The Grim Truth

[readmoreoften]

Americans, I have some bad news for you:

You have the worst quality of life in the developed world – by a wide margin.

If you had any idea of how people really lived in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many parts of Asia, you’d be rioting in the streets calling for a better life. In fact, the average Australian or Singaporean taxi driver has a much better standard of living than the typical American white-collar worker.

I know this because I am an American, and I escaped from the prison you call home...


http://americathegrimtruth.wordpress.com/

(well this hits like a punch in the gut...)

[Jim Sagle]

1. Ow! (KNR though.)

[PuraVidaDreamin]

3. yup The truth hurts

With the right leadership, this could be different.
But that type of leadership doesn't have a long life expectancy.

[midnight]

2. That's because this so called recession is really the biggest bank robbery

in the history of the American people...

[sharesunited]

13. With the banks doing the robbing, per usual.

[ProudDad]

75. No, that's just a symptom

It's because the USAmerikan Empire is a bullshit construct whose only criteria is the GDP...

It's capitalism, stupid...

It's the fact that there ARE banks -- creating money out of thin air and charging usurious interest...

It's the fact that in the Empire only the needs and desires of the elites are taken into account, NOT the needs of the People...

This recession is the beginning of the end of the corporate capitalist state (well, actually continuation of the end of capitalism that began in 1929)...

[Dyler Turden]

4. What a great read. K&R

Thanks for posting this.

[B Calm]

5. Right wingers will be calling you un american for posting the truth

[Taitertots]

6. Biased non-sense

Why don't you go to Europe? Oh yeah, the whole Eurozone in on the brink of collapse.
Why don't you move to China? Oh yeah, Chinese workers suffer horrific treatment compared to Americans.
Why don't you move to Japan? Oh yeah, They just finished a lost decade. Most of Asia just finished with a massive economic meltdown.

But we should believe that the governments of the world have conspired together to screw themselves out of trillions of their own dollars.

[sendero]

8. Don't look now..

... but the "whole Eurozone" is in no worse shape financially than we are.


WE are on the brink of collapse.

[Taitertots]

9. We are in no danger of defaulting on our debt

The Eurozone is on the brink of total collapse. WE are already well into recovering.

[sendero]

10. You are woefully misinformed..

... but that is no surprise based on your absurd comments.

[Taitertots]

11. I tend to believe my highly educated university instructors and published journals, not faux news

The underwriting agencies, and the FED, the federal government, academia, and the market all agree with me.

Don't let the preponderance of knowledgeable individuals get in the way of your fear, fear, FEAR.

[sendero]

16. The same academic idiots..

.. that slept through the creation of this fiasco? No thanks.

Printing money is a form of default and most people who know anything about history know it is the worse kind of default in terms of eventual outcome.

But keep believing whatever bullshit makes you feel smart.

[Taitertots]

24. The same economists who were screaming that what we were doing was sure to fail

The Fed who couldn't regulate the derivatives markets or mortgage securitization. The economists at the university who called it before it happened and have sound explanations for why it happened. The government securities market which is totally unrelated to the problems and didn't default at the peak of the crisis. No risk of government default and everyone knows it.

Or some random uneducated internet know it all.

The only people asleep were in the Bush administration and the congress.

[sendero]

26. Nice try..

... at revisionism but can't blame your, your dog won't hunt at all.

[Skittles]

57. SENDERO KNOWS THE SCORE

yes INDEED

[Taitertots]

73. You are not worth wasting my time

Stick your fingers in your ears and scream. It won't change any of the facts I have presented.

[leeroysphitz]

156. Who are you calling random?

[WVRICK13]

18. ROFLMAO

Robert Reich and I both appreciate your levity.

[jonnyblitz]

19. George Bush graduated from Yale, I guess i should have

listened to and believed him! :crazy:

[Taitertots]

23. He didn't have an Economics degree

He had art history and an MBA. Neither of which would make him qualified to make economic decisions.

[mrdmk]

43. Dude, you are off on both points:

1) Bush as a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Yale...

2) In my business courses at California State University of Fullerton I had to take 4 Economic classes, two at the two-hundred level and two at the three-hundred level. Not to mention my accounting courses which also have economic implications build into them. At the graduate level these topics are revisited over and over. A student must show an understanding of these concepts, but to also put these concepts into use. The short story, anybody receiving a MBA must have an understanding of economics because that is what business is all about, prosperity.

[Taitertots]

51. You are wrong

Basic economics classes does not make an economist. Any more than four psych classes makes someone a psychologist.

[mrdmk]

64. Three hundered level classes are not basic.

:wtf:

Where in my post does it say I am an economist. To further the point, who said anything about psychology? I think I got it, did you want me to take a guess at your I.Q.?

btw: MBA's are not basic.

[Taitertots]

72. MBAs are totally unrelated to Economics

Not you, Bush. Having a few basic economics classes doesn't make someone qualified to make economic decisions. An while not basic, an MBA is totally unrelated to economics.

You are wrong. Those two 300 level economics classes are very basic.

[Subdivisions]

46. Hahahahahahha! Whew! It is to laugh.... Three typed characters for you, Henry...

QE2

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it cause the shit you been smokin' is bunk.

[Taitertots]

86. Proof I'm right. No hyper inflation, no exodus from the dollar, no rising interest rates

Increase the money supply by over a trillion dollars again and still nothing the chicken littles have been screaming about has happened.

