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19 Signs That American Families Are Being Economically Destroyed

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,

The systematic destruction of the American way of life is happening all around us, and yet most people have no idea what is happening.  Once upon a time in America, if you were responsible and hard working you could get a good paying job that could support a middle class lifestyle for an entire family even if you only had a high school education.  Things weren’t perfect, but generally almost everyone in the entire country was able to take care of themselves without government assistance.  We worked hard, we played hard, and our seemingly boundless prosperity was the envy of the entire planet.  But over the past several decades things have completely changed.  We consumed far more wealth than we produced, we shipped millions of good paying jobs overseas, we piled up the biggest mountain of debt in the history of the world, and we kept electing politicians that had absolutely no concern for the long-term future of this nation whatsoever.  So now good jobs are in very short supply, we are drowning in an ocean of red ink, the middle class is rapidly shrinking and dependence on the government is at an all-time high.  Even as we stand at the precipice of the next great economic crisis, we continue to make the same mistakes.  In the end, all of us are going to pay a very great price for decades of incredibly foolish decisions.  Of course a tremendous amount of damage has already been done.  The numbers that I am about to share with you are staggering.  The following are 19 signs that American families are being economically destroyed…

#1 The poorest 40 percent of all Americans now spend more than 50 percent of their incomes just on food and housing.

#2 For those Americans that don’t own a home, 50 percent of them spend more than a third of their incomes just on rent.

#3 The price of school lunches has risen to the 3 dollar mark at many public schools across the nation.

#4 McDonald’s “Dollar Menu & More” now includes items that cost as much as 5 dollars.

#5 The price of ground beef has doubled since 2009.

#6 In 1986, child care expenses for families with employed mothers used up 6.3 percent of all income.  Today, that figure is up to 7.2 percent.

#7 Incomes fell for the bottom 80 percent of all income earners in the United States during the 12 months leading up to June 2014.

#8 At this point, more than 50 percent of all American workers bring home less than $30,000 a year in wages.

#9 After adjusting for inflation, median household income has fallen by nearly $5,000 since 2007.

#10 According to the New York Times, the “typical American household” is now worth 36 percent less than it was worth a decade ago.

#11 47 percent of all Americans do not put a single penny out of their paychecks into savings.

#12 One survey found that 62 percent of all Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck.

#13 According to the U.S. Department of Education, 33 percent of all Americans with student loans are currently behind on their student loan debt repayments.

#14 According to one recent report, 43 million Americans currently have unpaid medical debt on their credit reports.

#15 The rate of homeownership in the U.S. has been declining for seven years in a row, and it is now the lowest that it has been in 20 years.

#16 For each of the past six years, more businesses have closed in the United States than have opened.  Prior to 2008, this had never happened before in all of U.S. history.

#17 According to the Census Bureau, 65 percent of all children in the United States are living in a home that receives some form of aid from the federal government.

#18 If you have no debt at all, and you also have 10 dollars in your wallet, that you are wealthier than 25 percent of all Americans.

#19 On top of everything else, the average American must work from January 1st to April 24th just to pay all federal, state and local taxes.

All of us know people that once were doing quite well but that are now just struggling to get by from month to month.

Perhaps this has happened to you.

If you have ever been in that position, you probably remember what it feels like to have people look down on you.  Unfortunately, in our society the value that we place on individuals has a tremendous amount to do with how much money they have.

So if you don’t have much money, there are a lot of people out there that will treat you like dirt.  The following excerpt comes from a Washington Post article entitled “The poor are treated like criminals everywhere, even at the grocery store“…

Want to see a look of pure hatred? Pull out an EBT card at the grocery store.

Now that my kids are grown and gone, my Social Security check is enough to keep me from qualifying for government food benefits. But I remember well when we did qualify for a monthly EBT deposit, a whopping $22 — and that was before Congress cut SNAP benefits in November 2013. Like 70 percent of people receiving SNAP benefits, I couldn’t feed my family on that amount. But I remember the comments from middle-class people, the assumptions about me and my disability and what the poor should and shouldn’t be spending money on.

Have you ever seen this?

Have you ever experienced this yourself?

These days, most people on food stamps are not in that situation because they want to be.  Rather, they are victims of our long-term economic collapse.

And this is just the beginning.  When the next major economic crisis strikes, the suffering in this country is going to go to unprecedented levels.

As we enter that time, we are going to need a whole lot more love and compassion than we are exhibiting right now.

As a nation, we have made decades of incredibly bad decisions.  As a result, we are experiencing bad consequences which are going to become increasingly more severe.

The numbers that I just shared with you are not good.  But over the next several years they are going to get a whole lot worse.

Everything that can be shaken will be shaken, and life in America is about to change in a major way.

 

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Thu, 04/09/2015 - 20:55 | 5977133 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

Forward?

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:01 | 5977146 suteibu
suteibu's picture

Winning!

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 10:37 | 5978523 JRobby
JRobby's picture

Only 19?

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:17 | 5977191 Remington IV
Remington IV's picture

" Hope and  . . . .  "

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:33 | 5977232 813kml
813kml's picture

"...change for lottery tickets."

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:32 | 5977507 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture
It’s not just you: Americans are actually still getting poorer

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/03/its-not-just-...

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 02:00 | 5977678 ILLILLILLI
ILLILLILLI's picture

Forward...off the cliff.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:23 | 5977871 froze25
froze25's picture

Don't worry Jeb Clinton or Hillary Bush will fix it.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:40 | 5977819 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Obama-chains.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:24 | 5977212 Harbanger
Harbanger's picture

Feminism and the welfare state destroyed the family, not economics.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:35 | 5977234 813kml
813kml's picture

The welfare state is the only thing keeping bellies full and pitchforks on the shelf.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 03:35 | 5977714 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

I see your /sarc, but this is, of course relativistic.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 03:35 | 5977715 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

I see your /sarc, but this is, of course relativistic.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:50 | 5977274 plane jain
plane jain's picture

As far as I can tell that seems to be based on a theory that if women had been kept powerless and dependent somehow everything would just be hunky dory.

If women had to depend on a man, or a charity (Magdalene laundries anyone?) then somehow the Fed wouldn't have debased our currency and "free trade" wouldn't have sent so many jobs overseas. The milk of human kindess and common decency would prevail.

There are some hard working responsible loving men out there who are willing to step up to provide for and lead their families. Lucky me, I found one.

But there are a lot of love 'em and leave 'em types too. Throw in the deadbeats, cheaters, abusers, addicts, alcoholics, sick, disabled, etc. and it seems pretty straight forward that the group that benefits most and would also lose the most if feminism (right to vote, equal pay) and welfare were rolled back are the innocent children who had no say about their parents' bad choices.

