I would not sacrifice my countrymen at the altar of "free trade" for the benefit of others within the world. Why would you?

[Giovonny]

I like America because I can go online, order just about anything I can imagine, and it will be at my door in 48-72 hours.

[Samseau]

Man, the discussion in this thread makes my blood boil. Things like free-trade are a placebo; a distraction to real issues.


If we enacted a 25% tariff on Chinese goods, then the American consumer would have to pay 25% more for their shit. Those who are poor would most likely suffer hardcore, even more than they do now.

Tariffs might create a measly few thousand low-skill jobs, but who gives a fuck? That's a shitty trade-off; all America's paying more for their stuff for a few thousand more low paying jobs?

You think a few thousand shit-jobs is going to fix America? Why even discuss this bullshit? It's irrelevant. Slap on tariffs or don't, nothing will change.



The number one thing killing this country has been the same problem for the last four decades: too much government interference strangling every sector of our economy.


What I used to like about the USA was it's no bullshit approach to economics, letting average men succeed by their own efforts. If you worked hard, you could make it here in the USA. It was the American Dream. Both my father and grandfather succeeded here through hard work, even though they aren't very intelligent or talented.

Today, it's all been washed away;

1. you can only succeed with the right credentials (college degrees that put you tens of thousands into debt),

2. to work for the approved employers (corporations given the "green light" by various Federal Agencies (the same agencies that put small businesses out of business)),

3. and buy their approved products (everything in every store-shelf today is there because some agency approved it... that's why regular men cannot start their own businesses).


The housing bubble of 2008 is indicative of what America has become; it was all the fault of our shitty Federal system that allowed money to flow from banks to new housing purchases, at the expense of new projects like say...

...starting new businesses.
...research and development.
...capital investment.

And so money just kept piling into housing even though there was no real demand for houses. But that's all America is today: YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT LETS YOU DO.

Want to get married for life?

Fuck you, your government will let your wife walk out on you.

Found a way to sell something at half the cost of what most corporations are doing?

Fuck you, your government will fine you into oblivion for disobeying some obscure law no one has read before.

Don't want to waste years of your life in school?

Fuck you, your government will throw your parents in jail if you don't go to school.

Don't want massive amounts of debt because of college?

Fuck you, your government will let you starve before you find a decent job without a college degree.

Don't like the people running the government?

Fuck you, your government will never support anyone besides the two parties in control of it!


This whole country is run by a bunch of bureaucratic officers who don't give a rats fucking ass about anyone here. They will let you die before they give up their position of power.

And the best part about the USA? Since the crash of 2008, the voters of America have given more power to the Federal Government! The government has let Bernanke triple the money supply, has let the bankers on Wall St get away with murder, and has cracked down on businesses and individuals throughout the country in order to bring in more revenue to state coffers.


Meanwhile, as the state continues to fuck this country up its ass, all the citizens are arguing like fucking morons, saying "Well, if the government did this..." or "Well, if the government did that..."

Well, here's a suggestion to the pathetic chumps of this nation: Stop relying on the government to do anything for you! Stop being a bunch of needy little bitches who can't even wipe their own asses without state-approved toilet paper.

Fuck the USA, this place is just a kleptocracy that hasn't gone bankrupt yet. And if things don't change, it will go bankrupt. Anyone who likes this place is just a naive fool who hasn't seen the true colors of "The Land of the Free".

And that's what it really comes down to; this country isn't fucked because of it's government, this country is fucked because of its citizens. The depressing reality is our country is populated by idiots who don't know anything, and get played by the government like a bunch of betas getting cuckolded by a cheating whore. I hope this whole place burns.

And that's why I want out of this shit hole, because at the end of the day it's the citizens here who are ruining everything, and have been for the last four decades. Therefore nothing will improve, and therefore the USA is finished, both as a concept and country.

[ElJefe]

(09-06-2011 07:30 PM)Samseau Wrote:  

Man, the discussion in this thread makes my blood boil. Things like free-trade are a placebo; a distraction to real issues.

Dude, globalization is what makes all this shit possible. It's a real as it gets. Communication, free access to markets,. The CONSUMER - that is, we, benefit. The producers either adapt or are driven out of the market.

I agree though, it's destracting from the real issue, which is moral collapse - that's the crux of the matter.

Of course, are guys in this place going fight for it? this whole community is shows that the rats are leaving the ship (pardon the expression). Western Society depends on the harnessing of men's energy for constructive purposes. Otherwise we'd be running around in a jungle smashing each other over the head with clubs for the next fuck. Modern bureaucracy, morals and feminism are destroying the pillars upon which this society rests.

As soon as all men have realized they're getting a BAD deal, they're gonna say fuck the system, too. And goodbye America. It's already happening.

(09-06-2011 07:30 PM)Samseau Wrote:  

If we enacted a 25% tariff on Chinese goods, then the American consumer would have to pay 25% more for their shit. Those who are poor would most likely suffer hardcore, even more than they do now.