[rucognizant]

107. OH YES IT HAS...............

In MY LIFE! My small business enterprise just came to a Screeching halt Friday. ( Because my SS income is SO LOW,no COLA increase in 2 years, $250.supplement voted down 2 years in a row............ & STAPLES has jacked the price of printer ink up by 50% this year ( $45.00 to $90.00 for a set of 5 cartridges........)
I am now unable to buy 2 sets to have replacements on hand. So I was unable to print out all 12 pages of this year's calendar that I make and sell every year.
( No body around here can afford original paintings any more, no sales there, AFTER 37 YEARS OF SALES SUFFICIENT TO LIVE ON, BUT DIMINISHING BADLY THE PAST 10 YEARS!)
In spite of it, due to my talent & experience, I did take orders (& payment in full) for 3 calendars even with only 1/2 of it on display. I do confess to using a hard sales technique & little emotional blackmail! It frosts me no end that the public is now 'TRAINED" not to support their local people in favor of bargins ( WALMART MENTALITY!) But if someone has cancer they just open their wallets and the money drools out! Do they boycott the Corps who promote cancer growth with their pollution? NO.!
Meantime I earned a big fat $58.00 for 3 days of intensive hard work....... I used to get that for every 2 + hours I worked...........
AND that was more than that any of the 6 artists participating in the xmas art show earned!
I made my first money from artwork in 1951, at the age of 12 years old! My Grandfather, (high dchool only) was a self made man from an alcoholic Father....built the 3ed best selling mail order business in the country during the DEPRESSION! My Father, bless his heart, had NO business acumen in spite of his MBA from Wharton School. Of the 11 Grandchildren, I inherited the business ability, so Grandfather put up the money for my first year of Art School.........At the time Rockwell, NC Wyeth ( My Father knew him) and many others were making a NICE LIVING in the field!
So here I am reassessing wondering what to do with the next 30 years of my life.?
Dream hah! In a pig's eye!

[Taitertots]

108. No it hasn't

There is no hyperinflation, no rising interest rates, and no dollar exodus. The price for one item changing does not mean there is inflation.

I don't want to speculate to the reasons your business isn't working. But the reason can't be inflation, dollar exodus, or rising interest rates.

[LiberalAndProud]

149. The printing all the money in a normal world would lead to inflation.

I am not educated in the field. Economists use terms I have no clue of meaning, and little curiosity. But from my armchair, the fact that the printing presses kick in and we haven't experienced inflation is an indicator that we have been experiencing deflation in real terms from some time.

Recovery without jobs, in my uneducated mind is not recovery at all, but more thievery. Small businesses are shutting down. You won't read about them in the paper because most of them employ fewer than a dozen people. But they are closing their doors because the big players are shutting them out of the marketplace.

Clinton's recovery was built on businesses like these. Our economy is cirling the drain, regardless of what the educated minds have mandated. I am happy for you that your acadamia has freed you from hard reality. It seems you have taken a page from the Bush philosophy. Manufacture your own reality and let the world catch up.

[Taitertots]

152. "Normal world", different situations require different monetary policies

"the fact that the printing presses kick in and we haven't experienced inflation is an indicator that we have been experiencing deflation in real terms from some time."
Printing money is offsetting various deflationary changes in the money supply. Not to mention that the total monetary base expansion is a fairly small percentage of the monetary base.

You want more jobs? The biggest thing that will kill them is if we move to contractionary monetary policy(Right Now). Recovery doesn't mean recovered, the jobs will come if we follow proven fundamentals. Sit back in your armchair and stop criticizing without merit when you admit that you are not educated in the reality of the situation.

"Our economy is cirling the drain"
You are wrong. We have been recovering for over a year. How can you both admit that you are uneducated, and cast out without merit the consensus of experts?

[Subdivisions]

117. Give it a little more time, toots....

Er...I mean 'tots.

[Taitertots]

119. Don't hold your breath

Are you going to join Glen Beck and his hyperinflation, dollar exodus fantasies?

[Subdivisions]

121. I don't watch/listen/read about anything to do with Beck. That you do...wellllll.... n/t

[Taitertots]

125. He is saying the exact opposite of what I am saying

I only know because it is posted about on DU. He is saying the exact same thing that I'm arguing against in this very thread.

[Subdivisions]

128. Let me clarify... I don't even read a post whose subject line contains the name 'Beck'. I don't

even check to see if it's http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jeff+beck&aq=f">Jeff Beck, or http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=beck&aq=f">Beck, or http://www.beckmfg.com">Beck Manufacturing.

I have no desire to hear what that non-person has to say.

[Taitertots]

129. I think we can agree that Glen Beck is a dangerous moron

As a dangerous moron, his position is that hyper inflation is coming soon.

I only know so when confronted with teabaggery I'm aware of their position and capable of defending mine.

[Subdivisions]

130. Come to think of it, I even have someone on ignore who insists on posting images

of this non-person in order to get people to caption it's shenanigans.

[DontTreadOnMe]

14. "WE are already well into recovering."

You need some coffee... 2011 will be a record amount of foreclosures.

It's going to get worse for a few more years... we just turned the corner from Recession to Depression.

Stop watching TV and take a stroll down Main Street.

[Taitertots]

22. It turned the corner last year from recession to recovery

[StreetKnowledge]

101. No recovery is real without new jobs.

And we haven't seen much of that.