And nevermind the fact that many (if not most) women that work outside the home do so out of necessity. Or that all that about 20% of SNAP beneficiaries are either employed, or too old, too young, or too sick to be employed assuming there were actually plenty of jobs out there.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:21 | 5977359 lordylord
lordylord's picture

Cute post doll.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:05 | 5977446 Northern Lights
Northern Lights's picture

One question to you................where do you think the women's movement would be if there was no government?

 

 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:17 | 5977480 Alvin Fernald
Alvin Fernald's picture

Spoken like a true anarchist. +10 for you.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 03:47 | 5977718 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Movement - That which emanates from the bowels. No bowel, no movement.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 03:46 | 5977719 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Dupe. Deleted.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:45 | 5977821 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

On its back, pregnant, or in the kitchen making sandwiches, as it always was... and it shall be again.

 

Sexual dimorphism.  It's real. And it exists for a reason.

 

Women are not and can never be 'equal' to men.  Nor can men (edit misspelling) be 'equal' to women.

 

The entire SJW movement is based on how people wish things would be, not how they are. And they use PC to censor anyone who speaks facts, whether that be about race, about most gays being mentally ill, or about women being able to perform adequately in a combat unit.

 

What's really interesting is if you look at the original feminists and many current they share several characteristics:

 

1. Jewish

2. Fat

3. Ugly.

 

IE feminism was created by women men didn't want to get back at their more feminine and beautiful sisters.

 

Bitter hags with skrillex haircuts, no kids,  no man, and lots of cats.

 

Who wouldn't want that type of future for their daughter? /sarc

 

Men: the time to take the red pill (if you haven't already) is now.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 08:19 | 5977952 plane jain
plane jain's picture

Equal under the law doesn't mean that men and women are the same. Pretty obvious that there are physical and psychological differences.

I like men. Generally prefer to work with men (less drama). 

There are plenty of good and bad specimens from both genders.

I'm keen on women being able to vote, own property, file suit, receive equal pay for equal work,etc. I'm a woman and I have a daughter.

Sorry, but the bitter anti feminists strike me as weak men who can only feel big by making others small.

Probably flat broke and "modestly" equipped too.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 10:52 | 5978604 my wag
my wag's picture

Really? Tell us what you really think.

 

Personally, the idea that women were once legally the property of a husband, (marriage as intended) makes me ill.

 

The state of our economy has been fluid, but realistically falling for people below the median wage for over 30 years. Part global competition but mostly American global policy, sprinkled with lots of trickle down economics.

Still waiting.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 08:42 | 5978012 plane jain
plane jain's picture

Interesting question.

Probably a bit like the situation with slavery in the US...mixed.

Chances are there would be some individual women from wealthy backgrounds that would manage to seize some local power, so some areas might be generally better for women. And some, probably impoverished areas, would be worse.

There would likely be a kind of underground railroad to save women in abusive relationships. Charitable work was historically one area where it was acceptable for women to hold power.

I think we would still have the pill and women would still have been pulled into the work force. Child labor wasn't about "empowering" children. Presuming child labor was still cast aside in a widespread way employers would push to replace it with other cheap labor. Having women pregnant/missing work isn't convenient for employers.

Wonder how the marriage contract would have worked out too. Would there be less divorce as women were forced to stay in a bad marriage for financial reasons (no government = no child support/alimony)? Or would there be more as men would just walk with no financial consequences?

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:17 | 5977453 Niall Of The Ni...
Niall Of The Nine Hostages's picture

Cool story sis. Now g back to Jezebel. I hear Oprah has a new hairstyle.

Before you go? If we'd left progress up to women we'd still be living in caves. 

Don't bother thanking us. Not as if you're actually grateful.

I suppose I can see why not. Everything that women can actually do that men can't do better has been automated or computerized except for bending over. There's a reason hooking is the only trade where women make more than men.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:46 | 5977823 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Your comment rallied the White Knights and Manginas, as well as a couple of closet feminists.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:01 | 5977468 Vullsain
Vullsain's picture

Some hard working responsible men? The rest are deadbeats, cheaters, abusers, addicts, alcoholics, sick, etc? Never any women who destroy relationships have chemical dependency problems, lie, manipulate, cheat, play the victim game take advantage of the rigged court system and on and on. Classic feminist sexism.

Of course women should not be discriminated against, have equal voting rights and be payed equally for equal work.                                                              

Just Quit Lying About It         http://mises.org/library/what’s-behind-gender-wage-gap

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 08:23 | 5977966 plane jain
plane jain's picture

Oh, there are crappy women out there too.

But the fact is that women have the equipment to bear children. Women usually end up as the default caretakers of those children.

And the children didn't choose to be here and don't deserve to suffer just because they had the misfortune to be born to a crappy parent.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:43 | 5977532 PrettySkulls
PrettySkulls's picture

unfortunaley, a simple fact is that the feminist movement got a lot of women to enter the workforce (as well as changing a societal attitide).

the supply of labour went up, wages had to go down

basic market fundamentals, the result is not surprising.

This has nothing to do with "keeping women powerless and dependent"

Nice try at diversion, tho.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:20 | 5977866 Fun Facts
Fun Facts's picture

The feminist movement [run by lesbians] is all part of the protocols.

Breaking down the donkey family unit.

You cannot have global totalitarian rule with strong family units and a healthy middle class.

The ZWO goal was to destroy the family and the middle class, and it has been supremely successful.

Sat, 04/11/2015 - 00:26 | 5981371 Chuck Walla
Chuck Walla's picture

LBJ's guns and butter taxes forced more women into the work place. The Democrats needed more resources with which to buy votes.

FORWARD SOVIETS!

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:07 | 5977556 oooBooo
oooBooo's picture

When the government will take wealth from the people to bail out wall street banks what do the bankers do? They take greater risks.

When the government will take wealth from other people to support single mothers we should not be surprised that women take greater risks in relationships. Furthermore when women can take more risks in relationships there will be more men who will also use the situation to their advantage. 

Furthermore needing a government check is still being powerless and dependent. Just on politicians.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:35 | 5977887 froze25
froze25's picture

Modern day feminism has absolutely nothing to do with female empowerment. If it did women would be encouraged to be armed. MTV'ish Paris Hilton types would be called out for teaching dangerous behavior to teenage girls.  Women in the sciences would be promoted in the media. Our differences between sexes would recognized and embraced. Masculinity would be encouraged for men.....All modern day feminist are doing today is being divisive between men and women and encouraging marriage to the State. The State is the Man in the relationship, the protector, the provider. It's just one more fascist ideology being promoted.  Here is a quote from Hitler "first you get the women than you get the children and then the men will follow".

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:48 | 5977904 Seek_Truth
Seek_Truth's picture

Excellent summary of modern day feminism.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:57 | 5977300 Mr. Frosty
Mr. Frosty's picture

You breed 'em, we feed 'em! (Just vote Democrat)

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:49 | 5977403 Van Halen
Van Halen's picture

Yes we can!