Tariffs might create a measly few thousand low-skill jobs, but who gives a fuck? That's a shitty trade-off; all America's paying more for their stuff for a few thousand more low paying jobs?

You think a few thousand shit-jobs is going to fix America? Why even discuss this bullshit? It's irrelevant. Slap on tariffs or don't, nothing will change.

This is basically what I wrote, Samseau - a 25% tariff is a LOSE/LOSE. Right now our trade terms with China are more LOSE/WIN (china's favor), so it only makes sense we remove the incentive China has for currency manipulation by attaching negative consequences to doing so. American consumers would pay more for Chinese imports, China would probably retaliate, but at the end of the day - they'd lose more from it then we would. Win/win would be a floating renminbi and free trade.

For a democracy to work, for citizens to be free - they must be worthy of that freedom. They must be able to take responsibility for themselves and their next of kin - to make responsible decisions about their lives today and plan for the future, and to deal proactively with the challenges they face.

At least in the modern media, I see little of that.

Just to underscore your point.

[Hooligan Harry]

Quote:

The housing bubble of 2008 is indicative of what America has become; it was all the fault of our shitty Federal system that allowed money to flow from banks to new housing purchases, at the expense of new projects like say...

...starting new businesses.
...research and development.
...capital investment.

Dude, to be fair, this is a problem all over the world these days. For all the talk of small business being crucial to economies all over the world, the barrier for entry has become more and more difficult each year. Its not just the USA, it really is all over and there is no getting away from it. Its why I believe that income disparity is going to grow worse in every major developed economy now, and the trade union movement was killed by globalisation removing the only real obstacle to that. This is not capitalism anymore, or at least its the response to the socialist movement that was trade unionism and liberal politics. We have socialists passing economic policy that forced banks and venture capitalists down particular paths, and the end result of that is the loss of the sorts of jobs socialists try to protect. Factory and blue collar jobs, replaced by jobs in an ever growing government.

Access to finance for start ups is non existent, and when many get out of the starting blocks they can never raise the cash they need to grow or if they hit their first rough patch they can never work their way out. Its a global problem and I see it more and more everyday. Its actually getting worse, and when the GFC hit the banks reigned in all lending, not just lending against property!!! You can start a small little store or one man business, but raising finance for a proper company? The way they did before the 80's? Does not happen anymore.

There are guys out there with bullet proof business plans, business under contract, proprietary ownership of product and they still cant raise finance because they dont have a balance sheet or they dont pass some small criteria required for a business loan. That same bank will lend a fucking plumber a million bucks to by a house, but they would not give that same plumber trade finance to compete in a tender. Me and two of my partners struggled for almost two years to secure finance, and eventually the only way we could do it was by putting or houses up for less than 50% of what we needed to start. That was despite bullet proof contracts in place with blue chips, credit insurance on those blue chips and reams and reams of market research and 3rd party studies backing our business case and model.

Worst story I know of is a group of about 6 engineers who wanted to run a fibre cable from West Australia right through Malaysia and Indonesia. They had customer commitment by way of some of the largest mining houses in the world before they had even laid the cables. They were chasing about $75 million, but it was a goldmine really and they had no risk based on the contracts they had secured. They were profitable within 2 years, and the contracts ran for 10 once they went live, if memory serves me right. 8 years later, a massive construction company called Leighton Holdings announced they would be doing it, and these poor guys lost out after almost a decade of work as a giant corporate pulled in when the opportunity was public knowledge after 8 years of their canvassing! You think a bank would see desperation in customers if they maintain contracts for a project that is 7 years overdue? Nope, all they saw were 6 engineers who were unable to provide personal surety for that sum of money. Every cashed up venture capitalist they went to wanted nothing less than 70% of everything, because they knew that they had no alternatives.

Imagine taking 70% of a multi million dollar project at no real risk all because you had money in the bank? Given to you for none of your own IP, real time, skills, anything. In fact, you would not even need to part with the money. All you would need to do is provide surety to the bank, and they would lend the money at interest. So you just give them your stamp of approval, give the bank assets to claim against if it fails, those 6 mugs do all the work, and you take 70% of everything. This is happening every single day and the system has been rigged now.

Most bankers dont understand or even care. They push buttons, they borrow out 100 bucks for every buck we stick into our savings account, they only throw money at established companies only (with almost no risk analysis in their case). All they care about are balance sheets, reported profits (which they massage like motherfuckers - look how much housing stock they are hiding on their books) and the venture capitalists exploit that as you would expect (why would you not?)

To make matters worse, you have every union lackey and commie scum fuck socialist voting in left leaning politicians to make the situation even worse.

There is no where to go dude. Its fucked everywhere. To be honest, if one country is going to wake up to this shit, I believe it will be the USA. Wont happen in Europe, Asia or South America, can promise you that