The Eurozone is not verging on default. A few of its more irresponsible members (Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Iceland) are. The biggest members of the zone (Germany and France in particular) are not in any bad shape, though the UK's cuts are going to sting like a bugger for a while. Greece cannot afford to be expelled from the Euro, which is what will happen if they cannot fix their mess. Spain and Ireland have learned this sting, too. As long as the Eurozone's leaders are not in trouble, what happens to its smaller fish aren't gonna wreck it. And fixing the European economic problems aren't a huge problem. Yeah, the French aren't pleased about having to work longer, but when it all settles down, they will still be living very comfortably indeed. The same is true across the Eurozone.

The US, by contrast, is in the case of being unwilling to pay its bills. The US cannot cut things as the Europeans can without adverse consequences. They need to raise more revenue, and even the wealthy are noticing this. Some just don't give a shit, of course. They want the status quo stretched out as long as possible, even when the consequences of not fixing the problems are obvious, as they are now.

I was originally born in Canada, and left it in 1992 to go to the US to go to an American University (University of Washington, FYI). I became a dual citizen in 1998, and left the US to go home in 2004. I haven't regretted it, honestly. Canada is what the United States ought to be in terms of policies, for the most part. It's not flawless, but it is better than the US is. But then again, public opinion is the ultimate decider of Canadian politics.

That isn't true in the United States any more.

Who has the most money counts the most.

And THAT is a major problem.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

102. By the way, people who are interested in emigrating to Canada should check out the provincial

nominee program. In addition to the normal channels for immigration, each province is allowed to select some immigrants, depending on what occupations they have shortages of. Looking at the websites of a few provinces, I see that these occupations include blue collar as well as white collar jobs.

It's worth checking out, especially if you are under the age of 40 (at which point you turn into a pumpkin, as far as most countries are concerned).

[Kalyke]

148. I'm 40.

Damn.

I'm still good in my field.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

150. Being 40 isn't an absolute disqualification

You just get fewer points on the desirability scale and can make up for it with job skills.

[xiamiam]

146. where do you live?

[Taitertots]

154. Michigan, Suburbs of Detroit n/t

[sendero]

17. "Recovering"..

... and you accuse ME of listening to Fox?

If you think there is ANY RECOVERY POSSIBLE in the several years you are a tool.

[Taitertots]

21. The recession technically ended a year ago

The recovery is well underway. If you have a problem with the numbers then I'm sure the NBER would like to hear it.

[sendero]

27. And that ....

.. means nothing in the real world but head-up-ass academics are impressed by it, go figure.

Why don't you just say "the fundamentals of the economy are sound" and complete the picture?

[Taitertots]

52. Stick your fingers in your ears and scream all you want it, it won't change the facts

The recession is over. The number prove it, there is no debate. Unless you have some number that prove what you are saying then you are just making shit up.

[eridani]

94. True. It's over. And the fact that it is over is utterly usless to the American public

We are on track for the first 20 FUCKING YEARS of the new century to produce NO NET JOB GAINS. There have already been two jobless "recoveries", and the third is even worse. This adds up to an ongoing economic disaster.

[Taitertots]

95. Recovery doesn't mean recovered

We are on track to return to full employment within 10 years.

[eridani]

99. Only if we don't have complete social disintegration by then n/t

[Taitertots]

109. Do you think that is going to happen? n/t

[eridani]

142. Depends. Sustained high unemployement could have ignorant teabagger types

--turning into the next generation of Tim McVeighs. If we can get unemployment down, maybe we can head it off.

[Dash Riprock]

28. Yes,

and they are called it a jobless recovery

[Taitertots]

53. If you have a problem with the facts you should take it up with the NBER

The recovery is underway. No matter how many uneducated chicken littles scream that the sky is falling.

[ProudDad]

81. You should read this!

http://americathegrimtruth.wordpress.com/

[Taitertots]

100. You should read this!

http://www.nber.org/cycles/sept2010.html

[ProudDad]

113. And you should read this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Emergency

and this:

http://www.postpeakliving.com/peak-oil-primer

And do some research here:

http://www.postcarbon.org/


This one's different.

The human race has used up the "fat" in the resource pool and has begun consuming the muscle...

While destroying the food chain in the process...

And nearly every "classical" economist is CLUELESS about this. In all of their "calculations" they assume that they live on an Earth that contains an infinite amount of resources, energy and holes to dump their fucking garbage in -- it ain't that way no more...

So those numbnuts are performing calculations on 150 years of "cycles" while ignoring basic truths...

It's like trying to do rocket science with only whole numbers... Good luck with that!

There's a good reason they call it the "dismal science" -- especially since it's NOT a science...

[Taitertots]

120. Oh goodie, a non-economist telling economists what they think

If you think economists don't consider resource usage then you are plain wrong.

So, what is your solution? After all the mean old economists can't figure it out, you must know. Why don't you tell me how we are going to divide scare resources without damaging the environment. Economists didn't make everyone over populate the world, they didn't make you use resources.

[Catherina]

34. That's some scary shit Taitertots. n/t

[Taitertots]

54. Tell it to the preponderance of people who know what they are talking about

The only people frightened are uneducated internet posters. The FED, the government, the markets, and academia all agree with me.

Don't let that stop your Fear, Fear, FEAR!

[ProudDad]

82. "The FED, the government, the markets, and academia all agree with me"

Wow :eyes:

Let's see...

The assholes who caused the problems are the ones you say "know what they are talking about"?

The forces that are rendering the Earth unable to support life for short-term profit is your "authority"...

And did you even read the article? From your unresponsive posts, I believe not...

Here, read what the man wrote!!
http://americathegrimtruth.wordpress.com/

[Taitertots]

85. The crash wasn't a result of any of those people

The Fed couldn't regulate the actions of non-banks. The instructors at my university were warning about it for years. The market for government securities is totally unrelated to the problem. But I should believe an uneducated internet know it all with a blog?