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:53 | 5977413 blowing winter
blowing winter's picture

I'm making over $7k a month working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life. This is what I do... www.globe-report.com

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:28 | 5977500 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Captain Obvious would like to meet you for, um, dinner.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:01 | 5977143 TalkToLind
TalkToLind's picture

Beef is a barbarous relic, it serves no purpose.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:09 | 5977171 Government need...
Government needs you to pay taxes's picture

Humans taste better than beef, and they are increasingly plentiful.  While some take their human lean, I prefer mine FAT.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:29 | 5977373 Captain Obvious.
Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:12 | 5977854 jbvtme
jbvtme's picture

humans taste like sheep

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:41 | 5977390 pgroup
pgroup's picture

Soylent keeps humans alive.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:38 | 5977891 froze25
froze25's picture

Soylent green day is on Tuesday.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 05:58 | 5977620 JuliaS
JuliaS's picture

We put corn into the gas tank. Bet we can ferment humans just as easily.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:53 | 5977286 plane jain
plane jain's picture

Eh, not so much. 

Feedlots are crap. Growing grain with high fertilizer/water inputs gives a poor return. (EROEI)

Grasslands are best suited for raising herd animals for food.

See: bison.

 

 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:27 | 5977497 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Around here the cows eat grass and most everybody raises their own or buys from a neighbor. Don't know what happens to them before they land on your grocery shelf.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:49 | 5977824 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

It's called a feedlot, and it's nasty.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 20:59 | 5977144 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

20) No physical relations due to previous 19.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:01 | 5977147 Save_America1st
Save_America1st's picture

 

 

END

THE

FED

!!!!!!

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:03 | 5977154 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

I used to get worked up about people with EBT cards and filing for S.S. disability.

Then the markets crashed because of the gambling corrupt banksters/corporations/insurers; and they were bailed out.

Then I was let go from my job of 15 years because they had to cut costs because of the crash.  Had to sell the house, cash out the retirement.  I was counted only once as being unemployed and that was back in 2011. 

Had a brief stint with .gov then was furloughed last month.  I can't get unemployment because I haven't had work for longer than 6 months so I'm not counted and can't get unemployment even though I'm unemployed. 

I'm certainly looking for work but I'm going to sign up for everything I can get.  It's not as if there is career employment out there waiting that would pay enough to cover health insurance premiums, car insurance, life insurance, or a car payment or mortgage. 

I hear C.E.O.'s saying they can't find educated/talented employees; BULLSHIT!  The truth is they don't want to pay one penny to train someone, nor pay them a living wage - so much easier to underpay a green card worker who is used to third world conditions and treatment.

Labor laws have been swept under the rug, statistics fudged/jiggered/fabricated, and the propaganda train running at full steam.

The U.S.A. has abandoned its morals, principles, and its citizens.  It is now an utterly corrupt kleptoligarchy.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:07 | 5977167 logicalman
logicalman's picture

When those who make the rules are criminals, it's hard (ins some cases impossible) to do what you know is, in any sane world, the 'right thing'

When a corrupt system is beating you down, the only logical response is to return the compliment.

Just don't get caught!

 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:18 | 5977182 Save_America1st
Save_America1st's picture

If only some really smart and knowledgable, independent, conservative minded, free thinking guys could come along some day who had the forethought and foresite and wisdom to create some binding documents which state our God given rights as free and sovereign human beings.  They could call these documents the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. 

These documents could guide us to become a civil, peaceful, ambitious, adventurous, fair, free and just society so that we would  always stand up together and fight against corruption, greed, and tyrannical rule by sociopaths and psychopaths.

If only....

Dare to dream, bitchez...

 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:42 | 5977895 froze25
froze25's picture

The "switch" to statutory law is the biggest inhibitor to freedom. We went from no injured party no crime to someone might be injured so you committed a crime. What system is the system of the nanny state?

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:59 | 5977624 JuliaS
JuliaS's picture

If you cheat the welfare system, you're not getting back at the corrupt government. After all, the funds don't come from them. They're collected off those that naively play by the rules. It's like raising tax to punish corporations that are just going to pass'em down onto people you're supposedly trying to please.

It's all bad. Fraud is fraud - don't care if it's big or small guy doing it, and two wrongs don't make a right.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 03:51 | 5977724 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

Who said anything about cheating?

I remember feeling your sentiments; walk a mile in someone else's shoes...

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 05:10 | 5977769 JuliaS
JuliaS's picture

That's the way I interpreted the comment that about returning the favor to "the system". Was that not the right context?

I've been on welfare myself for almost 2 years during a period of relocation and following unemployment. It was hard. It was down to buying dog food (and I don't own a dog). It was tough, but I was glad the option was available and I didn't have to live under a bridge. I've visited foodbanks. Stood in line next to those whose scent would wake the dead. I pinched every penny. When I found a $50 bill around Christmas time that somebody lost I thought it was a gift from god (and I don't even believe in god). I value welfare programs, but I see so much abuse - I've known so many people that either claimed disability when having none, or gamed the system to get highest payouts. It makes me sick... more than the memories of eating dog food.

Every day of the period when I was collecting cheques I wanted to get out - to end the situation. I did everything humanly possible to put the life back on track. I made it out and built myself up so well, that now I support not only myself but a few deadbeat relatives. Welfare system helped me and for that I am eternally grateful. I hate seeing those who take pleasure in doing no work and getting something out of it - those intending to prolong their state dependence - those who have no respect for themselves and no respect for others.

I know there is a problem. I don't know how to solve it. Any proposal I'd make would probably take the money away from people like me from years when I needed it and had no outside help.

I just don't know. All I'm saying is that I don't like cheaters and the system, the way it is, breeds them, until the whole thing collapses everyone's left with nothing.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:47 | 5977903 StormDrain
StormDrain's picture
DEFINITION of 'Vetting'

A thorough and diligent review of a prospective person or project prior to a hiring or investment decision. Vetting most often refers to an individual or group, such as how a board of directors will "vet out" a prospective CEO or other top management position. Vetting of potential suppliers of a contract or business service is a common practice for the managers of a publicly-traded company, where past business results, costs and personal relationships all figure into the final decision.

Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/vetting.asp#ixzz3WuDvaOIO
Follow us: @Investopedia on Twitter We don't know how to vet , indiviguals, the people we vote for or corporation we do business with.
Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:13 | 5977181 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

Find others and create a resistance. 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:52 | 5977411 Van Halen
Van Halen's picture

"Find others and create a resistance. "

I've been looking all over the place but no one cares. I agree with Ann Barnhardt: If men today can't even get the balls to cancel their cable TV, though which a great deal of societal rot is coming, they can't be relied on to stand up for anything.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:19 | 5977487 Alvin Fernald
Alvin Fernald's picture

Free State Project

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 01:03 | 5977629 JuliaS
JuliaS's picture

Same here. I can't find sympathizers even among the members of immediate family. Work colleagues? All of them have mortgages, student loans, car payments and cannot be bothered. And public sector acquaintances - let's not even discuss those! I can barely stomach talking to my daughter's school teacher without punching her in the face.