So who do you think is responsible for the crash? Obviously you have no idea what even caused it, let alone who is responsible.

[defendandprotect]

90. Capitalism's crime and corruption are what caused the latest crash ... one of hundreds ....

And who gave license to this crime wave -- ?

Right wingers overturning NEW DEAL regulations -- and Glass-Steagall --

something they've been working on for 60 years and more.

What we have now is rule by corporation/MIC which has replaced our "people's" government

which is long gone -- try 1963.

This is not conspiracy-free America -- and IKE knew that.

We've just had one of the greatest financial coup d'etats ever in the bail outs -- $12 TRILLION

And still we have almost $4 TRILLION the Pentagon can't account for -- !!

[Taitertots]

91. Cum hoc ergo propter hoc

Your position blaming capitalism is a logical fallacy.

$12 trillion for the bailouts? Where did you get this number?

[defendandprotect]

92. Maybe you also missed the $4 TRILLION Pentagon can't account for .... ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz62kOMtqUI&feature=player_embedded



Capitalism is a repeated disaster of crime and corruption --

Unregulated capitalism is merely organized crime -

[Taitertots]

93. Cum hoc ergo propter hoc

Your argument is irrational.


Yeah, we should decrease government spending on war and put it toward programs that actually help people. Yeah, Bush sucks.

[defendandprotect]

112. Now THAT time you got it right .... !!!

[Taitertots]

118. Stop making irrational arguments and I'll stop saying they are

Just waving your hand and saying "Boo Hoo it is capitalism's fault" is meaningless. Makes about as much sense as blaming democracy.

[defendandprotect]

135. Forgive me ... thought YOU said something rational ..... as in ...

As stated in your post --

Yeah, we should decrease government spending on war and put it toward programs that actually help people. Yeah, Bush sucks.

Anyone still supporting capitalism will next be celebrating slavery for all --

And, despite what the right wing may tell you, capitalism and democracy are NOT synonymous!


Bye --

[Taitertots]

153. I thought that was sarcasm because I said the same thing twice

The title of the post and not the body of it.

You are assuming that the problems that caused the crash are inherent in capitalism. Which is why your post is a logical fallacy. It is saying that just because they happened together assumes a causal relationship.

[defendandprotect]

158. You're in a thinking rut ... capitalism is not a viable system ... never has been....

There is no such thing as capitalism being about competitition --

it's about killing the competition. Look at history -- look at recent history.

How many financial and banking firms have been knocked out --

All history denies what you are trying to suggest.


We have hundreds of years of capitalism's crashes -- how many in just the last decades?

Capitalism is a "King-of-the-Hill" System intended to move the wealth and natural resources

of nations from the many to the few -- and it has succeeded at that overwhelmingly.

Perhaps you've noticed the moving of wealth into the hands of the few?


Unregulated capitalism is merely organized crime -- and we have a hundred years and more

of that on the records.


Capitalism is simply EXPLOITATION of nature and humanity for profit --

Unregulated capitalism is organized crime.

[ProudDad]

114. The proximate cause of this latest crashlet

was the bursting of the housing bubble...

We have a faith-based Ponzi scheme "economy". When people lose their "faith", it collapses...

The "economists" that you worship are probably the most prominent witch doctors pushing the faith-based house of cards...

And now, we've run the race, we've stripped all the fat out of Earth's bounty and are beginning to strip her of the muscle tissue...

This latest crashlet is just the latest burble in the decline that started over 150 years ago...and is accelerating now that humans have the power to destroy the Earth as a viable habitat...and aren't afraid to use it and too dumb not to use it.

But you and your "professors" are so busy examining the activities of the smallest vein in the smallest leaf on the smallest tree you're missing the entire forest...

[defendandprotect]

136. Great post ... K&R ... and by the way, private pension funds were used to finance moving jobs

overseas -- and the housing bubble!!

Pension funds were also underfunded due to regulators being called off --

Anyone who can talk about any of this without using the words corrupt and criminal

capitalism is spouting rw propaganda!!

[Catherina]

141. +1 n/t

[Skittles]

104. LOL

let's guess where taitertots REALLY gets his information :rofl:

[Taitertots]

106. Oh, looks like I've got a follower

Coming to try to get this thread deleted for disagreeing with you?

[Skittles]

131. LOLOL, ME following YOU????

:rofl: please, GET OVER YOURSELF! LOLOL you out yourself too easily for me to be interested. :rofl:

[KillCapitalism]

110. Fox News? n/t

[Taitertots]

123. The inflationary chicken littles are agreeing with Glen Beck

As far as I can tell the Faux Noise narrative is hyper inflation paranoia and dollar exodus panic. Faux Noise is saying the exact opposite of what I am.

[KillCapitalism]

127. Glenn Beck is in a constant state of panic & paranoia.

If you watch some of the other shows such as Neil Cavuto, they've started saying that the economy is due for a big comeback after January, because of the elections of course.

[Sanity Claws]

67. we are not into recovery

If you had any idea of the current state of the job market, or how people are foregoing medical care because of lack of insurance, or how much property is owned by the banks, etc., you would never say "we are already well into recovering."

We have genuine problems here.

As for Europe, Germany is doing well, with more exports than imports.
Ireland and Greece are having problems for sure. However, their people still live far people than Americans. Remember we have the greatest disparity in incomes. If you focus on just the top tier, they're doing fine. But if you focus on the average, you get a much different story.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

71. Ireland, Greece, Iceland, and Latvia are doing poorly precisely BECAUSE

they drank the "you can prosper on financial services alone" Kool-Aid. They experienced classic financial bubbles followed by the inevitable collapse.

The Scandinavian countries, Germany, and the Netherlands are doing great, thank you.

[Taitertots]

97. They are doing poorly because they are getting screwed by the ECB

The Scandinavian countries are blocking the monetary policies that the smaller countries need.

The only kool-aid they drank was that having other people control your monetary policy was a good idea.

[ProudDad]

76. Tell that to the hundred million under and un-employed... (n/t)

[Taitertots]

87. Recovery =/= Recovered

[defendandprotect]

137. Economists made clear to Obama the stimulus was less than .25% of what was needed!!!

And, I think the records will eventually show that we've had a Depression ---

perhaps not quite the degree of 1929 -- but a Depression.

Congress members looking like they want to say "Depression" have ended up

calling it "The Great Recession" -- !!

Thought that was what Reagan gave us?

[liberation]

80. When reality does not fit your narrative, make up shit...

... and I thought only republicans were capable of doing so as almost second nature. Oh, wait...

[Jakes Progress]

74. He speaketh fluent MSMese.

[devilgrrl]

41. Biased non-sense? Is that the title of the book you're writing? Or the contents of your post?

I'm confused.

[girl gone mad]

50. Japan's 'lost decade' looks a lot better for the average worker..

than what we've undergone over the same time period.

The EMU was destined to fail from the beginning.

Funny how you don't mention Australia or Canada.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

70. For all its "lost decade," Japan still has universal health care, the

world's best transit system, universal literacy with one of the most difficult written languages in the world, and a low crime rate. It's not perfect, but it's no hobo camp.

[Taitertots]

88. Tell that to the politicians, I want Universal health care too

The only way we will have a chance to get it is by running a deficit and expanding the money supply. Austerity and monetary contraction are sure to do nothing but destroy our economy.

[defendandprotect]

138. ... but we have money for two wars and $12 TRILLION in bailouts to criminal corps?

:rofl:

[Taitertots]

155. I didn't want those wars any more than you did

$12 Trillion? Does that include loans and purchased assets?

[defendandprotect]

157. How about the $4 TRILLION the Pentagon "can't account for" ... no, that's not included....

[Greyhound]

7. "At least the citizens of the former Soviet Union knew that their news was bullshit."

Perhaps we have been exposed to so much bullshit for so long that we've totally lost our sense of smell?

I'm sure the reich-wing will be along shortly to pick out all the little inaccuracies while ignoring the basic truths, but for now here's a :kick: & R

[defendandprotect]

139. Well, I don't entirely believe it .... nation is against these wars ...

nation wants universal health care -- MEDICARE FOR ALL --

nation wants Social Security preserved -- no cuts!

nation was against the bail outs -- in fact, pressure was for NATIONALIZING the banks!


What's been getting passed is the result of scheming with corporations --

the stimulus gave BILLIONS to corporations --


IMO, many DU'ers need their BS meters turned waaaaay up!!

:)

[Scuba]

12. Great read, thanks. Favorite quote:

"At least the citizens of the former Soviet Union knew that their news was bullshit. In America, you grow up thinking you’ve got a free media, which makes the propaganda doubly effective. If you don’t think American media is mere corporate propaganda, ask yourself the following question: have you ever heard a major American news outlet suggest that the country could fund a single-payer health system by cutting military spending?"

[DemReadingDU]

15. That's a good quote

[Le Taz Hot]

20. Thanks so much for that bright ray of sunshine

because the thing that those of us who are unemployed and struggling mightily with trying to survive really really needed to hear was that we suck. Thanks so much for that uplifting message. Great timing and not at all pedantic! Unrec. and :thumbsdown:

[ipaint]

35. I'm long term unemployed at 54, I don't own a house and barring

a miracle will be living in my truck next month.
I say shout the truth from the rooftops. I am so tired of phony recoveries, middle class pandering and incremental changes backwards that provide the comfortable middle class on both sides of the aisle a free ticket to american dream delusionville.

Wake up.

[bvar22]

38. I will rec because...

"those of us who are unemployed and struggling mightily with trying to survive" NEED a dose of reality in order to correctly identify and solve the problems.

If you want to fully appreciate just how badly the "New Democrats" (including Obama) reamed the Working Class on HCR,
simply look at what the rest of the civilized takes for granted.

[Le Taz Hot]

40. I'm the last one anyone needs to be reminded

of what the New Democrats hath wrought. I was one of the first on DU to sound the alarm and got so much shit for it I'm surprised I'm still here. The key word to my response was "pedantic."

[Caretha]

63. That makes 2 of us....

I'm surprised you're still here. :)

[Le Taz Hot]

105. It's a bitch, ain't it? n/t

[RadiationTherapy]

25. People need to hear things like this: Our children are obese and sick. The wealthy own us.

America is a shitty country.

It's ok. Admitting it is the first step. Rec.

[WinkyDink]

116. WE LOVE THE RICH! It is why we watch them on TV (Trump; Kardashians), read of them, buy to emulate

them.

[Bonobo]

29. He's right. I left and I am not coming back.

I will miss hamburgers, halloween, hot dogs, pizza and some good friends.

But I care more about my kids and their future.

I will not miss living in a fear-based society and losing sleep over fears of it all coming apart.