Let's just say, ZH is the closest thing I have to a real family.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 02:08 | 5977682 Chauncey Gardener
Chauncey Gardener's picture

As much as I hate to use the analogy, as Bill Clinton would say "We feel your pain."

But, seriously, who would lead the charge? Where would this battle take place? Unless we go full Egypt on DC, we're gonna continue to be ingnored. Hell, fucking Comcast had to lawyer up because they couldn't take a comical series of Rob Lowe commercials from their competitor. How do you fight that?

Lawyers, guns, and money won't be enough when the fecal matter hits the big rotating blade, which I beleive will be all too soon.

At least here, we're brothers in arms, even if we're too fucking old, arthritic, and committed to family to go be part of American Spring.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:51 | 5977827 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Every word you said:  I agree wholeheartedly.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:44 | 5977260 James_Cole
James_Cole's picture

Labor laws have been swept under the rug, statistics fudged/jiggered/fabricated, and the propaganda train running at full steam.

The U.S.A. has abandoned its morals, principles, and its citizens.  It is now an utterly corrupt kleptoligarchy.

That's the historial default for the US, the 50 years prior to 1980 where the middle class truly grew were the aberration. 

That said, the current gulf between those doing well and those struggling badly seems to come largely from class structures & rapid tech change. Those who come from capital /have access to it will always be valuable. Those with high end up-to-date skills (read: expensive education) will also be valued. Everyone else? Screw 'em. The world still needs fruit pickers and burger flippers. 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:02 | 5977552 ZD1
ZD1's picture

"The world still needs fruit pickers and burger flippers." Not anymore. Robots are replacing humans for those jobs.

Momentum Machines of San Francisco has invented a fully-automated contraption that can grind meat, slice tomatoes, grill patties, wrap fully cooked burgers and do pretty much anything else human fast-food workers can do. The machine is capable of cranking out 360 burgers per hour...

 

http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/22/technology/innovation/fast-food-robot/

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/11/fast-food-robot_n_5668600.html

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:54 | 5977289 WOAR
WOAR's picture

You lost your job, sold your shit, and didn't immediately do something crazy with your life? Absolutely NOTHING ambitious?

If you don't have a family, then I'll never forgive you for not being Tyler Durden.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:00 | 5977309 Mr. Frosty
Mr. Frosty's picture

They say "It's always darkest before dawn"

 

I hope they're right...

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 01:05 | 5977630 JuliaS
Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:32 | 5977379 Id fight Gandhi
Id fight Gandhi's picture

Ebw, bro hug. You're not alone and don't feel shame. You and other strong men are being thrown into fucked up new normal that doesn't make sense.

Gov giving free social services? Take them if you qualify and NEVER feel bad. Keep your morals and hope. Pay yourself, save your cash as best as possible.

Things will change for the better once craziness ends. We all know it.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:52 | 5977829 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Waves from that shithole called 'the new normal'.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:33 | 5977382 Captain Obvious.
Captain Obvious.'s picture

Each and everyone of us is a ball hair's width from the street.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:02 | 5977437 Northern Lights
Northern Lights's picture

By the sounds of it, you must work in manual labour?

You should have gotten into finance/accounting.  Tons of work.  Someone gotta make those number look good.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:31 | 5977506 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

I have many friends whom I have urged to do the same thing.

It is no longer a question of burdening the system but of saving what you can from the shipwreck and also making sure that less of the booty goes to those who will carry out the government's directives int he time of future crisis.

The quicker we end this, the sooner we can all begin to heal.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:49 | 5977536 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

Good post brother.  You are at the point that I reached some time ago.  I did several things which I assume you did as well because you have been around the block.  Shitcan the debt, shitcan any seizable assets that matter to them at least, drain your financial accounts or close them altogether and pay the penalty up front,(or not) and go buy something else with no title or record of purchase(whatever that my be).  There are more things that a person could do and I have probably done them except for the shitty cars I own.  I haven't figured that angle out yet.  If they want 2001 Hyundai accent with no option then go for it.  Electricity is a tough one to avoid.  I can't put solar panels in my house I don't have a house.  Why anyone wants own a house is debatable and I never was involved in any purchase of a house yet I ended up owning one for a period a long time because my Mom passed away.  I sold it eventually but not before it cost me dearly.  I paid and paid and REA's were horseshit lazy fucks and I fainally found a buyer on my own waited until the terms expired and sold it myself.  What a scam that racket is.

Simplify your life.  I enjoy life a lot better without having about having about off that shit that fell on my shoulders to resolve with the statists that are the State.  I do not think it is over yet but I have put in a postion where basically the state can ask for some taxes but I am not going to pay.  What would they do next besided lose the paperwork that was filed?  "Well, we will seize your assets." they will say in some fucking inane letter that they didn't pay themselve postage on.  Right then.  You can all of these sheets of one cent stamps I have.  How would that work out for you folks?  Is that Ok?  Here are your worthless stamps back because I have enough forever stamps to last a quite a while.(another small ecomony) 

The Mrs. signed for some free gov shit program for the kids and I refused to sign any of it and I still do but she got it and I dont like it at all.  That was a state program but in way everyone pays for that shit.  I keep finding work and everytime I do then there is paperwork to fill out from whomever employed you even if for a short term.  Fuck the paperwork let's get the job done but you can't do that anymore.  Heaven forbid you didn;t pay the state for some license or another and fill out more paperwork that they end up losing somehow.(they never lose the check though)  I find something to do all of the time but no one wants to pay cash because they think they are saving money by filing more paperwork with these idiots.  That is not how it works.  I will be honest here, I will and I have walked walked away from more than one job because the employer is trying to play that angle.  Find someone else then.

Right now, I work for a co-op and I am and that is going well.  The pay isn't special but I like running the big machines like this Terra-Gator.  It is not as easy as it looks to drive but it is huge and can carry as much as 10 tons of ag-lime for a total of around 30 tons.  The Gators can move out at 40 mph fully loaded.  When semi-tractor trailers are coming down the road opposite of you they give you a wide berth because they know better.  You are not stopping that machine once she is rolling burning diesel at the rate of 16 gallons per hour.  There is no cop road block that will stop one of those.  In fact could imagine running those badboys on full spread running police blockade?  Teargas my ass.  They have urban assualt vehicles?  Well, we have some rural assault vehicles around here.  You don't see too many cops out where the work is actually being accomplished and they don't fuck with you because here is why:  I'm helping to feed their asses.  Agriculture, at it's purest, is a war against the mightiest of opponents:  nature.  Politicians don't like the competition from nature so they politicize agriculture and make some more bullshit mandates or some laws that make no sense but have fines attached OR there incentives to grow too much of something.  Here you fucking go you assholes, here is all of the corn that didn't sell last year even though it was a shitty year and just surround the state capitol with mountians of intended ethanol corn so the fuckers can't get in and have any more bright ideas.