I am in a country where I can expect to have teeth until the day I die because the expectations of the people here are that the government at least owes them medical care and THAT is a very basic and needed thing in order to have a decent quality of life.

I will be renouncing my citizenship in a few months.

It was a nice dream when I was younger, but the last 30 years have been rocky and it's going to get much worse.

Get out while you can folks -If you can.

It is a grim truth, but we're all adults. Time to open our eyes and discern the truth from the lies.

[Quantess]

161. Why would you need to renounce your US citizenship?

No point in burning any bridges.

The health care issue is somthing we cannot keep running away from. I'm sure the Swedes will be shocked when I tell them about my own experiences. I'm a very healthy person, but accidents do happen, and oh boy is it expensive! They know our health care system is a mess, but most of them truly have no idea how outrageous the problems are for us.

[Poboy]

30. recommend.

[dkofos]

31. USA, USA, USA

We are a stupid sheeple.

[bemildred]

32. Kick. nt

[Catherina]

33. I am an Expat for those exact reasons.

I have lived all around the world, in wealthy countries and poor ones, and there is only one country I would never consider living in again: The United States of America. The mere thought of it fills me with dread.

I am an Expat for this very reason.

That article hit home hard.

Rec'd.

If you’re “lucky,” you might even land a job good enough to qualify you for a home loan. And then you’ll spend half your working life just paying the interest on the loan – welcome to the world of American debt slavery. America has the illusion of great wealth because there’s a lot of “stuff” around, but who really owns it? In real terms, the average American is poorer than the poorest ghetto dweller in Manila, because at least they have no debts. If they want to pack up and leave, they can; if you want to leave, you can’t, because you’ve got debts to pay.

All this begs the question: Why would anyone put up with this? Ask any American and you’ll get the same answer: because America is the freest country on earth. If you believe this, I’ve got some more bad news for you: America is actually among the least free countries on earth. Your piss is tested, your emails and phone calls are monitored, your medical records are gathered, and you are never more than one stray comment away from writhing on the ground with two Taser prongs in your ass.

And that’s just physical freedom. Mentally, you are truly imprisoned. You don’t even know the degree to which you are tormented by fears of medical bankruptcy, job loss, homelessness and violent crime because you’ve never lived in a country where there is no need to worry about such things.

But it goes much deeper than mere surveillance and anxiety. The fact is, you are not free because your country has been taken over and occupied by another government. Fully 70% of your tax dollars go to the Pentagon, and the Pentagon is the real government of the United States. You are required under pain of death to pay taxes to this occupying government. If you’re from the less fortunate classes, you are also required to serve and die in their endless wars, or send your sons and daughters to do so. You have no choice in the matter: there is a socio-economic draft system in the United States that provides a steady stream of cannon fodder for the military.

http://americathegrimtruth.wordpress.com/

[inna]

36. OMG this is so true. The only question is,

why in the world do we put up with this crap.

x(

[Kievan Rus]

56. When the average American cares more about voting for American Idle than for their Senator...

what do you expect?

The political apathy in this country is astounding. This last election, most eligible adults didn't even vote!

[tjwash]

37. I wonder where the guy that wrote this some years ago slithered off to.

This was written a few years ago, before the economies of Britain, Spain, Greece, and Ireland completely tanked, and dragged the rest of the European economies into the toilet. It was also passed around the internet quite frequently, and showed up on tons of message boards, well, like it is here! Its the zombie post from hell that refuses to die.

Now the countries that this guy crowed about are far worse off than the US is now. Daily riots are happening in several Euro-countries, because social programs in France, Italy, Greece, Germany, and England are being slashed, or altogether eliminated, bank bailouts and the need to prop up the economies of entire countries out there have had to happen, while simultaneous unemployment and skyrocketing costs of living have taken their tolls on the regular folks in a huge way.

Of course, the guy who wrote this drivel has long since disappeared, and never really emerged from the rock he crawled under to tell us what the hell happened to the model of national economies that he rubbed in peoples faces so proudly once. What a difference a few short years makes...just goes to show you, never get too cocky about things that you really have no control over.

[Catherina]

59. The first date, anywhere on the net, is May 2009 by an expat living in Nepal

so how you dismiss this as a zombie post, from a few years ago, that refuses to die is beyond me.

Do you have an an earlier link than May 2009?

[devilgrrl]

39. This past summer I discovered that Germans have it much better than us too!

It was quite eye opening to say the least.

[Bonobo]

96. What were the biggest differences you noticed? nt

[devilgrrl]

132. The concerted effort put into green energy, bike friendly cities, public transportation, etc...

I'm aware that Germany has problems of their own but their society isn't as obsessed with materialism as ours is. Owning a home or a car is pointless for most people there, they rather use it for other things and probably can since if they get ill or injured they haven't much to worry about but their own recovery.

The food tasted much better. Germany cuisine takes a lot of flack, which I don't quite get because any I had while there was delicious! The best mashed potatoes on Earth! They've got potatoes down. I'm not much of a meat eater but I did get to meet my meat so-to-speak and decided if I were a cow doomed for someone's dinner plate, I'd like to be that cow in the Austrian Alps. I didn't get all gassy when I was there... I swear there is some F'ed up shit in US food.

I don't want to leave the US but there are so many things they do in Western Europe that I wish we'd do here.

[defendandprotect]

140. Interesting post .... thanks!

Unfortunately, it would take a level of sanity that those in control of

our nation seem to be missing!

:)

[earth mom]

42. Wish I could leave right now! nt

[Poboy]

44. .