 

 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:15 | 5977563 oooBooo
oooBooo's picture

They don't want to pay period.

I have recruiters contacting me often. The jobs have become ridiculous in what they demand for the pay and rank. Pay what the job is worth, give it an accurate title, and then I'll consider it.

 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:56 | 5977833 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Agreed.

Two job listings I keep seeing:

 

1.  Tech support -- 2 years experience and MCP -- $9/hour with piss test.

2. ASE Certified auto tech (I've worked on cars my whole life, for fun and necessity):  $10/hour.

 

Support yourself and/or your family on that... I dare  you. (channels Robert Conrad in an Energizer commercial). Baa baa black sheep.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:19 | 5977567 Hulk
Hulk's picture

Best of luck to you Eb. I missed a lot of signs, But when I kept hearing on the news they were hiring H1B's because they couldn't find educated Americans, I knew it was pure, unadulteratred Bullshit...

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:45 | 5977899 spinone
spinone's picture

Really sorry to hear about your troubles, ebon.  These are tough times, and its going to get worse before it gets better.  Those of us here may not live to see the better times.  You have to do what you can to survive.  Getting some government assistance may help.  Back in the Depression a couple called the Nearings wrote a book advocating simplicity and self-sufficiency for people down and out called "Living the Good Life"  you might want to check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Sanely-Simply-Troubled-World/dp/0805203001

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 13:38 | 5979469 Rikky
Rikky's picture

As Jesus said "Give to Ceaser what is Ceaser's and to God what is God's".  You can take the moral high ground and live your life blameless even if everyone around you including the authorities are corrupt to the bone.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:05 | 5977157 MegaOlmecanManiac
MegaOlmecanManiac's picture

Will suck dick for tit to suck.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:10 | 5977174 A Lunatic
A Lunatic's picture

Nice to know you can buy three carts full of name brand groceries for 22$........

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:13 | 5977180 MATA HAIRY
MATA HAIRY's picture

people who diss on those who are on welfare?

ZH is one of the worst offenders!

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:16 | 5977186 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

blankfein's ebt has like $22B on it

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:19 | 5977195 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

The producers have to many non-producers on their backs.  Atlas needs to shrug the non-producers into wood chippers. 

 

Everything is grinding to a halt. 

 

 

 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 02:07 | 5977681 ILLILLILLI
ILLILLILLI's picture

Politicians, JBTs and bureaucrats first, please!

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:21 | 5977203 starman
starman's picture

Just back from Mexico. No social jobless benefits no ACA no SNAP programs of any kind! 

Now you know why they come. 

You don't have a job you die.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:17 | 5977354 European American
European American's picture

I guess with that logic, if you are one of the 95 million Americans on an entitlement, and the check stops, you'd die?

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:43 | 5977393 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"Just back from Mexico. No social jobless benefits no ACA no SNAP programs of any kind! "

With respect, but that is quite incorrect.

I know Mexico, and every town has at least one multipurpose office that deals out various forms of welfare every month. The various agencies keep a schedule and hang a banner out when they are in occupancy.

Additionally, sometimes the agencies send people around the towns to notify the people of their "services."

Of course none of the people realize that the "benefits" are really just a share of what has been stolen from them being returned to them.

The banksters need to repay us.

 

The best, only, way to stop welfare, is to kill the thieves that steal from you to fund welfare.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:56 | 5977548 ZD1
ZD1's picture

The Mexican government of President Enrique Peña Nieto launched a ‘new’ social welfare in 2014 scheme known Prospera in the hope that it will make better progress at bringing down poverty levels which remain stubbornly high, partly due to poverty wages. In 2014 the program covered about 6.1 million families. Poverty is still rife across Mexico, and has made barely any sustained progress in decades. In 1992, 53% of the population lived below the national poverty line. Twenty years later in 2012, that figure had come down by just a single percentage point to 52%. There are 53.3 million Mexicans classified as living in poverty, and based on current trends this is projected to rise to 55 million by the end of Peña Nieto’s term in 2018.

https://eyeonlatinamerica.wordpress.com/2014/09/26/mexico-prospera-welfa...

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:57 | 5977834 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

But do they have "press 1 for english", ESL programs at the schools, ballots written in English, in state tuition for illegals, etc?

 

Oh the horror!

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:25 | 5977215 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture
Load up on Ammo!!

 

 

Osborne Brothers - Rocky Top 1967

 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77hneLgt33k
Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:38 | 5977242 BustainMovealota
BustainMovealota's picture

Damn, I always thought a female sang that song,, 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:57 | 5977835 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Once I met a girl on rocky top, half bear the other half cat.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:34 | 5977233 DipshitMiddleCl...
DipshitMiddleClassWhiteKid's picture

i work in corp finance..talk about a clueless bunch of ppl

 

they're going to cry like girls  when the hurt comes in

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:39 | 5977245 hound dog vigilante
hound dog vigilante's picture

 

#16  For each of the past six years, more businesses have closed in the United States than have opened.  Prior to 2008, this had never happened before in all of U.S. history...

Whether the guy inherited a recession or not, this is the single biggest indictment of the Obama presidency. The private sector - especially small business - has been getting crushed unlike any other time in US history, but the public sector has never had it so good. 

All the 'stimulus' and 'economic policy' and 'shovel-ready jobs' provided in the past 6 years has gone directly to support the pensions of public sector unions, period. It's a f-ing travesty and not one member of the media says/writes a single word about it...

 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:48 | 5977272 ChanceIs
ChanceIs's picture

Hey!!!

'You didn't build that business.  Somebody else did.'

Business.  BUSINESS!  Why start a business?

I will just wait until someone else starts one and Obama gives it to me.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:35 | 5977386 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"Whether the guy inherited a recession or not, this is the single biggest indictment of the Obama presidency."

With respect, but the cause of this has been going on long before CIA-Obama. Since at least 1913.

If one "follows the money" they will find corruption. if one "follows the fiat," they will find the benefactors of the corruption.

The banksters need to repay us.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:58 | 5977427 Northern Lights
Northern Lights's picture

Yeah, but the problem is, Obama shifted it into overdrive the past 6 years while the first 94 years it was moving along in 1st gear.

 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:33 | 5977511 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

I was watching a guy on RT talking about the impediments to working in the USA today versus say in the 1950's and 60's.  Specifically he mentioned the issue of licensing and trying to comply with all the regulations created for almost every type of job these days as opposed to in the past. Think about it, now a days you need a license to do even the most mundane type of work such as hair dressing, taxi driving, meat marketing, you name it.  It seems like the government has created barriers every step of the way for folks that want to make an honest living.  A couple of real good examples of .gov creating mountainous barriers to starting a business are gas/service stations and restaurants where to abide by all the regulations and obtain all the licenses will suck all of the potential profit out of the business before it even gets started.  TOTAL BULLSHIT!!!