[WinkyDink]

45. I've been all over W. Europe, and much of Canada. Been treated medically FOR FREE in Portugal

(twice, once being the British hospital of Lisbon), Amsterdam (emergency opthamologist), the UK, France (dentist for broken tooth), and Canada (twice).

I agree with the premise.

[Capn Sunshine]

47. K&R because we need MORE stories about how fucked up we are

It's so much more effective than getting off the 'puters and actually doing something at ground level.

[Subdivisions]

48. I'm all ears, Capn Sunshine...

I'm right behind you too. Show us how it's done big daddy.

[Capn Sunshine]

49. Follow me

I let you know when we get there.

[readmoreoften]

126. He can't. He's never online. He's too busy fighting in the streets.

:shakingheadatthestupid: <--- there's not a smilie for that.

[ProudDad]

77. If you don't recognize how permanently fucked we are...

and why...

You're not someone worth "following"...

[WinkyDink]

115. Knowledge is a terrible thing.

[readmoreoften]

124. Yes, people who post articles can't possibly ever do anything offline. It's jut not possible.

:eyes:

Nice attempt to frame the discussion with a false dilemma, but it's not gonna work.

[Kievan Rus]

55. I've known this for years

America is the laughingstock of the Western world. We're the Western world's equivalent of the boisterous uncle you hate having to see at Thanksgiving.

As soon as I'm able to, I'm out of here. I've already decided that I only plan on having children if I'm able to get out of this backwards country.

[donco6]

58. K&R

[jeffrey_X]

60. It's all relative....

I hate the direction of this country, but I'm living a great life and go where ever I want and buy whatever I want. I don't like a lot of the things that are going on, but to call America a prison is ridiculous.

[prodigals0n]

61. As you said, it's all relative

The idea of America being a prison may be ridiculous to you but I'm sure it makes perfect sense to many others.

[tpsbmam]

69. Spot on! And welcome to DU, prodigals0n. n/t

[ProudDad]

78. Yep, while the world's going to hell, you just go shopping (n/t)

[chidy]

145. try being poor in america

and come back and tell me how "relative" it is, bud.

no, america kinda sux. really. i've been to the eurozone, central america, canada, some other places... no, we're getting screwed here and anyone who travels can see this. two friends of mine are leaving... they're moving to China. yes, China. because no matter what your lying media tells you about it, it's not the totalitarian hellhole you're being told it is. nor is euroland "imploding." if anything, they're actually fighting the global vampire squid banksters and have a fighting chance at beating them. but you're an american, so you're being told "it's hopeless. it can't get any better. america fuck yeah. go watch another TV show and take your meds." and yes: the food is way, way better in eurospace. i hate to tell you this, but the corporations are selling you Shite. utter and complete crap, the bottom of the barrel. as one friend of mine said, "when my chinese relatives came to the US for the first time, they were bummed. they said, 'bummer. there's nothing original here to buy. we sell the same crap at the discount store at home.'"

if one has money, there's still some places and stuff in america that's nifty. i'm an american, i love what is still good about my country. but if sweden invited me to live there? germany? singapore isn't my style, but south africa? brazil? i'm thinking a big old yes would be the answer, right about now.

[AnnieBW]

62. I saw how people live in Australia

That's why I want to move there. To Brisbane, though. Sydney was too much like New York City for me.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

66. KnR

[lunasun]

65. There are none so hopelessly enslaved

than those who falsely believe they are free. Amen tell it brother!

[KoKo]

68. Much is Probably True in this Rant..but I'm here....AND...Working to Make it Better

and many of us don't have the ability to leave...so we here will stay and work to make it BETTER!

AFTER ALL! If WE DON'T STAY HERE AND DO IT....WHO WILL? We have FAMILY and OBLIGATIONS. It's good for those who can leave to find better...but it doesn't work for many others.

It's an interesting read...but there's a bit of "I'M SO MUCH BETTER OF THAN YOU "IDIOTS" WHO STAY to this Article that really is too much "Nyahh, Nyahhh, Nyahh!



:shrug:

[ProudDad]

84. It's ALL true...

and the USAmerikan Empire is beyond help...

It's constitutionally incapable of doing the right thing...

[ProudDad]

79. For you knee-jerk jingoists...who didn't "have time" to read the article

You should at least read this!

"There are only two possible futures facing the United States, and neither one is pretty. The best case is a slow but orderly decline – essentially a continuation of what’s been happening for the last two decades. Wages will drop, unemployment will rise, Medicare and Social Security benefits will be slashed, the currency will decline in value, and the disparity of wealth will spiral out of control until the United States starts to resemble Mexico or the Philippines – tiny islands of wealth surrounded by great poverty (the country is already halfway there)."

"Equally likely is a sudden collapse, perhaps brought about by a rapid flight from the US dollar by creditor nations like China, Japan, Korea and the OPEC nations. A related possibility would be a default by the United States government on its vast debt. One look at the financial balance sheet of the US government should convince you how likely this is: governmental spending is skyrocketing and tax receipts are plummeting – something has to give. If either of these scenarios plays out, the resulting depression will make the present recession look like a walk in the park."

"Whether the collapse is gradual or gut-wrenchingly sudden, the results will be chaos, civil strife and fascism. Let’s face it: the United States is like the former Yugoslavia – a collection of mutually antagonistic cultures united in name only. You’ve got your own version of the Taliban: right-wing Christian fundamentalists who actively loathe the idea of secular Constitutional government. You’ve got a vast intellectual underclass that has spent the last few decades soaking up Fox News and talk radio propaganda, eager to blame the collapse on Democrats, gays and immigrants. You’ve got a ruthless ownership class that will use all the means at its disposal to protect its wealth from the starving masses."

"On top of all that you’ve got vast factory farms, sprawling suburbs and a truck-based shipping system, all of it entirely dependent on oil that is about to become completely unaffordable. And you’ve got guns. Lots of guns. In short: the United States is about to become a very unwholesome place to be."

Truer words were never written!

[Karenina]

144. Max weighs in...

http://daviddegraw.org/2010/10/on-the-edge-with-max-keiser-david-degraw-revolution-or-world-war-iii/

[steelmania75]

83. K AND R SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERY AMERICAN. GET THE WORD OUT.

THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE A MESSAGE TOWARDS ALL AMERICANS TO REVOLT AGAINST INDUSTRY AND THE BIG CORPORATIONS AND TAKE OUR GOVERNMENT BACK.

[defendandprotect]

89. Americans certainly have been kept stupid about the rest of the world ...!!

Out-migration from US began a long time ago and it's steadily picking up, it seems.

See that as a better future for my kids -- if they can do it, I'd support it -- sadly!!

My Mother actually went back to Ireland where her Mother had been born a century before!

My sister has left and lives a wonderful life in Europe.

[Mosaic]

98. I won't weep

"America", meaning the usa, has done great harm to other peoples, cultures, nations, workers, and of course the environment. It's good advice to get out because the Karma for all of the great sins of the usa is tremendous, but it's all part of the great arch of Justice. So many heartless souls could care less when one million Iraqis die for a lie, and greed. The price for that amorality is all too apparent, and this piece is all about that amorality for wars, for other races, for the poor, for other nations, for economies, for anyone different than a selfish, dying race going the way of the Romans, or any empire that has faded.

[gtar100]

103. If you can't move, fly under the radar.

Don't eat meat. Don't eat HFCS. Don't use pharmeceuticals unless absolutely necessary and even then at a minimum. Live within your means, whatever it takes. Help when you can. Care for the people in front of you and around you. And if you have a shot at taking out the devil, don't hesitate.

Wish we lived in a liberal culture. But right-wing insanity builds a shell around its victims that's very near impossible to break from the outside. We must ride it out and realize it still yet may take centuries. As long as it doesn't die in you, it isn't dead. Europe is only marginally better but look what they had to suffer through in their own lands during the 20th century just to realize the necessity of social programs and shared responsibilities. May they never forget.

Just wish we could shed all the opportunistic scumbags onto a new world like they did. Maybe we can send them to the moon.

[KillCapitalism]

111. K&R

A lot of Americans have their heads in the sand & don't understand the magnitude of the economic shitstorm coming our way. Hyperinflation, hyperunemployment, severe wealth gap between the rich & poor.

In a few decades economically, the US will more resemble countries like Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, etc. Unemployment will be 60%+ and quite a few people will be living on less than $1 a day.

[readmoreoften]

122. The way I see it: I'd like to post more articles like this so that people wake up.

If more of us are awake than we can make the US a livable country again, and I won't have to leave. I don't think it's traitorous to leave. I might leave at some point if I can. But I prefer staying and fighting for the people who can't afford to leave. Even still, I think the writer is correct.

Glad y'all liked the piece!

[Quantess]

133. I love getting reminded how lucky I am

to have dual citizenship in Sweden! It's my own little "get out of jail free" card, LOL. :D

[Quantess]

134. Yep... I'm saving up money for the big move

Should be just another couple of months before I'm ready to cross the Atlantic and begin a new life in Sweden. I don't know if I will stay forever, or just a year, but I'm excited about the massive life changes coming my way.

[Karenina]

143. The Swedes are "special!" You're gonna LOVE IT!!!

How are your language skills? Get 'em up to speed if they're not so you can hit the ground running!!!
Gute Reise! :* left cheek :* right cheek

[Quantess]

159. Did you mean "Lycka Till"? Gute Reise sounds German.

I look Swedish enough. They might think I'm a Swede, until I open my mouth and start speaking. I will say that it's a much easier language than English! Swedish tends to adhere to the rules a lot more consistently than English.

They seem more content over there. It isn't such a dog-eat-dog existence there.

[Karenina]

160. Ja! It IS!

Good! That means you'll likely be pushed on your learning curve by the assumptions.

No place is perfect and Sweden is changing as is all of Europe. But it's still at the top of the "best places to live" list. Right about now would be a great time for immersion. LOTS to see. LOTS to learn. GO FOR IT!!! Right about now would also be a very good time to take a sabbatical from the U.S :applause:

Tante K.

[Quantess]

162. They have a layer of snow already.

And probably an hour of daylight. But that's an acceptable tradeoff, when I consider that I will have some new opportunities there. I'm a swedish citizen, which will make life so much easier than if I just had a residence permit.

It feels like I've reached a dead end here in the USA. I might not stay in Europe forever. I might move back to the states someday, but right now I really feel all the signs are pointing toward leaving the USA.

[Kalyke]

147. I want to move to another country.

Unfortunately, most countries have stricter immigrations rules than the USofA.

And, while I'm educated, my skills as in marketing don't qualify me to be granted a special work permit or something.

I really do want to move to Europe. Any tips?

[lovuian]

151. We are going to have a HUGE Brain drain

and we will eventually go to single payer
because the Corporations will see the need for it
not because of the worker


there will be riots in the streets eventually

[Obamanaut]

163. Odd that, considering how many people are coming to the US to live,

many legally, many others not so much.