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 15:53 | 5977763 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Good comment, but I must add that it is not "barriers," but control and extracts.

All governmnet actions, at all times, are about money, power, and division. Power and division are about affording them with the ability to keep stealing what they are stealing, and to steal more. The only reason to institute "licensing," etc., is to extract wealth directly and indirectly. Indirectly is the controlling of entry and competition, etc. in favor of some interest group or lobby.

So what the guy on RT was really seeing and commenting on was plain and simple crony capitalism.

The banksters need to repay us.

 

Additionally, taking or threatening someone's Life, Liberty, and/or Property under cover of authority is "levying war." According to Article 3, Section 3 of the Constitution, such actions are treason.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:54 | 5977619 PeaceLover
PeaceLover's picture

the  elephant in the front room no one wants to talk about

1. Taxes  and or the fact that only a $500.00 a hr. lawyer can get you a fair IRS audit.. and that's after someone does at least a months of labor on books "pretty big waste of time"
2. You just can't run around blowing everything up. For instance how is blowing up Gaza making more money for anyone except the people who want to steal the land it would seem.
3. We want to pretend drug's are the problem, when it's all the jails that make criminals. Illegal creates the  profit for powerful Mexican cartel. (who by the way get most of their power from USA prisons)
4. City government that can't afford to run with out fines for income "JUST DON"T NEED TO BE" think about it!
5. the government workers isn't for anyone except there own self's or own special interest buddy's.
6. USA isn't the great place it used to be, way to many laws. Just stupid unless your a enforcer of some kind.
7. Thinking a ex solder is more qualified than some one else is just stupid. Who thinks "killing 93% civilians in Vietnam" qualifies you for anything except hell unless your somehow born again?

8.Locking up truth tellers(Edward Snowden) and letting torture go with out any punishment is just broken beyond belief calling it looking forward..?

 

What a pink elephant?

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:00 | 5977838 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

In this area, the government offices are filled with pink elephants (obese people) and some brown elephants -- 80% female.  Wanna know why we're fucked?

 

A government employee at healthy weight?  Fuggedaboutit.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:39 | 5977248 FreeShitter
FreeShitter's picture

Keep stackin'.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:49 | 5977276 Stuck in California
Stuck in California's picture

Social security recipient on food stamps states "now that my kids are grown and gone".  Why are government handouts always the answer?  Where are these grown kids? Families need to step up take care of their own and not make them society's responsibility.  Seems like that used to be the norm back in the day.  Responsibility is so old fashioned.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:04 | 5977325 plane jain
plane jain's picture

In the same bucket.

Where are these grown kids?

The kids are broke too.

If there are kids around. Some people never had any, or they had some but they are sick/disabled, dead, imprisoned, addicts, unemployed, etc.


Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:06 | 5977332 bobdog54
bobdog54's picture

Yep, personal responsibility is out the window along with integrity and respect for others. And, in fact, unless you're purposely lying, stealing, cheating or pretending, your just not in vogue at all....

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:13 | 5977344 calltoaccount
calltoaccount's picture

but only if you went to yale.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 01:18 | 5977654 Pitiful
Pitiful's picture

No. Fuck that. I'm not taking care of my parents as I age. I don't owe them jack shit. Having a child and raising it does not translate to a caregiver in your old age. Everyone expects things from my generation but ultimately we have to pay the price for our parents fuck ups. People need to fend for themselves. Including parents.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:51 | 5977281 q99x2
q99x2's picture

'“typical American household” is now worth 36 percent less than it was worth a decade ago."

I can't find a buyer for mine.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:06 | 5977320 dimwitted economist
dimwitted economist's picture

our house has lost a Big Chunk of it's value since buying it in 1999' and that is a FACT. 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:33 | 5977510 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

The Diamond Match Company is always looking for attractive properties.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:55 | 5977291 ChanceIs
ChanceIs's picture

I don't know about the American family being ECONOMICALLY destroyed.  I did see a headline on Drudge today that we finally, FINALLY got a gender neutral bathroom in the White House.  So there is more than one way to skin a cat, or destroy a civilization if you realize that the family is the foundation.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 21:58 | 5977304 European American
European American's picture

 

"These days, most people on food stamps are not in that situation because they want to be.  Rather, they are victims of our long-term economic collapse."

That's such bullshit. The vast majority of that collective have been programmed to embrace entitlements. This is called "long-term" brainwashing;  collapse the minds of the masses into believing that they can't take care of themselves. Daddy will take care of his children, just remember who is boss, who has the power and who doesn't.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:29 | 5977372 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

The ten things violated and neglected that have led to the current state of the American country, and also the ten things that must be forcefully Restored if the snake of tyranny is to be killed off, and Liberty and economic prosperity Restored:

First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petitition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Second Amendment A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Third Amendment No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner; nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Fourth Amendment The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Fifth Amendment No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

Sixth Amendment In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed; which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

Seventh Amendment In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of common law.

Eighth Amendment Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Ninth Amendment The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

 

The banksters need to repay us.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:35 | 5977387 yogibear
yogibear's picture

SNAP USA, SNAP USA!

The Federal Reserve buys treasury debt, treasury pays interest, at the end of year the Federal Reserve gives the profits and interest back to the treasury.

As long as the Federal Reserve holds the treasury notes it effectively zeros out the debt.

QE4 on deck late 2015. 

 

 

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:46 | 5977398 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Imagine armed livestock.
Now imagine the change in the farmer's diet.

The banksters need to repay us.

 

Armed cows don't produce steak.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 22:52 | 5977410 world_debt_slave
world_debt_slave's picture

when I worked part time as a cashier at a local chain grocery store, I saw alot of people using EBT that obviously didn't need it.

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:35 | 5977492 Dickweed Wang
Dickweed Wang's picture

I saw alot of people using EBT that obviously didn't need it.

That sure is painting with a pretty broad brush.  Since you seem to be psychic and know what is going on in people's lives where they "obviously don't need" help feeding their families, how about sharing exactly why you feel they don't deserve help like that. I am not saying there aren't people out there scamming the system but it gets tiresome when you hear people using blanket statements like this when it comes to this kind of issue and they then provide absolutely no examples or concrete observations to back up their point of view . . . .

Thu, 04/09/2015 - 23:56 | 5977549 black calx
black calx's picture

And it's going to get worse. My tax advisor said I'd be paying around 850 bucks this year if I didn't already have healthcare, and it could possibly double next year. How the fuck are people going to pay these fines when most of us are already strapped? Why would any small business want to tangle with that racket? I feel like we're on a bus going toward a cliff and the driver has the pedal to the floor.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:27 | 5977580 OKUSA
OKUSA's picture

Greed has destroyed this nation. The lust for money, power, war, etc. I don't see much change for the better on the horizon either. Also, if there is an armed rebellions I think it will be short lived and overall unsuccessful.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:40 | 5977597 lehmen_sisters
lehmen_sisters's picture

I wouldn't say greed is the culprit, greed is really a good thing, brings innovation. As far as power and war, this is what this country has resorted too to keep the dollar dream alive, which is very sad. Step foot inside a Walmart and you will see that you are right, America can't fight another revolution, we have iPads and Doritos.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:44 | 5977605 Rene-Paul
Rene-Paul's picture

OK Synder, you are in the club; Re-read "11. Savings....WTF for??? How about enlightening us about currency debasement and why we should "save." Just askin........

Brgds,

Rene

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 00:51 | 5977614 Hexagon Sun
Hexagon Sun's picture

For as smart as most of the people on this site are, some of you cretins are not very bright. Welfare is a symptom, not a cause. Same thing with feminism. Women' went to work, because they had to once real wages started stagnating and then declining. People go on welfare, because they can't find jobs that pay a living wage, if any job at all. Sure, there is some small percentage of the population that takes no shame in doing nothing, but it's hard wired in us to want to contribute: to our families and to our society.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:51 | 5977828 geekz_rule
geekz_rule's picture

all vbalid points, besides.. the drudge / faux types go on and on about welfare.. but never mention.. corporate welfare, which is exponentially more than people welfare.

love to blame obama phones.. but what about ADM's subsidation the shananigans of the alcohol fuel additives, etc..

if the treasury is going empty... is it the single mom with kids.. you know.. a person, americans.. getting 100$, or is the transnational corporation"person" getting 1000000$ in subsidies more at fault? hmm?

divide and conquer. get neighbors to hate neighbors over meaningless political dribble.. and lket the man behind the curtain do his business..

P < P + I

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 01:06 | 5977632 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

#18 If you have no debt at all, and you also have 10 dollars in your wallet, that you are wealthier than 25 percent of all Americans.

 

Really?  Yeah well, umm. OK.  I fit the definition.  So I should buy bonds?  I can believe it that it is true.  Buying someone elses debt won't work for me.  I will just keep plugging along here with my slow accumulation of physical PMs plan.  It is a test of patience this banker/fiat game is.  The end is clear as to what will happen.  I no intentions of any lavish lifestyle.  Just take of the wife and children and keep some inbound purchases coming that are not traceable of seizable.

What I have done to the banksers is this but in reverse.  Put the banker in the customer's seat and you will understand.  Pull your assets out and the recent hires change their approach quickly.  Then it is sales mode and they say that you need to buy this or that and they do NOT know what the underlying assets are if in fact there any.  Fuck that bullshit.         

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 01:24 | 5977657 PoasterToaster
PoasterToaster's picture

Rich people destroyed all the jobs.  This is no surprise.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 02:08 | 5977660 Md4
Md4's picture

This article's illumination of modern America is not new.

Indeed, as the piece recites the economic plight of our country's people, it also lists it's stats relative to (40-50 year) history. In other words...this has been allowed to go on for quite awhile without opposition.

What goes undiscussed in recitations like this is what the American people are doing (or are willing to do) about it.

Well...what ARE we going to DO about it?

We are today living on a cliff with reality and make believe in a funky balance. People are avoiding the dirty work of potent and unifying protest, and are instead content to just bitch about current economic conditions. And yes, I find myself in that category (for the time being), too.

if by the this November we haven't markedly improved to see a real recovery, it'll be time for the nation's people to act in THIER OWN interest and force a stop to this madness. If a crash is the way forward, then its high time we have one, even if the body politic has to demand it.

Think mass protests and demands for an end to the Fed and it's dubious stimulus bullshit much like the country's youth once conducted to stop the Vietnam war. It'll take millions all over to stand up and march in indignation to get Congress's attention, but such an outpouring targeting the very body that created this clueless and warping monster is what the American people should do.

That's right, force the crash, to begin the prospect of restoration.

If by November we haven't improved, what choice will there be?

We CAN (and wel'll probably have to) stop this machine ourselves, even if the costs are high.

Folks, we are not going to get better under the current arrangement.

BUT...this deleterious nonsense about recovery can keep most of the country on that cliff's edge for a very long time...going nowhere but further economic oblivion.

This is OUR nation, and OUR economy, NOT the Federal Reserve's.

We, like our Framers, have progeny to think about too.

Question again is...

...what are the citizens of this country going to do about it?

m

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:13 | 5977805 goneYonder
goneYonder's picture

Spot on, man. Another march to D.C. will do the trick! The next march to Congress, unlike all the previous ones, will set us free.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 09:40 | 5978285 plane jain
plane jain's picture

Tax revolt.

Only thing at all likely to have an effect. We would need at least 20%, but preferrably many more, tax donkeys to max out their deductions to starve the Federal government.

Maybe they will just ignore it and keep hitting CTRL + P. But it would get more attention than any street rally.

But people are scared of the IRS. Not unreasonable given their ability to seizes assets and income.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 01:40 | 5977668 Sandmann
Sandmann's picture

The period of greatness in USA, UK, Netherlands was when they were Protestant oriented. All have declined as they dumped Protestant Ethic for No Ethic

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:33 | 5977814 geekz_rule
geekz_rule's picture

while the ethic may have been olde tyme - imagining it derived from invisble myth childishness ... not really so relevant.

more like.. at one point on a time line.. people had more ethics and integrity.. than they  do now.. farther down the time line, as the devolution progressed.

force, momentum, de evolution.. all pretty predictable in empires, and has zero actual correlation to the lies of gawds and demons

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 04:16 | 5977739 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture
you had me at the first point                                                                                                                                               "#1 The poorest 40 percent of all Americans now spend more than 50 percent of their incomes just on food and housing."                              

well, welcome to Planet Earth. the average Earthling still spends 30% of his income for food and 30% of his income for housing. that's... 60%                      

and that was normal in Europe, too, until it went down to 20% for food, while still being around 30% for housing. that's an average of 50% without talking only about the poorest 40%                  

and if I follow the provided link, I find a ZH Article that shows that the lowest US 10% (of income) spend 17% for food and a whopping 42% for housing                        

so it is again one of those food-obsessed articles which actually point at the extremely expensive US housing "situation"                        

why is US housing so expensive? well, two things: it has been subsidized in the tune of trillions and it has been pushed to an epic bubble of "home-equity"                   

in short, the American Dream of everybody in a suburban house with a double garage filled with two suburban gas-guzzlers... all on credit, of course                    

the problem with subsidies is that they distort markets, and the benign effects of subsidies don't hold forever. the problem with credit-induced bubbles is that they break markets                     

after a binge drinking session... hangover
Fri, 04/10/2015 - 04:51 | 5977760 bhakta
bhakta's picture

The system is doomed; that is known for at least the past thirty to forty years. Wholesale change of purpose of life, change of consciousness is the necessity, as no material adjustments can solve the problems which are due to dirty consciousness.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 06:59 | 5977837 Last of the Mid...
Last of the Middle Class's picture

Any society that emasculates its young males through liberal propaganda is doomed to failure.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 08:55 | 5978066 Mike Honcho
Mike Honcho's picture

Hayyy, stooop it!

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:10 | 5977852 Mitch Comestein
Mitch Comestein's picture

We know #16 "AS WRITTEN HERE" is a crock of s*^t.  You are telling me that during the depression (1930s) years more businesses started than closed!!!  If you go to the linked article it read over the last 35 years.  I love how articles thta regurgatate ideas from another like to add new facts that are actually wrong.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:14 | 5977858 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

I am hoping for a road map for change, that does not include mass murder to appear on ZH.

America is unique, in that we are all the peoples of the world living together..for a time we were freer then most of the world (common man).

But around 1913, a central .gov run on tariff fees, no income tax, no federal reserve bank..a major change gave us a .gov funded by income tax and the fed became our money printer and a country quick to use war as a tool for power.

Lincoln gave the federal gov absolute power over the states prior and another step towards the .gov of today.

western man is in a trap like a drowning man in a closed room with more and more people pushed into the room fighting each other for air..the escape doors are nailed shut.

 george carlin is right:

It's a big club and you not in it. of course george knew most of us would never want to be in it, our humanity is the price.

mao and pol pot and stalin and hitlers obuma bush clintons merkels   we have had..their solutions of even more .gov just added to the evil. we are not ants or bees working for a hive that supports the queen and drones of the royal court.

all those  models of gov has failed, what's next?

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 08:03 | 5977923 Ghordius
Ghordius's picture

overmed, balanced budgets, for example

your history recollection does not, for example, include when the US did have balanced budgets, in the 50's, and was busy repaying the US WW2 debt

a small insight for you: wars are expensive. Vietnam, for example, was so damn expensive that Nixon decided he wanted to have his cake and eat it too

Iraq was even more expensive, and was the main reason for many things that followed to it

the US is incredibly rich. see the subs, see the huge capital ships, see 800+ military bases. just imagine for a moment if they were "not swords but ploughs"

George Carlin? in a way, I regard his views as something that holds you down. it's your country, too. suggesting that it's not your club... makes you weaker

and this Americanism of regarding 200+ foreign polities as "all the same" is deleterious, too. there is a lot to learn from foreigners, always

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 08:47 | 5978029 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

Ghordius we share much, we are  both men of the western world. we understand the use of force. the problems of fiat and central banks which finance wars on debt. I do learn from You. My problems are your problems..I see centralized power and wealth as causing much we do not like, I see countries like yemen where religions-shia and sunni split neighbors and give sociopaths power to destroy innocent humanity. I learn from that. I see a police state world wide. hand in hand with international corps,  technology and finace elites the role of free trade NWO..I see the death of god and history. what i do not see is a way out..men and women killed at the drop of a hat here in amerika: tail light out,selling non tax loosie cigs,shot for traffic violations in our capital..all signs of tyranny, all signs of decay  & loss of moral high ground, the signs of fractured societies in crisis are becoming every day events. we need each other talking here, we need the touch of ZH- perhaps the break up of USA and EU becomes a chance to find another shining city on a hill.  a camalot.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 07:44 | 5977897 Comte d'herblay
Comte d&#039;herblay's picture

All of you who bemoan the entitlement mentality, whether absolutely necessary due to legitimate and real incapacity or those who scam the system for generations are missing two extremely important points:

1) the Federal government beginning in 2007 thru today has given, no questions asked, many trillions of FRNs to the Jews of Wall Street, to Ace Greenberg's AIG, (who has sued the Government for not giving them more), to bail out Lord Blankfein whose Gambling house, Goldman Sucks, got its tit caught in a wringer and the rules for becoming a Bank were thrown out. They received 100% of their bad investments, and paid themselves more bonuses for this absurdity and congress kept its Semitic mouth shut. Ditto with Dickie Fuld, John Thain, Angelo Mozilo, etc ad nauseum.

2) There are a dwindling number of companies with good jobs that pay a decent wage, and benefits, which has been unstoppable for over 30 years. Without those, the 360,000,000 people in this country, a majority of them are going to have be killed off or continue to be kept alive with "payments for not working".

This is a major paradigm shift and needs to be reckoned with, confronted head on and nothing the government can do about it is possible. A march on Washington, of tens of millions will not create one single job. 

So get your heads together and realize that life as we have known it is changing under our feet, and entitlements are the only way to survive, and even the most sanctimonious of you will find the need for them unless there is a major uptick in gainful employment.

There are simply too many people at 7 billion and counting partiklerly in the wrong countries, the third world, where education, invention and seminal activities are non-existent, while first world kids are not being reproduced enough to replace the dying, and the retiring.

Unless you have solutions to job creation in the tens of millions, you will need to rearrange your thinking and ask yourself: IF the government will give tens of trillions of dollars to save the Jews of Wall Street, some of the wealthiest men in the world, why won't it do the same for the 99%?? 

That question needs to be answered b 4 you go off and condemn anyone who gets money for nothing.

 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 09:00 | 5978077 Mike Honcho
Mike Honcho's picture

I thought MyRA investments eliminated poverty.

 

Yellenpalooza - "Quit being poor, buy assets", coming to a lecture hall near you for only $200k.

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 09:55 | 5978354 SirBarksAlot
SirBarksAlot's picture

They did eliminate poverty, for the Depository Trust Company.  And they appreciate your participation in the plan. 

USA=United Serfs of America. 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 09:14 | 5978129 Equality 7-25-1
Equality 7-25-1's picture

This is temporary. Nothing more socialist edumacation and tv/internet programming won't hide. Don't be concerned, there is also FEMA. 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 09:48 | 5978312 SirBarksAlot
SirBarksAlot's picture

Yeah, I always loved camp as a kid. 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 09:46 | 5978308 SirBarksAlot
SirBarksAlot's picture

Wait until Senate Bill 576 passes, forcing the American taxpayers to bail out the $300 trillion of bad bank derivative debt.  We will then be the Wang-Chung Republic of Uh-Oh.

 

 

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 11:32 | 5978835 Judy Tenuta
Judy Tenuta's picture

"most people on food stamps are not in that situation because they want to be.  Rather, they are victims of our long-term economic collapse." 

Really? Anyone working in certain professions like the medical industry knows this is a silly statement. While it's true that many people are victims of our system, it's a stretch to say most. For decades I've seen people on welfare taking lavish vacations and spending money on luxury items that other people don't prioritize over the basics like health insurance or a home.

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